Mercedes Mone is ready to take on all-comers in AEW and that could result in her stepping in the ring once again with Saraya.
The pair last competed in December 2017 as part of a WWE live event under the names of Sasha Banks and Paige. It was a dropkick by Mone that resulted in Saraya suffering a neck injury that would force her into retirement. Saraya, who has never blamed Mone for what she has called a freak accident, would only wrestle again after joining AEW in 2022.
With Mone and Saraya now both All-Elite talent, there has been speculation of a feud between the pair given their history. When asked about a possible match by The New York Post, Mone was more than ready for the challenge.
“I’m here to face everybody, every woman here. So if she [Saraya] wants to be on the list, she’s more than welcome to wrestle me.”
Could Saraya and Mercedes Mone face off in AEW?
What’s to Come?
It remains to be seen if Mone and Saraya lock horns in AEW but the CEO’s more immediate future will see her compete later today. At AEW Double or Nothing, Mone will make her AEW in-ring debut when she faces TBS Champion Willow Nightingale. Ironically, it was Mone who suffered an injury the last time she faced Nightingale which cost her a year of competition.
Their grudge match is being billed as one of three main events for AEW Double or Nothing 2024. Mone Vs. Nightingale is being promoted alongside Anarchy in the Arena and AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland Vs. Christian Cage.
Mercedes Mone thinks the word “competition” should be applied somewhere else other than between AEW and WWE.
Mone is set for her big return match at AEW Double or Nothing this Sunday in Las Vegas as she’ll be battling Willow Nightingale for her TBS Title. It’ll be the CEO’s first fight back in over a year after injury and her debut match in AEW. She was last seen in WWE losing to Bianca Belair before she walked out of the company in May 2022. However, the former Sasha Banks doesn’t want there to be such a division between her current promotion and her past one.
Speaking with US Weekly, Mone made clear that competition should strictly be between wrestlers and not the wrestling promotions themselves.
“I feel like there should be no competition when it’s between companies. It just needs to be competition between the wrestlers, seeing who wants to be the main event of the show, to make the most money. I’m competing with everybody here in AEW to let them know I’m the face of the company. I’m not competing with any other company.”
Mone blames a good deal of that tribalism in pro wrestling due to a lot of the minor vocal contingency of wrestling fans online.
“People are just so in their phones. Going on the Internet and bragging and complaining and they’re not actually living in the real world. When they come out into the real world and they actually go to wrestling shows and enjoy things with wrestling fans, they know that this is all just so much fun.”
Despite not wanting competition between companies WWE and AEW will be competiting for eyes on their product this weekend as both are set for their respective PLE and PPV.
Mercedes Mone has explained her decision to depart WWE abruptly.
After having some creative differences with WWE management regarding her and Naomi’s Women’s tag-team title reign, the former Sasha Banks decided to walk out during an edition of Raw. She went on to join NJPW last year where she held the IWGP Women’s Championship. ‘The CEO’ eventually headed to AEW and she is all set to make her in-ring debut at the promotion.
Mercedes Mone told Cameron Hawkins of The Ringer why she decided to part ways with WWE. ‘The CEO’ explained that she doesn’t like to be ‘handcuffed’ and noted that she required that ‘change’ to grow in her career.
“I don’t like being handcuffed. The only place to grow is with change, and I needed that change.”
Mercedes Mone has been on the sidelines after she sustained an ankle injury during her match against Willow Nightingale at NJPW STRONG Resurgence last year. However, she is returning to the ring this weekend at AEW Double Or Nothing.
It seems that Mone is brimming with confidence despite being on the shelf for a year. She claims to be the greatest women’s wrestler of all time and vowed to show the fans who ‘The CEO’ is. She said:
“They haven’t really got to see the CEO. They know who Sasha Banks is, but the CEO, Mercedes Moné, [is] something they’ve never seen before, and I’m ready to show them. I’m the greatest women’s wrestler of all time, 100 percent.”
Mercedes Mone’s AEW in-ring debut
Mone will be making her in-ring debut for AEW and it also marks her return to the squared circle after the injury. She will be challenging Willow Nightingale for the AEW TBS Championship at this Sunday’s AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view. While speaking about the match, Mone said that she is excited for the match. However, she is quite nervous. She said:
“I don’t want to put pressure on myself, because I’ve been doing this for 14 years. I have more excitement than pressure, but I am really nervous as well, just because it’s been a year since I performed, but being in the ring with someone like Willow Nightingale, I know it’s going to be absolutely everything I’ve ever dreamed of. We’re going to go out there and steal the show.”
Mercedes Mone is going the extra mile for her in-ring debut for AEW as she is training with a former WWE wrestler. Read more below:
The rematch against Nightingale marks Moné’s first match since she suffered an ankle injury in their first encounter at New Japan Pro Wrestling Resurgence on May 21, 2023. The former IWGP Women’s Champion has shared that the injury was so severe it could’ve ended her career. Luckily, she recovered and will be motivated to get her revenge at the upcoming AEW pay-per-view.
