Report: Willow Nightingale Originally Scheduled To Win AEW Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament

All Elite Wrestling's plans for the Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament have changed multiple times in 2026 due to wrestlers being ruled out of action.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the original plan for the AEW Women's World Title match at All In - with the title shot being earned by winning the Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament - was Toni Storm challenging Thekla for the belt. Those plans were scrapped, though, after Toni Storm was written off TV on the post-Revolution episode of Dynamite, with it being noted Storm was expected to be out of action for the rest of 2026 due to something that is not an injury.

AEW pivoted to plans for Thekla vs. Willow Nightingale at All In 2026 after Storm was ruled out, but Willow vacated the TBS Championship and withdrew from the Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament on the May 20 episode of Dynamite due to an injury she suffered during a TBS Title defence against Red Velvet on May 16.

The Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament final at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door consists of two replacement wrestlers in Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World. Moné replaced Willow Nightingale in the tournament, while Maya World filled in for Sareee.

Willow Nightingale is a former Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament winner, having won the 2023 edition of the tournament by defeating Ruby Soho in the final.