At AEW All In 2023, former IWGP Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone was spotted sitting in the crowd during the show’s Zero Hour pre-show. It was her first major pro wrestling appearance since her injury in the finals of the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship Tournament. During that match, Mone suffered a broken ankle, which required the finish of the bout to be changed, and saw AEW star Willow Nightingale pick up a surprise victory. During her appearance at All In, she was seen sporting an ankle brace.
In the immediate aftermath of her AEW appearance, rumors began to swirl that Mone could become All Elite sooner than later. Tony Khan did little to squash that narrative and insinuated on a media call that the two had discussed plans to work together prior to her injury. Considering the controversial way Mone left WWE, a leap to their competition felt like a natural next step for her career.
Things seem to have changed once Paul “Triple H” Levesque successfully wrangled the creative reigns from the company’s long-time leader, Vince McMahon. With McMahon no longer having the final say on WWE’s creative direction, a breath of fresh air was breathed into the product. Big names like CM Punk and KAIRI have re-signed, the latter of which shared the ring with Mone earlier this year at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom.
In the wake of that change in leadership, Mone has been teasing fans that she could return to the sports entertainment juggernaut. Just this week, Mone shared a photo of herself outside the Boston Garden, the same city in which WWE was hosting a live event that night. Now, Mone is at it again, this time sharing teases that are more directly tied to her former employer.
On Instagram Stories, Mone shared a few photos showing her training inside a pro wrestling ring. Interestingly, in the background can clearly be seen a big poster for WWE WrestleMania 22 which featured the “Big Time” catchphrase. In another shot, a large photo of Triple H, who faced John Cena in the main event, is also featured prominently.
If Mone does return to WWE, who would you like to see her feud with first? Let us know on X by tagging @WrestlingHaus.