Ahead this very important matchup, Moné has shared that she’s training with former WWE superstar Sidney Akeem (FKA Scrypts).
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) May 19, 2024
Mercedes Moné & Sidney Akeem’s History
Longtime WWE fans may recall that Akeem has worked with Moné. He started his WWE career as Reginald, working for Carmella as a sommelier/ ringside manager in 2020. During this time, Carmella was involved in a feud with Moné, and Akeem would get involved in trying to aid his client unsuccessfully.
Akeem also competed against Moné in a losing effort on the January 22, 2021, WWE Friday Night Smackdown episode.
After the feud with Carmella ended, Akeem and Moné teased working together. However, Moné felt she didn’t need him, and they went their separate ways.
WWE recently decided not to renew Akeem’s contract after it expired on June 1. He has since started to look for opportunities on the independent wrestling scene. It’s interesting timing that Akeem and Moné have reunited as he prepares for his next career path, and she looks to avenge her last defeat. Akeem debuts for Game Changer Wrestling next month.
It seems in the end, they’ll need each other to accomplish their next career goals. For Moné, she’ll need to be at her best if she hopes to dethrone Nightingale at AEW Double or Nothing.
AEW Dynasty was a historic night in Saint Louis, as the company brought their inaugural pay-per-view. The event also saw Willow Nightingale walk away with the TBS Title.
Julia Hart has carried the TBS Title with pride while representing the House of Black. She battled Willow Nightingale at Dynasty, and in the end, a new champion was crowned after delivering a devastating powerbomb.
As Willow celebrated her big victory, Mercedes Mone made her way to the ring, where she stood face-to-face with her. While congratulating Willow on her title win, Mone made her presence very clear.
Mercedes Mone already called her shot to face whoever is TBS Champion next. This win for Willow will set that match up for the future.
Willow and Mercedes already have unfinished business. The two were battling for the NJPW Strong Women’s Title when Mone suffered an ankle injury that took her out of action for months. Mercedes has made reference to her previous run-ins with Willow already.
With Mercedes Mone stepping up to Willow at Dynasty, the two will likely battle with the TBS Title on the line in the near future.
Mercedes Moné stands face-to-face with the NEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale!
Welcome to the Daily Drop for Wednesday, April 17, 2024. WWE brought a packed episode of WWE NXT last night, as they continue telling their stories past WrestleMania 40 weekend.
– Mandy Rose Snub: Tatum Paxley cut a great promo on WWE NXT this week, where she revealed her love of the NXT Women’s Title. She named off all of the most recent champions, but she did not mention Mandy Rose at all. She also did not bring up how Sasha Banks carried the title.
That Tatum Paxley promo on #WWENXT was amazing … she also didn’t mention Mandy Rose when running through that list of former NXT Women’s Champions…
– Copeland on Retirement: Speaking to Brandon Walker on Mostly Sports, Copeland spoke highly of the acting experience he was able to gain while he was out of the pro wrestling world. He said, “I’ve lived a lot more life. As strange as that sounds, it actually does add to your utility belt out there. As a performer, any kind of performer, they have to dip into a place to pull the character off. It’s the same with wrestling. That, more than anything, is what I’ve noticed coming back. Some of the skillset I got in the acting I did during those nine years off, I did over 100 episodes of television when I was retired.”
– CM Punk Chants: Footage has emerged from the crowd during AEW Dynamite last week, where you could hear “F*ck CM Punk” chants. It doesn’t seem like this was a chant that was participated in by a ton of people.
Meltzer did not lie about the "F CM Punk" chants. Two people chanted it at the end, yelling loudly into their own phone. Now two people do make up about 50% of that live audience, so I can see where Meltzer thought that this was a big deal. ??? https://t.co/weyRI5uTilpic.twitter.com/3bVbE9YcFn
Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. House Of Black (Julia Hart & Brody King)
Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Chris Jericho will lead a meeting with HOOK and Taz
Jon Moxley returns to AEW Dynamite as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
AEW has signed some big named over the past several months, including Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone. After seeing Mercedes debut in AEW, Nikki Garcia almost joined that list. On the latest episode of the Nikki & Brie Show, the multi-time WWE Women’s Champion disclosed that she almost picked up her phone and called Tony Khan about doing business. After giving it serious consideration, she decided against it because she wants to devote her time to being a mother to her son, Matteo.
“Since we’ve been lifting so much, we always say, we always start to get that wrestling mindset, ‘We’re going to go back and do this story and cut this promo.’ You get it, but how serious I got where I was like, ‘Okay, I think I can do maybe a year at AEW and I can do it every week.'”
“When I saw Mercedes [Mone] debut and cut her promo, that line stuck with me, ‘Here, we’re going to make the evolution worldwide.’ I was like, ‘They do.’ It goes into many leagues, is what she means, it doesn’t have to be at one place. It can be at all these places where all these women are wrestling at. I go, ‘Brie, I think I can do it for a year. I can do it here to here and go every week.’
