Mercedes Moné isn’t just playing the role of CEO on AEW TV, but the TBS Champion plans on making it a reality. Speaking with Katee Sackhoff, Moné shared her desire to build her legacy in wrestling outside of the ring.
“I definitely want to help own a wrestling company one day and be the woman of change and voice of change over there for any wrestling company that wants to have me.”
Moné, who joined AEW less than a year ago, added that she has always wanted to serve as a shareholder and “be a part of helping and creating” in wrestling.
Should Moné found her own promotion, she’d join a long list of talents to make the move from competitor to promotor. In 2002, Jeff Jarrett co-founded TNA Wrestling, aware that WWE would not want to rehire him after his controversial exit in 1999. Years later, Cody Rhodes and the Elite would found AEW, the promotion Mone works for to this day.
It remains to be seen if Moné creates her own company, but in the meantime, she continues to excel in the ring as the AEW TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. Next month will mark one year since her AEW debut. With her one-year anniversary looming, Mone certainly has big plans, both in and out of the ring.
Mercedes Moné retained her AEW TBS Title at Grand Slam: Australia against Harley Cameron and now the CEO has her next challenger lined up. During Wednesday’s Dynamite, Moné was being interviewed by Renee Paquette when a video aired featuring Stardom star Momo Watanabe issuing a challenge for the TBS Championship at next month’s Revolution pay-per-view in Los Angeles, California.
Watanabe was in attendance at Grand Slam: Australia and was shown at ringside during Moné’s successful title defense. After the CEO’s victory in Brisbane, Moné gloated in front of Watanabe, teasing a future showdown. On Dynamite, Moné wasn’t pleased with the surprise challenge, stating that if Watanabe wants an answer, she needs to show up on Dynamite.
If the match takes place, it won’t be the first time these two have faced off. Last August at Capital Collision, Moné successfully defended her NJPW Strong Women’s Championship against Watanabe. Mone still holds the title as one of the many championships in her possession.
AEW Revolution 2025 is set for March 9th, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. This will be the sixth annual Revolution event and AEW’s first at the Crypto.com Arena.
Latest AEW Revolution 2025 Card
AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Cope (Adam Copeland)
MJF vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) (with Don Callis) vs. Kenny Omega
Harley Cameron’s homecoming did not go as planned at AEW Grand Slam: Australia as she was unable to capture the TBS Championship. Arguably the biggest sentimental favorite going into Grand Slam, Cameron arrived to a hero’s welcome in the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Harley Cameron has returned HOME for the BIGGEST CHALLENGE of her career!
The two women traded momentum, with Cameron’s puppet of the CEO also coming into play. Mercedes Moné would punt her miniature doopelganger into the second row, riling up the crowd, who were already firmly behind Harley, even further.
Despite Cameron’s best efforts, Moné won with her Mone Maker, earning her 14th consecutive TBS Championship defense. Though she didn’t linger in the ring with Cameron following her victory, the champ gloated in front of STARDOM’s Momo Watanabe, who was sitting ringside.
Cameron coming up short will come as a disappointment to many but only proves that The CEO is ready to dash the hopes of all challengers, even in their home country. It remains to be seen who will ultimately end Moné’s impressive title reign, and whether it could be Watanabe who takes the TBS gold.
Mercedes Moné successfully retained her AEW TBS Championship at Worlds End, but Kris Statlander wasn’t the CEO’s only battle on the night. In the latest edition of her Moné Mag newsletter, Mercedes shared that in the days running up to the show, she was dealing with exhaustion and “the lingering effects of a relentless illness.”
The day of the show, Moné felt even worse, raising questions backstage as to whether she’d be able to compete.
“I reached out to my doctor for advice on managing my illness, and on the day of the event, I was terrified about how I would make it through the show.”
Moné was seen to by her Boston’s Vital Care team, who provided her with an IV bag before she made it to the arena. Thankfully, Moné was able to make it through the match, which she chalked up to her own adrenaline as well as “renewed energy” from Statlander.
Despite her illness, Moné and Statlander delivered a show-stealing performance. At nearly 25 minutes, the match became the longest women’s match in AEW history, breaking the previous record set by the same pair at Full Gear 2024. Once again, Moné emerged victorious.
