At STARDOM Sunshine 2023, Giulia issued a challenge to Willow Nightingale for the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship. In a video later posted on NJPW’s Twitter account, Willow officially accepted Giulia’s challenge. Nightingale said,
“I woke up this morning, the morning of Forbidden Door, ready to face Toni Storm for the AEW World Women’s Championship but I log in to Twitter and I saw what Giulia had to say. I saw her issue a challenge. Now, being the New Japan STRONG Women’s Champion is very important to me, very near and dear to my heart, and, of course, I’m going to want to defend that against the very best. I’m really well known here in the United States, but if you know anything about the Japanese women’s wrestling scene you know exactly who Giulia is. So Giulia, I hear your challenge and I look forward to having a fight with you and showing all the Japanese fans exactly what Willow Nightingale’s about.”
This past Saturday on AEW Collision, Nightingale advanced to the semifinals of the Owen Hart Cup tournament, defeating Nyla Rose in the first round.
Then last night at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door II, Nightingale suffered a defeat at the hands of AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm.
.@willowwrestles has responded to the challenge laid down by @giulia0221g!#njpwSTRONG Independence Day July 4 & 5:https://t.co/2PVocYAxRP pic.twitter.com/thRNiIe6sB
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 26, 2023
