AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla has been on a tear since winning the belt back in February in a brutal strap match against Kris Statlander, and now, she’s set to tackle the newly-returned fan-favorite Willow Nightingale. The clash of the pair’s styles, and the unknown going into AEW All In: London, are what make this match a draw.
The pair went one-on-one just once before, almost exactly a yr ago from Redemption, on “AEW Collision.” Thekla scored the victory after the Sisters of Sin distracted Nightingale and Thekla was in a position to nail her with a spear, followed by her stomp. Within the months which have followed the match, Thekla has only gotten higher, honing her style within the ring to face out on AEW programming and on American television.
In that match, Thekla began to bring out the harder side of Nightingale, something fans know she has in her, perhaps seen best in her street fight against Kris Statlander at All Out 2024. While this match doesn’t have a stipulation, if there’s one thing AEW pay-per-view matches are known for, it’s excellent in ring work, which these two women are sure to bring, stipulation or not.
Thekla has been on a hot streak not only together with her title defenses and wins, but on the microphone in an AEW without “Timeless” Toni Storm. AEW hasn’t been giving Thekla numerous time on “Dynamite” to chop promos on her opponent ahead of its pay-per-views, but she did cut one on Nightingale after she and the Sisters of Sin won the Artist of Stardom Championships. She addressed Nightingale directly and said that no amount of manifesting and dreaming goes to avoid wasting her from what Thekla goes to do. She promised to step into Nightingale’s dreams, “p*** into her clouds” and “break her smile.” In the identical promo, Thekla then pivoted to deal with the 2026 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament winner, Mercedes Mone, who is ready for a shot on the AEW Women’s World Championship in Wembley Stadium.
The very fact Thekla thinks she’ll be the one defending the title against Mone at All In brings the unknown factor into this match. Thekla vs. Mone can be a heel vs. heel feud at Wembley, and it’s possible Nightingale captures her first AEW Women’s World Championship at Redemption to defend against Mone, a girl who she’s had a hot rivalry with over time. A really possible title change, one to learn the babyface Nightingale, is a giant reason this match is a draw.
Written by Daisy Ruth