The year 2024 was a monumental one for Mercedes Mone. Within just 12 months, she joined AEW and became a double champion, cementing her legacy in professional wrestling. As The CEO continues to reign as TBS Champion, fans eagerly anticipate what she will achieve in 2025.
2024 was a monumental year for the world of professional wrestling, from the WWE exit of Vince McMahon to huge signings in AEW. With 2024 officially at an end, many in the world of wrestling are looking back at the year that was.
On X, WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazer reflected on teaming with Axiom, adding that the pair have become like brothers.
2024… it’s been a year that neither of us could have ever predicted.
Somehow we stumbled upon being one of, if not the best tag team in the world right now. And through it all, we’ve legitimately become brothers.
IYO SKY had an impressive 2024, including walking into WrestleMania as Women’s Champion. The Damage CTRL star also competed outside WWE and is ready to do even bigger things in 2025.
2024 was a great year with many of my dreams coming true! I will continue to fly even higher in 2025!🪽💫✨✨
NXT Superstar Arianna Grace ended 2024 with a party of her own, and hopes that 2025 proves to be as beautiful as the Beauty Pagent queen.
Watching NXT on CW is the best way to bring in the new year. Get your champagne popping to the show, that is also my home, NXT! ❤️🥂🎉 happy new years my little beauty queens. May your year ahead be as beautiful as me, I love you all so much! @WWENXTpic.twitter.com/oEhohCNseZ
Michin shared that she can’t wait to see what 2025 brings for everyone and included a photo of herself and her husband Keith Lee. The Limitless One has been out of action since December 2023.
Thank you for an incredible 2024! Can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for us all. Manifesting success !!
Six months into her AEW tenure, Mercedes Moné is grateful she’s after coming back from a career-threatening ankle injury and remains focused on elevating women’s wrestling.
Since joining AEW in March, Moné has worked with talents including Willow Nightingale, Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, Emi Sakura, and Queen Aminata. She’s also recruited Kamille as her enforcer.
Moné quickly gained the TBS Championship and the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship following her return. She intends to challenge for more titles in AEW and lead by example, encouraging respect and recognition for women wrestlers.
The “CEO” is preparing for a big TBS title defense next weekend at Full Gear, but she’s also eyeing more hardware. Moné tells Uproxx that she’s “super proud” of AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May. So proud, in fact, that she wants to take her prized possession.
“She is our women’s world champion, beating Toni Storm in one of the best storylines in women’s history. So to see her rise this fast and to see how good she is in the ring, it’s so incredible.
Like I said, we have the best women’s division in the game right now. I’m definitely looking at the title that she has around her waist.”
– Mercedes Moné on Mariah May
Mercedes Moné is set to defend her TBS title against former champion Kris Statlander at AEW Full Gear next Saturday, November 23. Mariah May is not currently scheduled to defend the Women’s World Championship at the pay-per-view.
Throughout her career, Mercedes Moné has competed against countless wrestlers and has held her own against some of the biggest names in pro wrestling. During the latest edition of Hot Ones, the AEW TBS/NJPW Strong Women’s Champion was asked for her Mt. Rushmore of opponents and shared some interesting choices.
“That’s hard for me because I’ve wrestled some of the best in the world. Number one I think is easily Bayley. We’ve made so many historic moments and matches together.
Number two might have to be Charlotte Flair. She has given me my greatest matches, my worst matches, all in between.
Three, I might have to go with Willow Nightingale.
Last but not least, I might have to choose Bianca because of our history-making moment at WrestleMania 37, when we main-evented, something that I’m gonna remember for the rest of my life.”
Bayley
Arguably the name most associated with Moné, WWE’s resident role model would first feud with the then-Sasha Banks as part of WWE NXT in 2015. This feud would see Bayley capture the NXT Women’s Championship from Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, and retain in their epic 30-minute Iron Woman match at NXT TakeOver: Respect. Years later, the pair would feud over the SmackDown Women’s Championship and would become two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Charlotte Flair
Another name that feuded with Moné in WWE NXT, the pair were called up to the main roster as part of the ‘Women’s Revolution’ of 2015. It would be just over a year later that Moné would defeat Flair in the main event of the first post-brand-split edition of Monday Night Raw to capture the Women’s Championship. The pair would trade the title back and forth and would headline Hell in a Cell 2016 in the first Women’s match inside the structure.
