What happens when you have everything and it isn’t enough? At its core, pro wrestling is a simple game. It’s about competing for championships, for money, and for fame. Of course, as we watch it play out on-screen, it’s much more complicated as characters develop and chase individual goals, but when it’s all broken down, a wrestler’s path never strays too far from the fundamentals of wanting to prove they’re the best. Yet, sometimes in life, even when every box is ticked, there’s something more that we just can’t seem to achieve.
When Mercedes Moné walked into AEW on March 13, 2024, it looked like she already had everything anyone could want. From minute one, she had the car, the gear, and a ready-made chant built into her entrance theme. Thousands welcomed ‘The CEO’ into Boston’s TD Garden, packed out hometown crowd. Raising a microphone to her lips, she told everyone she was home, and the occasion felt more and more like a fairytale as the night went on. In truth, Moné was a star the likes of which we’d really never really seen before in American women’s wrestling, and her All Elite Wrestling debut felt like the starting point of something genuinely special for both the company and her as a performer.
Mercedes had always carried herself with an undeniable confidence, unafraid to bet on herself, especially after debuting for AEW after sticking it to WWE by walking out. Through her rise to prominence, Moné had cultivated a fandom that was insatiable, one that never put a limit on what she could achieve. It wasn’t as if the former ‘Sasha Banks’ was struggling for success in WWE, but having just one main roster title reign longer than 100 days, it felt as if any momentum Moné built was undercut before it could truly get going. Now, her destiny was in her own hands, and wrestling fans across the world were waiting with bated breath to see what she could achieve. The handbrake was off, and there was no stopping the Moné Train.
During her first promo, Mercedes made it clear that she had Willow Nightingale in her crosshairs. She cited ‘unfinished business’ as Moné targeted the woman that had defeated her in the tournament finals to crown the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, and it didn’t hurt that ‘The Babe With The Power’ also happened to be the number one contender for Julia Hart’s TBS Championship. Viewers were desperate to see Monè compete in the ring after such a lengthy absence, but while we heard from ‘The CEO’ most weeks, she methodically bided her time and didn’t wrestle for almost two and a half months. She was the star, and if she didn’t compete, no one had the chance to prove she wasn’t worthy of immediately challenging for gold.
Having waited until one of AEW’s marquee pay-per-views had come around, Mercedes became TBS Champion by defeating Nightingale at Double Or Nothing 2024. It’s worth noting that, while there were the usual detractors, there weren’t many regular viewers that raised an eyebrow at her title win. There was a general acceptance that the once WrestleMania main eventer had the right to assume her place near the top of the women’s division, and from her first championship win, her taste for gold grew and grew.
Getting two defences of the TBS title under her belt, clocking in at seven and ten minutes respectively, Mercedes was afforded the opportunity to right a perceived wrong at Forbidden Door. As part of AEW’s partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling, ‘The CEO’ took on Stephanie Vaquer for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship in what felt like natural progression for the star after injury had cost her the title in the past. Out-wrestling her opponent on the night, Moné was able to pick up the accolade that’d eluded her in 2023, and she began to add more and more credence to previous claims stating her career would skyrocket outside of the WWE bubble.
Now holding two titles, the star continued to defend the TBS Championship both on Dynamite and pay-per-view, putting away former world champions Nyla Rose and Hikaru Shida after ten minutes each, before battling Britt Baker under the Wembley arches on AEW’s biggest stage. Coming out on top against a mainstay of Dynamite through the pandemic, Mercedes getting past the company’s most recognisable names at a rapid pace, momentum was certainly on her side. Backing herself against all comers, Moné didn’t back down when Momo Watanabe took a trip to the United States, just five days after her landmark victory at All In.
