B/R's Interview With Willow Nightingale Ahead of AEW Redemption

Willow Nightingale is one of the most popular stars in AEW, and this weekend, she will step into the ring with Thekla to fight for the World Championship.

The Babe With the Power recently returned after being out with an injury that forced her to relinquish the TBS Championship, but now that she is back, she has her eyes set on the biggest prize.

For the past five years, Willow has been a fixture in the AEW women's division. She's won the TBS title and the Owen Hart Tournament, and held gold in NJPW and CMLL during her AEW run.

We spoke with Willow ahead of her big match this weekend about facing Thekla, returning from injury, what the future holds and much more.

Putting Thekla in Check

Bleacher Report: "You're facing Thekla for the world title this Sunday. What is it about her that made you, one of the most positive people, use her 'Dumb b---h' insult against her?

Willow Nightingale: "Listen, first of all, Mick Foley is my favorite wrestler. I love him so much. Obviously, he's a Long Island boy. I always admired how tough he was, doing all this crazy, twisted stuff while also having this really endearing charm, like this sweetness about him.

"And I think seeing those two things, it's a bit inspiring to me, and I've known him since the beginning of my career. I trained with his daughter, Noelle, for a little bit. He always says if [Noelle] ever did have to have her one match, he would want it to be against me, and I take that as a great badge of honor.

"So for [Thekla] to be so disrespectful to me, to be disrespectful to her peers, I get it. Like, whatever, you can talk the talk and do what you have to do to make yourself feel important and powerful, but going off and talking to Mick like that? No, I can't stand for that.

"So I had to remind her, 'You can point fingers at everyone in this division and call us that term, but right now, that's how you're acting. Look in the mirror, girl.' So that's where that came from. That ticked me off."

Relinquishing the TBS Championship

BR: "You had to relinquish the TBS title due to an injury, but you ended up not being out very long. Was the healing process quicker than expected?"

WN: "I, initially upon the injury, thought that I could fight through it and get to wrestle at Double or Nothing. I was being very stubborn and telling the doctors, 'No, no, no, don't worry, you guys can tape me up. It'll be fine. I'll get through the match.'

"And they were like, 'Listen, Willow, honey, let's say for some reason we do clear you. We put you in this match, you are going to get hurt again and be much worse off.' And so at that point they were like, 'We are pulling you from competition. Don't even think about doing the Owen.'

"And honestly, the first few days after my injury, because this happened on a Saturday in Salisbury, Maryland. I was wrestling Red Velvet. I remember the exact moment it happened because I reached for my shoulder and was like, 'It feels like it's in place.' I've never dislocated my shoulder, but I don't think it would feel like this.

"But it sure as hell hurt. It hurt so bad to just move it, let alone to think about using my power moves, or even using like a lariat. I remember I gave Velvet a lariat in the match and was like, 'Oh my god, I think that probably hurt me more than it hurt her at this point.'

"The first few days were so painful. So we weren't entirely sure how long it would be because I was getting to a point where it felt like I was getting close to doing my normal day-to-day stuff, but doing your normal day-to-day stuff is not the same as being a professional wrestler.

"The strength that is required from your joints, the amount of stress they are under, and the potential risk of injury occurring again is so high. So even though you feel like you are on the up and up, being ready to wrestle is a very unpredictable thing.

"So they were telling me 'Listen, girl, you might not think it's too terrible, but you might not be able to wrestle for a very long time.' That was the hard part. I did know that I didn't have to have surgery, so I was hoping it wouldn't be months and months and months.

"So I was very lucky in that regard that it wasn't so terrible."

Five Years From Now

BR: "It's been roughly five years since you joined AEW and you have accomplished a lot in that time. What goals have you set for yourself for the next five years other than winning the world title?"

WN: "When I look five years out, I don't know 100% what my goal is. Obviously, the world championship is something I'm gunning for now. It kind of feels like the thing that I will never be able to really rest until that happens. I am putting a lot of eggs in this basket, and I hope and dream and want for this to happen.

"If it takes me another five or 10 years to chase it, that's what I'll keep doing. I've loved pro wrestling my whole life. It's why people get into it. Yeah, people get into it for fun and to express themselves in new and interesting ways. The aggression, being able to let go of all of that is really cool, but we all get into this because we want to be the world champ.

"That's what inspires us. That's what moves us. So I'll be chasing that thing for as long as I need to. But let's say I do hit my big goal. What comes next? I'm passionate about getting opportunities into the hands of people who are overlooked.

"If I'm in a position where I hit my big goal and I can put my neck on the line a little bit more, maybe rock the boat, ruffle some feathers, maybe make people a bit more angry because I'm being more vocal. I think I would be willing to do that for others.

"There are a lot of people who have helped me and put my name out there and spoken kindly about me in rooms that I wasn't in, and at that point, the best that I can do is return the favor. There are so many women who are on the indies right now, or even on our roster. The girls who are in Ring of Honor, the girls who are on AEW TV but maybe not as regularly. I'll do what I can to help them.

"I don't know how other people view me, if they would want my opinion or even my advice, but I'm here for them. Or even the guys. Think about the queer representation we have in wrestling. I connect with a lot of fans, a lot of people who cheer for me. I know because I go to the shows and I hear you guys, and I'm appreciative.