Bianca Belair
After winning the 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble, Bianca Belair chose to face Moné for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37. At WWE’s first event in over a year with live attendees, the pair made history, as their Night One headliner became the first (and to date, only) time that two African American women headlined the event. Belair would end Moné’s 167-day reign with the gold, and their historic encounter would win an ESPY award that same year.
Willow Nightingale
The only AEW name on Moné’s list, Willow Nightingale was on the CEO’s radar the moment she arrived in Tony Khan’s promotion. It was during Moné’s debut episode on Dynamite: Big Business that she would save Nightingale from an attack by Julia Hart and Skye Blue. Just 35 days later, Moné would capture the TBS Championship from Nightingale, a title she holds to this day.
Mercedes Moné says there’s a difference between pro wrestlers and Superstars, and one is clearly superior. The reigning AEW TBS Champion shared her views on this topic in her latest Moné Mag Newsletter (Vol. 2, Issue 19).
Drawing from her extensive experience in the industry, the self-proclaimed All Elite ‘CEO’ explains that it takes more than technical skill to reach the level of superstardom.
Some would argue that ‘excellence of execution’ is what makes a great pro wrestler, but Moné argues that a wrestler’s look, presentation, charisma and ‘aura’ are crucial to reach the top of the industry.
“Being a superstar is a combination of having the looks, the presentation, and a connection with the fans and the audience. A superstar is someone that people go WOW! They are just so captivating. Goldberg is one great example of many.”
Moné seems to downplay a standard ‘wrestler’ with a quote that sounds like it may have come from her former boss. “A wrestler, on the other hand, is someone who just puts on the grind and executes moves. They have all the fundamentals down and can do the flips and the dips.”
“Wrestlers can have great matches, too, but to be a superstar is really on a whole different level.”
– Mercedes Moné argues, Superstars > Wrestlers
Moné says there are a few key performers who check both the wrester and superstar boxes, such as Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart.
She also names Willow Nightingale, Kris Statler and Mariah May as her favorite performers in AEW who encapsulate both descriptions.
In July, Shane McMahon shocked fans by meeting with Tony Khan at an airport in Arlington, Texas to discuss potential plans and their mutual love for wrestling. Ever since, speculation has grown that McMahon could join AEW in due time, a possibility that TBS Champion Mercedes Moné would be all for.
In her latest newsletter, Moné shares why she is on board with McMahon possibly joining AEW and her belief that this sentiment is shared by the rest of AEW’s roster.
“Seeing Shane’s incredible heart and passion for wrestling makes me think he has a lot of unfinished business. It also makes me think is Shane coming to AEW? I’m here for it, and I’m sure our roster is too.
“If he doesn’t come back to wrestling, it will make me sad for him. “I know what it’s like to be removed from what you love and how sad it made me. I imagine he feels the same way.”
Moné has played a role in the Shane-AEW rumor buzz, as after McMahon’s meeting with Khan was leaked online, the CEO shared that she was the one who photographed the pair.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) July 31, 2024
While the idea of a McMahon being ‘All Elite’ seemed preposterous just a few years ago, Shane’s meeting with Khan proves the old adage to ‘never say never’ in wrestling. After all, it was ‘impossible’ just a few years ago that Vince McMahon would leave WWE, an act that has happened not once but twice since July 2022.
Though his days as a full-time performer are in the past, McMahon has a passion and insight into wrestling, both the on-screen product and the business side, that’d make him a valuable asset to Tony Khan. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Shane McMahon and whether he is one day ‘All Elite.’
AEW wrestlers and WWE Superstars don’t share the ring, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t friendships that go beyond where a talent works. This week, the ‘Forbidden Door’ was opened at an NFL game that saw the San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams.
On Twitter, AEW’s Leila Grey shared some photos from the game, which she watched alongside TBS Champion Mercedes Moné, Bayley, Naomi, and Tamina Snuka.
Despite holding a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter, the 49ers were unable to fend off a late surge by the Rams, who clinched a 27-24 victory with a game-winning field goal as time expired. Bayley’s love for the 49ers is no secret, as she presented George Kittle with a WWE Legacy Championship earlier this year and pumped up fans at the January game.
