Willow Nightingale, the current AEW TBS Champion, is rumored to be among the AEW wrestlers attending New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 event at Tokyo Dome on Sunday. Reports from PWInsider Elite mention that Nightingale, who recently won her second TBS Championship by defeating Mercedes Mone at AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash, will be present at the event.
It is unclear whether Nightingale will actively participate in the show or just attend to watch New Japan Pro Wrestling president Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final match against Kazuchika Okada, a major storyline as Okada is considered AEW’s rival. NJPW has also confirmed that Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, the latter currently sidelined from AEW TV due to neck surgery, will attend the event.
Apart from the headline match between “The Ace” Tanahashi and “The Rainmaker” Okada, Wrestle Kingdom 20 features multiple high-stakes title bouts. This includes a Winner Takes All clash between IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita and IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji, as well as another unification match for the IWGP Women’s and Strong Women’s Championships involving Saya Kamiya and Shuri. Additionally, former Olympic judo gold medalist Aaron Wolf is set to make his pro wrestling debut at this event.
Wrestle Kingdom 20 marks a major occasion for New Japan Pro Wrestling as it aims to rebound from post-pandemic attendance challenges, with the event expected to be the biggest at Tokyo Dome in 25 years. It was reported by Fightful on December 12th that the event has officially sold out.
Fan Take: Willow Nightingale’s presence at Wrestle Kingdom signals a growing collaboration and mutual respect between AEW and NJPW, which could open doors for exciting cross-promotional storylines. For AEW fans, this is a thrilling chance to see their favorite stars gain international exposure and elevate the sport to new heights globally.