"This isn't me trying to sound arrogant or anything. I feel so loved. But I also know there's a group of people who really don't like me because I will speak up on trans rights, and that's just not something I'm willing to quiet down on. So I think I could see myself being in more of a position where I'm advocating for people in that realm. Doing more for people who really do get overlooked.

"I was getting my hair done, and my hairdresser asked me, 'What are your fans like?' And I was like, "My fans are like everything. Every walk of life you can imagine, I have a fan like that.' But I do notice when I go to the signings that I have a bunch of queer fans, and I'm very proud of them. I love them. I love that they feel comfortable coming to me in their truest form.

"It makes my heart feel good to know that I can be a safe person for you. And honestly, so much of our locker room is like that. Especially the girls. I love the girls. Gotta shoutout my AEW women's locker room."

Five Years Back

BR: "We've talked about the future, but let's talk about the past. What would you say is the biggest lesson you have learned since joining AEW that has helped you get to where you are today?"

WN: "I think the most important thing is self-advocacy, believing in yourself, and standing up for yourself when you need to. Being a team player is good, having a united vision is great, but only you know who you are authentically, and sometimes you just have to stick up for yourself, which is something I did not do a lot in my 20s.

"The last few years, I've gotten a good sense of who I am and stuck up for myself a bit more when I have to, and that is across all areas of my life."

Potential Opponents

BR: "You mentioned wanting to help out other women. AEW has a stacked roster right now. Is there anyone you haven't faced yet that you are dying to get in the ring with?"

WN: "That's a good question. So, Maya World is somebody that I wrestled on the indies one time. I would really like to do that on a bigger platform, especially with the way she has stepped up in the past month or two.

"If I was 23, I think she just turned 24, to be that young and be put on television and thrust into the position that she's found herself in, and not just handle it with grace, but absolutely knock it out of the park. I wouldn't have been able to do that when I was 23. At least I don't think so. She's in that position and she doesn't waver.

"The other week, I did an in-ring promo with The Conglomeration. Doing a live promo is something I always get butterflies about because wrestling, I'm so comfortable with that. But speaking in front of people is still something that gives me such a rush because I'm not as experienced at this.

"So I come back from that and Tony [Khan] calls me over, and he goes, 'Hey Willow, I think I want to do a live promo with you and Maya because I want you guys to do a trios match, and I want you guys to announce a trios match for the next Dynamite. So if you guys could get together and do that.'

"And I was like, 'Sure, sure, sure.' So I had to do a live promo and get back into it, but also, I'm throwing this at Maya, who is still pretty new to the live TV thing, and if I've been doing this for five years, how does she feel? And she just took the whole thing with so much grace.

"Enough about putting Maya over [laughs]. Zayda Steel is somebody that I have seen working before shows, training with Lee Moriasrty, who is somebody who is always working in the ring with somebody who wants to learn more before shows. So shoutout to Lee, but Zayda is somebody who finds herself there.

"I don't know if it's realistic, but Lee Moriarty is somebody I would like to wrestle. I do come from independent wrestling, and intergender wrestling is something that has such a big place in my heart. I feel like, for so long, women's careers were shorter. You didn't really get as many women out there on the independent scene.

"Because when girls started getting some buzz, they would get picked up and signed somewhere. There were veterans for us to learn from, but it was limited. So if you really wanted to work with somebody who had all the experience and pass that onto you through the art of pro wrestling, you had to be wrestling guys.

"That is something I love doing. I got to do a little bit of it when I was kind of added to the Death Riders story. I think Eddie Kingston is somebody I have always really wanted to wrestle. Or even do like a mixed tag. I think that would be so fun. Kyle Fletcher, I really want to wrestle. There are so many guys on the roster I would love to wrestle.

"All of the guys in The Comglomeration, I would love to wrestle any of them."

Movie Review

BR: "We always end our interviews with a movie review. Last time we spoke, you talked about The Barbie Movie. Is there anything you have seen recently you would like to talk about?"

WN: "The first thing that came to mind is Matilda. It's been months since I watched it, but it really stuck with me. I was home, and my boyfriend and I were looking for something to watch, and we were like, 'Let's put this on. Something lighthearted before bed.'

"And I forgot how much I loved that movie. Visually, it's so fun. Movies don't look fun like that anymore. Maybe it's just because I'm not watching kids' movies. That is a possibility. But every detail from the set design to the way the characters dress is so whimsical and has some flavor, some character to it.

"And there are bits of the story that are so ridiculous, I truly belly laughed. Whoever might be listening or reading or whatever, there is a scene where a kid gets punished, and he has to eat a whole chocolate cake, and the school is cheering him on.

"And then Miss Trunchbull takes the glass plate the cake was on and smashes it over the kid's head, and I was like, 'I don't remember that!' [Laughs]. If you are somebody who is around my age range and you grew up and loved that movie, go rewatch it. Do yourself a favor, it's such a delight. You can put it on whenever. You'll get a good chuckle, a nice smile out of it.

"Things are hard out here in this world. You need something that's going to make you feel a little bit lighter. Matilda will do it."