This game also proved to be a reunion for Moné, Naomi, and Tamina who formed Team B.A.D (Beautiful and Dangerous) when Mone was called up to the main roster in 2015. The group feuded with Team Bella (The Bella Twins and Alicia Fox) and PCB (Paige, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch) before Moné (then Sasha Banks) split from Team B.A.D in early 2016.
While discourse about WWE and AEW may get heated among fans on social media, these five wrestlers enjoyed each other’s company at the game, even if the result didn’t go their way. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE and All Elite Wrestling.
In the latest edition of her Moné Mag, Mercedes said it was a mistake for her to tease the idea of collaborating with Stallion during a recent interview. The CEO insinuated that WWE must have caught wind of her plans to work with Megan and swooped in to prevent the popular artist fromcolluding with their competition.
“It could all be a coincidence, of course. But then, they don’t call me the blueprint for nothing.
In hindsight, I should have kept my mouth shut about it, but all you can do is live and learn.”
If WWE’s decision to work with Stallion did stem to nullify a potential Stallion-AEW partnership, then Moné is “flattered and honored” to still carry such influence in the promotion she left two years ago. While plans ultimately did not come to pass between herself and Stallion, the TBS Champion is happy to see Megan succeed.
“I’m still happy for her. She’s a great person and talent who will get exposure to the vast wrestling audience.”
As for Moné, she is coming off a successful title defense at AEW All Out against Hikaru Shida. Moné has promised “a lot more brewing” in her future, but whatever she has in store it won’t involve Megan Thee Stallion.
Ahead of SmackDown’s return to the USA Network, WWE confirmed that Neva Play, a track by Megan Thee Stallion featuring RM of BTS will serve as the blue brand’s new theme song. Getting the award-winning artist on board is a huge score for WWE, especially as she was reportedly set to work with WWE’s chief rival not too long ago.
Megan Thee Stallion had agreed to collaborate with AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Moné, PW Insider reports, before she agreed for her track to become the official theme song of WWE SmackDown. Negotiations took place between Megan’s manager, Mike B of Roc Nation, and Mercedes’ manager, Keven Undergaro, about a collaboration.
The two met in February at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Japan where both women presented awards. Moné hinted at a collaboration with the award-winning artist in the run-up to AEW’s recent All In: London 2024 pay-per-view.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 2, 2024
Megan Thee Stallion In Wrestling
SmackDown’s new theme song marks Megan Thee Stallion’s official arrival in the world of wrestling, but she has teased involvement in the past. In March of this year, ex-WWE Superstar Mojo Rawley claimed that WWE had planned for Moné (Sasha Banks at the time) to face Megan at a SummerSlam PLE but that never occurred.
Following her song becoming the official theme of SmackDown, Megan teased making her official debut for the promotion. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Megan Thee Stallion’s possible involvement with WWE now her song will be heard every Friday night.
AEW touts itself as the place “Where the Best Wrestle,” but the company also presents plenty of glorious violence. At AEW All Out, Jon Moxley betrayed Bryan Danielson following the American Dragon’s successful AEW World Title defense, ending the Blackpool Combat Club. Moxley’s attack on his former ally, which included suffocating Bryan with a plastic bag, has spawned a debate as to whether the segment went too far in the name of entertainment.
All Out also saw Mercedes Moné retain her AEW TBS Championship against Hikaru Shida and she was among those in the NOW Arena who saw the attack on Danielson unfold. In her newsletter, the CEO admits that the attack was hard to watch and she wouldn’t want some in her family viewing this kind of wrestling content.
“Bryan’s stuff was tough to watch. I have mixed emotions. When done right, that kind of stuff can tear a roof off like Daniel’s did. However, I wouldn’t want my brother Joshua to watch stuff like that, or kids, for that matter.”
Moné went on to recall growing up without a father, and the joy she feels meeting parents and children at meet-and-greets who’ve bonded over watching wrestling that all can enjoy. On the other hand, Moné accepts that there is “an audience that loves the extreme, and you want to cater to them, too.
AEW has opted not to feature the suffocation spot on social media due to the graphic content. There is a question as to whether those in AEW feel the spot cannot be shared, or whether this tweet was posted to demonstrate just how violent All Out was.