For fans of STARDOM, this was something of a dream match as one of American wrestling’s biggest stars took on a true standout of the joshi landscape. In her opening promo, Moné emphasised wanting to make magic in the ring, and, perhaps nothing epitomised that more than when she took on ‘The Black Peach’ at NJPW Capital Collision. The pair went almost 20 minutes, longer than any of Mercedes’ AEW matches at that point, and it was a true clash of styles. While the champion walked out still NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, it was clear she’d almost been pushed almost to the limit, although you wouldn’t know it based on her return to Dynamite.
Back in familiar surroundings after appearing on New Japan’s US-based show, Mercedes carried on where she left off by adding a few more successful defences to her record. Getting past Hikaru Shida at All Out, and making quick work of both Queen Aminata and Emi Sakura, it had started to seem like Watanabe challenged Moné in a way that just wasn’t presenting itself with enough justice in AEW. That was until she came face to face with Kris Statlander.
A former TBS Champion in her own right, Statlander had battled back from a torn ACL and lateral meniscus in 2023, returning with immediate impact by handing Jade Cargill her first ever loss, shocking the world. When face to face with Mercedes Moné, it would’ve been natural for her to feel some nerves against someone the calibre of ‘The CEO’, but history was on her side. Being the first person to ever defeat Jade Cargill, Statlander also handed Kamille her only loss in AEW in the lead-up to Full Gear. Could she be the one to topple the seemingly invincible Moné?
“She’s afraid of competition, maybe she knows there are people out there that are better than her.”
From the offset, Mercedes used her experience to control the pace, stunting Statlander’s early onslaught by tempting her to the outside. Countering a suplex attempt into a hurricanrana, the champion was as cocky as ever, mocking her opponent and keeping her out of the ring. From one perspective, behaviour was leaning towards overconfidence, but, stripping away her showman-like approach, Mercedes was trying to get a count out win early in the match. Was Statlander right? Was she actually a little afraid of the challenge set out in front of her?
This was a frustrating start for Statlander, and Moné was quick to stay on her opponent once back in the ring, but the champion knew she couldn’t get into a power game with her challenger. As one of the best in the world, ‘The CEO’ combined quick strikes with her agility, and, on the face of it, it seemed she was dominating the contest. Though, showing signs of frustration after every kick out, Mercedes looked worried.
Despite always putting on a confident front, Moné certainly wasn’t blind to the level of talent in the locker room. In the likes of Statlander and Nightingale, AEW had homegrown female talent waiting to be given an opportunity to reach the next level. While Mercedes came out of WWE hungry to work hard, those she now shared the stage with had never been afforded the chance to shine like she had. Any sign of complacency on her part, her seemingly secure spot as the main attraction in the division could slip.
Mercedes kept going back to the Meteora, even grabbing the rope on one occasion to add leverage to her pin attempt. She was trying to put Statlander away as quickly as possible, going for constant covers to sneak a victory. This was a former WrestleMania main eventer, but, having only been tested a handful of times since coming back from her ankle injury, was she not confident of surviving when she found herself back in the deep water?
Mercedes’ methodical approach wasn’t going to last forever, and she knew it. Another meteora attempt saw Moné powerbombed into the corner. The tide began to turn. Kris quickened the pace with a Chaos Theory suplex. ‘‘The CEO’ went back to the ropes, this time to get herself out of one of her opponent’s pin attempts. With her ability still there for all to see, Mercedes was able to instinctively turn one of Statlander’s grapples into an opportunity to lock in the Statement Maker, but the match’s outcome was becoming far more open. Her game plan wasn’t sustainable.
After yet another Meteora only yielded a nearfall, Mercedes shrieked and showed the clearest sign of weakness, throwing a tantrum in the ring. After knowing nothing but success in AEW thus far, perhaps she’d come into Full Gear expecting to emerge with the title. As it went on, though, Statlander’s power really took over, and Moné all of a sudden struggled to build and sustain momentum.
