Willow Nightingale delivered shocking news during the May 20, 2026 episode of AEW Dynamite / Collision after revealing she is injured and officially stepping away from competition.
During a backstage segment on the show, Nightingale reflected on her reign as AEW TBS Champion before confirming she suffered a shoulder injury serious enough to force her out of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. She also announced that she is relinquishing the AEW TBS Championship as a result of the injury.
Nightingale had originally been scheduled to face Alex Windsor in the opening round of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament at AEW Double or Nothing. The tournament bracket had only recently been announced and already featured major names including Athena, Mina Shirakawa, Sareee, Hazuki, Skye Blue, Persephone, and Alex Windsor.
The injury now leaves AEW in a difficult position as the company must not only adjust the Owen Hart Tournament bracket, but also crown a brand-new TBS Champion moving forward.
Before ending the segment, Nightingale told fans she fully intends to return even though she does not currently know how long she will be out of action. She made it clear that when she does come back, she plans to return directly to the top of the division.
Nightingale had become one of the central figures in AEW’s women’s division during her run as TBS Champion, making this one of the biggest injury-related shakeups the company has dealt with in months.
Who do you think should become the next AEW TBS Champion now that Willow Nightingale has vacated the title? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.
