Mercedes Mone Status with AEW Update & Backstage Reaction from WWE

As noted before, Mercedes Mone, former Sasha Banks in WWE, made her official debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at their Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Mone’s contract with WWE had expired at the end of 2022.

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Seattle, Washington featured a backstage interview segment with Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter. During the segment, Baker made references to Mone including Baker claiming that she was the “Boss” of AEW. Later in the show, Saraya, Toni Storm, and Hikaru Shida were involved in a backstage interview segment. This segment featured Saraya picking Storm as her mystery tag team partner leaving Shida in bewilderment and teasing a potential heel turn by Shida.

Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that his sources stated that the reason why Saraya did not mention nor tease Mone’s name during her segment is due to some within AEW currently do not believe that Mone will be coming into the company. Meltzer stated:

“That’s why they had to announce somebody this week because they knew it was really screwed because everybody was thinking it was her and it’s not her.”

While responding to a question from co-host Bryan Alvarez, Meltzer stated that it is still possible Mone could work for AEW in the future but believes that it would not be for the long term due to the structure of current AEW contracts.

Meltzer reported that his sources within WWE stated that WWE officials currently do not believe that Mone will be wrestling for AEW. Those same sources reportedly also stated that WWE officials are currently under the belief that Mone will eventually make her return to the company after she finishes up her current plans and desire to work in other companies.

“Anything is possible. I also know from WWE that they, basically, that they are very strongly under the impression that she will not wrestle for AEW. They think she is coming back [to WWE] at some point, she’ll get this out of her system, she’ll do her New Japan matches, because she’s only contracted for a couple of matches, and then come back. But if she’s going to AEW, she’s got to sign for three years minimum because why even bother if she’s going to go right back? For AEW, it would be really stupid to put her on TV if she’s going to go back in six months.”

In regards to Mone’s contract with NJPW, Meltzer reported that his sources in Japan stated that her deal is just with NPJW and does not include AEW.

WOR: Dave Meltzer believes Mercedes Moné is not coming in to AEW right now after not being named the mystery partner for Saraya next week in LA, Bryan isn't so sure.https://t.co/mYdKSjV7fm pic.twitter.com/1uqQxzdJsS

— Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) January 5, 2023

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com