Mercedes Mone’s Injury Causes Major Change To Creative Plans

Written by Craig Ballantyne • Published 22nd May 2023
Mercedes Mone at NJPW Resurgence

Mercedes Mone suffered a serious injury during her main event match at NJPW Resurgence.

Mone had been taking part in a one-night tournament to determine the first-ever NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion. She was able to overcome Stephanie Vaquer in the first round before meeting Willow Nightingale in the final after the AEW star had got past Momo Kohgo.

However, disaster struck during the final match of the night. When the two climbed the turnbuckle, Mone seemed to lose her balance and fell all the way to the floor.

Although she made it back in the ring and continued the match, Mone was struggling to put any weight on her right leg. It has since been reported that the word backstage is that the star has broken her ankle.

Nightingale won the match following two Doctor Bombs, while Mone was helped to the back after the final bell.

Mone has since commented on the injury on social media, proclaiming she will be back “better than ever.”

“WRESTLING!!!!
Phew 😮‍💨 not how I dreamed for tonight to go.
I’m so sorry and I love you guys so much.
I’m gonna heal and be back better than ever.
Moné”

Original plans for Mercedes Mone revealed

Now, PWInsider has confirmed what many fans had speculated, that Mone was originally going to win the match and the new title. According to the report, an audible was called during the bout.

“The original plan was for Mercedes Mone to win the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship last night but when she suffered the broken ankle, an audible was called.”

The incident came during a bad day for injuries in New Japan. Earlier in the show, Kyle Fletcher had taken to the ring to relinquish both the IWGP and STRONG Tag Team Championships as his Aussie Open partner, Mark Davis, is out with an undisclosed injury and would miss their scheduled defence at Dominion on June 4th.

Instead of the advertised Triple Threat match, Bishamon and House of Torture will now battle it out for the vacant titles.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Taiji Ishimori suffered a cervical vertebrae injury during his Best of the Super Juniors tournament match with Hiromu Takahashi on May 21st.

The company has now confirmed that he has been pulled from the tournament and his remaining opponents will win via forfeit. They also noted that he has been assessed and discharged, so is now recuperating at home.