In wrestling, mentality is crucial. Since the opening bell, Moné had been on the back foot. So, in a time of trouble, she reverted back to what brought her comfort, opting to pay tribute to her favourite wrestler of all time: Eddie Guerrero. Hitting the Three Amigos, Mercedes beamed with joy as she did Guerrero’s signature shimmy and headed to the top rope. However, Statlander was already up on her feet. The champion had completely taken her eye off the ball in search of momentary relief and had been driven down to the mat for an incredible nearfall. For a split second, it looked like drawing inspiration from her hero had cost her everything.
Yet, despite Mercedes’ mental struggle during the match, her younger opponent was still prone to mistakes of her own. Perhaps naively, Statlander risked going for a 450 splash despite having a weakened knee. Monè smelled blood in the water. The champion became more ruthless, stepping on the injured joint, and even hit a frog splash to Kris’ lower leg. She’d return to her tried and tested ways, hitting two backstabbers and the Moné Maker. It still wasn’t enough.
After trading pinfall attempts, Mercedes found herself in Statlander’s clutches once again. In an act of desperation, she bit her opponent’s injured knee and threw her face first into the ropes. Ultimately, she transitioned into a pin and retained her title through technical skill. Moné had survived, but only just.
It soon became clear that Kris wasn’t giving up the chase. Unrelenting, Statlander knew how close she’d come to defeating the undefeated, and a rematch was set up for the company’s next big event. When Worlds End rolled around, the challenger was visibly more confident. The competitors were far more familiar with each other, and their performances were reactive to what had come before.
Showing she was unphased, Mercedes opted to engage in grappling to allow her foe to use her power. Similarly, Statlander showed she was capable of agile counters. Instead of toying with her opponent by keeping her out of the ring, Moné kept the pressure on her opponent on the outside. ‘The CEO’ still tried to secure a pin any way she could, but there was no frustration on the early kick-outs, perhaps better prepared for a long night.
The champion seemed far more focused from the off, settling into an approach that saw her look to ground her larger challenger after the initial flurry. The match went back and forth for momentum, although the first signs of frustration this time came from Statlander. As she’d done so many times before: ‘The CEO’ incorporated her inspiration’s offence into the match, but she was sure to keep a much cooler head. Not losing sight of the moment, the ‘Three Amigos’ became four, five, and six, ultimately nailed seven suplexes in a row to her opponent, enough to keep Kris down for the frog splash.
While not ending the match, this was a far more composed performance from Moné. She held her own in a strike exchange, despite being the smaller wrestler, and if anyone was showing signs of desperation, it was Statlander. After nailing the Moné Maker on the floor, ‘The CEO’ had an opportunity to retain her gold via count out. Yet, Mercedes broke the count. She had her opponent where she wanted her, using the opportunity to jam Kris’ foot into the frame of the ring, stomping the knee. With Kris caught up, she had no chance of countering a vicious meteora. Blows reigned down, and the champion was taking the opportunity to establish superiority over her rival.
With Kris having to remove her boot to continue the match, she was thrown off her game. Even when the challenger burst into life with a move onto the apron, Mercedes responded in kind, matching her intensity all the way. Statlander’s tenacity can’t be underplayed, as she did everything in her power to stay in the match, but, ultimately, Moné’s expertise won the day. Looking outside her arsenal, she used an ankle lock to capitalise on the injury, sending her opponent into panic. Some quick pin attempts later, the champion took a few extra seconds to secure a tight cover, making it almost impossible for Statlander to kick out. Mercedes secured the win in incredibly impressive fashion, and it was soon time for her to draw her attention overseas.
Just days after her gruelling rematch with Kris Statlander, Mercedes Moné found herself in one of wrestling’s most storied venues: The Tokyo Dome. However, face to face with Mina Shirakawa at Wrestle Dynasty, it wasn’t an AEW, New Japan, or STARDOM title on the line. Instead, one of the industry’s biggest stars was challenging for Revolution Pro Wrestling’s Undisputed British Women’s Championship.
