Report: Previous Push Within AEW For Thekla To Be Involved In Women's World Title Match At All In 2026

Had some backstage pushing been accepted, the AEW Women's World Championship match at All In 2026 might not have been a singles match.

Fightful Select has reported that Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale for the AEW Women's World Title at All In has been the plan for months, dating back to at least around the time when Toni Storm was written out of AEW programming in March 2026. However, when Thekla began heating up as AEW Women's World Champion, there were some in All Elite Wrestling who pushed for her to be involved in the title match at All In. It is unknown who exactly pushed for Thekla to be added to the August 30 match.

Thekla had been AEW Women's World Champion until she dropped the belt to Willow Nightingale at the Redemption pay-per-view on July 26. Willow's win ended Thekla's reign after 165 days, having defeated Kris Statlander for the title in February and successfully defended the belt against the likes of Thunder Rosa, Mina Shirakawa, Jamie Hayter, Alex Windsor, and Starlight Kid.

Mercedes Moné earned a shot at the AEW Women's World Title at All In through her Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament win, with Moné only ending up as part of the tournament after Nightingale withdrew due to injury.

It has been suggested that AEW would have booked Nightingale vs. Moné at All In by having Willow win the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, while Moné would have captured the AEW Women's World Title from Thekla.