Mercedes Mone looks to be locked in with New Japan-Pro Wrestling at least for the foreseeable future.
After Mone signed with the company in January, it was reported that her contract ran out in April following STARDOM’s All Star Grand Queendom super-show. However, she quickly agreed a new deal and confirmed that she would be appearing at Resurgence on May 21st.
Despite speculation continuing around her future, it appears that Mone will be staying with NJPW for the time being.
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Mone had agreed a “longer-term” deal back in April. At Resurgence Mone lost in the finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Champion to Willow Nightingale, but only after suffering an injury. Meltzer confirmed that not only was Mone scheduled to win that match, but the title was created specifically for her.
“Mone had agreed to a longer-term deal with New Japan when her original deal expired on 4/27. We were told that the New Japan Strong championship and belt were created when she agreed to the longer term deal and both were created for her, after she showed strong drawing power for the San Jose show which sold out the Civic Auditorium.”
NJPW Releases Statement On Mercedes Mone
Following her injury, NJPW released an update on Mercedes Mone. Interestingly, the statement only refers to the star having an ankle injury and makes no mention of it being broken, as had been reported. Some have taken this as a sign that the injury isn’t as bad as first feared.