Then, I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like, ‘This is it. I’m going to call Tony Khan. I’m your girl. I will commit.’ Then, I was like, ‘I can’t do that to my son right now. He needs me,'”
You can listen to the full episode embedded here, including Nikki’s comments about nearly calling AEW President Tony Khan:
Nikki Bella’s WWE Career and Exit
Nikki Garcia made a name for herself for years in WWE as Nikki Bella. Her contributions to the company helped spearhead the Women’s Revolution in the company, where she was placed on top of the card for years.
During that time in WWE, she achieved several notable accomplishments in the company. Nikki is a two-time WWE Divas Champion, and she was named Diva of the Year for three consecutive years in 2013, 2014, and 2015, with the 2013 award being shared with her sister, Brie Bella.
Additionally, Nikki was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020, alongside Brie as members of The Bella Twins.
Nikki Bella retired in 2018 because of neck and spine issues but made a comeback at the Royal Rumble in 2022. The Bella Twins left WWE in 2023 after their contracts ended to pursue independent ventures.
Since her WWE exit, Nikki has hosted Barmageddon, a show that aired after WWE RAW for a while. It was not lost on fans when Michael Cole internationally omitted her name while promoting the show during RAW.
Nikki Bella later commented on that snub from WWE to say, “I think more than anything, it’s disappointing. I worked there for 16 years and I helped paved the way for them. Not only that, they’ve always been family to me.”
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Thursday, April 4. Fans had AEW Dynamite last night, and it’s only one day away from the WWE Hall of Fame the go-home SmackDown before WrestleMania.
– Ronda Rousey Accuses Drew Gulak:Rousey brought attention to Drew Gulak when she claimed that he grabbed the string on her sweatpants, which she said was an illustration of the culture within WWE toward women. He later responded to the allegation.
– Dax Seemingly Responds: Dax Harwood had a chance to cut a promo after AEW Dynamite this week. Many fans believe that he was answering back to CM Punk’s comments about the company that he made during his Ariel Helwani interview on the MMA Hour.
Dax cut a promo following AEW Dynamite last night responding to the comments his friend CM Punk made on MMA Hour. pic.twitter.com/L9BT3pmtpx
– MJF & The Rock: MJF had to respond to The Rock when the People’s Champion wanted to buy a work of art that MJF’s ex painted. Needless to say, that resulted in quite a viral moment.
– AEW Releases: In case you missed it, we have compiled a tracker for AEW releases and departures in 2024. You may find that list here.
Upcoming Wrestling Shows
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
Mercedes Mone caused a lot of noise when she arrived in AEW. Now, she has called her shot for a title match at Double or Nothing.
During AEW Dynamite this week, Renee Paquette invited Willow Nightingale out to talk about her TBS Title match at AEW Dynasty. She is very pumped about the match, but it didn’t take long for Mercedes Mone to show up.
Mercedes Mone said that she is calling her shot as the next challenger for the TBS Title at AEW Double or Nothing. It doesn’t seem like she cares who she faces, whether it is Julia Hart or Willow.
Mercedes Moné wants to challenge whoever walks out of #AEWDynasty with the #TBS Championship.
Willow Nightingale will take on Julia Hart at AEW Dynasty for the TBS Title. Mone will be paying close attention to that match and has already staked her claim to challenge the winner at Double or Nothing.
Mone has not been booked for a match at AEW Dynasty on April 21, so it looks like her first match will happen at the 6th annual DoN PPV.
AEW Double or Nothing 2024 takes place May 26 from at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Mercedes Mone challenging for the TBS Championship is the first match confirmed for the event.
Mercedes Mone has found her new home in AEW and she has disclosed the behind-the-scenes talks leading up to her debut for the promotion at Big Business. The ‘CEO’ tells James Stewart of Stick to Wrestlingthat Tony Khan initially reached out to her about becoming ‘All Elite.’
Mone says they’ve been negotiating for a while, but she wasn’t ready to sign on just yet. She wanted to see what TK was cooking for the Women’s division before getting on board.
“When he called me the first time, I’m like, ‘I’ll think about it TK. We gotta build this relationship. You know, let me keep on watching. Let me keep on seeing this women’s division.’”
The former WWE and IWGP Women’s’ champion is excited to mix it up with AEW’s top stars and has “so many beautiful things in the works.”
“I kept on watching the women’s division and my dreams just became so much bigger and brighter and I knew instantly I wanted AEW to be my home.”
Mercedes Mone is one of the most prominent free agent signings in recent memory and AEW President Tony Khan even spoke highly of Mone and labeled her as a possible face of the company.
She made her long awaited debut on the 3/13 ‘Big Business’ edition of AEW Dynamite. She’s already put former opponent Willow Nightingale on notice ultimate goal and has stated her desire to go after ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship.
Most fans are excited to see Mercedes Mone back on television, but her close friend Bayley says the move is ‘bitter sweet’:
Becky Lynch is happy to see Mercedes Mone doing her thing and having a good time in All Elite Wrestling. There’s no hard feelings over the former Sasha Banks jumping to AEW. In fact, Lynch says we could see them back in the ring together one day. She didn’t specify if that would take place in WWE or elsewhere.
