In a recent interview with Variety promoting AEW Double or Nothing, Mercedes Mone discussed her immediate challenge against Jamie Hayter tonight, May 25, but also set her sights on a future marquee match-up against Toni Storm at AEW All In in Texas. Mone shared her thoughts on several aspects of her AEW tenure and aspirations.
Regarding her Double or Nothing opponent, Mercedes Mone acknowledged Jamie Hayter’s abilities despite not having faced her one-on-one previously. “I haven’t faced Jamie in the ring one-on-one yet, but watching her stuff through the week and prepping for Double or Nothing, she really is one of the best in the game. She is strong, she is fierce, she is feisty. But I’m Mercedes Moné. I’m a student of the game. I’ve been traveling all over the world, wrestling the best women, beating the best women. For me, it’s just another strong competitor to get through.”
Mone identified a match with Toni Storm at All In as a significant personal objective since her arrival in AEW. “For me, it’s getting to the next level, and that’s going to All In: Texas and facing the one, the only Timeless Toni Storm, which has been a goal of mine since I’ve joined AEW,” she stated, adding, “She’s just so fascinating, and she’s been stealing the show every single week.”
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While Toni Storm is her primary target, Mercedes Mone also expressed a desire to eventually face Mina Shirakawa again. “I definitely want to face Mina Shirakawa again one day, but my eyes are on Toni Storm first, just because we have such little history,” Mone explained. She referenced their past encounters, including a match at the Tokyo Dome earlier in 2025 and a three-way match at a New Japan show where she lost the New Japan Strong Women’s Championship to AZM, and praised Shirakawa’s recent full-time AEW debut: “My eyes are on Toni Storm, but whether it’s Toni or Mina, I’m really excited for that match.”
Mercedes Mone also commented on the inclusion of women in the Anarchy in the Arena match for the first time, highlighting Willow Nightingale. “It’s pretty crazy. I’m such a big fan of Willow Nightingale — there’s just something about her, when she comes out, she makes you smile and just makes you so happy to watch,” she said. Mone added she was “super excited for that and for her to be the first woman to main event an AEW pay-per-view,” referring to Nightingale’s role in the prominent match.
Looking further ahead, Mone revealed her interest in participating in intergender or mixed tag team matches within AEW. “I definitely want to have an intergender match or a mixed tag match,” she told Variety, listing potential collaborators such as Mike Bailey, Ricochet, Swerve Strickland, Komander, The Beast Mortos, and Kazuchika Okada. She concluded, “Dream matches are endless in AEW.”
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