Will AEW TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone now go after the IWGP Women’s Championship?
With over a decade’s experience in pro wrestling, Mercedes Mone aka Sasha Banks, has wrestled all over the world. Mone has won multiple titles in WWE, AEW, NJPW, and other indie promotions.
The current TBS and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, ‘The CEO’, is also a former NJPW Women’s Champion. She defeated Kairi Sane to win the title in February 2023 and held it for 64 days. Mone later lost the gold to Mayu Iwatani in April 2023, who has been the champion since.
In a recent interview with Tim & Eli on Battleground, Mercedes Mone revealed her intentions for chasing the title again, and what is preventing her from doing so. She commented:
I gotta look at my schedule. I gotta see if I can be out there in Japan every single week. As the New Japan Strong Women’s Champion, we have a promotion here in the US that loves to run a lot of shows, so it’s easier to just jump on a flight and go there. But if I wanted that IWGP Women’s Championship again, then I would go after it. But there’s always a plan, and there’s always a time for everything. That’s not the only title that I see my eyes on that.
I see that little title that Mariah May is holding, I love seeing what Athena is holding down in Ring of Honor. There’s a lot of championship gold out there in women’s wrestling. So we’ll see.”
H/t Fightful.com
Not looking forward to pursuing the title now, Mone did completely brush away the plans. While The CEO currently eyes Mariah May and Athena’s titles, she has a big challenge ahead of her in Kris Statlander at the Full Gear PPV.
Mercedes Mone Has Revealed Her Purpose In Pro Wrestling
During an interview with Raj Prashad of Uproxx Sports, Mercedes Mone opened up on her goals and purpose in wrestling.
(I knew) where I wanted to be and what I want to leave in professional wrestling, to take this women’s division to whole new heights all over the world. I wanted to have more for women’s wrestling, so I knew going to AEW was the place to be to make that happen. I feel like the women’s division has really changed the game. The women’s division has been the best it’s ever been. The women’s storylines are headlining AEW pay-per-views.
So it’s just been amazing to come this far and I’m really excited for more. I was born to be the best. I was born to have this purpose of leading a charge of making sure that women’s wrestling is known and respected and it deserves the respect that it’s given. So just leaning on the standard that I put for myself, I’m here to be the best, to show the world that I’m the best, and I’m here to bring the women along with me. So that’s the goal.”
A huge part of the female roster and a significant reason for their development, Mone now wants to work for the women’s division and help it grow.
In other news: Ricky Starks has shared the latest update on his AEW status.