Tonga Loa played a vital role in Mercedes Mone’s career.
Parting ways with WWE in 2022 over creative differences, Mercedes Mone later made her way into NJPW before joining hands with AEW in 2024.
However, it was her NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17 before her All Elite Wrestling that stunned the world. Mone, with a brand new gimmick, had confronted Kairi Sane for the IWGP Women’s World Championship. While she later won the title, the CEO today revealed the story behind her NJPW run.
Speaking on The Marking Out podcast, Mone revealed that former Bullet Club and current MFT member Togna Loa got Mone in touch with Rocky Romero for an NJPW run.
“We just talked wrestling cause he was in New Japan at the time. And I’m like, ‘Man, I’ve always wanted to go to New Japan.’ And he’s like, ‘You know what? Let me contact you with Rocky.’ I messaged Rocky right away. I texted him like, ‘Hey, I’m really interested in joining New Japan.’ He’s like, ‘Well, sh*t. Okay. Absolutely. Let’s just get it going.’ And just from that text message, just two months later, I signed a contract with New Japan.”
H/t WrestlePurists
It was Mone’s run in NJPW that established her as a major name outside WWE and helped her earn all of her current multiple championships.
Mercedes Mone Reveals WWE’s Huge Offer Before 2022 Exit
“A lot of people thought that I got fired by WWE. I asked for my release. I had a year left on my deal. They were offering me a five-year deal, and at that point, I just… I wasn’t happy anymore. I had lost my passion for wrestling, and I wanted to wrestle again. I asked for my release so that I could go to New Japan, and it reinvigorated my love for wrestling again.”
In other news: Karrion Kross has confirmed his post-WWE name change.