Former AEW champion Willow Nightingale was scheduled to wrestle in Japan this weekend. The beloved babyface star has now broken her silence after it was revealed that she would not be able to make it to the event due to travel issues.

On Dynamite: Beach Break, Willow Nightingale made her return to All Elite Wrestling programming after weeks of teases to participate in and win a Women's Casino Gauntlet match that took place on the episode. The victory earned The Babe with The Power a shot at the AEW Women's World Title set for Redemption 2026. However, the fan favorite could not celebrate her triumph for long, as she was ambushed by reigning Women's Champion Thekla and afterward by this year's Owen Hart Cup winner, Mercedes Mone.

This week in the main event of AEW Dynamite, Willow joined forces with Hyan and Maya World to battle The CEO and her new allies, The Divine Dominion, in an unsuccessful effort. It was revealed afterward that Nightingale would be heading to Japan for a singles match against Mizuki at TJPW Summer Sun Princess on Saturday. However, a more recent update from Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling announced that the former TBS Champion had to withdraw from the event due to travel issues.

Willow took to X/Twitter herself a few hours ago to explain the situation, noting that despite exploring various options, neither she nor TJPW was able to figure out a way to fly her to Tokyo on time for the show. She further apologized to fans who were eager to see her wrestle and voiced her desire to face off against Mizuki someday in the future.

Nightingale was replaced in her bout against the "Popping Sugar Rabbit" by Chris Brookes.

This Wednesday, Hyan, Maya World, and Willow Nightingale had the tall task of taking down Mercedes Mone and the dominant AEW Women's World Tag Team Champions, Megan Bayne and Lena Kross (aka The Divine Dominion). Although the babyface trio put on a valiant effort against the recently formed heel alliance, Mercedes ultimately secured the win for her side by planting Hyan with the Mone Maker.

After Dynamite, "Ultimo" Mone took to X/Twitter to share a photograph of herself with The Megasus and her Colossal partner, posting with it a witty non-PG caption.

If Willow manages to dethrone Thekla for the AEW Women's World Title at Redemption 2026, she will be defending the strap against "Ultimo" Mone at All In: London.

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