Another long-awaited AEW signing has been made official.
Mercedes Moné made her debut in AEW this Wednesday, appearing at the start of an episode of Dynamite.
Moné confirmed that she has joined the promotion’s roster and looked forward to her potential matchups in the future, stating that she “can’t wait to tear it up” against wrestlers she has watched on TV recently.
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
She is joining AEW after a decade-long WWE run and a brief stint in NJPW. The 32-year-old talent was one of the top women’s names while on WWE’s main roster, having six singles title reigns while on the promotion’s main TV program.
“Boston, I’m home,” Moné said after making her way to the AEW ring for the first time. “Wish you guys could feel my heart right now, it’s beating out my chest. But first thing I want to say is thank you. Thank you for having my back these past two years. Thank you for giving me the courage and strength to be here. Thank you for sticking with me for all of my lows, all of my highs, all of my milestones, all of my titles, all of my moments, the history-making moments, thank you. And trust me, we are going to be creating so much magic and so many moments together.”
AEW not so subtly implied that Moné’s debut would take place on Dynamite this Wednesday. This week’s episode of Dynamite was promoted as “Big Business,” a slight reference to Moné’s WWE persona, “The Boss” Sasha Banks. The event was at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the billed hometown of Moné. If things weren’t confirmed enough by the day of the show, Moné posted “BO$$TON” on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Moné departed the WWE roster in mid-2022. She had a five-match run with NJPW in 2023, briefly carrying the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship. Her run with the promotion was cut short after she suffered an injury in a title match against AEW’s Willow Nightingale at NJPW’s “Resurgence” card.
Moné referenced her loss to Nightingale on Wednesday night. The “CEO” said she will be watching the singles bout between Nightingale and Riho on this week’s Dynamite.
“Now Willow, you and I have a lot of unfinished business. But right now, at Big Business, Mercedes Moné is all Elite.”
