5 Things The WWE Champion Does Better (& 5 Things The AEW Champion Is Best At)
Matthew Cannon
Rhea Ripley and Toni Storm have been wrestling each other for over a decade now. Ripley is on record as saying they had their first match when they were 16 years old in Australia. Now in their mid-20s, the two stars are champions in different promotions and they have matching tattoos. The Eradicator Rhea Ripley is the Women's World Champion in WWE. While Toni Storm has become an Outcast and current AEW Women's Champion. Their careers matched up several times when both ladies competed in NXT UK.
RELATED: 10 Biggest Booking Errors Of Rhea Ripley's WWE Career
The duo have exchanged wins over their careers, and at one time looked destined to compete with each other at WrestleMania. Yet, Storm would ask for her WWE release and move to AEW. At the same time, Ripley moved to the top of the card in WWE. The women are two of the best in the world. In some cases, Rhea is ahead of Toni, while in other areas it's Toni that is beyond Rhea.
10 Rhea Does It Better: Overcoming Charlotte Flair
While Rhea Ripley failed in her first go around with Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36, she bounced back by defeating Flair at WrestleMania 39. Her first storyline with Flair would see Ripley's momentum get stuffed, but she proved to be more than worthy of Flair during their last encounter.
Toni Storm would only have one storyline with Charlotte Flair in the winter of 2021. Storm would eventually be pied in the face and humiliated by Flair. After their encounter, Storm would ask for and be granted her release from WWE.
9 Toni Does It Better: Being A Traditional Heel
Rhea Ripley has become a dominant heel force on Monday Night Raw as a member of Judgment Day. Yet, her heeldom is full of plenty of support from the fans and dominating in-ring action.
Toni Storm has embraced the traditional chicken heel while being a member of The Outcasts. Storm tries to get booed by fans and doesn't show bravery or honor in her matches. Storm is the traditional 1980s-esque heel that fans love to boo. Ripley on the other hand is more of a Brock Lesnar-like heel in WWE.
8 Rhea Does It Better: Power Moves
Rhea Ripley uses her power as her biggest asset in the ring. Her high-impact power move set is impressive in the ring. Her ability to dominate the competition with her power isn't something fans have seen in the women's division from such an athletic and mobile competitor. Ripley's feats of strength pop on the WWE screen.
RELATED: 10 Most Muscular Women In WWE History, Ranked
Her power is on full display with her Riptide finisher (more on that later). Toni Stormis 5'6 and weighs 143 pounds. She can be very physical in the ring. Yet, her more ground-and-pound (and hip-attacking) offense doesn't display the same power as Rhea Ripley.
7 Toni Does It Better: Focusing On The Women's Division
While the AEW Women's Division is nowhere nearly as well thought of as the WWE division, Toni Storm has done her best to raise the quality since her arrival. Teaming her up with Saraya and Ruby Soho to make a women's heel faction has turned into an entertaining storyline (took a little while). Storm holds her title with pride and is involved in multiple storylines in All Elite Wrestling.
Rhea Ripley has found herself in a lot of scuffles with the men on WWE Monday Night Raw. Fans find her a believable opponent for the men, and she has spent most of her time around Dominik Mysterio. That has taken away from her run in the Women's Division.
6 Rhea Does It Better: Being The Anti-Hero
Stone Cold Steve Austin ushered in sports entertainment's love of the anti-hero during the WWE Attitude Era. Austin didn't exactly play by the rules or pretend to be a babyface. Stone Cold Steve Austin spit in the face of authority and did it his own way. Rhea Ripley has captured that same type of spirit on WWE television.
Her anti-hero stance has made her a popular character while being involved with a heel group. On the other channel, AEW tried to turn Toni Storm and The Outcasts into a women's version of D-Generation X or the Outsiders, but fans didn't buy the anti-hero gimmick. This has forced Storm to go full heel in AEW.
5 Toni Does It Better: On The Microphone
While both women have improved on the microphone during their current championship run, the small advantage goes to Toni Storm. Ripley's look and character almost make her promo ability not matter at all. Yet, when she gets on the microphone she can at times comes across as unsure of what she's trying to relay to the fans.
Toni Storm on the other hand has a cool confidence on the microphone that promotes her rebellious character. Her facial expressions and attention to detail give her the promo edge over her counterpart.
4 Rhea Does It Better: Character Evolution
If Toni Storm gets a slight nod on the microphone, Rhea Ripley gets a huge advantage on character evolution. Ripley first appeared in WWE as almost a Charlotte Flair ripoff. Today, Ripley has the best look in the business. With her strong booking, muscular physique, leather ring attire, and appeal Rhea Ripley is an absolute original.
While Storm has shown some evolution in The Outcasts, for the most part, she's still the same character she has always been. She's bumped up her rebellious attitude but still seems like the Toni WWE fans enjoyed in the Mae Young Classic.
3 Toni Does It Better: Selling
While Rhea Ripley got the nod on the power moves, Toni Storm is the better in-ring seller. Part of Storm's advantage in this comes from Ripley being booked so strongly. WWE has booked Ripley like a "big man" in the 1980s would be booked. She has been nearly an immovable object at times.
RELATED: The 10 Best Sellers In AEW, Ranked
In selling her size and power advantage, Ripley isn't asked to bump around as much as Storm. Storm has become a great seller for the women of AEW. She has bumped around the ring for many of their babyfaces before somehow cheating and gaining the win.
2 Rhea Does It Better: Becoming A Generational Superstar
In NXT UK Rhea Ripley and Toni Storm were seemingly equals that would be battling each other for the next decade. Yet, today Ripley has become a much bigger star. Even with both of them being World Champions in their promotions, Ripley has become a generational talent. Storm still has time to rise and potentially return to feud with Ripley which may help that one day.
Storm certainly has the look and skill set to be a larger superstar. Yet, as of today, Rhea Ripley with Judgment Day, is one of the hottest stars in all of professional wrestling no matter the gender.
1 Toni Does It Better: Finishing Maneuver
Toni Storm's Storm Zero finisher is a version of a piledriver that can be hit on any opponent. While Rhea Ripley's Riptide can be visually stunning, she can have trouble getting it on larger opponents. Storm's finisher is sudden and vicious and if protected can be one of the most feared moves in the AEW locker room.
Ripley could easily transition into another finisher and use the Riptide as a set-up to her smaller opponents. Speaking of set-ups, Storm's hip attacks look absolutely devastating in AEW.