Mercedes Mone has some big plans for 2023.
After officially leaving WWE where she had starred as Sasha Banks, Mone arrived in NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17. On the show, the star confronted KAIRI following her NJPW Women’s Title defence against Tam Nakano. This set up a match between the pair at Battle in the Valley in San Jose on February 18th. The show has since sold out.
Mercedes Mone Vows To Win IWGP Women’s Title
Ahead of the match the star sat down with New Japan Pro-Wrestling for an exclusive interview which has been posted to their YouTube channel. With regard to the bout with KAIRI, Mone admitted that she was nervous but is planning to make sure she has the “greatest women’s match of all time.”
“I’ve never been more excited, more nervous, which I never get nervous, but I am so ready for this. I’ve been dreaming about this, I’ve been really really wanting this and for it to be in the United States in San Jose, California? I have so much history there. I’ve had the greatest matches there. February 18th is gonna be the same.
I’m going to make sure that it is the greatest women’s match of all time and when I hold up my championship… oh cute little KAIRI, I’m gonna send her back to Japan and she can go back to STARDOM and I can be the global superstar that I’m meant to be. I’m about to take that title everywhere, not just New Japan, but everywhere.”
Mercedes Mone’s comments that she plans to take the title “everywhere” should she emerge victorious will also capture the imagination of fans. Since her departure from WWE the star has been linked with a move to AEW, and was teased for an appearance on the January 11th episode of Dynamite. Fan excitement for a rumoured appearance was so high that when she didn’t feature “No Mercedes” began trending on social media.
Mercedes Mone hasn’t wrestled since teaming with Naomi at a WWE live event on May 15th, 2022. The star walked out of the taping for Monday Night Raw alongside her tag team partner just 24 hours later
H/t to Fightful