Jeff Hardy’s Willow persona has finally returned to TNA Wrestling.
After weeks of teasing, Jeff Hardy has finally returned as Willow on TNA Impact. In the second match of the Thursday, May 21, 2026 episode of TNA Impact, fans saw Willow return.
As ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy, with Jeff Hardy in his corner, fought Vincent with Dutch, fans saw Willow come back and help Hardy defeat Vincent. The stipulation of the match saw both Hardy and Dutch handcuffed to the ring posts while the other two participants fought in the ring.
Toward the closing moments of the match, fans saw Vincent hold up the feather as the arena lights went off. Soon after, as the lights came back on, Jeff Hardy was no longer handcuffed to the ring post. Instead, Willow was back. He helped Matt Hardy by taking down Vincent and securing the win.
While Willow made his television return tonight, he was previously featured in a segment a few months ago. Willow’s last in-ring bout dates back to a 2014 episode of Impact Wrestling.
The Women’s World Championship match for ROH’s Final Battle pay-per-view is now set.
On the latest edition of ROH TV, Willow Nightingale defeated Mandy Leon in a number one contender’s match. Willow will challenge Rok-C for the ROH Women’s World Championship at Final Battle this Saturday (December 11).
Willow and Leon both won triple threat matches to advance to the number one contender’s bout. Willow defeated Miranda Alize and Angelina Love, while Leon defeated Trish Adora and Allysin Kay.
Rok-C became the inaugural ROH Women’s World Champion by defeating Alize in the finals of a tournament at Death Before Dishonor this September.
A six-man tag team match with Brody King, Homicide & Tony Deppen facing Tracy Williams, Taylor Rust & Eli Isom has also been added to Final Battle.
Final Battle is being held at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore. The show will mark the end of an era for ROH. After Final Battle, ROH will go on hiatus for the first quarter of 2022 to “reimagine” the company. ROH talent won’t have their contracts renewed following the PPV.
Final Battle Hour One will stream for free on HonorClub, YouTube, and Facebook starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday. The main card will then begin on HonorClub and PPV at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Here’s the updated card for the show:
ROH World Champion Bandido defends against Jonathan Gresham
ROH Women’s World Champion Rok-C defends against Willow Nightingale
ROH Tag Team Champions The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defend against The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe)
ROH Pure Champion Josh Woods defends against Brian Johnson
Shane Taylor vs. Kenny King
Brody King, Homicide & Tony Deppen vs. Tracy Williams, Taylor Rust & Eli Isom
ROH Television Champion Dalton Castle defends against an opponent to be announced
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions Shane Taylor Promotions (Moses, Kaun & O’Shay Edwards) defend against The Righteous (Vincent, Bateman & Dutch)
ROH has revealed how Rok-C’s challenger for Final Battle will be decided.
Over the next several weeks, two triple threat matches will take place to determine the two wrestlers who will advance to face each other in a number one contender’s match. The winner of that match will challenge for Rok-C’s ROH Women’s World Championship at Final Battle.
Allysin Kay, Mandy Leon, and Trish Adora will be the participants in the second triple threat match.
The two triple threat winners will meet in their number one contender’s match the week before Final Battle. Details on when this year’s Final Battle pay-per-view will be taking place haven’t been announced.
Rok-C defeated Alize in the finals of ROH’s Women’s World Championship tournament at Death Before Dishonor last month. Rok-C is the inaugural ROH Women’s World Champion, with the title replacing the old Women of Honor World Championship.
On the latest episode of ROH TV, Rok-C was confronted by Love, Leon, Alize, Adora, Willow, and Kay. Maria Kanellis-Bennett then revealed that those would be the six wrestlers vying to challenge Rok-C at Final Battle.
Alize attacked Rok-C on the ramp after the confrontation.
ROH World Champion Bandido & Rey Horus vs. The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) is also set for this weekend’s ROH TV episode, along with The Soldiers of Savagery (Moses & Kaun) vs. Dalton Castle & Dak Draper.
Women’s World Championship tournament action came to Women’s Division Wednesday as Allysin Kay defeated Willow in a fantastic first-round bout.
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The show opened with a message from former Impact Wrestling president Dixie Carter. Carter said one of the greatest things about her time in pro wrestling was the time she spent with the women who wrestled for Impact. Carter said nothing made her prouder than seeing women shine in the main event, carry their own pay-per-view, and be the highest rated segment on television.
