Following the Moné: Evaluating the Potential Opponents for Mercedes Moné in AEW

All Elite Wrestling has hired itself a new CEO.

Wednesday night’s AEW Dynamite, entitled Big Business in “Bo$$ton” was bookended to put the focus firmly on their latest free agent signing, Mercedes Moné.

First appearing on AEW screens at London’s All In, fans have speculated for months if the former Sasha Banks would join the promotion. For months, AEW fans of AEW for months fans have speculated; fantasy booked the matches they want to see.

For months, optimism and anticipation about AEW’s women’s division being elevated has risen cautiously.

Since Toni Storm and Julie Hart became the women’s champions and the debuts of Mariah May and Deonna Purrazzo, hope felt more tangible. On Wednesday, Mercedes did not call for a revolution but made it clear she was in AEW to be the CEO while teasing a dream match with a familiar wave of the hand.

Whether the revolution will be global, or hype will be the subject of another article. Instead, for now, let’s consider the range of fresh opponents Mercedes will have the opportunity to face. Like a wrestling stock market, let’s examine both the short- and long-term gains and risks of bringing a new boss into the AEW women’s locker room.

Measuring Her Opponents

We are going to evaluate the prominent members of the AEW’s women’s locker room. I’m going to use a dollar scale, from 1 to 4 to predict in the short- and long-term the potential these opponents have for great matches, feuds, and storylines with Moné.

$- A TV-level feud– an opponent Moné might face feud with on TV once or be involved with for a short feud.

$$- A PPV feud– an opponent Moné is likely to face long-term with the blow-off being on a PPV.

$$$- A Dream match– An opponent that fans may pay to see if on PPV.

$$$$- A Legacy feud– A long-term feud that will be revisited throughout Mone’s run where both wrestlers will change, and lore will develop around their matches.

Like the stock market, reality is bound to fluctuate based on events I cannot predict. Few $ wrestlers will be mentioned. If you disagree with any of my takes, please let me know in the comments.

Opponents Options to Watch For

Starting with the lower-stack stock, the following bundles are better long-term investment options. Wrestlers who will benefit from working with Mercedes Moné now and in years to come. These ladies are destined for better things, but may not be the ones to dethrone Moné or take the torch from her in years to come.

Skye Blue – Short-term $, Long-term $$.

After this week’s Dynamite, Skye could be Moné’s debut opponent. A well-deserved spot from Chicago whose confidence and skills are gaining her a notable following. Yet Skye is still developing her character skills as a heel.

In the future, as she grows with confidence, early history could be revisited. Skye could be a fun PPV title contender for Moné when she eventually wins the women’s championship.

Red Velvet – Short-term $, Long-term $$$$

Since returning from injury, Red Velvet has made the most of her minutes. Her fire and attitude have become pronounced and stay with you, even in defeat. That fire might be overlooked now and might strike an accord with Moné. There are similarities between Moné and Velvet, as well as contrasts in their styles.

More than an opponent, Velvet could even be a future tag team partner or even a protégé role to Moné. Possibly an aid against Toni Storm and her entourage? And over time, could try to usurp her mentor?

Queen Aminata – Short-term $, Long-term $$$$

Already, the Guinean native continues to generate buzz. Impressing in defeat and having a strong run in the ROH Women’s World TV Championship tournament shows AEW values the queen’s abilities.

Aminata could offer Moné a hard-hitting underdog challenger now or as a heel. With forethought, there’s no reason that like Velvet, more could be made of Aminata’s potential. Another queen possibly stepping up to take the crown? With time of course.

Blue-Chip Opponents for Now

Blue chip stock is seen as a valuable, established, and stable choice. Early on, these women are likely strong candidates for the CEO to prove their top-dog positioning.

Saraya – Short-term $$, Long-term $$$$

Maybe obvious and safe, but these women’s history. Besides leading the WWE’s ‘Women’s Revolution’ or Moné being accused of ending Saraya’s career, there is a more interesting AEW-centric storyline. Moné was able to do what Saraya couldn’t: elevate the women’s division.

In-ring, Saraya has found her footing after winning the AEW Women’s Championship last year. Her performances against Hikaru Shida and Toni Storm were overlooked, and the former Paige could be a good short TV program or PPV opponent. Ideally not Moné’s first due to being the solid and familiar choice.

Willow Nightingale – Short-term $, Long-term $$$$

There is an in-built story with Nightingale beating Mercedes Moné for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Yet Moné had a broken ankle.

Yet beyond a rematch, Willow’s infectious personality might give the humble Moné a temporary ally. With a future heel turn of Moné to her an entitled egotistical superstar, Willow could be the perfect foil: AEW’s Bayley. Given the recent history, there is room for this to be a legacy feud that interconnects both women throughout their AEW runs.

Serena Deeb – Short-term $-$$ Long-term $$

Strong hints since Deeb’s return have made it clear she’s the boss of this division. Deeb’s the one to elevate it. As Moné first PPV match at Dynasty, this has the potential to be a great PPV debut for Moné and a well-deserved platform for Deeb.

Deeb is a fantastic wrestler/magician, capable of getting Mercedes Moné’s very best. However, this might be the ceiling for their potential feud as Deeb seems more in the Scott Hall position. She’s there to help elevate the women to those top spots.

Longer-Term Blue-Chip Opponents

These respected, fan-favorites are good opponents for Moné in later months. Whether as contenders for her inevitable AEW Women’s Championship reign or when/if she turns heel.

Kris Statlander – Short-term $$ Long-term $$$$

Where was Statlander on Dynamite when Willow was attacked? Assaulted backstage, allegedly. The tease of a heel turn, guided by Stokely Hathaway, has been made. Moné made the save for Willow, which now ties her to the Statlander/Willow’s friendship angle.