Due to the graphic nature of the attack on Bryan Danielson, we will not be sharing the footage. AEW does not condone such actions.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has been able to push the envelope when it comes to violence compared to its competitors at WWE. While many appreciate AEW providing an alternative in that regard, there will always be a question of where the proverbial line is, and whether AEW has crossed it. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Mercedes Mone and the action from All Elite Wrestling.
Tonight’s All Elite Wrestling Dynamite episode will take place at the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. It will be the last Dynamite in the United States before the company heads overseas on the road to All In on August 25.
AEW Dynamite Tonight
Here is what has been announced to occur on tonight’s show
Jay Lethal vs. Adam Page
Three-Way Match for the Number One Spot In Casino Gauntlet At All In: Roderick Strong vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Swerve Strickland vs. Wheeler Yuta
AEW TBS Championship Match: (C) Mercedes Moné vs. Hikaru Shida
AEW World Tag Team Championship: (C) The Young Bucks vs. The Acclaimed
Plus, Dynamite will also feature:
Hook to appear
A Flim By Mariah May segment
Kazuchika Okada & Claudio Castagnoli Face to Face
The Acclaimed Finally Get Their Title Opportunity
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) are set to challenge The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) for the tag titles. The fan-favorite duo earned the opportunity after defeating the champions in an eliminator match on the June 19 episode of AEW Dynamite. After nearly two months of building to their rematch, both teams will try to settle their differences and end the episode with the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
(AEW)
Mercedes Moné Puts Title On The Line Ahead of All In
In preparation for her match against Dr. Britt Baker, DMD, at All In, Moné puts her title on the line against Shida. The matchup will be the “CEO” fifth time defending the AEW TBS Championship since winning it at Double or Nothing on May 26.
(AEW)
Swerve Strickland Faces Wheeler Yuta In Non-Title Match
Elsewhere in the episode, Strickland takes on Yuta in a non-title match to get ready for his title defense at All In. Bryan Danielson will be in the corner of his Blackpool Combat Club ally and get a preview of what to expect from the champion at the upcoming pay-per-view.
(AEW)
Number One Spot In Casino Gauntlet Will Be Determined
Another important match on tonight’s episode is the three-way match to determine who will have the number one spot in the Casino Gauntlet. Strong, Cassidy, and O’Reilly will push each other to their limit to gain an advantage in the featured All In match.
What Happened On Last Week’s AEW Dynamite Episode
Before tonight’s episode, here is a recap of what happened last week.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for our continued coverage of Dynamite and the upcoming AEW All In 2024 PPV on Sunday, August 25.
AEW President Tony Khan has officially announced that AEW TBS Championship Mercedes Moné will defend Dr. Britt Baker, DMD, at All In on August 25. The event will occur at Wembley Stadium in London, England. While the card is still being finalized, adding Moné vs. Baker has created more anticipation for the upcoming pay-per-view.
The matchup was made after the champion and Kamille confronted Baker during an AEW panel at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. Baker talked about the champion and how her issues with Moné had become personal, which led to the “CEO” coming on stage to talk down to her. The “Heel” mentioned that she was surprised Baker was there because of how Kamille attacked her on the July 24 episode of Dynamite.
Baker had enough after a few more disrespectful comments and got into a shoving match with her rival. Will Ospreay and Orange Cassidy would pull them apart, and Khan announced to the fans that they would compete at the PPV.
History Of Mercedes Moné vs. Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
Since she signed with the company, AEW fans have wanted to see a dream match between Moné and Baker. The match was first teased when Baker returned to AEWxNew Japan Pro Wrestling Forbidden Door on June 30 to confront the champion. The former AEW women’s champion would have a segment on the July 3 episode of Dynamite where she would challenge the “CEO” to a title match, which Moné declined.
Moné would continue to decline a title opportunity to Baker for the next two weeks while still disrespecting her. Their feud would take a turn when Kamille debuted to attack the “Doctor” on the champion’s behalf on the July 24 episode. Khan’s decision to make the title match official finally puts the two superstars on a collision course to settle their differences at AEW’s biggest event of the year.
