Moné remembers telling Willow Nightingale that she had to win the title.
As Mercedes Moné was embarking on her post-WWE run in 2023, the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship was created and a one-night tournament took place at Resurgence to crown the first champion.
Making it to the finals of said tournament was Willow Nightingale and Mercedes. During the bout, Moné suffered what she would later reveal was a broken heel. As a result, Nightingale won the title.
During Moné’s appearance on The Junkies on 106.7 The Fan, she confirmed that she was supposed to be the first STRONG Women’s Champion. She recalled having to change the finish and telling Nightingale she had to win the match.
Just the many years of practicing and training in the ring, you’re prepared to take all these bumps safely and effortlessly. Sometimes the moves really hurt and you can get injured and sometimes you don’t know who’s going to win. When I broke my heel last year, I was supposed to win this championship (NJPW STRONG Women’s Title). But I was too injured that I (just) told the girl, I’m like, ‘Um, you’re gonna have to win this title’ because I couldn’t even stand up. So, you never know what’s gonna happen in wrestling and I think that’s what’s the funnest part. It’s like, yes, it’s live. Yes, it’s predetermined but, you have no idea what’s gonna happen.
Present-day, Moné is the reigning STRONG Women’s and AEW TBS Champion. She successfully defended the STRONG Title at NJPW Capital Collision against Momo Watanabe.
If the quote in this article is used, please credit The Junkies on 106.7 The Fan with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
