The speculation over a former WWE star’s destination is expected to end soon.
Dave Meltzer noted in a Daily Update on F4WOnline.com that sources have told him that former WWE Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) is expected to start with AEW soon. However, it is worth noting that until she’s signed, nothing is for certain.
AEW has come to terms with wrestlers in the past and had them sign their deals hours before their debut. This happened with Bryan Danielson, for example. With Mone, it’s no secret that she was in talks with WWE and it’s always possible that they can come back with an offer at the last moment but the belief is that both sides were not on the same page with the money terms since she was reportedly asking for a deal that is said to be higher than what Charlotte Flair is making on her current contract.
On Saturday’s AEW Collision, there was no tease that Mone would be showing up soon and one would think that if she was signed already they would want to tease something as a way to give a ratings boost to AEW Dynamite, if the plan is for her to debut on that show. If word gets out before the show then that could also help boost ticket sales. It’s possible that terms were not agreed to until after Collision and/or they plan on waiting until after this week to have her show up on TV. If that’s the case, then I would expect a tease this week on Dynamite.
Meltzer wrote in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
“We do know that the expectation is she will be in AEW fairly soon, but until a contract signing is confirmed, anything can happen.”
Mone and Naomi (Trinit Fatu) walked out of WWE in 2022 after a dispute with management, believed to be in part because of creative issues. Fatu signed with Impact/TNA Wrestling and the belief is that she is headed back to WWE soon. Mone worked shows for New Japan Pro Wrestling last year but she hasn’t wrestled in months after suffering an ankle injury during a match against Willow Nightingale at NJPW Stong Resurgence on May 21, 2023.
Mone appeared as Tony Khan’s guest at AEW All In: London and the belief was that she would eventually sign with AEW but talks opened up with WWE until WWE reportedly walked away from negotiations at the end of December.