Being built off its relationships with other companies, AEW’s ties with other promotions allow its wrestlers to compete all around the world, and it’s not just the in-ring talent who benefit. When Moné eyed RevPro’s Women’s Title on January 5, 2025, interest in the promotion skyrocketed. Particularly after beating Mina for the gold over in Japan, subscriptions to ‘RevPro On Demand’ reached a level never before seen as Mercedes’ name value alone was enough to create a buzz across the globe.
For British fans, the sense of excitement was almost tangible, as a global icon was confirmed to be making appearances in their country. For the talent, the possibility to share the ring with ‘The CEO’ had opened up, and attention turned to who Revolution Pro Wrestling would put forward.
Wanting to show what British wrestling was all about, the company opted to give Kanji the opportunity to face off with Mercedes Moné. A technical wrestler with enough grit to rise to the occasion, the 31-year-old was someone who crowds had fallen in love with. It felt like the entire scene was genuinely happy to see her in this spot when the announcement was made. At the Doncaster Dome, over Easter weekend, Kanji had the chance of a lifetime.
Showing her skill to the larger audience who’d tuned in around the world to see Mercedes, Kanji captured the imagination of a whole new audience as her countrymen backed one of their own to shine. In the end, Mercedes was able to emerge from her first RevPro appearance still champion, but she’d done the world of good for both the company and one of its up and coming stars.
Now a champion in America, Japan, and now the UK, Mercedes was on top of the world, wasn’t she? In the months between capturing the Undisputed British Women’s Championship and her first defence of it on April 20, AEW’s Owen Hart Tournaments had started, providing a clear path to the AEW Women’s World Title. With the sheer amount of momentum she’d already built up, it felt almost like an inevitability that All Elite Wrestling’s richest prize would soon be around her waist. Yet, she wouldn’t have it all her own way, as opponents from the past reared their heads again.
Mercedes had been so focused on bouncing from one accolade to the next that she expected those she’d defeated to accept their losses and stay out of her way. But, leaving so many in her wake, it was only a matter of time before her exploits caught up with her in one way or another. At NJPW Resurgence, the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion had to take on two opponents. The first: Mina Shirakawa, the woman she’d beat for the Undisputed British Women’s Championship. The second: AZM, the woman who’d met Moné in a New Japan ring during Moné’s reign as IWGP Women’s Champion.
With a lot on her plate, it was only to be expected for Mercedes to have to juggle appearances across three different promotions. One moment of bad luck, and things could start to slip away. After over fifteen minutes of action, Moné was thrown out of the ring by Mina Shirakawa, allowing her two challengers to trade blows. After trading pin attempts, ‘The High Speed Bomb Girl’ secured the Azumi Sushi pin, and, in what many assumed would be a routine defence, Mercedes was down a title.
In an industry where championships breed power, ‘The CEO’ had built up a world of riches. Previously having championships in AEW, NJPW and RevPro, her impact on the wrestling world had become undisputed, and, while losing one title wouldn’t change that, the star was left wondering whether this was the beginning of the end. In the midst of it all, Mercedes had emerged from the Owen Hart Tournament victorious, securing a world title opportunity at AEW’s biggest show of the year, adding another accolade her collection. But, the cracks had started to show. She had to react.
Without overtly changing anything, her mission statement slowly switched. Truthfully, Mercedes loves the art of wrestling more than most, so, after ticking off the biggest promotion in Japan and one of the biggest in England, she began to wrestle anywhere in the world that would have her. After all, her time in RevPro showed her that she could pop up in any country and be lauded as an icon. Everywhere she went, the eyes of the world followed, and promoters were all too happy to reward her for the increased popularity with championship gold.
First, Moné stopped off in Vienna, Austria, and fans revelled at the star giving back to such an obscure wrestling scene. Surprising those in attendance, she interjected herself into the EWA Women’s Championship match despite not previously being advertised and walked away with the gold. Then, back in more familiar surroundings at AEW Grand Slam Mexico, she once again took advantage of the company’s inter-promotional relationships by challenging and defeating Zeuxis for the CMLL Women’s World Title. Just like that, three belts had become six.
