Mercedes Mone’s reign as TBS Champion will face a significant challenge against her longtime adversary Willow Nightingale. AEW CEO Tony Khan revealed during the World’s End post-show media scrum that Mone will defend her TBS title against Nightingale at AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash, set for December 31st in Omaha, Nebraska.
Khan mentioned, “If you haven’t seen or heard about it, The Conglomeration holds many championships and aims to claim more, especially after Willow’s recent victory over Mercedes Mone.” He added that TNT Champion Mark Briscoe is part of The Conglomeration, a fitting detail since Nightingale and Mone were involved in a tag team finish that night. It has been officially announced that former TBS Champion Willow Nightingale, who currently holds the AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship with Harley Cameron, will face Mone for the TBS Championship on New Year’s Eve.
Highlighting the storyline, Nightingale pinned Mone at World’s End, helping to secure her and Cameron’s tag titles. After the match, while Nightingale and Cameron celebrated, Mone’s tag partner Athena left the ring, expressing frustration towards AEW’s CEO. This pin marked Nightingale’s second time defeating Mone, with the first occurring during New Japan Pro Wrestling’s 2023 return, where Mone sustained a serious ankle injury. Despite calls to alter the match’s ending, Nightingale secured victory with two powerbombs. Mone eventually avenged this loss by reclaiming the TBS Championship at AEW Double or Nothing.
Fan Take: This match is a pivotal chapter in the intense rivalry between two of AEW’s top women wrestlers, promising high stakes and high drama going into the new year. For AEW fans, this showdown not only showcases elite competition but also reinforces the prominence of the women’s division, potentially setting the tone for fresh storylines and rivalries in 2024.
