Mercedes Mone is officially All-Elite after making her debut this week, but that only came about after a generous offer was made for her to return to WWE. 

Mone arrived in AEW during the Big Business episode of Dynamite, following weeks of speculation that she’d be joining. 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.

WWE’s Offer to Mercedes Mone

During an appearance on the Heal Squad podcast, Keven Undergaro, an advocate for Mone who helped produce her new theme, spoke about the CEO. Undergo shared how WWE made an offer for Mone to return, close to two years after he and Naomi walked out of the company. 

“A few months ago, we get a call from her old home saying they want her back. They put out a generous offer.”

Undergaro said that a “rival company” to WWE, that being AEW, put out an offer and Mone’s gut instinct was to go with the All-Elite promotion. In the interview, he also shared that AEW’s deal was seen as the better one in terms of opportunity, creativity, and mental help. 

In the interview, Undergaro added that he was pleased that Mone will have the opportunity to thrive in wrestling and entertainment in AEW. 

“They see her for what she is, which is a star. This is a girl that, even just being on Mandalorian in her small role, they made nine action figures for her. They don’t do that out of charity, they do that because they sell.”

What’s Next? 

Mone has said that the women’s division was a major factor in her decision to sign with AEW. The division is home to stars Mone has never faced before. Last year, Britt Baker said she was hoping to see Mone join AEW so that they could eventually have a match. Currently, it is unclear when Mone’s debut match will take place or who her first opponent will be. 

H/T – Fightful

In late 2022 and again in late 2023, Varnado engaged in negotiations with WWE. On both occasions, she sought a higher compensation than what WWE was offering, with reports indicating she aimed for compensation comparable to Charlotte Flair or Becky Lynch’s paydays. Since they hit a financial roadblock, she moved on. It seems that she still thinks she will return to WWE.

Mercedes Mone recently said on an interview that a WWE return is certainly in her future. This was before her “surprise” AEW debut, even though she wasn’t “officially” announced everyone knew she was going to be at Big Business, but Mone still worked the interview and said a WWE return is in the cards. This apparenlty upset quite a few people, and for good reason.

Mone Causes Controversy

While the specifics of Tony Khan’s offer remain undisclosed, it was noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that individuals familiar with the proposal described it as substantial, evidently surpassing WWE’s offer but falling notably short of the rumored $5 million per year figure circulating.

That being said, a controversy arose surrounding a Mercedes Mone interview on the Kick Rocks podcast. Although the interview did not acknowledge her move to AEW, as the intention was to keep it a secretm she did say that she will be back in WWE someday.

Mone remarked on the podcast, “I know I’m gonna be back there one day. Like I said, I have a lot of unfinished business in a lot of places.”

It was noted by Dave Meltzer in the WON that “Boy did this one rub a lot of people the wrong way. Time will tell, and quite frankly she should always have it in her mind the possibility of going to WWE, but saying so days before she’s about to start in AEW wouldn’t be the right time politically to say that.”

The timing of Mone’s comments, just days before her AEW debut, raised eyebrows, as it was deemed politically inappropriate to express intentions of returning to WWE at that juncture. While maintaining the possibility of returning to WWE is prudent, making such remarks before commencing work at AEW was seen as ill-advised.

Mone is Making Money

We previously reported that an unnamed female WWE Superstar said that there were indications the offered amount could potentially elevate Mercedes Mone to the status of the highest-paid female wrestler in the industry. They were also very happy with AEW’s offer and Varnado’s decision to accept it, as it was emphasized that there will be positive implications for top female talent in the wrestling market.

Mercedes Mone is making a ton in AEW, and she will probably be featured promimently on Tony Khan’s television shows for a long time to come. He needs to make his money back on the CEO, but she will also remain true to herself the entire time, so you never know what she’ll say on a live microphone.

SEScoops will have more on Mercedes Mone in AEW, and so much more. We will keep our eye on all of the news to continue providing you with the headlines and stories you need.

Mercedes Mone recently became All Elite but that journey hasn’t been smooth. She has now revealed how she recovered from her ‘career-ending’ ankle injury and finally managed to sign with All Elite Wrestling. 

Mone was sidelined with an ankle injury which she sustained during her match against Willow Nightingale at NJPW STRONG Resurgence last year. She had a bad landing which caused major damage to her ankle. At the time, there were plans in the pipeline for her AEW in-ring debut. 

However, in an unfortunate turn of events, the injury forced Tony Khan to nix the plans. She went on to make her presence felt at AEW All In in London as she was in attendance at the Wembley Stadium.

Mercedes Mone talks about her road to recovery and signing with AEW

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Mercedes Mone recalled when she was informed that her ankle injury was labeled career-ending before she made her official AEW debut. The former Sasha Banks fought through the injury and she’s back inside the squared circle.

“I got an MRI in May, and the surgeon told me, ‘This is career-ending,’” said Moné. “That was the biggest shock in my whole life. I’d never really been injured like this before. My worst injury before this was from Hell in a Cell in 2019, when my pelvis was out of place for eight months. This was so much more painful. People thought it was just a broken ankle. I was non-weight bearing for three months. It was a fight every day.

“It was devastating when I was told I was never going to come back. But I always knew I would be back, and I told that to my surgeon. Now I’m healthy and my surgeon is calling his mentor saying, ‘Look at what happened here, it’s incredible.’ I don’t like being told no. I always believed I would be back, and now it’s true.”

Mercedes Mone arrived at AEW Dynamite ‘Big Business’ edition this past Wednesday and delivered a heartwarming promo. She was also involved in a segment with Willow Nightingale with whom she has ‘unfinished business’. 

We will have to wait and see how this storyline pans out.

Mercedes Mone is now All Elite, and pro wrestling fans just got a taste of what she will do in Tony Khan’s company. It also cost him a lot to secure the CEO. 

