February 18 was a jam-packed night for wrestling fans between WWE Elimination Chamber and NJPW Battle in the Valley. Still, Mercedes Moné stood out as one of the brightest stars in her first non-WWE match since 2012.
The 31-year-old started the year as the hottest free agent in pro wrestling and quickly proved she’s still a bona fide megastar. Her foray into Japan has already caught the interest of more fans from outside of the country.
Wrestle Kingdom 17 garnered record-setting numbers on the Japanese promotion’s streaming service, NJPW World.
After her appearance at the Tokyo Dome, New Japan’s first 2023 show in the U.S. became a highly anticipated event. As a result, Moné’s debut match against Kairi sold out the San Jose Civic and earned a top spot on the card as the co-main event.
Her IWGP Women’s Championship win exceeded expectations on a card featuring Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and served as a reminder that The CEO is one of the greatest in-ring performers of her generation.
So, what’s next for the new champion following a storybook ending at Battle in the Valley?
Mercedes Moné’s Award Tour
Ever since Moné left WWE, fans have been creating their list of dream matches with the best talent from Japan, Mexico and the United States. Her incredible performance against Kairi is bound to inspire even more fantasy booking among fans.
Nevertheless, we already know who her first challenger for the IWGP women’s title will be. AZM staked her claim to the coveted matchup during the latest Stardom press conference. Some fans may remember that the reigning High Speed champion was one of the wrestlers Moné mentioned she wanted to work with.
スターダム✪STARDOM @wwr_stardom
【📺3.4(土)代々木 記者会見生配信❣】<br><br>AZM『IWGP女子のチャンピオン、モネに代わりましたね？やりたい選手で私の名前出していた。次のIWGPの挑戦者はこのAZM。メルセデス・モネ、お返事待ってます。』<br><br>🔻Youtube生配信中<a href=”https://t.co/cjP6YVvciU”>https://t.co/cjP6YVvciU</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/STARDOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#STARDOM</a> <a href=”https://t.co/bvSmYXKhzw”>pic.twitter.com/bvSmYXKhzw</a>
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirmed that the Boston native has only committed to two more dates with NJPW and Stardom. AZM will be her opponent on Apr. 8 at Sakura Genesis, and Mayu Iwatani is tentatively set to face her on Apr. 23 at Yokohama Arena.
As reported earlier this year, The Blueprint is still a free agent because she’s on a per-appearance deal with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Although Meltzer confirmed that she will compete in Japan for the first time in April, it’s unclear when she will return after that.
However, Moné told Alex McCarthy of Inside The Ropes she plans “to take that title all over the world, not just New Japan.” She also declared that NJPW was only the first stop in her world tour during the press conference following her appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
This doesn’t seem like merely hot air, as the promotion established the IWGP Women’s Championship to expand its audience. The new fans she could expose it to are part of the benefit of crowning someone as world-renowned as Moné.
So, we should expect to see her defend her mantle with other companies. We also wouldn’t rule out more appearances in Japan just yet. The ending of Battle in the Valley should’ve been enough to sell you on a dream team with Okada and a mixed tag match at the next NJPW and Stardom joint event.
新日本プロレスリング株式会社 @njpw1972
オカダが棚橋に激勝してIWGP世界ヘビー”V2″達成！<br><br>なんと試合後、棚橋とのコンビでIWGPタッグ王座挑戦を表明！<br><br>最後はモネと”2大王者”揃い踏み!!<br><br>【2.18サンノゼ結果】<br><br>★試合の詳細は新日本プロレス・スマホサイトで速報中！<a href=”https://t.co/8kVJzgMhvs”>https://t.co/8kVJzgMhvs</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/njBITV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#njBITV</a> <a href=”https://t.co/PeS4EjddOR”>pic.twitter.com/PeS4EjddOR</a>
Moné doesn’t seem interested in making a long-term commitment to WWE’s most notable competitor, AEW. Still, that doesn’t mean she couldn’t potentially show up on Dynamite or take part in the follow-up to Forbidden Door in June.
In November, she trained in Mexico with Ricky Marvin, Juventud Guerrera, Mamba, Skayda and Mr. Iguana. Maybe, she will return to wrestle for AAA as well.
It’s exciting to think about where she could show up next, but it’s clear that Moné still loves to wrestle. You could tell how much she missed being in the ring, and it’s hard to imagine she will completely close the door on her wrestling career any time soon despite the opportunities likely available to her in other areas.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Mercedes Varnado as Lexus Shines Bright on the Red Carpet for Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Premiere on October 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Lexus USA)
Moné has transcended wrestling, and she will inevitably take on more acting roles following her introduction in The Mandalorian. Ahead of the updates on her contract with NJPW, it was reported that she signed with United Talent Agency.
According to Variety, UTA “will help her secure new opportunities across film, television, theater, and more.” This seems to line up with Meltzer’s assertion that Moné isn’t interested in signing a long-term contract and suggests that she won’t be a full-time wrestler for much longer.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone because she recently finished filming her first movie, The Collective. However, this is a sign she is serious about making the jump to Hollywood eventually.
The third women’s Grand Slam champion has done just about everything there was to do on the biggest stage with WWE, including competing in the main event of WrestleMania. Now, she has set out to achieve her dream of wrestling in Japan as she rounds out her remarkable career.
That appears to be a chance to check some more experiences off her bucket list, but it’s not an attempt to find a new home. Pro wrestling will always be her claim to fame, but it’s not a final destination for many of its most noteworthy stars.
The Rock, Hulk Hogan and John Cena eventually outgrew the squared circle and became more prominent names on the silver screen. Mercedes Varnado is on her way to enter such rarefied air.
