Willow Nightingale on Her AEW Women’s World Title Win Didn’t Sink In Until Dynamite Show After AEW Redemption & Her Expecting A Split Crowd For Her Match Against Mercedes Mone at All In 2026

FOX News Digital held a recent interview with AEW Women’s World Champion Willow Nightingale. One of the topics discussed included Nightingale’s thoughts about her AEW Women’s World title victory over Thekla at this past July’s AEW Redemption event.

“I think initially when it happened, I didn’t entirely process it, especially like I always feel hung over the day after I wrestle just because it’s so, like, one, I’m getting a little bit older, but two, like you really are just putting everything out there. You’re giving your all and sometimes on show day I do my best to stay hydrated, but sometimes it just takes it all out of you. It dehydrates you a little bit. So, I’m like trying to deal with physically recovering from a match like that because, Thekla, she’s tiny, but she’s tough. She gave me hell. She made it really hard for me to get this championship. And my parents were there and then you immediately get thrown into the press conference into the scrum with Tony Khan, which is exciting. I love all that. I love all the hustle and bustle. I wouldn’t be in this crazy wrestling business if I didn’t love the hustle and bustle.”

Nightingale also gave her thoughts about how the significance of her title win didn’t sink in until the AEW Dynamite show after Redemption.

“But you don’t really get that moment to let it sink in. But the ‘Dynamite’ following Redemption, the Detroit crowd just showed me so much love and that’s really when it hit me. I was like, ‘Holy crap, I’m the world champion.’ So, it has hit me. But I think, going into All In, if I get like a successful title defense under my belt, especially against like Mercedes, I’ll feel kickass, unstoppable. That will be like the test.”

Nightingale also gave her thoughts about her currently expecting to get a split crowd reaction for her upcoming match against Mercedes Mone for her AEW Women’s World title at All In 2026.

“So, I’m definitely expecting a split crowd. I’ll be completely honest. One of my biggest strengths is I know the people are there for me, I know the people are cheering for me, but I would be a fool to not recognize the popularity of Mercedes, even though people see her ways. They see that she’s not truly like a good person at heart. There’s something about her that some people are drawn to. So, I am kind of anticipating that.

My biggest strength maybe being a little torn, a little split, but as I mentioned, anytime you’re kind of at this caliber, we’re All Elite Wrestling. We’re All Elite, and I’m in world championship tier, right? I am the world champ. The people who are going to be facing me for this are going to be elite. They’re going to be bringing their best. They’re going to be giving their all. So, I have to go in already knowing it’s going to be a hard fight. Already knowing I’m going to have to push through when my body wants to give out.”

Nightingale also gave her thoughts about how she is determined to keep it pushing so that she doesn’t embarrass herself in front of an entire stadium.

“A lot of it really comes down to like the mental toughness. Like, can you tell yourself, when you feel like there’s nothing left, you can push a little more? You can give a little more? And then in a crazy stadium like that, with that many people, when they’re all looking down at you, you’re like, ‘Nope, I can’t embarrass myself. I can’t feel shame. I got to keep pushing.’ Which is a thing I’ve felt time and time again where it’s like, listen, you might feel tired. You might feel like you just want to get to the end, but don’t give up. So, I’m preparing myself for that moment.”