AEW Double or Nothing might be just around the corner, but Tony Khan has already got his eyes on what’s to come this summer.
Mercedes Mone has been linked with AEW ever since she walked out of WWE in May 2022 and it appeared that she could be in line to appear at Forbidden Door on June 25th. However, those plans might have been undone by a recent injury that Mone picked up while wrestling for New Japan.
On May 21st Mone appeared at Resurgence in a short tournament to crown the first-ever NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion. During the final against Willow Nightingale, Mone injured her ankle and Nightingale picked up the win. It emerged after the show that not only had Mone originally been scheduled to win, but the title was created specifically for her.
Speaking on the AEW Double or Nothing media call, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about Mone and a potential appearance for the star at the cross-promotional event in June. While Khan confirmed that he’s spoken with the star, he said that her status for the show is unclear.
“Going forward, it does make things interesting because nobody really knows, besides Mercedes and myself what was going to happen there and what the future would hold for her, whether that was competing exclusively for New Japan or potentially also whether she would be at Forbidden Door.
Frankly, now, even going forward, I don’t think anybody but her knows when she’ll be ready to come back to the ring. I have so much respect for Mercedes and I think she’s been a great champion all over the world, including New Japan.
She would have been a great first-ever STRONG Women’s Champion, but I think we have a great champion in Willow and we’ll look to utilize Willow in AEW and possibly ROH, and take advantage of that new beautiful belt she’s holding,”
Tony Khan Promises To Make Sting’s Retirement A Huge Event
During the same media call, Tony Khan was asked about Sting’s future after the legend admitted that he’ll likely retire in 2023. Khan said that he’ll keep featuring the star as long as he wants to keep going, but when it comes to his retirement match it will be “one of the biggest moments in wrestling.”
H/t to Fightful