Carter said women’s wrestling has never been better or stronger. She congratulated the women in the ROH Women’s World Championship tournament and wished them luck.
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A couple of interviews hosted by Alyssa Marino and LuFisto also aired before the scheduled match between Allysin Kay and Willow. Maria Kanellis-Bennett joined them for the interviews.
Chelsea Green was up first. Green expressed great appreciation for the love that the Ring of Honor locker room has shown her. Green also talked about how she’s able to express herself again and become the “10/10” Chelsea that she knew she could be.
Alex Gracia joined the call shortly after. Gracia spent a few minutes reflecting on her recent loss to Miranda Alize.
Nicole Savoy was the final woman to join the interview. Savoy told a story about her first time in ROH and wrestling LuFisto. Savoy was asked about her upcoming opponent in the tournament Miranda Alize, to which she revealed the two were roommates in Japan.
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ROH Women’s World Championship tournament first-round match: Allysin Kay defeated Willow (11:30)
Chelsea Green joined the commentary team for this match.
Kay started off the bout by showing some great feats of mat wrestling, but Willow countered with some great feats of strength and agility. Willow hit a few big moves, including a phenomenal pump kick. But Kay took back the advantage when Willow couldn’t capitalize on her moves.
Kay got more maniacal and vicious as the match went on, working at a very slow pace. After Kay had full control for a few minutes, she began taunting Willow, which didn’t work out for Kay. Willow eventually heard enough of Kay’s trash talk and registered a forearm to Kay’s neck area. Willow had a good run of offense before it turned into a brutal striking exchange between the two women.
Willow has some really good strikes in her back pocket, as does Kay. Willow capitalized on the split second of time she had by hitting a top rope dropkick on Kay for a close two count.
Willow let her confidence get to her head when she attempted a moonsault, which resulted in Kay rolling out of harm’s way at the last second. Kay followed it up with her signature discus lariat, but Willow rolled out of the ring before Kay could pin her. Back in the ring, Kay countered Willow and locked in a Kimura/Koji Clutch combination. It made Willow tap out instantly.
Two more Tickets to Gold were given out, but one recipient couldn’t accept due to injury. A great tag team bout also took place on the show.
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Lenny Leonard announced that two Tickets to Gold would be given out tonight. He also announced that Maria Kanellis-Bennett and himself would be revealing the Women’s World Championship tournament bracket this Sunday at ROH’s Best in the World pay-per-view.
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Ticket to Gold: Sumie Sakai
Kanellis-Bennett praised Sakai’s work and tenure in ROH, and said they couldn’t host a tournament without her. Sakai was the first-ever Women of Honor World Champion and expressed that she’s looking forward to becoming champion again.
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Allie Recks & Gia Scott defeated Sumie Sakai & Willow (9:30)
Willow and Recks started the bout. Recks couldn’t match Willow’s strength, so Scott tagged herself in. After a few exchanges of strikes and counters, Sakai came in. Sakai sent Scott into the corner and Scott seemed to have a knee injury. When the referee blocked Sakai’s view, Scott popped up and nailed her with a kick.
Scott slapped Recks on the shoulder and demanded she enter the match, which she did reluctantly. Recks and Sakai had a nice little exchange and Recks was able to show off some of her offensive repertoire.
Recks and Scott eventually both got in the ring and tried to double team Sakai, but she was able to make a tag to Willow. Willow came in and bulldozed Recks, then followed it up by planting Scott with a spinebuster. Willow had the momentum until Scott dropped her with a powerbomb that would have secured the win if Sakai didn’t break up the pin.
The final seconds of the match saw Scott plant a kick on Willow’s jaw while the referee was distracted. Recks followed up with a spear for the win.
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Ticket to Gold: Allie Recks
Kanellis-Bennett applauded Recks for the heart she’s shown in her Women’s Division Wednesday matches. Kanellis-Bennett offered a Ticket to Gold to Recks, but Recks revealed that she injured her knee in her match with Max The Impaler a few weeks ago. Recks respectfully declined due to the injury, but Kanellis-Bennett assured her that there will be future opportunities.
Lenny Leonard revealed after the call that two more Tickets to Gold will be awarded on Thursday night via ROH’s social media platforms.