Mercedes suddenly had more titles than she did before losing to AZM at Resurgence, as she looked to present herself at full strength heading into her date with Toni Storm. But not everyone was impressed with Moné’s ever-growing list of achievements. The amount of gold she was accruing was starting to become a far more prevalent point of discussion, and many of those who’d been happy for her at Double Or Nothing and Forbidden Door just a year earlier had started to whisper about overindulgence.
Particularly when Moné kept the title belt she’d received for winning the Owen Hart Tournament as part of her presentation, despite it not being something to be defended, many fans came to the realisation that this was really about promoting her own greatness. Perhaps as a form of reassurance, or maybe to get into the head of AEW Women’s World Champion, Moné never missed an opportunity to show how many championships she held. Though this was her first shot at AEW’s top prize, and the biggest women’s match the company could put on, so she couldn’t be blamed for trying to build her image as much as possible before the big occasion.
It was time to meet the ‘Timeless’ one in the Lone Star State. Was Mercedes as prepared as she thought she was?
“Is that all this is to you, another trophy?”
After being almost indestructible for 15 months, Moné decorated her entrance robe with the names of all 24 women she had bested up until that point. A reminder of the legacy she was trying to maintain, cheerleaders wore each of her respective belts as she entered the ring to try to collect the crown jewel of the AEW women’s division. No matter how much she walked in with, Mercedes wanted to be superior to her peers, and with the world championship of her home promotion, there was no disputing as to who was on top.
From the opening bell, the magnitude of the match couldn’t be underplayed. Storm and Moné were undoubtedly two of the biggest stars in the company, regardless of gender, and this was their first ever singles match. While Moné had previously underestimated certain opponents, that certainly wasn’t going to happen here.
Neither could afford to give their opponent an inch.
Each woman was fully aware of the ability the other possessed, and their All In match felt like a true game of chess. The pace was slow, and each action was deliberate. The pair tried to wear one another down, with momentum swinging back and forth as champion and challenger traded periods of dominance. Both looked to a wide range of offence from mat wrestling to expert grappling, each arsenal fully exhausted as they left nothing on the table in front of over 23,000 fans.
Mercedes tried similar roll-ups that’d seen her overcome Statlander, she nailed the Moné Maker in the centre of the ring and even bloodied the champion, but Storm, as the pinnacle of the women’s division, wasn’t going away. Though, that isn’t to say that she was outmatched by Toni’s resilience, as ‘The CEO’ herself kicked out of three Storm Zeroes. These were two competitors at their absolute best.
As the desperation ramped up, Moné used the rope to add pressure to her pinfalls, even transitioning to the Statement Maker when that wasn’t enough. But, with both women spent, neither could keep control of the match for long. As both tussled to land a decisive blow, Mercedes was placed on the top rope as Toni delivered an avalanche Storm Zero for the three-count. Moné put everything into the match, but, on this day, against an opponent as good as Toni Storm, it wasn’t to be.
In front of the biggest crowd of the year, Storm had shown that she was actually number one, and this left Moné lost. But, two weeks later, she found herself back in the UK, this time defending the RevPro gold against Safire Reed in Wolverhampton. Getting back on the horse by securing defence of the title in around 12 minutes, Mercedes was reminded of how she was viewed as a saviour by companies outside of AEW. What better way to move past her ultimate embarrassment than to rule over the indies? The perfect pick-me-up awaited.
Travelling to Poland, ‘The CEO’ was able to get her hands on two more championships, winning the PTW Women’s Title and becoming the inaugural Bestya Women’s Champion. Of course, she had to keep up appearances on Dynamite, but where she could slip away, she looked for any opportunity to claim more gold.
While she couldn’t call herself a world champion in All Elite Wrestling, she wasn’t satisfied. Even though her TBS Championship defences mounted, it wasn’t sufficient. Adding the Discovery Wrestling Women’s Title over Forbidden Door weekend, the more she won on the indies, the more it reinforced her self-image.
