Since her WWE exit in 2022, fans have been expecting to see Mercedes Mone in All Elite Wrestling. Being the biggest competitor to WWE in North America, Mone joining their roster seemed like an obvious move for both parties.
However, Mone would choose to instead follow her dreams to Japan, where she wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling and Stardom – becoming the IWGP Women’s Champion.
She would be planned as the first ever NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, but an ankle injury changed plans – and potentially stalled her AEW debut.
AEW & Mercedes Mone Had “Significant Discussions” Before Injury
Both AEW & NJPW are currently building towards the second ever Forbidden Door event – a cross promotional show. With big matches like Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson, this is set to be even bigger than the 2022 event of the same name. However, one name that fans were set to see involved in the show was Mercedes Mone.
Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated would report that ‘significant discussions’ between Mone & AEW had taken place, with Forbidden Door set to hold her debut match for the company.
An injury putting a stop to these plans just delays the inevitable – and gives more time for AEW & Mone to lay down plans for this debut. Mone is one of the biggest draws that NJPW currently has for the United States, and getting her on AEW programming will only amplify her starpower.
Tony Khan has remained tight lipped about any of the plans that were set to take place involving Mone, likely just filing them away for a later date. Depending on the recovery schedule of Mone, a match at All In in Wembley Stadium remains possible – with Mone being a name likely to move some of the remaining tickets for the biggest event in AEW history.
AEW’s Willow Nightingale was the one to defeat Mone in the match to determine the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. Mone herself called an audible at the first sign of industry, giving Nightingale the biggest victory of her career. Nightingale has since defended the belt in AEW against Emi Sakura.
Who would you want to see Mercedes Mone face on the AEW roster? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
