Mercedes Mone talks working with Toni Storm, Athena, Jamie Hayter, more

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Mercedes Moné: “I get to go out and live my dream”

Days away from wrestling Jamie Hayter in the finals of the Owen Cup, Moné is living out her dream in AEW

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Mercedes Moné found a home in AEW.

“Once I’m in the ring, I feel alive,” said Moné, who is brought to life by Mercedes Varnado. “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Best known for her run as Sasha Banks in WWE, Varnado is writing an entirely new chapter in AEW. This time, however, there is a major difference: she is doing it her way.

A month ago, Varnado wrestled on Dynamite in Boston, defeating Athena. Three nights later, she was in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, headlining RevPro’s High Stakes event with a bout against Kanji. A couple weeks later, Varnado returned to the main event, this time closing New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Resurgence card in California.

“I wanted to explore Japanese women’s wrestling and UK women’s wrestling for so long,” said Varnado. “I’m not dreaming about it anymore–I’m doing it.

“Before, there were so many times when I was getting four-minute matches–or we’d get to the building and something would change. You’d spend weeks planning for it all to change at the last minute. Now, it’s not changing. I get to go out and do it. It’s mine to claim, it’s mine to carry, it’s mine to do. I get to go out and live my dream.”

The victory against Athena was a semi-final match for the Owen Hart Cup. It extended Moné’s undefeated streak in AEW to 20, as well as ended Athena’s wildly impressive streak of 64 straight victories. Their 20-minute affair stands as one of the most captivating matches of the year thus far, and it exemplified Varnado’s passion for wrestling and her constant desire to evolve in the ring.

“That match, it was so fucking cool,” said Varnado. “Athena gave me hell. I’ve never experienced anyone like her in the ring.

“Athena has been doing it for so long. I was watching her before I was even signed to WWE. I want to see her on AEW television more. She’s too good not to be seen. She’s explosive–one of the best, innovative wrestlers in the world. She is that fucking good.”

The Moné-Athena bout served as a celebratory moment for AEW. When it opened the show on April 16, the match was the first to air on the record-setting 289th episode of Dynamite–which was one more than World Championship Wrestling’s flagship Nitro show.

“Isn’t that crazy?” marveled Varnado. “I felt like Nitro was on forever. Maybe it’s the internet, maybe it was the pandemic. Nitro seemed to be on for a long time, but it feels like life moves so much faster now.”

Ever since she debuted last year in AEW, Varnado has been crafting a deeply layered run. She is currently the TBS Champion, a title she won during her AEW in-ring debut a year ago at Double or Nothing, and she is moving closer to the world title. She’ll wrestle Jamie Hayter in the finals of the Owen Hart Cup this Sunday at Double or Nothing, with the winner of the bout getting a title shot against reigning champ “Timeless” Toni Storm this July at All In.

“I’ve never wrestled Jamie,” said Varnado. “I’m so excited. First Athena, now Jamie–the Owen Cup is going to be one of the best tournaments in the world.

“And I’ve never got to wrestle Toni Storm before, except for a little three-way. Wrestling Toni Storm, that’s a match I’ve been waiting to wrestle for a very, very long time.”

When Varnado signed with AEW, there were many wrestling fans who preferred she stay with WWE. But instead of returning to a company where she had already played a starring role, Varnado opted to expand her wrestling portfolio.
Moné is at home in the ring/AEW

Moné will have screen time with Hayter on tonight’s Dynamite, which will add to the intrigue of their match. At the pay-per-view, she will receive the time requisite to put together a classic–further reinforcing that the right move for her was to explore new terrain in AEW.

“This is where the best wrestle,” said Varnado. “These women have so much drive to be the best, and that makes my passion even stronger, too.

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and I’ve gained this whole new fan base in AEW. I love that. It’s opening the doors for a whole new audience to see me. And I love my fans so much. I get to live out my dream with them every single week.”