What if Toni Storm wins the women’s Royal Rumble 2019?

Most of the talk about favorites to win the women’s Royal Rumble 2019 surround main roster talents who have been well established. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair probably have the most buzz around them, while it’s conceivable WWE could reinvest in someone like Alexa Bliss or Carmella. Alternatively, there’s some intrigue around a potential NXT call up going all the way. Shayna Baszler is certainly main roster ready and would pose a fascinating challenge for real-life friend Ronda Rousey, or someone like Kairi Sane could play the ultimate underdog going into WrestleMania.

But what about Toni Storm?

WWE clearly sees something in Storm, the winner of the second Mae Young Classic tournament and the second NXT UK Women’s Champion. The response to compromising photos of her being leaked is telling, too—that WWE didn’t seem to bat an eye, and both fans and fellow wrestlers turned out en masse to back the young star in her time of need.

Could WWE strike while the underground iron is hot and give Storm the push of a lifetime with not only a surprise Rumble entry, but a positively shocking win?

Sure, it’s a long shot. It’s worth noting, though, that while the Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair are knotted up presumably competing for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania, the SmackDown Women’s Championship scene is conspicuously quiet.

Storm has enough buzz around her to be a fascinating challenger to Asuka, not to mention that the two would most likely deliver a stellar match on the Grandest Stage of Them All. Particularly, if the rosters remain separate, Storm could be a compelling new flagbearer for the SmackDown women’s division as they inch toward the transition to FOX in the fall. Alternatively, even if she comes up short at her first WrestleMania, WWE could tell a similar story to how she used initial failures at the Mae Young Classic and competing for the NXT UK women’s title to spur her on to bigger wins down the road.