Sunday’s Resurgence 2023 for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Long Beach, California featured a NJPW Strong Women’s Championship Tournament Finals match between Mercedes Mone and Willow Nightingale, which was won by Nightingale.
Near the end of the match, Nightingale gave Mone a Doctor Bomb and proceeded to pin her for the win and while Mone did not kick out, the ref did not count to three due to some confusion. After a brief talk between Mone and the ref, Nightingale hit another Doctor Bomb for the pinfall victory to be crowned the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Following the match, Mone was helped out of the ring and assisted to the backstage.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that the current belief going around backstage was that Mone had suffered a broken ankle injury. This injury reportedly was believed to have occurred following a spot where Mone slipped off the top turnbuckle and crashed hard onto the floor. Mone reportedly had trouble putting weight on her leg but worked through the injury in order to finish the match.
This is where Mercedes got injured pic.twitter.com/oLQf2HOV2n
— Tina Bobina Ho. (@Queenofallerass) May 22, 2023
Following the show, Mone confirmed on Twitter that she did indeed suffer an injury and is currently hospitalized.
WRESTLING!!!!
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) May 22, 2023
Phew 😮💨 not how I dreamed for tonight to go.
I’m so sorry and I love you guys so much.
I’m gonna heal and be back better than ever.
Moné
💙@njpwglobal pic.twitter.com/6909ByHdli