Next came the Bodyslam Women’s Championship, as Moné reached a milestone. As her search for titles snowballed further and further, she had drawn comparisons to Ultimo Dragon, who held the record for most championships held simultaneously by a wrestler. However, Mercedes wasn’t slowing down.
As WrestleDream came around, she demanded another champion put their gold on the line against her. Not letting her previous losses deter her, it was once again Mina Shirakawa who answered the call, willing to risk her Interim ROH Women’s World Television Championship. Unfortunately for ‘The Venus’, she wasn’t able to earn her first victory over Moné, although she had to put her feet on the rope to secure the win.
As ‘The CEO’ wanted appreciation for capturing the title, many fans groaned. Not to downplay Ring Of Honor, but the global icon had taken the placeholder midcard championship of AEW’s child company, simply as a stat-padding exercise, and she had to cheat to do it. Was it worth it?
Although the majority of viewers couldn’t deny her greatness, to Mercedes, championships brought attention and stopped her from ever becoming a background player. She may have had setbacks, but now she had a record-breaking 11 titles, and that meant more respect, didn’t it? Yet, it still ate away at Moné that she didn’t have the AEW Women’s World Championship, and perhaps it was setting in that no amount of overcompensation was going to make her feel complete.
After becoming ‘Ultimo Moné’ by defeating Shirakawa, ‘The CEO’ was naturally drawn back into the sphere of the world title. However, it was no longer Toni Storm that stood in her way. Surprising fans at All Out, Kris Statlander had taken the title from ‘The Timeless One’ and she’d backed it up by retaining it in a one-on-one rematch the following month. Moné’s iconic music hit as Statlander was raising the title following her win at WrestleDream, forcing their paths to cross again.
A familiar face for Mercedes, had the change of champion made her feel now was the right time to challenge again? The TBS Champion was burning the candle at both ends, her title defences were getting harder, and she’d begun to use underhanded tactics to ensure she didn’t lose her spot. But, she knew she could beat the new world champion.
Firing an initial shot of disrespect, Mercedes made sure to get Kris’ attention prior to taking on Shirakawa, and the world champion returned the favour after Moné had won. She’d seen an opening to finally complete the set, and the wheels were in motion to make the match official.
As of publishing, Moné is just hours away from her second challenge for the AEW Women’s World Championship. After intense brawls and ruined title celebrations, it all comes down to this. In Newark, New Jersey, those in the Prudential Center and watching around the globe will get to witness the third instalment of Moné vs. Statlander, this time for the richest prize.
So, should she win? Is now truly the right time for AEW’s TBS Champion to add the Women’s World Championship to her seemingly never-ending list of accolades? A win cements her as the undisputed face of the women’s division, something she’s been chasing since coming face to face with Toni Storm in Texas. But, would it be right for the company to do a title change? Speaking purely from a business standpoint, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad move to crown Mercedes Moné, but from a character perspective, there’s more left on the table.
Moné’s story reflects what happens when determination to reach the top makes someone forget what they already have. It’s a reminder to us all that, while we all want to better ourselves and hit an ultimate goal, we shouldn’t lose sight of the personal progress that’s come before. We all have aims, but whatever it is we truly want to achieve, it’s crucial to recognise where we’ve come from and be proud of how far we’ve come.
The trilogy between Statlander and Moné perfectly represents the journey of two distinct characters, one trying to maintain greatness and one proving she belongs with the best. Ultimately, a win for Statlander would validate years of hard work. To finally overcome Mercedes would prove invaluable for her career, and she more than deserves it.
Still, no matter the outcome on Saturday night, the AEW Women’s World Championship match at Full Gear is worthy of main-eventing any show across the world. Both women have evolved tenfold since their last meeting at Worlds End last December, and whether it’s Statlander’s long-awaited victory or another title for Moné, they’re ready to leave it all on the line.