Updated AEW All In Card
AEW World Heavyweight Championship: (C) Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson
AEW International Championship: (C) MJF vs. Will Ospreay
AEW Women’s World Championship: (C) Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
AEW TNT Championship: (C) Jack Perry vs. Darby Allin
AEW TBS Championship: (C) Mercedes Moné vs. Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
The mother of Hana Kimura was delighted to recently meet with Mercedes Mone, who has been a vocal supporter of the late wrestler.
On Twitter, Hana’s mother Kyoko, a wrestler in her own right, shared some photos with the former WWE Superstar. Kyoko Kimura said her heart was “peaceful” when she met with Mone and that the pair spent time in one of Hana’s favorite locations. Kyoko Kimura also thanked Mone for a wonderful evening.
After Kimura’s death in 2022, Mone, who worked as Sasha Banks at the time, wore a black armband during an episode of SmackDown with Hana’s name on it. Years later, Mone wore a Hana Kimura-themed attire for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2023, complete with Hana’s signature gasmask. The show saw Mone defeat KAIRI to become the second-ever IWGP Women’s Champion.
Hana Kimura
Hana Kimura took her own life in May 2020 following abuse online stemming from her appearance on the Japanese reality show Terrace House: Tokyo. Earlier in the day of her death, Kimura had shared some of the hateful messages, including racist abuse, she had received stemming from her appearance on the show.
In December 2020, Hana’s death was officially ruled as a suicide. That same month, a man was arrested and admitted to sending harmful messages but said he couldn’t forgive Hana for her actions on the program. In 2021, the man was issued a ¥9000 ($80 USD) fine, prompting outrage that the punishment was too lenient.
In June 2022, Japan’s parliament passed a law in which “online insults” were punishable by one year imprisonment in response to Kimura’s online bullying. Offenders convicted can also face a fine of up to ¥300,000 ($2,200 USD.)
A comment made on this week’s episode of AEW Collision has caught the attention of fans with many believing it was a nod to Mercedes Mone.
The March 2, episode of Collision served as the go-home show before tonight’s AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view. That show will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will mark the retirement of Sting, whose AEW World Tag Team Title match with Darby Allin against The Young Bucks will be the last bout in the Icon’s legendary career.
Serena Deeb’s Promo
During this week’s Collision, Serena Deeb had a promo in which she addressed her impressive record in AEW. The veteran dubbed herself “The Professor of Professional Wrestling” and “The Woman of 1000 Holds,” the latter being a nod to AEW’s Dean Malenko. With that said, it was the final line of her promo that caught the attention of fans as she made a challenge.
“Test yourself against the most elite wrestler, because I’ll be here each and every week showing the world that nobody can do what I do in the ring and why I am ‘The Final Boss.”
Deeb's Dojo is offering a free clinic to anyone who thinks they have what it takes step in the ring against The Professor.
In promotional material, the term ‘Bo$$ton’ can be found, with fans seeing this as further proof that Mone, known affectionately as ‘The Boss’ will be debuting. Mone is reportedly already under contract with AEW and has been for some time.
Mercedes Mone is not staying inside as she prepares for her expected AEW debut. She recently made a big splash at the CrunchyRoll Anime Awards, and she was also in great company during the event.
Mone dazzled on the carpet before the show, and she was also a presenter. In the process, the former WWE Superstar was also able to hang out with Megan Thee Stallion for a bit.
Things @MercedesVarnado know how to do…wrestle, get people talking and rock a red carpet. Here she is before presenting at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. pic.twitter.com/bRbPzyLrnP
Mercedes Mone’s upcoming AEW debut has stirred discussion, and her next destination could be a big deal for herself and the company. As well as being scheduled to make her AEW debut soon, Mone will also be making an appearance as a presenter at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Prior to the event, she revealed a fresh appearance.
Crunchyroll was pleased to announce that Mercedes Mone will serve as a presenter at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, generating significant anticipation for the ceremony.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 2, 2024
Taking to Twitter, Mercedes Mone shared a snapshot of herself on the red carpet ahead of the awards, showcasing her new appearance, which received praise from her fans.
Mone has already been associated with AEW for some time before her debut at AEW Big Business. The thought is that she’s been drawing a paycheck from them for a while. It remains to be seen how she will fare as a presenter at the Awards show.
