Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa of Timeless Love Bombs embraced the holiday theme in their semifinal showdown against Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir in the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship tournament. Following their win at AEW Full Gear 2025, they opted for a Hardcore Holiday Deathmatch, which played to their advantage, securing their win and a spot in the finals.
Storm initiated the chaos by smashing a champagne bottle over Shafir’s head, causing Shafir to bleed throughout the match. The shattered bottle was then used against Bayne, along with a barbed wire-wrapped candy cane swung by Shirakawa. Bayne briefly gained control with a double suplex on both Storm and Shirakawa, but the fight spilled outside the ring where Bayne threw Shirakawa, and Shafir dragged Storm out as well.
In a commercial break that added to the brutality, Bayne struck Shirakawa’s back with his cane, while Shafir recovered in the ring. Bayne tried to slam Storm through a table, but despite escaping, Storm faced an uphill battle. When action resumed, Shafir tied Shirakawa to the ropes and repeatedly hit her with a frying pan, while Bayne assaulted Storm with a steel chair. Storm responded with her signature move, Storm Zero, breaking a table in the process.
Shafir attempted to trap Shirakawa in Mother’s Milk using duct tape, but Storm cleverly passed her a broken pool cue, which Shirakawa used to stab Shafir and escape. Shirakawa hit an impressive crossbody and a sling blade onto a steel chair, narrowly missing a pin. Bayne ultimately speared Shirakawa through a table, but Storm’s counterattack on Bayne caused a collision that knocked Shafir down.
The match climaxed when “Santa Claus” appeared, distracting Shafir; it was actually Luther in disguise, who handed Storm a shoe. Shafir was struck with the shoe and fell onto a bed of thumbtacks, allowing Storm to pin her for the victory. Timeless Love Bombs will take on the Babes of Wrath on December 10 at AEW Dynamite’s Winter is Coming, where the winners will be crowned the first-ever AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions.
Fan Take: This intense match highlights AEW’s dedication to blending athleticism with dramatic storytelling, elevating the women’s tag division. The creation of the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions adds a fresh and exciting chapter to the sport, promising fierce competition and unforgettable moments for fans.