Lynch is doing the media rounds this week to promote her championship match against Rhea Ripley this weekend at WrestleMania 40. During a chat with Shakiel Mahjouri for Shak Wrestling, she expressed excitement for her former rival.
“Good for her,” Lynch said of Mone in AEW. “Go on, do your thing and have a good time over there.”
She added, “Maybe one day, we’ll meet back in the ring.”
Lynch and Mone have a fair share of history as they led the famous Women’s Revolution in WWE. They’ve faced each other in handful of matches, most prominently a Hell in A Cell match for the Raw Women’s title back in 2019.
Sasha Banks left WWE in 2022. She reinvented herself as Mercedes Mone, achieved success wrestling in Japan before her recent arrival in AEW.
Lynch’s Future
Becky Lynch’s star has steadily risen over the past several years. She’s cemented herself as one of the top sports entertainers in the world, which puts her in a great position for when her WWE contract expires in the next few months. She could test the waters of free agency.
WWE has been her home, but Tony Khan has shown he’s more than willing to shell out huge money to lure stars like Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone and Kazuchika Okada to AEW. They’re all making millions working a schedule that requires far less time on the road than WWE requires.
Becky Lynch has “done it all” in WWE, but she will soon have a chance to explore other options.
Mercedes Mone is just starting to make her mark in AEW, but she’s been under contract for a few months already. Tony Khan has also been cutting her some very large checks in the process.
Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but The Man is happy for The CEO’s new deal. She recently commented to say that the important part of the whole thing is that women are getting paid equally to their male counterparts.
Lynch Reacts To Mone’s Big Money Deal
Mercedes Mone’s new deal with AEW is a substantial one. In fact, she shattered the glass ceiling, and it’s now said that she is the highest-paid woman in the pro wrestling business.
While speaking with the Orlando Sentinel, Becky Lynch touched on Mercedes Mone’s new AEW contract. She said that the important part is that women are getting paid on a higher level. Mercedes’ new deal is certainly proving that to be the case.
“I think that’s an important part, getting paid equally for the equal work and the equal position we are at right now,” Lynch said. “Women’s evolutions and revolutions are fine and well, but making sure that they equate to contracts and financial reward for these things when we are doing equal work, is hugely important.”
Mercedes Mone also said that she envisions herself going back to WWE someday. She said that prior to her AEW debut, but she was still under contract. That comment ruffled some feathers within AEW. Tony Khan has since endorsed Mercedes as a possible face of AEW.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Tuesday, March 26. WWE held a huge episode of RAW this week in Chicago, and there is a lot to unpack, so let’s get right into it.
– Fire The Man: Becky Lynch expressed the idea that she was legit worried that Vince McMahon would fire her in 2020 when she became pregnant.
– WrestleMami: WWE dropped a new Rhea Ripley t-shirt that looks very Undertaker-ish. It is also done up in the Judgment Day style, and we can imagine these will sell well. You may click here to see what they have to offer in the WWE Shop.
– Dominik Got Smashed: Becky Lynch really clocked Dominik Mysterio with a punch this week on RAW. The slow motion video is going viral, and you may check it out below.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 25, 2024
– JR’s New Book: Jim Ross announced that his new book, “Business Is About to Pick Up!: 50 Years of Wrestling in 50 Unforgettable Calls,” co-written by Paul O’Brien, will be released on May 27.
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
The wrestling fans at TD Garden in Boston were elated to witness Mercedes Mone make her highly-anticipated AEW debut at ‘Big Business’ on March 13. There was another huge superstar who attended the show with less fanfare – Bayley. ‘The Role Model’ was in the stands to cheer for her real-life best friend and she has now reflected on the memorable moment that she was a part of.
There was a massive buzz around the ‘Big Business’ edition of AEW Dynamite due to Mercedes Mone’s debut. While it was not announced prior, all the hints indicated to what would transpire at the show. Fans soon spotted the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bayley in the crowd and pictures surfaced on social media. But she didn’t address her presence at the show until now.
Bayley opens up on Mercedes Mone’s debut
Speaking with Digital Spy, Bayley revealed Mercedes Mone’s contribution to the former’s career. She said Mone has done so much for her and had been there during the milestone moments in her career. She is now returning the favor. ‘The Role Model’ went on to reckon that Mone’s debut was “incredible”:
“She’s the best. I wouldn’t be here without her. She’s done so much for me, even after she was done with WWE, she’s been there for me in my big moments. So I know I need to be there for her continuously throughout the years. It was incredible. I’m just happy that she was on a Wednesday where I’m like, ‘Alright, I can actually make a Wednesday, that’s one of our few days off.'”
Bayley and Mercedes Mone’s friendship dates long back to the days of NXT when Mercedes went by the name, Sasha Banks. During the interview, Bayley admitted that it was “bittersweet” to see Mercedes part ways with WWE. However, she made it clear that she’s very proud of her real-life best friend. She said:
“It was really special to see her celebrate that with her family and her friends and people she started wrestling with and see her welcomed by a new family. It’s bittersweet, but I’m very, very, very proud of her and just so grateful we got to be there.”