Mercedes Mone and Megan Thee Stallion Link Up
Mone shared a series of photos on her Twitter account featuring rapper Megan Thee Stallion as well. The encounter wasn’t unexpected, considering both Mone and Stallion are avid Anime enthusiasts.
Mone captioned one of the photos with, “Only for the anime Hotties Krew #animeawards,” showcasing her time with Meg.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 2, 2024
What’s Next for Megan Thee Stallion and Mercedes Mone
It remains to be seen if Megan Thee Stallion will venture into AEW following Mercedes Mone’s debut. Then again, you never know who Tony Khan will book at this point in an attempt to revive public interest in his company.
The 2024 CrunchyRoll Anime Awards ceremony will be livestreamed on Crunchyroll’s YouTube and Twitch channels, starting at 6 PM JST, with Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira hosting.
Mercedes Moné (formerly Sasha Banks) recently responded to NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia, who has expressed her desire to face the former WWE star.
After being the hottest free agent on the market for quite some time, it seems Moné is AEW-bound. She tasted success in WWE but departed in 2022 due to issues with the creative team. Soon after that, the former ‘Boss’ made her presence felt in NJPW and World Wonder Ring Stardom while also becoming the IWGP Women’s Champion.
While Mercedes Moné is on the verge of her return from injury, NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia has stated that she is still wishing to face Mercedes Moné, who has been on the sideline since Giulia won the title from Willow Nightingale in July last year.
Speaking with Tokyo Sports, the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion said that she has been aiming to put her title on the line against Mone. Here is what she said:
“I have been thinking ever since I won the belt that I have to put this belt on the line and beat Mone to overturn this saying,” Giulia said. “I can’t tell you right now where I will go from here, but I will continue to defend this belt until I find Mone.”
Mercedes Moné responds
Taking to Twitter/X, Mercedes Moné seemingly indicated her AEW debut at Big Business and wants the champ to show as she wrote:
“You standing on big business or u just standing around! YoU know where to find me
Julia
@giulia0221g “
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 1, 2024
Giulia is set to be a free agent when her STARDOM contract expires at the end of March. Meanwhile, Moné is reportedly set to debut for AEW this month at Big Business.
SE Scoops’ Aaron Varble previously reported that Pepperman’s exit from WWE was unexpected but that many in the company had the feeling she had work already lined up.
I was told that Jennifer Pepperman's departure from WWE was "totally unexpected" to those backstage. She will be missed too.
There is a belief that she already has a job lined up elsewhere.
Pepperman has been announced as AEW’s new Vice President of Content Development. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter however, it is suggested that she could also serve as a “personal writer” for Mone when she debuts for the promotion.
Meltzer compared this to Brian Gewirtz who is the personal writer for The Rock. Gewirtz spent years with WWE and worked on The Rock’s promos before joining the Brahma Bull’s Seven Bucks Productions movie studio. When The Rock has appeared for WWE in the years since making it big in Hollywood, Gewirtz has served as his personal writer.
Mercedes Moné (formerly Sasha Banks) is currently one of the hottest free agents in the market and she has teased the fans about her upcoming move.
Moné had a successful run with WWE before she departed in 2022 due to issues with the creative team. The former ‘Boss’ went on to make her mark in NJPW and World Wonder Ring Stardom while also becoming the IWGP Women’s Champion. Now, it seems that she is AEW-bound.
In WWE, Moné captured the Women’s Tag Team Titles three times, two of which with Bayley. It has come to light that ‘The Role Model’ recently sent a touching message to her best friend, Mercedes Moné, and expressed her gratitude for their run together in the company.
Taking to Twitter/X, Bayley shared a picture of herself and Moné with the Women’s Tag Team Championships and wrote:
“And we fought for them for over 6 years. For our division and more opportunity. Grateful for my time with you,” she wrote.
It seems that Moné has already inked a deal with AEW and has been on AEW’s payroll since early January. It’s worth noting that Moné also made her presence felt at AEW All In: London last year.
We will have to wait and see if Mercedes Moné shows up in AEW on March 13.
The WWE Superstars shined bright at Super Bowl LVIII which saw the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers face off in the Big Game.
