Willow Nightingale claims the TBS Championship. Becky Lynch conquers the WWE Women’s World Championship battle royal. Anita Vaughan speaks with WrestleZone, and more. Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Willow Nightingale Wins TBS Championship
The third time was indeed the charm for Willow Nightingale at AEW Dynasty.
Last month, Nightingale defeated the likes of Anna Jay, Kris Statlander, and Skye Blue to earn a title shot against reigning TBS Champion Julia Hart at the Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21. Heading into this title match, Nightingale carried forth an 0-2 record against Hart in singles competition. At Dynasty, though, her fate changed.
In a back-and-forth bout, Hart and Nightingale laid out their best moves on one another. Toward the end of the contest, Hart locked Nightingale in her Hartless submission – a move Nightingale firmly powered out of. Hart later attempted to shift the tide back into her favor with her moonsault, but once again, Nightingale countered. As such, after following up with the Doctor Bomb, Nightingale then secured the three-count pinfall and the TBS Championship.
Elsewhere on the card, Toni Storm successfully defended her AEW Women’s World Championship against Thunder Rosa.
An Emotional Victory
Following her victory, Nightingale appeared on the post-show media scrum to discuss the whirlwind of emotions surrounding that moment.
“You hear about people becoming champions, it’s maybe a little redundant but it’s only because it’s true. It’s unreal,” Nightingale said. “I was a wrestling fan since I was a kid. And… I don’t know… Much to the dismay of my parents at times, who are here, mom, dad, I got my sister over here at the side. They came out to support me today. And this is always what I wanted to do. So, to be here, and to now be the face of TBS, it’s surreal but it’s also not. It’s reality. And l made this happen. So, yeah, I feel very invigorated.”
With her win at AEW Dynasty, Nightingale now looks ahead to AEW Double or Nothing on May 26. There, she will be tasked with defending the TBS Championship against recent AEW signee Mercedes Mone. Moné and Nightingale previously faced off for the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship in May 2023. Unfortunately for Moné, this match resulted in a serious ankle injury that would keep her out of action for a year.
RELATED: Willow Nightingale Reacts To Speculation About Mercedes Moné’s Attacker In AEW
Becky Lynch Conquers The WWE Women’s World Championship Battle Royal
Willow Nightingale wasn’t the only new champion crowned over the last week.
After WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley revealed that she was forced to relinquish her title due to injury, WWE set out to crown a new champion. Accordingly, 14 women from the WWE Raw roster vied for the vacant title in a high-stakes battle royal. Participants in this battle royal included the likes of Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, Liv Morgan, and Becky Lynch, the latter two of which emerged as the last two standing.
Following Jax’s shocking elimination from the field, Morgan and Lynch fiercely fought to send the other crashing down to the floor. At one point, it looked liked Morgan had clutched the win by rocking Lynch with a codebreaker on the apron. In the end, though, Lynch kept her balance to deliver a Manhandle Slam on Morgan for the win. As such, Lynch was crowned as the new WWE Women’s World Champion.
With this win, Lynch marks her eighth overall singles championship reign in WWE, and her first with the Women’s World Championship title.
“I’ve never held this championship before,” Lynch told Jackie Redmond in a Raw exclusive. “Look at it; it’s beautiful. Look, for the last few months, Rhea even said it. I’ve been burning the candle at all ends. I’ve been away from my daughter for weeks on end. Got myself a New York Times Best Seller for a damn near month so far, but man, it’s worth it. It’s worth it, man. Because the words of my book are written on my gear. And it reminds me why I do this, where I started, where I’ve gotten to. And we are just going up baby! We are just going up.”
RELATED: Liv Morgan: Rhea Ripley’s Injury Is Karma, She Got What She Deserved
INTERVIEWS
NLW Women’s Champion Anita Vaughan spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about pursuing a PhD in physical literacy, her extensive background in sports, her partnership with Debbie Keitel, combatting the fears of not “making it” in wrestling, her desire to wrestle the best of the United Kingdom, her recent outing at wXw’s 16 Carat Gold series, and more.
TBS Champion Willow Nightingale joined WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard to talk about facing Julia Hart at AEW Dynasty, her history (and potential future) with Mercedes Moné, Stokely Hathaway, going viral with Rex Lawless, her “worst match” ritual, and more.
Former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about what goals she has left in WWE, potentially doing a Bloodsport fight, working with Gail Kim, the match that best represents her career and more.
AEW’s Mariah May appeared on Ring the Belle to discuss her run in STARDOM that put her on the map, Club Venus with Mina Shirakawa, joining AEW, her “special” relationship with Toni Storm. the influence of the WWE Divas era, comparison to WWE’s Tiffany Stratton, and more
“The Stunner” Emily Jaye chatted with BodySlam.Net about training at Flatbacks, her in-ring appearance on Ring of Honor, her love for Taylor Swift, almost taking on a spooky persona, her relationship with Liv Morgan, and more.
WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella appeared on Threads with McKenzie Mitchell to talk about motherhood, some of their iconic in-ring looks, and how it felt to do “Twin Magic” each week in WWE, and more.
RESULTS
Uprising Women Athletes: Uprising 2, April 19
- Maki Itoh defeated Black Swan
- Kylie Rae defeated Jazmin Allure
- The Hale Sisters (Briar Hale & Sage Hale) defeat Dani Mo & Emily Jaye
- Tara Zep defeated Alice Crowley
- Megan Bayne defeated Masha Slamovich
- Trish Adora defeated Shazza McKenzie
- Zamaya defeated Mia Friday (6:54)
- Hyan defeated Miyu Yamashita (11:27)
- Uprising Alternative Title Four-Way Match (vacant): Rebecca J. Scott defeated J-Rod, Janai Kai and Vert Vixen
- Emi Sakura defeated Viva Van
- Gabby Forza defeats Amira
- Maggie Lee & Zayda Steel defeated Billie Starkz & Brittnie Brooks
Mission Pro Wrestling: Mission Pro Mania, April 20
- Kalientita defeated London Dior
- Shay Carmichael defeated Zyra
- Queen Uju defeated Angel Blue
- Mission Pro Cup Title San Antonio Stampede: Izzy Moreno defeated JP Harlow (c)
- Miranda Alize defeated Denisse Dae
- MPW Tag Team Title / NWA World Women’s Tag Team Title: King Bees (Charity King & Danni Bee) [NWA] defeated Dream World (Kiah Dream & Maya World) [MPW]
- Holidead defeated Ladybird
- MPW Championship Strap Match: Tiffany Nieves (c) defeated Rache Chanel
