Former AEW Champion Replaced In Upcoming Match

AEW

A former AEW TBS Champion has been replaced in an upcoming international match set to take place on July 18 at an iconic venue.

On July 9, it was revealed that AEW star Willow Nightingale would be making her return to Japan to compete at TJPW Summer Sun Princess at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Addressing her match against Mizuki, Nightingale would reflect on her recovery from injury and her goals ahead, including her return to TJPW, in a post shared on Twitter.

With just one day to go until the event, it was confirmed by TJPW that Nightingale would not be able to compete in the match, with travel issues being responsible in a statement that reads:

“Willow Nightingale, who was scheduled to compete in “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’26” at Korakuen Hall on Saturday, July 18th, has had her flight to Japan cancelled.

“We have been working to arrange an alternative flight, but it has become difficult for her to arrive in time for the start of the event, so she will unfortunately have to withdraw from the tournament.”

Nightingale would address the decision to withdraw from the match, highlighting the attempts that were made to make it happen, tweeting:

“I tried to exhaust every option, but a flight issue in the middle of my travel day has prevented me from making it to Tokyo in time

“I’m sorry to fans who were looking forward to our match. Heck, *I* was really looking forward to it but I still l want to face @mizupyon3 one day!”

Mizuki will still be competing, with Nightingale’s replacement being confirmed as Chris Brookes, a star familiar with TJPW, having competed there previously.

Brooks first competed in TJPW at Grand Princess in March 2024, teaming with Emi Sakura in a loss to Magical Sugar Rabbits (Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki).

In May of this year, Nightingale was forced to vacate the TBS Championship and withdraw from the Owen Hart Tournament due to injury, making her AEW return on the Beach Break episode of Dynamite and winning the Women’s World Championship Number One Contender’s Casino Gauntlet.

She heads to AEW Redemption to challenge Thekla for the Women’s World Championship on July 26.

Chris Brookes: An English Star Makes His Mark In Japan

Chris Brookes has been a fixture in Japanese wrestling since 2019, signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling and carrying his creativity to Baka Gaijin + Friends, a series of shows co-produced by friend and fellow professional wrestler Drew Parker.

Brookes headed to Japan having been a prominent fixture on the independent wrestling scene in the United Kingdom, forming CCK with Kid Lykos and bringing their relatively unique brand of creativity to many of the top promotions across the country. Add to this his Death By Roll-Up clothing brand, and it becomes apparent the level to which Brookes’ mind extends.

Standing at 6 ft 4 in and weighing 207lbs, there are few stars that look like Brookes who can carry themselves with the sort of confidence and ability that has underpinned a career seeing him holding championships in many of the promotions that he has graced with his presence.

Japan was always in Brookes’ goal, and he’s certainly made a home there. Even a WWE contract offer wasn’t enough to derail the vision he had for his own future.

A two-time DDT Universal and Extreme Champion, he has also held the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship six times. The current KO-D Tag Team Champion (alongside Harashima), it’s a title he held twice previously, along with being a 10-Man Tag Team Champion and a two-time Openweight Champion.

It should come as little surprise that Brookes has found himself in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, the sister promotion of DDT Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah, despite it being an all-female company. Brookes is rarely one to stay in any particular lane and brings creativity wherever he goes.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• AEW
• Chris Brookes
• TJPW
• Willow Nightingale

Share this article with friends