Report: What AEW originally had planned for the 2026 women’s Owen Hart tournament

AEW’s plans for the 2026 women’s Owen Hart tournament reportedly underwent multiple changes due to several wrestlers becoming unavailable.

While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com noted that the original idea was for Toni Storm to win the tournament and challenge Thekla for the AEW women’s championship at All In. Those plans changed after Toni was written off television following the post-Revolution episode of Dynamite.

AEW then reportedly shifted to a plan involving Thekla defending the title against Willow Nightingale at All In. However, Willow was forced to withdraw from the tournament and vacate the TBS championship after suffering a shoulder injury during a title defense against Red Velvet on May 16th.

As a result, the Owen Hart women’s tournament final at Forbidden Door will feature two replacement competitors. Mercedes Mone, who replaced Nightingale, will face Maya World, who stepped in for Sareee. The winner of the match will earn a shot at the AEW women’s world title at All In.