Backstage update on female star's AEW future - Reports
A new report has emerged on the status of a budding female AEW star who suffered a major injury last month. The talent in question, Willow Nightingale, has not competed inside an All Elite ring since WrestleDream 2024.
Nightingale is one of the most popular and promising wrestlers currently employed by the Jacksonville-based company. The 30-year-old star was last seen inside the squared circle on October 25 in Arena Mexico, where she unsuccessfully represented Team World in the 2024 CMLL International Women's Grand Prix.
The former TBS Champion, it was revealed later last month, had sustained a concussion during the aforementioned bout, which forced her to have to withdraw from subsequent CMLL events. Amidst her continued absence from AEW television, it was reported recently by Fightful Select that creative plans for Willow Nightingale in the Tony Khan-led promotion have been "delayed" owing to the concussion she suffered this October.
Prior to her recent All Elite hiatus, Nightingale had challenged Mariah May for the AEW Women's World Championship at WrestleDream 2024 in a re-match of their Owen Hart Cup bout from earlier this year. However, The Glamour managed to retain her title against Willow at the pay-per-view.
Willow Nightingale's year in AEW and pro-wrestling in 2024
Willow Nightingale has had an incredibly eventful 2024 in All Elite Wrestling and elsewhere. In April, she defeated Julia Hart to win the TBS Championship, a belt she defended against Skye Blue on AEW Rampage and against Tam Nakano at Stardom before ultimately losing it to Mercedes Mone at Double or Nothing 2024. The Babe with The Power also competed in the 2024 Owen Hart Memorial Tournament, advancing to the finals, where she was defeated by Mariah May.
Nightingale also briefly held the CMLL World Women's Title this year, which she won in a three-way match against Lluvia and Viva Van in July. She eventually dropped the championship to Zeuxis at the Mexico City-based promotion's 91st Anniversary show on September 13.
The New York native also lost a Chicago Street Fight to her former friend Kris Statlander at All Out 2024 in a culmination of their feud, which began after the latter turned on her at Double or Nothing.
Fans hope the star would get back to the ring after recovering from her concussion and continue her impressive run in AEW soon.