Mercedes Mone has revealed that she had to change the finish of a major match due to injury.
At NJPW Resurgence in May 2023, Mercedes Mone took part in a one-night tournament to determine the inaugural STRONG Women’s Champion. In the final, The CEO took on Willow Nightingale and seemed destined to win the title. However, disaster struck as Mone slipped from the top of the turnbuckle to the floor, injuring her heel in the process.
The bout quickly ended after the incident, with Nightingale getting the shock victory over Mone. It was widely believed that the finish to the match was changed on the fly, and Mone has now confirmed it was her call to lose the bout.
During an appearance on The Junkies on 106.7, Mone explained that when she realised she couldn’t stand up, she told Nightingale she would have to win the title.
“Just the many years of practising 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.”
Mercedes Mone finally captured the STRONG Women’s Title at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door when she defeated Stephanie Vaquer in a title vs. title match with her TBS Championship also on the line.
Mercedes Mone Will Defend TBS Championship At AEW All Out
On the August 31st edition of Collision, Hikaru Shida earned her way to a TBS Title match against Mercedes Mone at AEW All Out. Shida isn’t waiting to confront Mone in Chicago, though, as she has promised she will see her on Dynamite on September 4th.