Moving onto whom this writer feels should take the title, and it has to be said that this was not an easy decision, but the story for Jamie Hayter is one that cannot be ignored. Before rationalizing that pick, it’s worth noting that the likes of Kris Statlander, Athena, and Willow Nightingale were all considered, as well as Mone. All would have been great options, all with their own justifications, whether it be the established pedigree of Athena – that could maybe do with AEW legitimacy – or the yet-uncrowned main eventers in Nightingale or Statlander. But honestly, none quite felt right to be the one that ends this champion’s current reign. 

Hayter has only just recently returned from injury, having got injured shortly after returning from injury, but prior to that, she was the AEW Women’s World Champion having rose to prominence in popularity and position to dethrone “Outcast” Toni Storm at Full Gear 2022. For her part, she reigned as champion for 190 days fending off former champions Riho and Hikaru Shida, as well as Ruby Soho and eventual champion Saraya, but unfortunately the aforementioned injury struck and she dropped the title back to Storm at Double or Nothing 2023 after just three minutes of action. 

Hayter has had a rough time trying to get back into a place where she could challenge for the title again, having fallen runner-up in the Owen Hart Cup and losing contendership bouts, but fortune could favor her in the fact she has a place in the incumbent championship four-way. Whether she should win the title in Toronto is another matter entirely, likewise for whether she will. But in any case, one feels like she makes sense as both a champion and someone to dethrone Storm, someone that has already done it, and would arguably be righting the wrong of her injury-halted title run.