Toni Storm has been forced to close all her social media accounts. Photo / Instagram
Toni Storm has been forced to close all her social media accounts. Photo / Instagram
The WWE universe — including former victim Paige — have shown their support to Auckland-born wrestler Toni Storm after hacked naked photos were leaked online.
Storm — a 23-year-old from the Gold Coast — has been forced to delete both her Twitter and Instagram accounts after images and a videowere shared across social media.
The wrestling world has come together to support the young star, who wrestles with the development arm NXT UK, including a message from SmackDown General Manager Paige.
Toni Storm appears on the red carpet of the WWE Mae Young Classic in Las Vegas in September 2017. Photo / Getty
Paige, 26, was also the victim of hackers in 2017 and revealed how her sex-tape leak left her suicidal.
"#WeSupportToniStorm from someone that has experienced the same thing I strongly support you girl," she wrote.
"It's gonna be hard and people are gonna be mean because they don't understand.
"But you're strong, talented woman. You'll get through this. Your future is too bright to be dimmed."
#WeSupportToniStorm from someone that has experienced the same thing I strongly support you girl. It’s gonna be hard and people are gonna be mean because they don’t understand. But you’re a strong, talented woman. You’ll get through this. Your future is too bright to be dimmed.
There are some really SICK People in this World!! I don’t know who the F$&@ you are to harass someone or invade their Lives like this, but I truly pray for the best for Toni Storm and whoever did this You deserve everything negative coming your way YOU🤬🤬🤬#WeSupportToniStorm
#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.
Born Toni Rossall in Auckland, Storm was raised on the Gold Coast after her parents divorced and made her debut with Impact Pro Wrestling Australia as a 13-year-old.
Storm's mother sold hot dogs at wrestling shows in order to secure her daughter's in-ring education.
"When I was 10 I was a huge fan of the Hardy Boys, Mickie James and Trish and I was like 'I want to be like that'," she told The Sun last year.
"I remember there was a moment with my mum when she said to me 'you're going to be like those bloody wrestlers' and I thought to myself 'you know what mum, yes I am!' And that's what I did."
She moved to Liverpool in the UK to further her dreams, training under Dean Allmark, before attending WWE try-outs in 2014 and 2015.
Her talents soon caught the eye of Triple H and WWE and she is now part of the newly-launched NXT UK brand.
Toni storm is a great wrestler one of the brightest stars in wrestling today don't let the troll's get to you just continue to be one of the best in wrestling & know all your fans have your back #WeSupportToniStorm#ToniStorm#ToniTimepic.twitter.com/NgzLY4lJbY
But her rise to success did not come without sacrifice — and she will be ever thankful to her mum for helping her dreams become a reality.
"She was reluctant about me wanting to become a wrestler at the start as I was very young, but after a lot of nagging she let me when I was 13," she said.
"My mum was on her own with me and my little sister so we didn't have much.
Toni Storm in action during the Progress Wrestling Super Strong Style 16 final in London last year. Photo / Getty
"So because she couldn't afford the fees, what she'd do is go to each show and help sell hot dogs and drinks and for that they agreed to train me for free. Then when I was old enough I hopped on a plane to the UK.
"It was meant to be three months but I've ended up staying and I'm still there. Now I feel like a bit of an honorary Brit.
