Toni Storm Took Time Off Prior To NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff To Deal With Shoulder Injury

Toni Storm reveals nagging shoulder injury heading into NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff.

This Saturday, Aug. 31, Toni Storm defends her NXT UK Women’s Championship against her best friend turned on-screen enemy Kay Lee Ray. Storm hasn’t been active in the last two months on the Independent scene, revealing to Sportskeeda that she’s been dealing with a shoulder injury and didn’t want to make things worse heading into TakeOver.

“Well basically, I’m traveling a lot, I’m working a lot, I’m doing a lot of shows. Obviously, I’m going to be okay for TakeOver. I just had to cancel a few bookings to prevent injury because sometimes you just get to a point and after ten years my body starts to, kind of, fail me a little bit,” said Storm. “But yeah, I did have a little bit of an issue with my shoulder and I just needed to take a break because there’s so much at stake. I’m going into the biggest match of my career so far. My biggest title defense since being champion. So I just have to actually take care of myself for a few weeks leading into this. I can’t take any risks at the moment because what we do to our bodies can be so dangerous so I’m basically just getting myself in proper condition because there’s so much at stake.”

Storm has wrestled for PROGRESS, wXw, and ICW in the last two months thanks to WWE’s relationship with the promotions. Later in the interview, she gave her thoughts on WWE partnering with various Independent promotions and whether she likes being able to wrestle elsewhere.

“Oh, hell yeah! That’s the best part. We still get to do loads of different and exciting things. Like every single company that I go to, whether I’m working at NXT UK, or wXw or Progress, everything is so different that it helps keep it interesting. But at the same time, it does, of course, take its toll. Which is why I’ve had to really just get serious and really take care of myself going into [NXT TakeOver: Cardiff]”

Storm won the NXT UK Women’s Championship at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, defeating Rhea Ripley. She’s defended the title against the likes of Piper Niven, Bianca Belair, and Nikki Cross.

You can view the full lineup for NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff by clicking here.