Bayley and Mercedes Mone
The duo joined WWE back in 2012 and tasted success in NXT together. They eventually moved to the main roster and pioneered the famous Women’s Evolution in WWE. They have had feuds in the past but they have also held the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions as The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection.
It is needless to mention that they share a great bond and Bayleywants Mercedes Mone back in WWE. But Mone is currently focused on finishing her ‘unfinished business’ with Willow Nightingale. On the other hand, Bayley is aiming to dethrone WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY at WrestleMania 40.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Saturday, March 23. Last night’s SmackDown was an eventual episode, and there’s a lot to get into.
– WrestleMania Surprises: With only 2 weeks until WrestleMania 40, the company is talking about bringing in stars like The Undertaker, John Cena, and Steve Austin.
– WWE Shop Is Lighting It Up: They just released a new Roman Reigns “Family Above All” hoodie on the WWE Shop! So, click here to see what they have to offer on the road to WrestleMania!
– Roman x Punk: Roman Reigns had a bit of a comment about CM Punk, and it drew some attention. He said, among other things, that “I’m not like CM Punk, where I got to the top of the mountain, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s not what I expect, so I’m gonna bitch about it.'”
– Slammys Return:The Slammy Awards will continue this year. WWE announced the company will bring back their awards show this year on April 7, the same day as WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The ceremony will be hosted by Big E and Cathy Kelley.
– Vince McMahon Netflix Doc: The six-part Netflix docuseries is still happening, and that was confirmed. Bill Simmons and his team will need to edit some to change direction, but the project is still moving forward.
AEW:
– Mercedes’ Big Money: It was said by Swerve Strickland in a recent interview that Mercedes Mone deserves all the money she is getting from this AEW contract.
– Cope Open Return: Adam Copeland confirmed that the Cope Open will return on the March 30 episode of AEW Collision. That will see him defend the AEW TNT Title in an open challenge.
EXCLUSIVE! After making Christian Cage utter the words, 'I QUIT', and capturing the TNT Title for the second time, we hear from the NEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland!@RatedRCope | #AEWDynamitepic.twitter.com/CUFyDk2GAj
– Rampage High: AEW Rampage hit a high with their episode this week, which aired directly after AEW Dynamite’s 801k average viewership. This week’s AEW Rampage scored 541,000 viewers and a .27 in the 18 to 49 demographic. That was the highest number for the show since the April 22, 2022, episode of the show.
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
AEW signed Mercedes Mone months prior to her debut at Big Business on March 13th. She made it clear how thankful she is for her fans, and now the CEO has put her money to good use as a sign of appreciation for one fan.
Mercedes Mone recently gifted a fan a new television set. She did this so he could watch AEW in style, and he was over the moon in gratitude.
A fan named Doug took to Twitter/X to express gratitude after receiving a gift from Mercedes Moné. The fan thanked the CEO for providing a new TV, which allows him to watch AEW Dynamite in style, as he proudly declared allegiance to “the Elite Krew.”
@MercedesVarnado Thank you to the lovely and super talented #CEO #MercedesMoné on sending me the NEW tv so I can watch @AEW #AEWDynamite in style. Elite Krew for life. “Look I’m top tier all the standards set.”
Mercedes Mone saw this tweet, and she posted a reply to say, “now you can watch AEW better.” Dough then replied to Mercedes with an emotional response, “Mercedes, I am still in shock. You are changing the game in AEW.”
WWE and Mercedes Mone were in talks, but they hit a financial roadblock. Now that Mercedes is in AEW, she obviously has extra money to spend. She is also likely selling a ton of her new AEW merchandise, which you may check out here.
AEW wrestler Swerve Strickland has praise for Mercedes Mone, as he recently talked about her debut in AEW.
Strickland talked to Bootleg Kev at the Rolling Loud music festival, where he talked about a number of topics such as bloody matches in wrestling, CM Punk’s tenure in AEW, and Mercedes Mone making her way to the Jacksonville, Florida-based wrestling company.
Strickland was asked about the “big contract” of Mone, as she is reportedly making bank at the company, which is said to be sufficient enough to establish her as the highest-paid woman in wrestling.
“We’re building a dynasty now in AEW,” Strickland said. “For what she can do for women’s wrestling, not just for AEW, but across the industry period, it’s pivotal. She’s a matriarch for that. I’ve never seen a women’s free agent make that kind of noise, ever. She’s top billing. She’s worth it. Hopefully that challenges other industries to boost the revenue for other female wrestlers.”
Big Business
Mone was in talks with WWE before joining AEW, and hit a financial roadblock with the company when talks were ongoing. Mone reportedly didn’t want to be paid more than her peers in the women’s roster, but she did want her financial compensation to be equivalent of the top stars. While that didn’t work out for her and WWE, AEW was down with it.
Mercedes Mone’s massive contract sets a positive precedence in the professional wrestling industry, as it increases the value of female wrestlers and how much they can be paid. It’s also a testament to the fact that maintaining a social media following and connecting with fans is really important as a wrestler.
