Mercedes Mone Breaks Character To Praise AEW Rival

Mercedes Mone reflects on a dream come true.

On the April 16 edition of Dynamite, Mercedes Mone and Athena finally met one-on-one.

The match represented a clash between two of AEW’s most dominant stars, with Athena, the longest-reigning ROH Champion in history, while Mone holds three different women’s titles.

In the end, it was Mone who grabbed the win to advance to the final of the Owen Hart Cup. She’ll now face Jamie Hayter at Double or Nothing, with the winner set to challenge for the Women’s World Championship at All In Texas.

Writing in the latest edition of the Mone Mag, the AEW star reflected on her recent match with Athena. Mone said that returning to the TD Garden in Boston was something of a full-circle moment, while the match itself was a dream come true.

“Just over a year ago, I made my AEW debut at TD Garden, and returning now feels like a full-circle moment. This time, I stepped into the ring with a new vibe, a new energy, and a fierce determination that can only come from growth and experience.

Facing Athena was not just a match, but a dream come true. I’ve admired her since our indie days—her creativity and innovation in the ring are truly unmatched.”

Mone went on to recall being told Athena had signed with WWE while she was there in 2015, and immediately wishing they could share the ring.

“I still remember the excitement when Sara Del Rey told me Athena had signed to NXT. I was eager to one day share the ring with her, and finally, that dream became a reality at this incredible event. Let me tell you, this match was one for the books!

Athena is a powerhouse, and after stepping back from the curtain, all I could think was, wow! Imagine the incredible stories we could tell if we had a pay-per-view match together. That’s something I can’t wait to build towards in the future.”

Mercedes Mone Doesn’t Have Creative Control

Meanwhile, a new report has moved to dismiss internet speculation that Mercedes Mone has creative control in AEW. The report cited sources in both AEW and NJPW that denied the star had ever refused to lose or insisted on a clean win.

One source noted that the subject of Mone losing hasn’t even been brought up, making a mockery of suggestions that she’s been calling the shots.

Mercedes One was most recently in action at RevPro High Stakes 2025, where she defended the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Title against Kanji.