AEW star Willow Nightingale is calling for the company to take a bold step forward by giving its women’s division a Blood & Guts match, a stipulation widely recognized as one of AEW’s most brutal and iconic contests. Speaking in a recent interview with Blavity, the former AEW TBS Champion expressed that the time has come for the women to showcase their toughness and resilience in the same visceral environment long reserved for the men[1][2][3].
Since AEW introduced Blood & Guts in 2021—a match modeled on the classic WarGames format—fans have witnessed mega-stars like Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, and MJF battle it out inside the formidable double-ring steel cage. However, to date, the women of AEW have not been featured in their own Blood & Guts match. Nightingale, a trailblazer who made history as the first woman to compete in AEW’s high-risk Anarchy in the Arena match alongside Marina Shafir, firmly believes that this needs to change.
“To see how the division has evolved from those early days to hold onto all of that wonderful, aesthetically pleasing part of being women’s wrestlers, but still kick ass — I think it’s about time for a Blood & Guts match to happen,” Nightingale said, highlighting the unique identity and toughness of AEW’s female talent[3].
Her remarks come amid growing fan demand and ongoing discussions about expanding the diversity of match types within AEW’s women’s division. Sources close to AEW acknowledge that while the company has been progressive regarding women’s wrestling—allowing more blood and aggressive matches than WWE—the logistics and talent readiness for a women’s Blood & Guts match remain topics of consideration.
AEW President Tony Khan has previously hinted at what would be needed to bring such a match to fruition, emphasizing safety, storyline buildup, and performer readiness. Nevertheless, insiders suggest that support from stars like Nightingale only strengthens the case for a women’s Blood & Guts down the line[1][5].
Beyond advocating for the women’s Blood & Guts, Nightingale also reflected on AEW’s approach to inter-gender wrestling, something she prides herself on helping to progress. Having shared the ring with male competitors such as Swerve Strickland and Jon Moxley, she sees the boundaries of gender-specific wrestling being increasingly blurred in AEW.
“It’s something that I wear with pride—to be one of the people that really helped push the boundaries,” she explained[1][2].
Nightingale’s career trajectory underscores her passion and versatility. Since debuting with AEW in 2021, she has become a fan favorite with her upbeat motto, “Nothing Matters, Smile Anyway,” while simultaneously delivering a hard-hitting, no-nonsense wrestling style. Outside AEW, her accolades include being the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Champion and the 2023 Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament winner[3].
Industry sources from WWE.com, Fightful, and other wrestling news outlets note that Nightingale’s call rings particularly loud in a wrestling landscape that often contrasts AEW’s willingness to push creative and violence boundaries with WWE’s more restrained product[2][5].
With women’s wrestling growing globally and fans clamoring for more high-stakes matches, a women’s Blood & Guts match in AEW could both shatter glass ceilings and redefine expectations for female wrestlers in mainstream American promotions.
As Willow Nightingale boldly voices, “I think we love bearing that. I think we love the viscerality of that. So it’s about time if something like that does happen”[1].
Whether AEW will answer the call and bring their women’s division into Blood & Guts may be one of the most anticipated developments in the company’s near future, promising to elevate women’s wrestling to new, fierce heights.