If Statlander does turn, it might work better if AEW holds off on pitting them against each other.

Build Statlander as a heel first. Challenge Mercedes Moné later down the road. Build anticipation. Or if Statlander remains a good guy, wait until Moné is a heel. Statlander deserves such an opportunity on PPV.

Hikaru Shida – Short-term $$, Long-term $$$

Beloved by fans, Shida has been the division’s rock and stabilizer. A physical encounter with Shida could pay dividends.

Tying how Mercedes Moné traveled to Japan to face the very best Joshi wrestlers, to eventually face Shida makes the former three-time AEW women’s champion feel like a big deal. If rushed for the sake of a good TV match, because Shida is reliable and consistent in those big match situations risks harming the women’s division and Shida.

Thunder Rosa – Short-term $$, Long-term $$$

Since Rosa’s return from injury, Rosa has been gaining wins but has lacked a clear direction. ‘La Mera Mera’ hit issues during her AEW Women’s Championship reign, but her aura can be rebuilt to allow this to feel like a dream match.

With the right storyline, booking, and build, Rosa could be a throne in Moné’s ascension to the championship. Or a championship contender down the line.

Risky Opponents

These opponents will seem like strong PPV matches at worst and dream matches at best. What’s risky is the potential for an underwhelming match due to poor timing, execution, and build. Especially as the latter two are wrestlers returning from injury who need time to be ring-ready and re-establish their characters.

Toni Storm – Short-term $$$, Long-term $$

As a character, Storm is captivating. Delivering some of the most memorable and quotable lines on weekly TV, Storm as a champion has been distinctive. Toni’s stirred conversation about the women’s division. Problematically, the character hasn’t translated to the ring, especially on PPV.

Moné is a perfect foil to Storm as a modern Hollywood-looking superstar. Mercedes is likely the next women’s championship, but a bad match risks the revolution stumbling, like Toni during her championship acceptance segment, before it begins.

Jamie Hayter – Short-term $$$, Long-term $$$$

I love Jamie Hayter’s hard-hitting style and imagining selling it Moné’s selling it. A fan-made graphic for All In this year featured Mercedes vs. Hayter. The risk is Hayter being physically ready. London may be too soon, especially as Hayter losing in England does her no favors and could hurt Moné also.

Unless maybe Hayter’s best friend turns on her…

Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. – Short-term $$$, Long-Term $$-$$$$

The CEO’s hand gesture, the way Mercedes Moné spelled it, looked familiar. Oh, yeah! D, M, D!

The seeds have been planted, but like with Hayter, there’s a risk of doing this match too early. Baker has been absent for a while, Baker needs time to reheat herself.

Her star power diminished last year during a stale baby-face run. Baker needs to bring back the role model fans fell in love with to match Moné’s aura. Otherwise, AEW risks Baker overshadowing and undermining a former champion’s future in the division.

Investments in Gold

These final picks seem most likely overtime to be legacy opponents who have a lot to gain from working with a former WrestleMania headliner, both now and over time. These women seem they could in the future AEW Women’s Champion.

Athena – Short-term $$$, Long-Term $$$$

Undoubtedly, the best part of ROH has been Athena. A brutal, ultra-confident, and undeniable ‘War Goddess’ is someone many fans would like to see smack humility into Moné.

Besides an in-built storyline of Athena’s feelings, she is overlooked and is the best women’s wrestler in the world, Athena as a character has shown versatility. Over time and given each woman’s skills, this could be a brutal blood feud could elevate expectations of what the women’s division can achieve.

Like how Baker/Rosa set the standard for women’s blunder brawls in AEW.

Mariah May – Short-term $, Long-Term $$$$

The understudy may be an obstacle for Mercedes Moné if she feuds with Toni Storm, but looking ahead, it’s all about Mariah. Already, May has a cult fanbase based on a well-crafted build, a handful of in-ring matches, and clear direction foreshadowing.

While Mariah can afford to take an L to Moné early on, there’s room for the former STARDOM standout to grow into a future rival who could upstage Moné, like her hero, Toni Storm.

Julia Hart – Short-term $, Long-Term $$$$

Like May, Julia might face Mercedes Moné sooner rather than later, but likely in tag team action. The TBS Champion’s transformation as a character and wrestler has rightly brought her acclaim.

Whether in her current guise or a different persona, Hart’s got years to prepare and keep challenging to claim the huge scalp of Moné. As Julia’s growth continues, what’s to stop Julia from being another future queen who will overthrow the monarchy?

Forecast: Rain

I’m an optimist by nature, but the potential when you have one of the best female wrestlers of a generation is going to be high. I had to cut from this list several women who may have been rated as a $ or $$ on my scale, yet would still offer an exciting, intriguing, and fun character, storyline, or a simple wrestling match for Mercedes.

As my subheading suggests: it’s going to rain. The signs are good, at least in the short-term, and based on the recent debuts of Mercedes, Will Ospreay, and Kazuchika Okada. The issue is: how much and for how long it will rain?

I intend to explain in a later article, that whether Mercedes is allowed to become the rainmaker the women’s division needs is not solely in her control. The issue will be how much time, patience, and effort Tony Khan puts into women’s creativity.

History has shown wrestling bookers can have all the right players, and all the right conditions and still mess up because of biases and priorities.

Tony has another rainmaker to play with and history has suggested AEW will put more time into the men’s division than it will the women, even now when a revolution is in the pipeline.

However, the hiring of Jennifer Pepperman, someone with whom Mercedes has worked closely before seems to be a good indicator that Khan’s going to give Moné the chance to be the money-maker she believes she can be.

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