Mercedes Mone Teases Plans For AEW Return

AEW

The “CEO” of AEW is officially taking a leave of absence. During the January 10 episode of AEW Collision, the company aired a poignant vignette featuring Mercedes Mone grieving the loss of her TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale. The segment marked a rare moment of vulnerability for the usually brash superstar, who was seen processing the end of an era. Moné noted that after holding the gold for over 500 days, the sudden reality of being empty-handed has forced her to reevaluate her path.

However, the sadness quickly turned to anger. Moné announced that she would be taking a break from All Elite Wrestling, but made it clear that this was not a retirement. Instead, she issued a chilling threat to the woman who dethroned her. Moné exclaimed that when she returns, her goals will have shifted from maintaining power to exacting punishment. She promised to collect “more than just titles,” explicitly naming Willow Nightingale as a primary target on her hit list.

The rivalry between Moné and Nightingale is one of the most storied in modern women’s wrestling. It was Nightingale who defeated Moné to become the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Champion in 2023—a match where Moné suffered a career-threatening ankle injury. Moné eventually got her revenge by taking the TBS Title, but this recent loss has seemingly reopened old wounds. By declaring that she is coming for “several stars,” Moné hinted that her return will likely result in a scorched-earth campaign against anyone who has ever wronged her.

Moné’s historic reign as TBS Champion officially ended at Dynamite: New Year’s Smash on December 31, 2025, where Nightingale ended the “CEO’s” stranglehold on the division after a record-setting 584 days. The victory made Nightingale the first-ever two-time TBS Champion, while simultaneously sending Moné into the “downward spiral” that precipitated this hiatus. With nearly two years of dominance now in the rearview mirror, the question remains: what version of Mercedes Moné will emerge from the ashes in 2026?

Andrew Ravens