In a cool crossover moment, AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone made a surprise appearance at an all-women’s independent wrestling event presented by the reigning ROH Women’s World Champion, Athena. The two AEW champions shared a moment in the ring, showing a sign of unity and mutual respect in support of women’s wrestling.
Mercedes Mone Supports Athena’s All-Women’s Wrestling Show
The event, titled ‘Who Runs The World?’, was presented by Athena under the banner of the Texas-based promotion, Metroplex Wrestling. The show was designed to showcase and celebrate women’s wrestling, featuring a card of talented female competitors. During the event, the crowd in Bedford, Texas, was shocked when the “CEO” of AEW, Mercedes Moné, made an unannounced appearance, coming to the ring to join Athena. The two champions, who are often portrayed as rivals on television, stood side-by-side in a show of support for the event and the athletes involved. They spoke to the live crowd about how special the show was and what it meant to them to see an all-women’s event thriving. The segment ended on a lighthearted note, with Moné encouraging the typically serious Athena to do her signature ‘CEO’ dance, which Athena obliged before bowing and leaving the ring.
A Show of Unity and Respect
The surprise appearance was a powerful moment that transcends the on-screen storylines of All Elite Wrestling. For two of the biggest stars and current champions in a major global promotion to take the time to appear at a small, local, all-women’s independent show is a massive endorsement for the cause of women’s wrestling. It shows a commitment from both Moné and Athena to use their star power to elevate and support the next generation of female talent and the independent scene where many of them got their start. Both Moné and Athena are widely regarded as leaders in the AEW women’s locker room, and this public show of unity and respect for the broader wrestling community reinforces that reputation.
Two Champions on Parallel Paths
This friendly and supportive interaction comes at an interesting time for both champions, as they are both heading into major title defenses at the upcoming AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view in London, England. At the event, Mercedes Moné is scheduled to defend her TBS Championship in a special international four-way match against AEW’s Alex Windsor and yet-to-be-named representatives from the Japanese promotion Stardom and the Mexican promotion CMLL. Meanwhile, Athena is set to challenge for the AEW Women’s World Championship in a huge match against the reigning champion, “Timeless” Toni Storm. While they are currently on parallel paths to championship glory at Forbidden Door, their surprise appearance together shows a bond forged by a shared passion for elevating women’s wrestling, a bond that is stronger than any on-screen rivalry.
“Lying on the floor at the end, I watched Bianca’s husband run out to celebrate with her. Even though I was selling from the pain of the match, I couldn’t stop smiling,” she recalled. “I thought to myself, ‘If I had seen this as a little girl, I can’t even imagine the kind of superstar I would’ve become.’ Even though I lost, it felt like a Cinderella moment. That night, WWE didn’t just change my life—they changed the entire game for women’s wrestling.”
Her reflection shows that the historical significance of the moment and what it represented for the future of women’s wrestling far outweighed the personal disappointment of a loss.
A Lasting Legacy
The main event of WrestleMania 37 is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s matches in WWE history and a landmark moment for representation in professional wrestling. It helped solidify both Moné and Belair as top-tier main event superstars and set a new standard for what women’s wrestling could be on the grandest stage of them all. Moné’s heartfelt recollection provides a beautiful, personal insight into a night that truly changed the game. While she is now one of the cornerstones of the AEW women’s division, it is clear that the memory and significance of that WrestleMania night will always hold a special place in her heart.
The legacy of that night continues to be felt today, as women regularly main event premium live events in every major promotion. Mercedes Moné and Bianca Belair shattered a glass ceiling at WrestleMania 37, creating a “Cinderella moment” not just for themselves, but for an entire generation of wrestlers and fans.