AEW star Toni Storm tops highly prestigious list; WWE star Rhea Ripley ranks #3

AEW and WWE currently have two of the strongest women's divisions ever, featuring names like Mariah May, Liv Morgan, Mercedes Moné, and Nia Jax. One of the most prestigious lists in the industry was recently released, featuring Toni Storm and Rhea Ripley near the top, along with wrestlers from competing promotions.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated has entertained wrestling fans since 1979. The magazine released its 34th annual PWI 500 list last month, featuring the top 500 male wrestlers in the world. The PWI Women's 250 was released just today.

The 17th edition covers an evaluation period of October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. Criteria include in-ring achievements, influence, technical ability, competition, and activity.

The Illustrious topped the PWI Women's 250 this year. Storm reinvented herself with the heavily praised 'Timeless' Toni gimmick, and in November 2023, she began her third reign as AEW Women's World Champion. The title run lasted 281 days until Storm was dethroned by protégé Mariah May at All In. The 28-year-old made the cover of the 2024 PWI Women's 250 issue after ranking #12 last year.

TNA's Jordynne Grace took the number two spot. The current Knockouts World Champion began her third reign at Hard To Kill in January and just retained over WWE's Wendy Choo at Victory Road. The Juggernaut has benefited in a major way from the NXT-TNA working relationship. Grace ranked #10 in 2023.

The Eradicator has dominated RAW for months, despite injuries. Ripley's recent run includes her time with The Judgment Day. The 28-year-old began her 379-day Women's World Championship reign at WrestleMania 39, which tied with Bayley for the longest-ever. Ripley topped the list last year.

The rest of the PWI Women's 250 top ten for 2024 is as follows: #4 Stardom's Maika #5 WWE's Stephanie Vaquer #6 Dream Star Fighting Marigold World Champion Sareee #7 WWE's Bayley #8 AEW's Willow Nightingale #9 AEW Women's World Champion Mariah May #10 ROH Women's World Champion Athena.

NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez came in at #11. The rest of the top twenty included prominent names like Liv Morgan, Mayu Iwatani, Mina Shirakawa, Becky Lynch, and others.

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Toni Storm update following AEW All In

Toni Storm has not wrestled for AEW since losing the Women's World Championship to Mariah May on August 25 at All In. Storm's third reign with the title came to an end at 281 days.

'Timeless' Toni returned to Stardom on September 28, teaming up with Mina Shirakawa to defeat AZM and Mayu Iwatani. Storm then teamed with Maika and Mina Shirakawa on October 2 to defeat Hanan, Mayu Iwatani, and Saya Iida.

The October 5 Stardom show in Nagoya saw Storm come up short against Iwatani with her IWGP Women's World Championship on the line. 'Timeless' Toni has never held the NJPW gold that was introduced in November 2022.

Storm took to Instagram to share several photo posts from The Land of the Rising Sun, including the images seen below.

AEW has not announced when Storm will make her return. Before All In, her last match was a successful title defense over Saraya on Dynamite in Cardiff on August 21.