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Final Thoughts —
Very unfortunate news for Allie Recks. I was looking forward to seeing her in the tournament. Sumie Sakai was an expected entrant from the very beginning. I just hope ROH lets a fresh face win the belt.
I enjoyed the tag match thoroughly, although I didn’t like Willow taking the pin. She’s a wonderful wrestler and was the star of this match.
Two new competitors were introduced to ROH fans — and they did not disappoint. Also, another Ticket to Gold was given out.
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Willow defeated Alex Gracia (8:45)
A quick background on both of these competitors: Alex Gracia has been nearly everywhere in the business. She’s wrestled for AEW, NWA, ROW, CMLL, Shine, Stardom, Evolve, Shimmer, and Rise. Willow Nightingale has also been around the block. She’s wrestled for AEW, GCW, Beyond, Shimmer, WoW, and Rise.
When the bell rang, Willow had Gracia on the mat pretty fast in a headlock. Gracia fought out of it and the two exchanged a series of arm drags back and forth. Willow had a great series of offensive attacks before hitting a beautiful suplex.
Willow kept on with constant offense, eventually locking in a unique standing Figure Four and then also applying a Camel Clutch. Gracia was able to escape and attempted to find her footing in the contest.
While Willow was setting up for something big in the corner, Gracia was able to sneak in and hit a great looking lungblower, followed by a running knee in the corner. Gracia was only able to muster a two count out of her series of momentum.
Gracia had sent Willow reeling to the outside after the pinfall attempt, which allowed her to hit a great springboard crossbody to Willow on the outside. Gracia had all the momentum at this point and rolled Willow back in the ring.
Gracia went to the top rope and hit a cannonball onto Willow. Gracia then tried a springboard maneuver, but she was caught in mid-air by Willow. Willow body slammed Gracia and tried to put her away, but she kicked out at two.
In the final sequence of the match, Willow tried to hit a moonsault but nobody was home. The two women then had a standoff that involved trading forearms, which resulted in Willow being able to hit her Dangerous Babe gutwrench powerbomb for the win. What a phenomenal match.
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Ticket to Gold: Willow
Brian Zane was joined backstage by Willow after the match. Zane congratulated Willow on her win and asked if she thought her performance earned her a Ticket to Gold.
Willow said she thought she did great and hoped it was enough to earn a Ticket to Gold. Maria Kanellis-Bennett surprised Willow and praised her performance in the match. Kanellis-Bennett officially gave Willow a Ticket to Gold then and there, officially putting her in this summer’s ROH Women’s Championship Tournament.
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Final Thoughts —
I’m still in awe over that match. It was the best women’s match we’ve seen from ROH since the women’s division returned, bar none. Willow and Gracia are very good performers and their styles meshed together perfectly. Willow especially stood out to me — she had a lot of power and grit behind all of her moves.
While Willow got a Ticket to Gold, I would say Gracia deserves one as well. She showed out in the match, has done great work on AEW Dark, and has a good fanbase behind her on the internet.
Willow is the seventh entrant to be confirmed for ROH’s Women’s World Championship tournament.
On this week’s ROH Women’s Division Wednesday episode, Maria Kanellis-Bennett presented Willow with a Ticket to Gold that grants her a spot in the Women’s World Championship tournament. Willow was given the Ticket to Gold during a post-match interview after defeating Alex Gracia on Women’s Division Wednesday.
Willow also goes by the name Willow Nightingale. She made her AEW debut on an episode of Dark: Elevation last month, losing to Thunder Rosa. Willow also lost to Diamante on Dark last month. Willow has been wrestling since 2015 and was trained at the NYWC Academy.
The ROH Women’s World Championship is a new title that’s replacing the former Women of Honor World Championship. The tournament to crown the first champion is taking place this summer. Here’s the updated list of entrants:
Rok-C
Angelina Love
Miranda Alize
Trish Adora
Allysin Kay
Mazzerati
Willow
Love will be getting a first-round bye in the tournament. Love receiving the bye was a stipulation of her defeating Quinn McKay on ROH TV last month.
ROH hasn’t announced how many entrants the tournament field will consist of. It was set to be a 16-woman tournament when it was originally supposed to take place in 2020, but the tournament was delayed following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week’s Women’s Division Wednesday ended with it being questioned whether we’ll see Gracia again or if her tournament chances have slipped away.
