Mercedes Mone’s official debut in AEW at Big Business on March 13 marked the culmination of a long and intricate process that began well before her appearance. Sources close to the situation revealed several details about the journey leading up to her AEW debut.

According to reports from Fightful Select and Mat Men’s Andrew Zarian, Mone had been on the AEW payroll for over two months, with the deal believed to have been agreed upon back in December. This agreement coincided with Mone securing several trademarks related to her name, hinting at a long-term commitment to AEW. While the contract details are yet to be confirmed, it’s speculated to be a multi-year deal.

Additionally, it’s reported that NJPW expects to play a role in Mone’s deal, with hopes of continuing their collaboration with her. However, it was made clear that AEW would be her priority.

Mone’s journey was not without setbacks, as she suffered severe injury in May, requiring two surgeries and a prolonged recovery period. Despite negotiations with other promotions, it was evident that she wasn’t ready for an in-ring return.

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Initially, Mone’s involvement with AEW began during AEW All In, where she appeared in the crowd. While no deal was signed at the time, there was an understanding between the parties. However, as Mone’s injury severity became apparent, plans were put on hold.

In December, discussions between Mone and AEW appeared to stall, leading her to explore options with WWE. Although conversations took place, they ultimately couldn’t reach an agreement.

Reports emerged in early January of Mone’s imminent debut with AEW, with plans for her to appear at the “Big Business” event in Boston. However, physical clearance delayed her debut until March 13.

Throughout this period, WWE sources remained steadfast that Mone would eventually appear in AEW. By the time of the WWE Royal Rumble, it was widely expected that her AEW debut was imminent.

Do you think AEW will be a good fit for Mercedes Mone? Let us know in the comments below.

Steve Carrier

Steve is the Founder of RingsideNews. He has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He first got into website development at the time and has been focusing on bringing his readers the best professional wrestling news at it's highest quality.

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