Three years after being observed in the audience at All In, seemingly contemplating a move to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Mercedes Moné has now reached the pinnacle of its women's division.
The Journey to Championship Gold
Moné eventually made her highly anticipated debut, quickly making a significant impact within AEW. Her initial major achievement was defeating Willow Nightingale for the TBS Championship, a title she held for over 500 days. This impressive reign concluded on December 31, 2025, when Nightingale reclaimed the championship. This prior encounter laid the groundwork for their intense rivalry, which escalated further when Nightingale subsequently captured the AEW Women's World Championship and Moné secured victory in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament.
A Grueling Championship Bout
On Sunday at All In, Mercedes Moné engaged in a fierce battle to finally claim the AEW Women's World Championship. The match was physically demanding for both competitors. Moné suffered an early injury, bleeding from the nose after Nightingale delivered a strike. Despite this, Moné strategically exploited Nightingale’s pre-existing broken hand during the match's climax, applying her signature "Money Maker" submission hold. The relentless pressure caused Nightingale to lose consciousness from the pain and exhaustion, prompting the referee to stop the contest and award the championship to Moné.
Throughout the encounter, Nightingale displayed remarkable resilience, attempting to fight through her pain. She executed a suplex onto the unforgiving mat outside the ring and delivered a powerful pounce that sent Moné colliding into the referee. Both competitors capitalized on the momentary disruption. Nightingale also resorted to using the leather strap of her championship belt against Moné, highlighting the desperation of the contest.
Moné's victory signifies her first reign as the AEW Women's World Champion, adding another prestigious accolade to her already impressive record within the promotion. Her previous accomplishments include holding the TBS Championship and winning the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament on two separate occasions.
A New Challenger Emerges
Even as Moné began her celebration, a potential challenger was already making her presence known. High above the stadium at Wembley, Thekla was seen observing the action intently. Thekla had made her return to AEW programming earlier in the event, having been absent since she lost the AEW Women’s World Championship to Nightingale at the Redemption pay-per-view. Her re-emergence on Sunday suggests a renewed focus on the championship picture.
With the All Out event approximately one month away, speculation is mounting that an epic showdown between the newly crowned champion, Mercedes Moné, and the returning Thekla could be on the horizon for September.