Tony Khan has a lot of money to throw around. After inking a deal with Mercedes Mone, she is now apparently the highest-paid woman in pro wrestling.

Mercedes Mone’s AEW Money

It was reported that WWE and Mercedes Mone came to a financial roadblock when it came to bringing her in. It was noted that she didnt’ want to be paid more than everyone on the women’s roster, but she did want to be paid what top stars are making. Although WWE didn’t bite at that, AEW was certainly game to lay down that massive contract for her.

According to information shared with Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, a female WWE star mentioned that they had heard the amount offered to their colleague was sufficient to establish her as the highest-paid woman in professional wrestling. They expressed gratitude towards AEW for extending the offer and were pleased that their colleague accepted it, seeing it as a positive development for the marketability of top female wrestlers. 

One WWE woman star noted to us that they were hearing that the number was enough to make her the highest paid woman in pro wrestling and that they were thrilled at AEW for making the offer and happy for her to have accepted it, 

The unnamed WWE Superstar also reportedly emphasized the importance of equitable pay for women in the industry, highlighting their significant contributions in drawing audiences and maintaining substantial social media followings. Additionally, they remarked that the deal represented a significant advancement for women in an industry where they typically earn less than their male counterparts.

What’s Next 

We will have to see what is next for Mercedes Mone in AEW. She got off to a good start at Big Business, as she bookended the show as well. Only time will tell if the money Tony Khan is giving the former Sasha Banks will turn into a financially solid decision.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is known. As always, we will have all the updates and headlines that you need to stay up to date on everything going on in the pro wrestling world.

Mercedes Mone has continued to make waves outside of the ring following her AEW debut on this week’s episode of Dynamite. 

Mone arrived in AEW during the Big Business episode of Dynamite, following weeks of speculation that she’d be joining. 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.

 Mercedes Mone & the NBA

Mone caused quite the stir with her appearance at the Big Business edition of AEW Dynamite and her momentum has carried forward to the world of basketball. AEW’s newest signing was spotted at this week’s game pitting the Boston Celtics against the Phoenix Suns. Broadcaster Reggie Miller took the opportunity to highlight her recent signing with AEW and promote upcoming episodes of AEW Dynamite on TBS. 

Mercedes Moné at TD Garden for Celtics vs. Suns ? pic.twitter.com/AxkxyokCbD

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) March 15, 2024

What’s Next for Mercedes Mone? 

There’s no shortage of talented women she can step in the ring with. Some have speculated that a feud with Saraya could happen given their history. It was a move from Mone (Sasha Banks) at the time, that led to Saraya (Paige) being forced to retire from wrestling due to a neck injury. The Brit would return to the ring at Full Gear 2022. 

Mone has said that the women’s division was a major factor in her decision to sign with AEW. The division is home to stars Mone has never faced before. Last year, Britt Baker said she was hoping to see Mone join AEW so that they could eventually have a match. 

The ratings are in for AEW’s much-anticipated ‘Big Business’ episode of Dynamite, which marked the arrival of Mercdes Mone to the company. 

The former WWE Superstar opened the show to a raucous ovation by her fellow Bostonians in the TD Garden. Ever since Big Business was announced, fans speculated on Mone making her debut at the event. The former WWE & IWGP Women’s Champion had hardly been subtle, as she made clear to fans she was in Boston mere hours before the show.

AEW Big Business’ Ratings

The AEW Big Business edition of Dynamite drew 801,000 fans and a 0.27 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic. While this is an increase from the previous week’s 779,000 (0.27), it is hardly the massive jump many expected for a show that in addition to featuring Mone, saw an AEW World Championship match. 

For comparison, the March 15, 2023, episode of AEW Dynamite drew 852,000 fans with a 0.27 rating in the 18-49 demographic. That show in Winnipeg, Canada, was headlined by the House of Black defeating the Elite to retain the AEW Trios Championships.

One aspect of the show that AEW can be proud of is the debut of Mone. The former WWE and IWGP Women’s Champion garnered 1 million viewers for her segment, the highest-rated segment by far of the evening. 

Disappointing Numbers

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer added that these were disappointing numbers considering how much build AEW had made for Big Business. The show’s final segment, which saw Mone make the save for Willow Nightingale after she was attacked by Julia Hart and Skye Blue, was especially concerning. 

AEW did 801K/0.27 last night. Obviously disappointing numbers. Third for the night, Regarding the question on last night's show if people figured out Mone would be back later in the show, they clearly did not as the main event did not do well.

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) March 14, 2024

Quarter-Hour BreakDown

Here is the full quarter-hour breakdown for this week’s AEW Dynamite. 

• 8-8:15 (Mercedes Mone’s Debut): 1,000,000 (0.32) 
• 8:15-8:30: 899,000 (0.29)
• 8:30-8:45: 815,000 (0.27)
• 8:45-9: 737,000 (0.24)
• 9-9:15: 798,000 (0.27)
• 9:15-9:30: 799,000 (0.29)
• 9:30-9:45: 732,000 (0.26)
• 9:45-10: 627,000 (0.22)

Mercedes Mone made AEW Big Business her business on Wednesday and the company made sure they tied her first piece of merchandise tied into her own history.

Mone is the new “CEO” of AEW and she was the one to kick off Big Business in her hometown of Boston, MA as the TD Garden went bonkers for the former Sasha Banks.

AEW decided to embrace Mone’s mogul identity as they unleashed a classic hip-hop design that is reflective of imagery used by the storied Death Row Records label.

Death Row Records was an independent record label consisting of Dr. Dre, the late 2Pac, The Dogg Pound and of course, Mone’s cousin Snoop Dogg.