Mone’s debut at Big Business was certainly massive, and it remains to be seen what’s in store for her next In AEW. For more, you can read about the drama between Britt Baker and Mone, and what Adam Copeland has to say about him and Mone’s work in the AEW as WWE alumni.
AEW brought in Mercedes Mone, and the pro wrestling world paid attention. Now, it appears that some are trying to find trouble when it’s not there.
Britt Baker has been out of action for a while, and she went all of 2023 (and 2024 so far) without cutting a single promo on live television. She also saw something churning in the rumor mill about how she feels about AEW’s latest blockbuster signing, and she had to dismiss it.
Baker Clears the Air
Mercedes Mone debuted in AEW at Big Business, unveiling a ‘CEO’ persona and expressing her desire to impact the women’s division. On this week’s episode of Dynamite, Mone reiterated her goal to expand the company’s reach globally.
However, rumors surfaced regarding discontent among some wrestlers in AEW regarding Mone’s contract and pay. After all, Mone is supposedly making the most out of any female in the business right now.
In response to a fan’s speculation, Britt Baker clarified on social media, where she outright denied any real-life tension with Mone and dismissing the report as fake.
Baker asserted in her comment that the Facebook post is fake. She also picked a few choice words to make her point.
“This is a fake Facebook post you dumb f*ck. Excuse my language, Trips. You can all post your apologies in the comments below.”
This is a fake Facebook post you dumb fuck. Excuse my language, Trips.
— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 21, 2024
Mone is All Elite
Mercedes Mone is just getting started in AEW, but she hasn’t mixed it up with Britt Baker yet. At this point, AEW fans are still waiting to see the company’s resident dentist in the ring again. At this point, they are still waiting.
Mone looks like she is going to go for Julia Hart’s TBS Title first, but this may be a swerve. There are a lot of options for Mone, including settling her unfinished business with Willow Nightingale.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more from the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.
Adam Copeland is excited about the fresh opportunities that AEW provides for both himself as well as the recently debuted Mercedes Mone.
The former WWE Women’s Champion debuted for AEW at the Big Business episode of Dynamite. Mone had hardly been subtle in the run-up to the show, making clear to fans that she was in Boston, MA, her hometown and the host of Big Business, mere hours before the show.
A Blank Canvas
Copeland and Mone may have made their names (or rather their other names) in WWE, but now both ex-Superstars are seeking a fresh start under Tony Khan. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Copeland spoke about the ‘CEO’ and what her arrival in the All-Elite promotion means.
“For her, AEW is a blank canvas with a brand new palette of paint. For me, it was the same. I saw Swerve, The Young Bucks, Jon Moxley, Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, Claudio, FTR, all these names I’ve never crossed paths with.
“It’s the same with Mercedes–think of how much fun she’s going to have here. Think of all the new opponents.”
Mercedes Mone’s Possibilities
There’s no shortage of new opponents for Mercedes Mone to face now she’s in AEW. Right now, it appears that Mone’s path is leading her to the Julia Hart and the AEW TBS Championship. Britt Baker certainly wants a piece of Mone, as she said last year she was “hoping and praying” that the ex-Superstar joined AEW.
Mone & Copeland on Dynamite
Both ex-Superstars had huge roles to play on the March 20, edition of AEW Dynamite. Mone opened the show by talking about her journey to AEW before being cut off by Skye Blue and Julia Hart. Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander made the save for Mone, though Willow did have some issues with Mone. The pair faced off in May 2023 in the match that saw Mercedes suffer her career-threatening injury.
AEW Dynamite was much kinder to Adam Copeland, who captured the TNT Championship in the show’s main event. Copeland’s second win of the TNT title saw him defeat former friend Christian Cage in an I-Quit match.
Mone is poised to do big things in AEW though a recent comment by the CEO has raised some eyebrows. Shortly before her debut, Mone spoke about her WWE run as Sasha Banks and said she is confident she will wrestle for WWE again one day.
Britt Baker’s Response
Mone’s comment has reportedly led to some heat within AEW as many felt it was a poor move for her to speak about returning to WWE shortly before her All-Elite arrival. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer was the first to report of Mone’s comment not going down well with those in the company.
When a Twitter account insinuated that Britt Baker had spoken with Meltzer and was his source, the former AEW Women’s World Champion made clear this was not the case.
This is a fake Facebook post you dumb fuck. Excuse my language, Trips.
— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 21, 2024
The account in question doubled down on their claim that Baker had been the source for Meltzer. When they said this was an example of a woman fighting harder against the success of another woman, Baker responded yet again.
Hey Trips! Since this is now your second tweet on this “scoop” can you link me where Dave said I said this? Thank you! Big fan. ??
— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 21, 2024
Britt Baker & Mercedes Mone
It’s ironic that this account is claiming that Baker spread news of the roster being unhappy, as the DMD has been wanting to see Mercedes join AEW for some time. Last August, Baker went as far as to say she was hoping and praying Mone would join AEW following her in-crowd appearance at All In.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, March 20.
