Popular AEW Star Discusses Wanting To Inspire People Through Hard Work & Authenticity

AEW

A popular AEW star has discussed wanting to inspire people through hard work and authenticity.

Willow Nightingale has become one of the most popular female stars in all of professional wrestling.

In 2023 alone, Nightingale has captured the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship and the Owen Hart Cup as well as becoming the first woman to headline both a ROH and NJPW pay-per-view. She also owns victories over Mercedes Mone, Ruby Soho and Athena.

Speaking with WrestleZone’s Bill Pritchard, Willow Nightingale was asked if she thinks she’s been able to inspire different generations and age demographics. She answered:

“I sure hope so. I think I may have mentioned this in those interviews in the past. But when I first started wrestling, I felt like all of these things about myself, my size, my race, even my disposition, because I’m naturally a very nice person.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m a pushover, but I do think a lot of people view my kindness as naiveté and are willing to see how much they can push me around. Or take advantage of me before I say anything or push back.”

“So I think all of these things when I first started wrestling for the first few years, I thought would be all the reasons where I wasn’t where I am today.”

On her resonating with fans of all ages, Willow said:

“And interestingly enough, I feel like all of those reasons are exactly the things that people resonate with me and have pushed me to excel the way I have.”

“And so, being in the position I am right now. Like I talked to people who will tell me like, ‘my grandmother loves you.”

“Like she used to love wrestling, and she really resonates with you. I love you,’ like just somebody who’s my age.”

Hoping that people are inspired by her to do whatever they want, whether it be pro wrestling or otherwise, Nightingale stated:

“I hope that people coming up wanting to be a wrestler or whatever else because, at the end of the day, I don’t want to just inspire people to become a wrestler or an athlete.”

“I want them to believe that whatever they want to do, they can excel through the hard work and authenticity of being themselves. No matter what it is that they do.”

Willow Nightingale last wrestled in a loss to Julia Hart on the September 27 edition of AEW Dynamite.

Stay up to date with the AEW roster’s win-loss record (for televised matches) at this link.

Willow Nightingale recalls her immediate reaction to Mercedes Moné getting injured and how she kept her cool through the rest of the match.

📰: https://t.co/q5nnrVaRpK pic.twitter.com/yxW7WsdoaK

— WrestleZone (@WRESTLEZONEcom) September 27, 2023

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• inspire
• Willow Nightingale
• AEW

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