Mercedes Moné Is Ready to Silence Haters in AEW In-ring Debut at Double or Nothing

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At AEW Double or Nothing, Mercedes Moné will make her long-awaited in-ring debut for the company one year after she sustained a career-threatening injury.

This is a big weekend for All Elite Wrestling and its mostly highly-touted female acquisition. Speculation about the top free agent’s status and potential destination ran rampant at the start of the year. Now, The CEO can prove she was worth every headline and talking point.

At Big Business, Moné debuted in her hometown of Boston, MA, and announced that she was indeed All Elite. For the first time in 12 years, the 32-year-old became a full-time member of a new company.

The move came with excitement, bizarre discourse about her salary, and the usual skepticism surrounding a post-WWE run. Although it seems too soon to critique her time in her new home properly, it’s fair to say her first 10 weeks tested fans’ patience.

Most of us expected to see her immediately return to action with a fresh slate of opponents. However, she eventually revealed she was still recovering from the injury suffered at NJPW Resurgence last May.

Her undeniable star power and ongoing rivalry with Willow Nightingale earned her a prominent spot in AEW’s return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Still, the two-month wait and some of her promos have opened the door for a chorus of newfound doubters.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

It’s often hard to tell how much of the negative discourse online is created in good faith these days. Nevertheless, Moné has been the topic of many debates, and several critics have lamented over her stilted delivery and seemingly meandering segments.

Some of this criticism was also prevalent throughout her time with WWE, but this drawn-out storyline has underscored some of her imperfections. Yes, it’s admirable that AEW has kept her visible and presented her like a massive star, but her in-ring work is her greatest strength.

Her first-rate matches with wrestlers from Stardom initially made her post-WWE run so entertaining. At times, it has been difficult to remain as invested in her return to weekly television because we want to see her do what she does best.

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TBS Championship
Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Moné

The CEO @MercedesVarnado makes her #AEW in-ring debut at Double Or Nothing LIVE from Las Vegas against the champion @willowwrestles! pic.twitter.com/mqQHEmvomm

Despite that, her feud with Nightingale, the woman who defeated her to win the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, has been excellent. Their rematch for the TBS title was the first match announced for Double or Nothing, and their interactions have drastically improved over the last month.

A win over Moné at Resurgence gives The Babe With The Power some credibility in this matchup, but she has also benefited from an increase in screen time. Working with The CEO has allowed her to grow exponentially as a character and talker.

In truth, that’s what makes the former WWE superstar such an advantageous signing for AEW. The CEO is the biggest name to join the company’s much-maligned women’s division, and her presence will help to establish lesser-known talent who works with her.

Their highly-anticipated match could steal the show during Memorial Day weekend. It will also have a mountain of pressure to overcome, but a strong performance could be the overdue payoff to weeks of build.

One-Third Of The Triple Main Event

The TBS Championship match is one of the best stories heading into the fifth anniversary of Double or Nothing. So, two women have been a centerpiece of its build for the first time in the event’s history.

The road to their clash at MGM Grand Garden Arena hasn’t been paved with gold, but that’s a significant moment for AEW. More importantly, it’s a triumph for women’s wrestling and a signal that this company can continue to evolve.

It’s still unclear which match will go on last. Nevertheless, the show’s triple main event will feature Moné vs. Nightingale, the Anarchy in the Arena match, and Christian Cage vs. Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship.

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Similarly, New Japan made Moné’s in-ring debut the selling point for Battle in the Valley last year, setting a precedent for Tony Khan to give her the same honor. The women also deserve this spot on the card because of the time dedicated to establishing their story on Dynamite.

The company may have prolonged this storyline as long as possible, but it feels like a marquee match befitting its placement now. Frankly, that’s also a testament to Moné’s star power and reputation as an in-ring performer.

Some of her most vocal critics may still deny it, but The CEO is a game changer. Returning from a catastrophic injury to headline Double or Nothing is her chance to silence them and make history again.