Willow Nightingale Wins Title Vacated by WWE’s Stephanie Vaquer

In less than two months after losing the AEW TBS Championship to Mercedes Moné at Double or Nothing 2024, Willow Nightingale has won another major belt. This past Saturday, during the NJPW x CMLL Fantastica Mania show, Nightingale bested Viva Van and Lluvia to capture the vacant CMLL World Women’s Title.

Title Stripped and Shifted

The championship was left without a holder under controversial circumstances. Earlier in the week, CMLL chose to strip Stephanie Vaquer of her belts including the CMLL World Women’s and Women’s World Tag Team titles as she exited CMLL and entered NJPW.

That move came after Vaquer had lost the NJPW STRONG Women’s Title to Moné at the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door show that sparked WWE’s interest in her. With Vaquer out of action due to commitments with her new employer, WWE, a triple threat match was announced for Saturday’s event.

While Lluvia was initially seen as the favorite given that she is a signed CMLL talent in the match, it was Nightingale who prevailed and became the first woman wrestler ever to hold titles in AEW, NJPW and CMLL. Reflecting on her win on X (formerly Twitter), Nightingale said: “Not bad for a chubby weirdo dork from Long Island,” adding that it was said “with love and adoration.”

Not bad for a chubby weirdo dork from Long Island https://t.co/ei3Mx3Unbf — Willow Nightingale (@willowwrestles) July 14, 2024

Nightingale showed nothing but resolve when speaking in a post-match interview following her win.

She remembered her prior visit which was also her debut for wrestling promotion CMLL where she picked up a victory over then-champion Stephanie Vaquer. “Stephanie’s not here, championship’s vacant. Who else but Willow Nightingale? Duh,” she said while pounding on her chest.

EXCLUSIVE: TONIGHT on @NJPWWorld, @WillowWrestles walked out of @NJPWGlobal & @CMLL_Oficial Fantasticamania as #CMLL World Women’s Champion! Willow gives her thoughts! pic.twitter.com/0L1qgaaXyr — All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July…