Mo Moné, No Problems! Check out the Mercedes Moné merch that just arrived at https://t.co/9hHlXpcSbp! @MercedesVarnado #AEWDynamite #AEWBigBusiness pic.twitter.com/MZGe4ZzTpy

— ShopAEW.com (@ShopAEW) March 14, 2024

Mercedes cut a “hero’s welcome” promo in front of the crowd and did get a little emotional in front of the crowd. She end-capped the evening as Willow Nightingale took on Riho in the main event of the program, but Mone made clear that she had unfinished business with Willow Nightingale.

Mercedes Mone & Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg and Mone are indeed tight as it was Dogg who introduced her to the ring for WrestleMania 32. Snoop may be the true locksmith to pro wrestling’s forbidden door as he’s not just a WWE Hall Of Famer, but also famously got physical on AEW Dynamite with a questionable top rope splash onto Serpentico. 

However, Dogg completely redeemed himself as he ended up defeated The Miz at WrestleMania 39 after Shane McMahon unexpectedly got injured after a surprise return. That moment got high praise from COO Triple H.

“I’ve known Snoop for years in this environment and what kind of a fan he is, but tonight he put himself on a different playing field and respect factor for me. I know a lot of guys that have been in business a long time; if that happened, they’d go, ‘what do we do?’ It was amazing.”

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Thursday, March 14. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, including Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut at Big Business.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 23

WWE:

– Minneapolis officially put in a bid to host WrestleMania 41. They have already been rumored to host the show of shows next year at the Vikings US Bank Stadium.

– Thunderbolt Patterson was announced as an inductee for the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame.

– WWE is thinking about switching up their start times for premium live events going forward.

– Bayley, Naomi, and Tamina Snuka were at AEW Big Business last night to see Mercedes Mone’s debut for Tony Khan’s company.

#ceo @itsBayleyWWE @MercedesVarnado @TaminaSnuka #MercedesMone pic.twitter.com/dfZfwcXlRl

— Trinity (@TheTrinity_Fatu) March 14, 2024

– Ex WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth joined the cast of Busted Open Radio.

AEW:

– Some have called out Mercedes Mone’s AEW theme song for ripping off GUNTHER’S old WWE theme. He even apparently commented on the drama, because there was quite a bit of it.

I love how AEW brought out Mercedes Mone out at the beginning like they did CM Punk. No need to make the fans wait all night #AEWBigBusiness #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/pUyDxJBteZ

— Public Enemies Podcast (@PublicEnemiesHQ) March 14, 2024

Wait ….I just noticed …. https://t.co/kQIHJvqDAF pic.twitter.com/nFNISuDhp6

— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) March 14, 2024

So much drama. pic.twitter.com/gCcsXYEX8s

— GUNTHER (@Gunther_AUT) March 14, 2024

– Tony Khan spoke about how much trust he puts into Darby Allin to be safe while performing his incredibly dangerous stunts.

– The show kept going with Mercedes Mone after AEW Big Business was over last night. You can check out that footage here.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

• WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
• WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
• 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 SummerSlam is taking over Cleveland’s Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 3rd.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Mercedes Mone is officially All-Elite, and the arrival of the former WWE Superstar has proven to be a huge talking point among those in pro wrestling. 

Mone arrived in AEW during the Big Business episode of Dynamite, following weeks of speculation that she’d be joining. 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. 

Wrestling World Reacts

After weeks of anticipation, Mone’s arrival in AEW has spawned a ton of reactions. WWE’s own Tyler Breeze was pleased to see his former colleague become All-Elite. 

? hell ya @MercedesVarnado

— Breeze (@MmmGorgeous) March 14, 2024

Matt Hardy was excited to see Mone at the show and felt her kicking off Big Business was the right move. 

If you’re gonna do #AEWBigBusiness in Bo$$ton, that’s the way to kick off #AEWDynamite. Great to see @MercedesVarnado back in a North American wrestling ring.

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) March 14, 2024

Taya Valkyrie was ready to throw out the challenge to the newest member of AEW’s women’s division. 

Oh hi @MercedesVarnado, let’s lucha babyyyyyyyy ? @AEW #AEWBigBusiness #AEWDynamite

— TAYA VALKYRIE (@thetayavalkyrie) March 14, 2024

Renee Paquette was also pleased to see the ‘CEO’ in AEW. 

That’s my CEO pic.twitter.com/ug3rTlkcvW

— Renee Paquette (@ReneePaquette) March 14, 2024

AEW’s chief music producer Mikey Rukus joked that he was under the impression that a different woman in wrestling would be debuting on the show. 

Wait…. this whole time I was making music for Wendi Richter… NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ONE…..saawwwwwwwwwwwwmmmm btch ?

She made that track herself!
WELCOME TO AEW MERCEDES MONE!#CEO #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/CXYKkLKhFy

— RUKUS (@MikeyRukus) March 14, 2024

Former Women’s World Champion Nyla Rose had similarly been under the impression that AEW had something planned other than Mone. 

So wait…. It’s NOT a Springsteen thing???????? https://t.co/JXpqtp51Fh

— Rizzie McGuire? (@NylaRoseBeast) March 14, 2024

Referee Aubrey Edwards shared her own experiences watching Mone compete during her WWE run as Sasha Banks. 

I flew to Brooklyn in 2015 to watch Mercedes wrestle in a main event. I’m over the friggin’ moon right now #AEWDynamite #AEWBigBusiness

— Aubrey Edwards – AEW Referee (@RefAubrey) March 14, 2024

Danhausen had quite an interesting reaction to Mone’s arrival, as he’s clearly a fan of AEW’s newest signing. 

pic.twitter.com/jdDc3W9J55

— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) March 14, 2024

WWE’s Cathy Kelley shared her excitement for Mone’s debut through the power of emojis. 

