It’s official. Mercedes Moné is #AllElite. Mercedes Moné made her long-awaited AEW debut last night during the Big Business Edition of Dynamite, officially joining the roster and becoming #AllElite. Moné, formerly known in WWE as Sasha Banks, was previously the hottest free agent in women’s wrestling. Fans were clamoring for her to join AEW since she first left WWE in December 2022.
Everything comes to those who wait and fans got their wish last night on AEW Dynamite. This particular episode of Dynamite was called “Big Business” and was held in Boston, Massachusetts. Tony Khan revealed that event name weeks ago, heavily hinting that a big name would debut this week.
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The internet believed it was Mercedes Moné because she is from Boston and her slogans invoked business themes. As Dynamite, opened we heard some unfamiliar theme music and Moné walked out. You can view the clip of Moné making her AEW debut below:
Mercedes Moné Debuts in AEW
Mercedes Moné thanked her fans for all their support, and she thanked them for being there for her during her highs and her lows. She then started to become emotional talking about having to drop out of school to take care of her brother and being a young wrestling fan who looked up to late WWE Hall of Famer, Eddie Guerrero. She also spoke about how she helped start a women’s revolution and training up the road as a 90-pound girl to being the first woman to main event a pay-per-view in that very arena [Boston’s TD Garden].
Moné named dropped Willow Nightingale who would be main eventing the night in a match against Riho. She brought up their history and some unfinished business between the two. Nightingale previously defeated Moné in the final round of a tournament to crown NJPW’s first ever NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion. That match took place at NJPW STRONG Resurgence 2023 on May 21, 2023.
Moné is a highly decorated champion in women’s wrestling. She is most known for her time in WWE as Sasha Banks. While there she was an NXT champion, five-time Raw Women’s champion, one-time SmackDown Women’s, champion, and three-time Women’s Tag Team champion.
Moné is one of the Four Horsewomen SheWWE. Her along with Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Becky Lynch are credited for advancing women’s wrestling to the point it is at today. If these women didn’t exist there would not be women headlining PPVs and must-see women’s division matches that there are today.
In December 2022, Moné (Sasha Banks at the time) and Naomi, who were the WWE Women’s Tag Team champions at the time, walked out of an episode of SmackDown. The reason behind their walkout is not 100 percent known, but it was rumored to be over creative differences with their booking. WWE released both women and vacated the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Moné then went to Japan and wrestled for NJPW’s sister company Stardom. While there she added the IWGP Women’s Championship to her list of accomplishments. During her match with Nightingale, she injured her ankle and because of the injury, the match’s finish was rumored to be changed to Nightingale winning. That adds to the unfinished business she has with Nightingale.
Nightingale defeated Riho in the main event and was attacked by Julia Hart and Skye Blue. Moné came down the ramp to rescue Nightingale. She took out Blue and Hart. Nightingale raised Moné’s hand and the two women seem to have a truce at the moment.
At the start of the show, it looked like Mercedes Moné had her sights set on getting her revenge on Nightingale. However, that may not be the case after that save. Maybe she has a newfound respect for Nightingale or maybe she wants her at 100 percent for their eventual match.
What do you think of Mercedes Moné joining AEW? Do you think now that Triple H is booking she should have returned to WWE? Or do you think she should have stayed in NJPW and Stardom? Do you think AEW will book her to her full potential or will they flub up another red-hot fan favorite? Is a feud with Willow Nightingale a good first feud for Moné? Let us know on social media who else you are excited to see Moné wrestle in AEW.
SOURCE: AEW
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