Super Bowl LVIII is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, which WWE fans will recognize as the host of SummerSlam 2021. The game went into overtime after the four quarters resulted in a 19-19 tie.
WWE Superstars at the Super Bowl
Allegiant Stadium was packed with football fans and there were several WWE Superstars who made their presence felt. WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio had a great view of the game in support of the 49ers.
It wasn’t just WWE Superstars who were at the Big Game. On social media, AEW’s Britt Baker was able to share a selfie with Bayley.
Wrestling & the Super Bowl
Several names from the world of wrestling competed in the Super Bowl. Monty Brown played in the Big Game before he’d make his mark in WWE as Marcus Cor Von. Raw commentator, Pat McAfee played in Super Bowl XLIV in his rookie year but was unsuccessful. Rob Gronkowski is better known for his NFL success but was briefly a WWE Superstar and former 24/7 Champion.
Known as ‘The Boss’ in WWE and ‘The CEO’ of women in New Japan, Mone has seemingly already been signed to AEW and has been on AEW’s payroll since early January. The former WWE Superstar appeared in the crowd at AEW All In last year and Tony Khan has often spoken positively about Mone.
The Sky’s The Limit for Mercedes Mone
Quickly after Khan’s announcement, Mone took to Twitter to share the following message:
I remember when couldn’t pay the rent
Now I own the whole building that I’m living in
Sky’s the limit when you’re never giving in
You get in, you ride it out
And don’t look back again.
I remember when couldn't pay the rent Now I own the whole building that I'm living in Sky's the limit when you're never giving in You get in, you ride it out And don't look back again
Fans may recognise this as lyrics’s the Mone’s WWE theme song ‘Sky’s The Limit’ during her tenure as Sasha Banks. Judging by the comments, many took this as another sign that Mone is soon going to be confirmed as All Elite.,
Mone has been out of action since May of last year when she suffered an ankle injury in a match with AEW/ROH’s Willow Nightingale. This injury led to an audible being called and Willow defeating Mone to become the first NJPW Strong Women’s Champion.
Mercedes Mone is currently a woman without a contract, but some in WWE believe a Royal Rumble return could happen.
Mone debuted for NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2023, but her contract has since expired. While there were talks with WWE, the two sides could not come to terms over money.
A WWE Royal Rumble Surprise?
With her talks with WWE fizzling out, many suspect that Mone will join AEW soon enough. There is an expectation within AEW that she’ll be joining after finishing up some acting commitments this month, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports.
With that said, nothing has been made certain at this time. The Observer adds that some in WWE believe there’s still a shot she could make a surprise return in the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match. One name who’d certainly want to see Mone make a return is Bayley, her friend and former tag-team partner. The Damage CTRL member recently spoke at length about her deep connection to Mone.
Mercedes Mone in the Royal Rumble
Mone competed as Sasha Banks in two Women’s Royal Rumble matches. The Boss has the distinction of being the first entrant in the first Women’s Rumble in 2018, and would also enter at #1 in 2022. Mone has spent a total 1:04:30 in Royal Rumble matches and has a total of five eliminations to her name.
Royal Rumble 2024
Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands:
Men’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER.
Women’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax)
Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)
Who should fans expect to see return at the Royal Rumble…
Sasha Banks’ WWE walkout in May 2022 still stands as her swansong with the company. Although there was some hope that Mercedes Mone would come back to WWE, it appears that homecoming hit a snag.
Mercedes Mone’s WWE Return is Reportedly Nixed
Mercedes Mone and WWE were talking about a return for The Boss. Then, they hit a financial roadblock, as the two sides couldn’t come together when it came to money.
Now, a new report from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select points to the idea that Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut is now the most popular idea for her.
Those that we’ve spoken to expect her to land in All Elite Wrestling, though nobody could confirm she’s signed on the dotted line. Of late in both WWE and AEW, there have been instances – specifically with Will Ospreay and CM Punk – where the physical contracts were not signed until the day of their appearances with AEW and WWE respectively. One source claimed that they heard AEW and Mercedes were close to agreeing on terms, but said “it’s never official until it’s official.”
Nothing is official until it actually happens, because pro wrestling contracts can come together in a hurry. AEW has lost a few notable names in recent memory, but bring in Mercedes Mone could be a massive boost for their roster.
