Add as a preferred source on Google AEW had to change its plans several times for this year’s Women’s Owen Hart Cup final, which will take place at Forbidden Door and feature Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World.
According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, the company’s original plan was for Toni Storm to win the tournament and challenge Thekla for the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In. However, Storm has been off programming since March. Fightful later confirmed the report.
With Storm absent, AEW reportedly shifted its plan to Willow Nightingale winning the tournament and facing Thekla. However, Nightingale also became unavailable after suffering a shoulder injury, forcing her to vacate the TBS Championship and withdraw from the Owen Hart Cup.
WOR: Toni Storm was originally planned to win the 2026 Women’s Owen Cup and challenge Thekla for the World title at All In.
— Drainmaker (@TheDrainmaker) June 22, 2026
AEW then pivoted to Willow Nightingale vs Thekla before Willow also became unavailable.
The Owen final is now Mercedes Moné vs Maya World. pic.twitter.com/glF8jLQbHA
The solution was to put Mercedes Moné in the tournament as the Wild Card. The CEO defeated Alex Windsor in the quarterfinals, then beat Hazuki to advance to the tournament final for the second year in a row.
On the other side, Maya World became the tournament’s biggest surprise. She entered as Sareee’s replacement, defeated Skye Blue, and then beat Athena, her trainer and the current ROH Women’s World Champion, on the latest AEW Collision to secure her spot in the final against Moné.
The Owen Hart Cup winner will receive a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In. Before that, however, Thekla will defend the title against Starlight Kid at Forbidden Door in another chapter of the AEW and STARDOM rivalry.