??

— Cathy Kelley (@catherinekelley) March 14, 2024

And AEW President Tony Khan took to Twitter to make things official. 

It's official: @MercedesVarnado is ALL ELITE!

Welcome to @AEW, Mercedes Moné!#AEWDynamite on @TBSNetwork#AEWBigBusiness pic.twitter.com/Jf1XQ7J8PE

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 14, 2024

Mercedes Mone made her presence felt in a big way during tonight’s Big Business episode of AEW Dynamite from the TD Garden in her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts.

The former WWE star’s official debut for All Elite Wrestling was all but confirmed by the promotion prior to the event. Company president Tony Khan didn’t make the fans wait for long to see what they had come for.

The CEO made her debut during the opening segment of the Wednesday night show. She got a huge ovation from the hometown crowd.

The former IWGP Women’s Champion then cut a promo mentioning her idol, Eddie Guerrero and thanking the fans. Mercedes Mone ended her promo by declaring that AEW was the only place where revolution can be global.

What Happened After Dynamite

This wasn’t the last of Mone fans got to see. The main event of the show featured Willow Nightingale who defeated Riho in a singles match. After the bout, Julia Hart and Sky Blue attacked Nightingale.

Mercedes Mone then made her way out, this time wearing her new ring gear. She took out Blue first and later delivered the Mone Maker to Hart.

The show ended with Nightingale lifting Mercedes’ arm. The debuting star stayed in the ring for some time after the cameras stopped rolling to soak in the moment.

@MercedesVarnado is the CEO and is amazing ???Comes to the rescue of Willow and then greets the crowd. #AEWBigBuisness pic.twitter.com/RydCFAyxqN

— Ring The Bell Worldwide (@RingTheBellWw) March 14, 2024

Mone spent a good amount of time greeting the fans at the ringside and dancing to her theme after Dynamite went off air, before finally making her way to the back.

The former champion’s debut was a huge success for AEW. Now it’d be interesting to see what the company has planned for her moving forward.

• Top WWE Star Spotted During Mercedes Mone’s Dynamite Debut

AEW Big Business went down at the TD Garden in Boston, and there was considerable excitement from the crowd all night. Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut dominated discussions prior to the event, and she had a very close friend who was there for the big night.

The Big Business show brought a lot of attention and fans in Boston. It seems that Bayley also made the show, and she was spotted during the event.

Bayley at Big Business

During the March 13 episode of AEW Dynamite, Mercedes Mone entered the scene, confirming her All Elite status. While her debut had been widely anticipated, her appearance comes as no surprise to many amidst swirling rumors.

Ahead of the event, rumors circulate about Bayley and Naomi attending to show support for their friend. We’re not sure about Trinity, but Bayley was spotted in the Garden

WWE Superstar Bayley was indeed spotted at TD Garden, surprising fans all over, but they shouldn’t be too shocked considering their past. While Naomi’s presence remains unconfirmed, considering their past support for Mone, it wouldn’t be unexpected is she was there too.

Bayley made Big Business pic.twitter.com/CeImlNTY1A

— A Varble (@VarbleHere) March 14, 2024

#ceo @itsBayleyWWE @MercedesVarnado @TaminaSnuka #MercedesMone pic.twitter.com/dfZfwcXlRl

— Trinity (@TheTrinity_Fatu) March 14, 2024

It appears that Trinity, Tamina, and Bayley were all there at Big Business. The video from Naomi on Twitter/X was a pretty funny hint that they made the show.

Connection Between Mercedes Mone & Bayley

Bayley has said in the past that she begs Mercedes Mone all the time to come back to WWE. That didn’t happen this time around, but you never know what the future holds. At this point, Mone has a multi-year contract with AEW to deal with.

Mone and Bayley were also at Trinity’s Hard to Kill match in Impact Wrestling. They are known to support each other, even if they aren’t in the same company.

SEScoops will have a lot more on this story, and so much more, so please keep checking back for future updates.

Mercedes Mone made her debut for AEW at Big Business in Boston on March 13. This debut was expected, but there is a lot more to it.

A lot of things went into Mercedes Mone’s debut for AEW. It was quite a road, but now she is All Elite, but how long has this deal been underway? It appears that she was associated with AEW for months prior to her debut.

Mone is All Elite

Mercedes Mone made her official debut as a member of the All Elite Wrestling roster at Big Business on March 13, but reports suggest she’s been associated with AEW for over two months prior. According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, negotiations began well before her debut, with some indicating that discussions began as early as December when Mercedes secured several trademarks related to her name. Although details about the contract remain unconfirmed, it’s believed to be a multi-year agreement.

Furthermore, it’s been suggested that New Japan Pro Wrestling played a role in the negotiations, expecting to continue working with Mercedes extensively. However, it’s understood that AEW will be her primary focus. Mercedes endured a severe injury in May, which required two surgeries and a lengthy recovery period, preventing her from immediate in-ring action.

In the lead-up to her debut, there were initial talks between Mercedes and AEW, but they didn’t come to fruition. At one point, she explored options with WWE, but discussions stalled, leading to her eventual departure. Despite speculation about her potential appearances elsewhere, it became evident that AEW was the likely destination.

As discussions resumed in January, there were considerations for Mercedes’ debut, with dates in early January initially discussed. However, her physical clearance delayed these plans. Ultimately, AEW orchestrated her debut at the Big Business event in Boston without formal announcement, setting the stage for her introduction to the AEW audience.

Mercedes Mone’s Dealings With Other Companies

Amid rumors about a potential match with Giulia at NJPW Battle In The Valley, sources within NJPW reportedly refuted these claims, clarifying that no plans were made for her participation. 

