Paultre was trained byMike Mondo at the New York Wrestling Connection (NYWC) school inDeer Park, New York. On February 27, 2015, Paultre, under the ring name Willow Nightingale, made her professional wrestling debut on NYWC's We Can Do It event, losing to Sammy Pickles.[5] A year after her debut, Nightingale won the NYWC Starlet Championship.[6] On November 21, 2018, atShimmer Women Athletes'Volume 108 event, Nightingale unsuccessfully faced Dust for theHeart of Shimmer Championship.[7] After holding the NYWC Starlet Championship since February 2016, Nightingale lost the title toKris Statlander on February 23, 2019.[8] Nightingale reclaimed the NYWC Starlet Championship on January 25, 2020, defeating then-champion Tina San Antonio in asteel cage match.[9] On February 26, 2022, Nightingale defeated Johnny Radke, Dino Might, andJohn Silver in afour-way match to win the NYWC Fusion Championship.[10]
All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2021–present)
On May 3, 2021, Nightingale made herAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut, competing onAEW Dark: Elevation againstThunder Rosa, to whom she lost.[11] On June 6, Nightingale made herRing of Honor (ROH) debut onROH'sWomen's DivisionWednesday program, where she defeated Alex Gracia.[12] On August 4, Nightingale competed in theROH Women's World Championshiptournament to determine the inaugural champion, losing toAllysin Kay in the first round.[13] On December 3, Nightingale defeatedMandy Leon to become the number one contender for the ROH Women's World Championship.[14] On December 11, atFinal Battle, Nightingale unsuccessfully challengedRok-C for the Women's World Championship.[15] Following Final Battle, ROH went on hiatus. During this hiatus, AEW President and CEOTony Khan purchased ROH.
On April 1, 2022, atSupercard of Honor, Nightingale facedMercedes Martinez for the interim ROH Women's World Championship but was defeated.[16] On April 8, onAEW Rampage, Nightingale participated in theOwen Hart Cup tournament, losing toRed Velvet during a qualifying round match.[17] On June 6 episode ofRing of Honor, Nightingale successfully defended the Strong Women's Championship againstRachael Ellering.[18] On June 17, atRoad Rager, Nightingale challengedJade Cargill in a match for theAEW TBS Championship, which Willow lost.[19] Nightingale challenged for the championship again atBattle of the Belts IV, losing once again.[20] On the October 21 episode ofRampage, it was announced that Nightingale had signed with AEW.[21]
On June 2, 2023, Nightingale defended the Strong Women's Championship againstEmi Sakura on All Elite Wrestling's television showAEW Rampage, marking the first time that title was defended outside of NJPW. On June 17 at the premiere episode ofCollision, Nightingale teamed up withSkye Blue to defeatRuby Soho and theAEW Women's World ChampionToni Storm.[22] Nightingale competed in the 2023Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament, winning overNyla Rose and advancing to the finals by defeatingAthena in the semifinal round.[23][24] On the July 15 episode ofCollision, Nightingale defeated Ruby Soho to win the women's tournament. On July 16, it was announced that Willow will be facingAthena atDeath Before Dishonor of year 2023 for the ROH Women's World Championship.[citation needed] This match main evented the Pay-per-view and during this match Willow was not successful as Athena retained.[25] On September 23, 2023, episode of Collision, Nightingale was injured and pulled from the match againstJulia Hart.Kiera Hogan was Nightingale's replacement in the match against Hart until she was defeated by Hart. Hart attacked Hogan until Skye Blue came out to make the save, but Blue was misted by Hart, "blinding" her.[26]
In late 2023, Nightingale formed a tag team withKris Statlander and they were managed byStokely Hathaway. On April 21, 2024, atDynasty, Nightingale defeated Julia Hart to win the AEW TBS Championship.[27] On the May 1 episode ofRampage, Nightingale successfully defended her TBS Championship against Skye Blue in aManitoba Massacre. On May 26 atDouble or Nothing, Nightingale lost the TBS Championship toMercedes Moné, ending her reign at 35 days. After the match, Nightingale was attacked by Statlander, ending their tag team.[28]
Sometime after splitting with Statlander, Nightingale joinedThe Conglomeration. AtBeach Break on July 3, Nightingale defeated Statlander to advance to the finals of theOwen Hart Cup.[29] On the July 10 episode ofDynamite, Nightingale lost the Owen Hart Cup finals toMariah May due to interference from Statlander.[30] On August 25 atAll In Zero Hour, Nightingale with fellow Conglomeration memberTomohiro Ishii to defeat Statlander and Hathaway.[31] Since Nightingale's team won, she was allowed to choose the stipulation for her and Statlander's match atAll Out on September 7, which she chose to make it aChicago Street Fight. The match was meant to be for theCMLL World Women's Championship but that stipulation was abandoned due toCMLL not allowing titles to be defended in street fights.[32] At All Out, Nightingale was defeated by Statlander, ending their feud.[33] On October 12 atWrestleDream, Nightingale unsuccessfully challenged Mariah May for the AEW Women's World Championship.[34] After WrestleDream, it was reported that Nightingale would take time off to recover from a concussion.[35] On November 23 atFull Gear, Nightingale returned during theAEW World Championship main event between fellow Conglomeration memberOrange Cassidy and championJon Moxley, where she prevented Moxley'sDeath Riders stablemateMarina Shafir from interfering.[36]
Nightingale's personal motto is "Nothing Matters...Smile Anyway", and she portrays a bubbly, upbeat character determined not to be overcome by the pressures of life.[53][54][55] Discussing her philosophy, Willow has said "A hundred billion years from now, none of us are going to be here and nothing that we did is going to be important. All we can control is how we experience life, so I’m doing my best to be around people...and find the best of it all".[56]
Nightingale is dubbed by the AEW commentary team as "the Babe with the Power" (alternatively, "the Babe with thePowerbomb"), which is a reference to theDavid Bowie song "Magic Dance".[56] Nightingale has a tattoo of Bowie on the back of one of her legs, and draws inspiration from Bowie for her persona.[56]
Nightingale has credited Will Washington andJimmy Jacobs with helping her to develop her persona while in AEW.[57]
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