Last night’s NXT saw a big match added to the upcoming Stand & Deliver PLE over WrestleMania 40 weekend. In just a matter of hours, All Elite Wrestling presents a 3-hour live block of AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
WrestleMania 40 Countdown: 17 DAYS
Let’s get into it…
WWE News
Jade Cargill: I’ve been informed that Jade Cargill is not dealing with any injuries. Upon inquiry, I was informed that significant plans are in place for her future, described specially as “big plans.” They have a plan in place for her, so fans need to be a bit more patient.
Jade Cargill is not injured. Let’s get that out of the way.
I asked and was told there are plans for her, and they are “big plans.”
Bray Wyatt Documentary: We’re going to keep mentioning this, because everyone needs to see this. Bray Wyatt’s upcoming documentary, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, will drop on April 1st. WWE made the official announcement yesterday, and fans should expect quite a presentation for that passion project.
Apology: NXT star Brooks Jenson has been getting backlash for wearing an Ole Anderson t-shirt on television after the legend’s recent death. Despite his accomplishments in wrestling, Anderson has a well-documented history of racially insensitive comments and general ‘old-school’ / caveman opinions. \
RAW Ratings: The March 18th episode of WWE RAW, which took place at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, attracted 1.69 million viewers, marking a 4% decrease from the previous week’s broadcast. The 0.55 rating in the P18-49 demographic was essentially even with the previous week’s 0.56.
AEW:
AEW Dynamite Preview: Matches for tonight’s broadcast include:
TNT Championship I Quit Match: Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland
AEW Continental Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa vs. Toni Storm & Mariah May
Chris Jericho vs. HOOK
Plus, we’ll hear from Mercedes Mone and will see more build for next month’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.
Lost In The Jungle? Speaking of TK, it seems that he’s still upset with ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry for his role in CM Punk’s departure from AEW. That said to be the reason why we haven’t seen him on TV since his suspension. Perry still under contract with AEW, and competing in NJPW.
Matt Hardy at RAW: Matt Hardy and his wife Reby were spotted in a luxury box during WWE RAW in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was there visiting friends and sources backstage said they didn’t see Matt mingling. Hardy later claimed that he was only in the building for about an hour and a half.
Suspended Star Grateful: Sammy Guevara issued a statement, where he explained how grateful he is for the wave of fan support after his AEW suspension.
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows on the horizon:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
We’ll see you back here tomorrow for another installment of the Daily Drop.
WWE once had plans for a blockbuster match pitting Mercdes Mone against Megan Thee Stallion, according to WWE alum Mojo Rawley.
Rawley was in attendance for the recent Crunchyroll Anime Awards and was there to support Mone, who presented alongside Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The All-Elite talent presented the Best Slice of Life Award and was spotted with Megan Thee Stallion.
Megan Thee Stallion Vs. Mercedes Mone
Appearing on Mandy Rose & Tino Sabatelli’s Power Alphas podcast, Mojo Rawley spoke about meeting Megan Thee Stallion, who was also at the awards ceremony. The former WWE 24/7 Champion then shared that WWE had something planned for her at a previous year’s SummerSlam.
“She was going to do something with Mercedes at WWE SummerSlam in years previous, and it just never materialized and fell through for one reason or another. We all know how those situations can go.”
Mojo added that Stallion was “cool” and far taller than he first thought. He didn’t give a year as to when she was going to be involved with WWE. It was reported in 2021 that WWE had planned to have Stallion do something, though that never materialized.
Mercedes Mone Today
Mone never had her match with Megan Thee Stallion in WWE, and left the promotion in 2022. She joined AEW earlier this month at the Big Business Dynamite and is reportedly the highest-paid woman in wrestling. Despite her AEW arrival, Mone has said she’s sure she’ll compete for WWE again one day, which unsurprisingly went down poorly with those in AEW.
Mojo Rawley Outside WWE
Rawley, the winner of the 2017 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, was released from WWE in 2021. The following year, he got engaged to Gracie Tracy and the couple married in Florence, Italy that October.
Rawley has remained in the public eye outside WWE and appeared in the G.I. Joe prequel film, Snake Eyes. He is currently a co-host for TMZ Sports which airs on Fox Sports FS1.
Celebrity Matches
While Stallion never competed for WWE, several artists have stepped between the ropes over the years. Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny has competed multiple times in WWE, while Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan appeared on ECW on TNN in 1999, years before he acquired the NWA. For TNA’s first event, country singer Toby Keith got physical with Jeff Jarrett and delivered a vertical suplex to Double-J.
Mercedes Mone just made her debut for AEW at Big Business in Boston, but she is already on her way to becoming the face of the company. Tony Khan certainly seems to think that she has all the makings it takes.
Tony Khan sees Mercedes Mone as a perfect candidate to be a face of AEW. He had plenty of reasons for this decision, and the fact that she was sitting right next to him only added to the moment.
Mone is Over with Khan
Tony Khan sees Mercedes Mone as an ideal representative for AEW. He made this very clear as he also called her one of the greatest pro wrestlers in the world.