By the time of the WWE Royal Rumble, expectations were reportedly high for Mercedes’ AEW debut, with many within the wrestling community anticipating her arrival. The buildup to her debut at the Boston TD Garden show solidified her transition to the AEW roster, confirming her departure from WWE and setting the stage for her future endeavors in AEW.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. Mercedes Mone is All Elite, and this is an exciting time for fans.

AEW brought an exciting Big Business edition of Dynamite to fans in Boston this week. The debut of Mercedes Mone was expected, and fans were not disappointed.

After a lot of speculation and many reports that she is coming to the Land of All Elite, Mercedes Mone made her debut for AEW at Big Business on March 13th. 

Mercedes Mone’s AEW Debut

AEW Dynamite opened up this week with Renee Paquette doing a talk-up backstage to hype tonight’s show. Then, a Maybach pulled up behind her, but they didn’t show who got out of the car at that time.

?

Watch #AEWDynamite #AEWBigBusiness LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/f0lLQ6slas

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 14, 2024

Then the show opened up with a new star’s music, and CEO showed on the big screen. That morphed into Mercedes Mone, and she made her way out to a big ovation from the Boston crowd.

She said that she is home, and then she thanked fans for sticking by her. She said that they will create magic in AEW, and she said that they are the reason that she is there.

BIGGGG BUSINESSS NIGGAAAAAAAAAA!! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!! #AEWBigBusiness pic.twitter.com/W1D091lS9k

— V. ??? (@HaangEmHiigh) March 14, 2024

Mercedes then said that she is in AEW to make a big impression. She can’t wait to mix it up with the women in the roster and have some incredible matches. She brought up unfinished business she has with Willow, but she said that the biggest business she had to said that she is All Elite.

It's official: @MercedesVarnado is ALL ELITE!

Welcome to @AEW, Mercedes Moné!#AEWDynamite on @TBSNetwork#AEWBigBusiness pic.twitter.com/Jf1XQ7J8PE

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 14, 2024

Mercedes Mone & WWE

WWE and Mercedes Mone were talking about her coming back to the company. Then they hit a financial roadblock.

It was later reported that Mone wasn’t asking for more than the top female makes on the WWE roster. That being said, AEW was obviously able to offer her more, and now she is All Elite.

We will have to see if her road ever takes her back to WWE. At this point, she is just getting started in AEW.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of Mercedes Mone’ run in AEW. You never know what can happen next at this point.

AEW is ready to light Boston up with tonight’s ‘Big Business’ show, and two WWE Superstars have come to Beantown to support their debuting ally. 

Much of that buzz around AEW Big Business surrounds Mercedes Mone, who is expected to make her official AEW debut during tonight’s show. Mone, who has been on AEW’s payroll for some time, has hardly been subtle when it comes to her involvement in the show. 

WWE Superstars in Boston

Mone’s debut is being seen by many as a sure thing, and the presence of two WWE Superstars certainly adds credence to the belief she’ll debut. Bayley and Naomi, both close friends of Mone, are in Boston ahead of tonight’s show, PW Insider reports.

The three have been closely linked for years, with Bayley and Mone being the ‘Boss ‘n Hug Connection’ in WWE while it was with Naomi that Mone walked out of that same promotion two years ago. Bayley and Naomi made the trip to Japan in January 2023 to watch Mone make her NJPW debut at that year’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event. The pair were also at NJPW Battle in the Valley 2023, which saw Mone capture the IWGP Women’s Championship. 

Bayley and Mone were in attendance when Naomi, as Trinity, made her debut for TNA Wrestling (IMPACT Wrestling at the time) in May of last year. The pair were also present at TNA Hard to Kill 2024, which saw Trinity lose the TNA Knockouts Championship to current champ Jordynne Grace. 

AEW Dynamite – March 13th, 2024

Here is what fans can look forward to on tonight’s show.

• AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Wardow
• The Elite vs. Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo & Pac
• Darby Allin vs. Jay White
• Willow Nightingale vs. Riho
• Chris Jericho & Hook vs. Gates of Agony
• Mercedes Mone’s debut (expected)

Fans of AEW will be very satisfied with what transpires on tonight’s ‘Big Business’ edition of Dynamite, Tony Khan has promised. 

AEW Big Business will be the first show of its name and has garnered a ton of buzz. Much of that buzz surrounds Mercedes Mone, who is expected to make her official AEW debut during tonight’s show. Mone, who has been on AEW’s pay-roll for some time, has hardly been subtle when it comes to her involvement in the show. 

Tony Khan’s Vow

While many see Mone’s debut as a done deal, AEW President Tony Khan has unsurprisingly not commented on the reports of her much-anticipated arrival. Speaking with Scott Fishman of TV Insider, Khan didn’t reference the Mone rumors by name but guaranteed a satisfying show. 

“I promise I will not disappoint the fans tonight. There has been an influx of huge names, and tonight is the biggest show yet.”

Khan also spoke about his roster, which he believes to be the best in wrestling, and is confident tonight’s show will showcase something very special. 

“I think that constant innovation and the perpetual strides toward always wanting to get better are a big part of the spirit of AEW. I think tonight’s Big Business show on TBS will showcase that innovation.”

AEW Dynamite – March 13th, 2024

Here is what fans can look forward to on tonight’s show. 

• AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Wardow
• The Elite vs. Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo & Pac
• Darby Allin vs. Jay White
• Willow Nightingale vs. Riho
• Chris Jericho & Hook vs. Gates of Agony
• Mercedes Mone’s debut (expected)

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Wednesday, March 13. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, so let’s take a look.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 24

Tonight is AEW Dynamite Big Business, and AEW fans are expecting Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company. That being said, expect updates as we get closer to the big Boston show, and afterward.

