Toni Storm Faces Online Harassment: Support From Wrestling Community

Not everyone's New Year has gotten off on the right foot as WWE's Toni Storm yanked her social media accounts on Wednesday after nude pictures of her were leaked. Luckily for her, fellow pro-wrestler Paige and fans alike have come forward in support of the New Zealand-born talent. The leaked images have ignited a wave of support from the wrestling community, demonstrating solidarity in the face of personal attacks.

Multiple nude photos and one video of Storm, born Toni Rossall, were leaked online. According to WrestlingInc.com, the intimate and private images of Storm were exposed as part of a "personal" hack. The 23-year-old wrestler deleted her Instagram and Twitter accounts in response, showcasing the emotional and psychological toll harassment can take on an individual.

Paige, legally Saraya-Jade Bevis, suffered from a similar attack when her sex tape surfaced in 2017. The Norwich-born star, in fact, admitted on the Lilian Garcia podcast in December 2017 how she contemplated committing suicide following the leak. Acknowledging her own traumatic experience, Paige made a heartfelt statement via Twitter on Wednesday to back the 2018 Mae Young Classic champion. “#WeSupportToniStorm from someone that has experienced the same thing I strongly support you girl,” she tweeted, emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding during such trying times.

Biography of Toni Storm

Community Support Following the Incident

The wrestling community has rallied around Toni Storm following the unfortunate incident. Canadian sports announcer Mauro Ranallo expressed his disgust at the situation via Twitter, stating, “Toni Storm is an amazing performer and more importantly, a good person. I am sickened by what she has had to endure. The harassment and invasion of privacy in our society needs to stop. NOW!” This sentiment echoed the feelings of many fans and fellow wrestlers who have taken to social media to express their support.

WWE on-air personality Renee Young also showed her solidarity for Storm, tweeting, “#WeSupportToniStorm we’re here for you girl. The internet can be a nasty dark place. I really hope certain things in this world start to turn around. Invasion of privacy is a very scary thing. Let’s all behave a little more human, please.” The hashtag “#WeSupportToni” quickly trended on Twitter as fans continued to express their unwavering support for Storm.

As the wrestling community comes together to support Toni Storm, it highlights the importance of standing up against online harassment and the impact it has on individuals. The collective voice of support serves as a reminder that no one should face such distressing situations alone, and the community will always lend a helping hand in times of need.

Upcoming Matches and Career Outlook

Storm’s hack comes after WWE star Alexa Bliss criticized “cowards” on social media, tweeting Tuesday: “If I had a Nickel for every negative, judgmental & just straight up rude comment on social media this week. I could’ve retired yesterday. #CmonPeople.” Amid this chaos, Toni Storm is scheduled to fight Rhea Ripley, the NXT UK Women’s Champion, at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool 2019 on January 12. This match is poised to be a significant moment in Storm’s career.

“This is potentially the biggest match of my career so far,” Storm told Express.co.uk in December. “Obviously I have already fought Rhea for the NXT UK Women’s Championship and I came up short. I actually got injured in that match, and my legs lost feeling. But I won the Mae Young Classic and I get another shot at a TakeOver.” Storm’s resilience and determination to overcome challenges continue to inspire her fans.

As she prepares for this pivotal match, Storm remains focused and optimistic. “There’s a lot of pressure on me right now going into this but I got a good feeling and I think it’s going to be a really successful night.” The support from her peers and fans will surely play a crucial role in her mental strength as she steps into the ring once again.