Following her debut at Big Business last week, Khan and Mone participated in an interview with NBC Boston, where Khan highlighted Mone’s qualities as a wrestler, her charisma, passion for wrestling, and connection with the fans.
Mercedes, one of the greatest wrestlers in the world. She’s going to help bring in new audiences from all over the world. It’s such a great question, because I think not only is she going to come in as one of the faces of AEW, one of the top stars, but she’s also one of the best wrestlers, one of the most charismatic people, somebody who loves wrestling. And I’m so glad you asked, because to me Mercedes not only is somebody who loves the wrestling business, loves getting in the ring and wrestling, but loves the fans. And I think that’s what we’re all about in AEW, and I think that’s why Mercedes is perfect to be the face of AEW.
Mone in AEW So Far
Mone made her AEW debut by delivering a promo at the beginning of Big Business and later intervened to rescue Willow Nightingale from an attack. With her return to action, Mone is ready to compete in her first AEW match since recovering from an ankle injury in May 2023.
Her debut match date is yet to be announced by AEW. The former Sasha Banks is scheduled to appear on this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite from Toronto.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world, so keep checking back throughout the day for more updates and the stories you need.
AEW secured Mercedes Mone months ago, but she just made her big debut. Now, it appears that she is gearing up to continue cashing in on every piece of intellectual property she can.
Mercedes Moné filed to trademark the term “Bo$$ton” via her company Soulnado, Inc, on March 14. That Bo$$ton word was used on the Big Business poster to hype Mercedes’ impending debut without directly promoting it.
Mercedes’ New Trademark
As reported by Fightful, the trademark’s description states: “Mark For: BO$$TON trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of hats; Shirts; Shirts and short-sleeved shirts; Sweatshirts; Hooded sweatshirts.”
“Bo$$ton” appears to be a play on the words “boss” and “Boston,” which is the hometown of Moné. Of course, she was The Boss in WWE, a trademark she didn’t take with her, along with her Sasha Banks name.
What’s Next for Mercedes Mone
Fans can probably expect to see some Bo$$ton clothing merch soon with this trademark. She already has an AEW t-shirt that is a play off her relationship to Snoop Dogg.
Moné recently debuted for AEW at the Big Business edition of Dynamite, in front of her hometown crowd in Boston. She was warmly welcomed, even expressing that she felt “so cool” like Steve Austin.
After Dynamite went off the air, Moné came out to the ring following a dark match between Willow Nightingale and Riho. Seeing Julia Hart and Sky Blue attacking Nightingale after the match, Moné, donning her new ring gear, rushed to her aid. She swiftly took out Blue and delivered her signature move, the Mone Maker, to Hart.
Mercedes Turned Down WWE
Moné received a “generous offer” from WWE before her debut in the rival promotion. However, her gut instinct led her to choose AEW instead. More details can be found here.
The women’s division at AEW played a big role in Mercedes Moné’s decision to sign with the company. While there’s no official word yet on her first match or opponent, Moné has hinted at potential feuds. She mentioned having “unfinished business” with Willow Nightingale, suggesting a possible rivalry. Britt Baker also expressed interest in facing Moné last year, hinting at another potential matchup.
Of course, Mone also got a bit of heat within AEW over that comment concerning how she believes she will be back in WWE. She said that before her debut, but she was still with the contract under contract for two months prior to that.
Mercedes Moné, formerly known as Sasha Banks, said that the hometown crowd of Boston made her feel “so cool,” akin to Steve Austin.
Having debuted for All Elite Wrestling the previous Wednesday, Moné received a warm welcome from fans. Reflecting on the experience with Variety, she described it as “unbelievable.”
Moné stole the spotlight during the Big Business edition of AEW Dynamite with her debut. As she entered the TD Garden, she was greeted with loud cheers and chants of “CEO.”
“I still haven’t gotten to take everything in yet, but my heart was just pounding out of my chest. Once I heard the beat drop in the music and the ‘CEO’ chants were on the screens, and then they revealed the ‘Mercedes Moné’ name, that eruption was so electric. I felt so cool. I felt like Stone Cold Steve Austin, when fans just lift up all their signs and stand up with their arms raised. I felt so cool. It was the best feeling in the world.”
Moné expressed gratitude to fans for their support over the past two years while she was recovering from an ankle injury. Visibly emotional, she conveyed how much their support meant to her, and the importance of wrestling in her life.
She also added that is looking forward to wrestling with the women in the Dynamite locker room, particularly mentioning Willow Nightingale, with whom Moné has unfinished business. The two competed against each other in the final of the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship tournament, after which Moné sustained an injury. Speaking to Variety, she also mentioned her openness to facing someone she has never encountered in the ring before.
“I always feel like it’s best when I’ve never been in the ring with an opponent before just so we can feed off that the natural chemistry and the magic instantly. But to tie up with Willow again when we only had like half a match, to tie it up with Saraya again would be amazing. I’ve never gotten to wrestle [AEW Women’s Champion] Toni Storm. I’ve never wrestled Skye Blue, or Julia Hart. The talent is just endless. I’m looking forward to facing everybody.”