WWE:

– John Cena is not locked in for WrestleMania 40 yet. I was told that they are still working on him. For what it’s worth, James Gunn said that Peacemaker season 2 is slated for the summer, so that probably won’t affect Mania. We will have to see what they can work out.

John Cena's WrestleMania 40 appearance is "still being worked on."

Nothing concrete. Nothing to announce yet.

I also asked if there was any internal reaction to his Oscars streaking stunt, and was told that there wasn't a reaction because they're "too busy. It's WrestleMania…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 12, 2024

– WWE confirmed that SummerSlam 2024 is coming to Cleveland on August 3rd at the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

– The March 11th episode of Monday Night RAW attracted 1.751 million viewers, showing growth from the previous week’s viewership of 1,649,000. Additionally, this week’s show achieved a 0.56 rating in the highly coveted 18-49 demographic, up from last week’s rating of 0.54.

– While making the big SummerSlam announcement, Logan Paul also said that Dave Chappelle, and so many more, will be at the biggest party of the summer in Cleveland. 

– Trick Williams seemingly confirmed his relationship with Lash Legend during WWE NXT this week in a very public way.

TRICK WILLIAMS YOU LEGEND!!!@_trickwilliams #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/gS2vaf1vg0

— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2024

– KSI strangely called himself the Next Shane McMahon. So, take that for what it’s worth.

– Odds are, Gigi Dolin’s character on WWE NXT is about to go through a bit of a change.

– John Cena said he is retiring from in-ring competition at 50-years-old.

WWE NXT 2024 Stand & Deliver Card (So Far):

• Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo – Singles match for the NXT Championship
• Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners – Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
• Carmelo Hayes vs Trick Williams

AEW:

– As expected, Mercedes Mone has arrived in Boston ahead of AEW Dynamite this week.

– Shelton Benjamin reacted to the reports that he’s talking to AEW. He didn’t say no, but he also didn’t 100% confirm it. Odds are, the former Hurt Business member will find his way to the Land of All Elite.

– CJ Perry said that social media has really been getting her down since the Miro split.

– AEW star Buddy Matthews was shown during WWE RAW alongside Rhea Ripley at UFC 299. They did not name him, but Pat McAfee did ask who Ripley was with. Michael Cole just carried on with the show instead of addressing the former WWE Superstar in the photo.

– During SXSW, Bryan Danielson made it clear that he doesn’t want to win the AEW World Title. He said, ”I’ve had some people ask me or say things to me like, ‘Oh Bryan, you should be champion or you should’ve been champion’ or you should’ve this or you should’ve that and the reality is to me, no, the champions that we’ve had have been great. Hangman (Adam Page) was a great champion, MJF was a great champion and it elevated these younger people to where now these people are stars and you put Hangman on TV now and he draws a rating. You put MJF on TV, he draws a rating. It would be easy to just take stars of the past and make them your champion and make them your top guy. That’s the easy way. It’s much harder to take somebody like MJF who hadn’t been on national television and turn him into a star that draws ratings… That was my bigger goal is to transfer stardom from one generation to another.”

– Sting’s first post-AEW retirement appearance will go down at Galaxy Con on March 16th,

AEW Dynamite Big Business 3/13 Card:

• AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Wardlow
• The New Elite vs. Pac, Penta, and Eddie Kingston
• Darby Allin vs. Jay White
• Chris Jericho and Hook vs Gates of Agony
• Willow Nightingale vs. Riho, marking
• Mercedes Mone’s Expected AEW Debut in Boston

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

• AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
• WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
• WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
• 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 SummerSlam is taking over Cleveland’s Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 3rd.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

WWE star Alexa Bliss was recently asked about Mercedes Mone (formerly Sasha Banks in WWE) and ‘The Goddess’ had nothing but praise for the former NJPW star.

Alexa Bliss and former IWGP Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone have a fair share of history and their rivalry stemmed from their days in NXT. The duo have presented several memorable matches and their rivalry remains to be one of the best chapters in the company. Going back and forth on multiple occasions, Mercedes Mone has certainly earned Bliss’ respect.

Alexa Bliss recently held a Q&A session on Twitter/X and she was asked about her former rival in WWE, Mercedes Mone, who departed WWE in 2022 due to issues with the creative team.

Alexa Bliss comments on Mercedes Mone

One of the fans asked Alexa Bliss to share her thoughts on the former Sasha Banks and she responded with a two-worded answer. 

Here is what Alexa Bliss said:

“Very talented”

Very talented

— Lexi (Kaufman) Cabrera (@AlexaBliss_WWE) March 13, 2024

Mercedes Mone has been the talk of the town ahead of the highly expected debut in AEW tonight. Last month, AEW President Tony Khan had announced that on March 13, AEW Dynamite will take place at the TD Garden in Boston, MA. Fans have since speculated that the location and the show’s name being dubbed “Big Business” could mean that Mercedes Mone will make her debut at the show.

Fans are eagerly waiting for tonight’s ‘Big Business’ edition of AEW Dynamite and we will have to wait and see how it goes down in her hometown.

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite is expected to mark the debut of Mercedes Mone, and the ex-Superstar is hardly being subtle with her imminent arrival. 

From the moment AEW announced its ‘Big Business’ edition of Dynamite, there had been speculation that Mone would be joining the company. That same month, it was reported that Mone had been signed to the company and had been on the company’s payroll for some time. Mone has not publicly commented on reports that she has already signed with AEW. 

Mercedes Mone is In ‘Bosston’ 

Many see Mone’s debut on tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite as a foregone conclusion, and her most recent social media post certainly adds credence to the idea that she’ll appear on the show.

Taking to social media, Mone shared a photo from her flight to make clear she’s arrived in her hometown on Boston, MA, where tonight’s Dynamite will take place. If this wasn’t clear enough, Mone refers to ‘Beantown’ as ‘Bosston’ which is how the city is referred to on promotional material for the Big Business Dynamite. 

Update: Wednesday afternoon, with five hours until Dynamite, Mone kept the hype going:

BO$$TON
????

— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 13, 2024

AEW Dynamite Preview:

Here our preview for tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Big Business special live from Boston’d TD Garden:

What’s Next for Mercedes Mone? 

Should Mone debut for Dynamite tonight as expected, there’s no shortage of talented women she can step in the ring with. Some have speculated that a feud with Saraya could happen given their history. It was a move from Mone (Sasha Banks) at the time, that led to Saraya (Paige) being forced to retire from wrestling due to a neck injury. The Brit would return to the ring at Full Gear 2022. 

Mercedes Mone has worked hard to prove that you can be a star and make money in other companies since leaving WWE and it’s a message she wants to send to every aspiring wrestler.

The former WWE Women’s Champion recently sat down with Evan Mack of the Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast to discuss things such as the reason for her departure from WWE, her upcoming projects, and more.

Mone was asked about the aspiring wrestlers who set their minds to one company instead of thinking about all the options. The wrestling veteran explained your favorite wrestlers have to compete in many different places to get good and being part of any one company should never be your end goal:

“No, they should never think that. They should never think that there’s one place. I knew that from the beginning because there’s wrestling everywhere. Wrestling is for everybody. I don’t think you should just like one company. You should open your eyes to so many things.

Because your favourite wrestlers come from all different companies. They travel from around the world to gain their craft so much more so they can make it to a top company. They wouldn’t be there without all these different places and all these promotions. Because they need that experience, that growth so they can be the best.'”

• Read More: Mercedes Mone Was Told Her Ankle Injury Was Career Ending

Mercedes Mone Slams Fans Who Promote Tribalism

Mercedes Mone also discussed the tribalism among fans and how some people only seem to watch certain products to hate it. The former IWGP Women’s Champion questioned how fans can decide what’s right for a talent:

First of all, I think we’re just living too much in our phone, the internet. It’s like – will you just go outside for a little bit and then go back into your room and watch wrestling. [It] is so funny. They watch it just to critique it, to hate it. They hate to love it. That’s the thing – they hate to love it. [They should] just love it.

Have fun. It’s just television. It’s just entertainers putting their bodies on the line to entertain you. And you’re the ones that are getting angry and going ‘Well, they should be in this company because this company [blah blah blah]…..’ What? You’re telling us what company we need to be in? You’re telling us what job we need to take?”

You can watch Mercedes Mone’s full interview where she discusses the term Diva, her memories of Japan, and much more below:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Mercedes Mone has recovered from her ankle injury and is ready to make big business moves in 2024. This journey however wasn’t so easy for the former champion and it took both mental and physical fortitude to get back up on her feet.

The former IWGP Women’s Champion recently spoke to Evan Mack of the Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast where she discussed a number of topics very candidly.

When asked about her recovery from the injury, Mone gave a shout out to the places that have helped her recover before revealing that she was actually told it would be a career ending injury:

“I’ve been posting my training videos. I’ve been training really really hard with Tyler Breeze at Flatbacks and Shawn Spears. Shout out to Hybrid School with [Sho] Funaki in San Antonio, and New Japan Dojo in LA. I’ve been working so hard to get back to this place that I love,

Because little do people know, I was told that this is a career ending injury. And I screamed at my doctor and surgeon. I said, ‘No, it’s not.’ I’m going to come back really soon and I’m going to have just the greatest time, the greatest matches, the greatest career that I’ve had yet, because I see it and I feel it, I know it.”

• Read More: Mercedes Mone Explains Bold WWE Exit: Here’s What Happened To Sasha Banks

‘I Wasn’t Healed Inside’: Mercedes Mone

Mone suffered the injury while competing in a tournament to crown the inaugural Strong Women’s Champion back in May 2023 at NJPW Resurgence. She made it to the finals of the tournament where she lost to Willow Nightingale and also got injured. 

The CEO also explained how the injury changed her mindset. According to the former WWE star, she had a lot of trauma and the time off helped her deal with it:

“I’ve spent the past 10 months thinking about how much unfinished business I have in wrestling and how much I was on a hunger tour goal. I was so focused and so ready for my plans to succeed in 2023. For that to happen to me, it taught me so much about life and just taught me that I needed to slow down even more and heal.

Because prior to that a lot happened to me. A lot of hurt happened and a lot of healing needed to happen and I still was just going so fast but ready because I love wrestling so much and I couldn’t be away from it. But I wasn’t healed inside. I think it was just a message being like ‘you got to slow down and figure out what’s next for you and what are your plans.’ Your plans are good, but I think you need to reevaluate them a little bit more.

It’s insane to see how powerful your mind, your body can just overcome and heal something that is just so traumatic, but I feel more ready and more better than ever. I cannot wait to see all my prior plans of 2023 coming to fruition into 2024. I’ve been making some really big moves. Big business moves and big money moves. I think fans are gonna be really excited.”

You can check out Mercedes Mone’s full interview where she talks about her upcoming projects, her past struggles and more below:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

AEW is hoping for some big attendence numbers for Big Business next week, but how are sales going in Boston?

WrestleTix on X notoriously keeps tabs on what WWE and AEW are doing at live events and AEW has a whopper of an event next week in place of Dynamite with Big Business.

According to the account, the TD Garden, which is home to the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtcis, is set to hold 7,800 and the tickets currently distributed are 7,004, meaning there are 796 tickets still available.

AEW Dynamite: Big Bu$iness
Wed • Mar 13 • 7:30 PM
TD Garden, Boston, MA

Available Tickets: 796
Current Setup: 7,800
Tickets Distributed: 7,004

?+108 since the last update (3 days ago)
?Days until show: 6
?7/19/2023 Dynamite: Blood & Guts 8,956
?Sections 14 & 145… pic.twitter.com/12HMT9fY9p

— WrestleTix (@WrestleTix) March 7, 2024

For reference, the last time the TD Garden hosted AEW was for Blood & Guts back in July and that set-up was made for a bigger crowd, with 8,956 attending.

With less than a week remaining, it remains to be seen if AEW will reach it’s goal of sales, but if one were to go by the sales over the past three days, AEW may only sell just over 200 more tickets.

What’s On Tap For AEW Big Business

Whether AEW reaches it’s goal or not for Big Business, the card is becoming quite stacked for the show. Darby Allin will square off against Jay White in singles competition and not only that, but a World Title match is set to go down. Wardlow is cashing in his scramble victory from AEW Revolution to challenge Samoa Joe. 

Those may be the only matches announced for the moment, but Tony Khan is basically telegraphing the much-anticipated debut of Mercedes Mone. It’s also likely that we’ll have one or two World Tag Team Title tournament matches.

As Mercedes Mone gears up for the next chapter of her wrestling career, the former Sasha Banks is has a healthy outlook on her WWE run, which ended abruptly in May 2022.

During a recent appearance on the Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast, Mone explained why the decision to leave her dream job with WWE was a pivotal moment in her life.  As hard as it was to leave that life behind, she’s grateful for that chapter in life and all the opportunities it’s afforded her as she continues her journey.

This candid look into how she was feeling should give fans a better idea about what went on behind the scenes. 

Mercedes Opens Up About WWE Departure

Mone expressed that she felt compelled to take this step and advocate for herself. Despite wrestling in WWE being a significant part of her life, she faced the toughest decision she’s ever encountered. Nevertheless, she considers it the proudest decision she’s made. 

“Something told me I needed to do this & stand up for myself. It was a very hard decision because wrestling in WWE has been my whole life, hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my whole life but it’s the most proudest, it’s crazy because I would not be sitting here, living the best version of my life, in getting to be everything I’ve ever dreamt of — & more

That moment changed my whole life for the better. I’m so thankful for that moment, so proud of myself, so proud of Trinity, so proud of how strong we were. I just know that everybody acted like they were in the room, or work there, or were backstage, or knew what happened, or knew what said…but all I know is that I handled it like a CEO, like the boss that I am, with my head held up high & I can’t say nothing but amazing things to WWE, so thankful for the career they gave me, the fans they gave me, the life they gave me, the dreams they gave me.” 

This is not the first time she’s had to set the record straight about why she left WWE and her beloved Sasha Banks persona behind.

It’s Almost Boss Time

Mercedes Mone is finally ready return to the ring after missing the second half of 2023 due to an ankle injury. She’s kept a relatively lowprofile in wrestling as of late, but that’s all about to change. Fans are eagerly waiting her return to national television, which is all-but-guaranteed to go down next week.

After the recent roster additions of Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, Mone is expected to debut next Wednesday, March 13 at the AEW Dynamite: Big Business special from Boston’s TD Garden.

Mone engaged in serious negotiations with WWE and AEW before making a decision. It’s clear that she put a lot of thought in her selection and sees All Elite Wrestling as the place where she can solidify a legacy on the level of greats such as The Rock and John Cena:

All Elite Wrestling is coming back to TD Garden in Boston, MA on Wednesday, March 13 with AEW Big Business. That very special episode of Dynamite is also expected to include a huge debut for the company, as the former Sasha Banks is set to make her big first appearance on an AEW stage.

Mercedes Mone is thought to have inked a deal with AEW some time ago. The trick was waiting for the right moment. With Big Business’ date in place, Mercedes is now putting out some pretty blatant teases about her future.

Mone Teases AEW Debut

Mercedes Mone is very good at keeping things close to the vest, especially when it comes to her business. She left WWE fans guessing for months about her return time and time again. Now, it’s AEW’s turn, but fans should know where to expect her.

While taking to her Instagram stories, Mercedes Mone dropped a pretty clear tease that she will be at Big Business. She also made it clear that she isn’t done in Japan, either.

Handled all my Big Business in Japan. See you again this Summer.

Mercedes Mone will be permitted to work in Japan while under AEW contract. This is the case with other stars on the roster, as they can take special appearances and matches for other companies.

Mercedes Mone has handled all her #BigBusiness in Japan. Hmm….#AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/NUkXWFSHOX

— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) March 4, 2024

Mercedes Mone’s Road To AEW

The terms of Mercedes’ deal with AEW are not clear yet, but she was asking a lot from WWE. That being said, she wasn’t asking for more than the top female on the roster receives, but they still couldn’t come to an agreement. Tony Khan was apparently willing to offer that paycheck to her, and now we find ourselves waiting on Mercedes’ big moment in the Land of All Elite.

Mercedes Mone appeared at AEW All In, but she couldn’t even be shown on camera standing. She was injured at the time, but the thought was that AEW was going to secure her services. After months of back-and-forth, and WWE entering the picture as well, Big Business looks to be the night when AEW fans finally see what Tony Khan has in mind for her.

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. 

Moné??????
????????????

??????
????????

????????????#?????????
???????

?????????

???????????
????????@MercedesVarnado #???#???? pic.twitter.com/7B7YElL7ZX

— ???????? (@kimurarock) March 2, 2024

Mercedes Mone & Hana Kimura

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.

Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@SerenaDeeb pic.twitter.com/2mIMmcBVh4

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 3, 2024

Merced Mone Teased? 

This line about being the ‘final boss’ has led many to speculate that Deeb will soon share the ring with Mercedes Mone. The ex-Superstar is expected to debut on the ‘Big Business’ episode of AEW Dynamite that’ll take place on March 13. 

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.