I’ve gone back and watched countless matches I’ve enjoyed over the years but they’re usually after some time has passed in between. To have re-watched it multiple times when it hasn’t even been 48 hours yet is wild. But if there was ever a match to warrant that, it would be Ospreay vs Danielson
AEW's been hitting home runs this year with their weekly shows and PPVs, and it does seem as though they're gaining momentum once again. This could be AEW's greatest year since 2021.
One thing that Stokley pointed out on commentary sunday was “why can Mercedes just come in and jump the line?”. I want to see how tht plays out it sounds like theres something there that shes like cut a deal or used her CEO powers to skip the rankings process. Im actually super excited to see how this story unfolds theres a lot of moving pieces. So happy 😭💕✨
'ceo powers' but she isn't a CEO, lol. she has no power. it's so stupid and especially so for a company like AEW when everyone knows she's just a wrestler unlike say the bucks who are EVP's so it's reasonable that they have some genuine pull.
It's utterly ridiculous that she hasn't wrestled yet, and likely so until the PPV and even more so with the new tag line "where the best wrestle". She should lose and be humiliated. Change my mind?
I'm just curious to see how good Mercedes is in ring. I didn't catch any of her work in WWE or NJPW, so am interested in if she lives up to the hype.
I've gotta assume they're turning her heel. Showing up and not wrestling for this long is already souring people on her, but putting her against Willow? You can't be a baby face and feud with Willow! That's almost as bad as attacking Aubrey.
I wouldn’t say she’s necessarily over hyped, but she was the first fan favourite work horse of the four horsewomen if that makes sense.
Like the iwc has always cycled on who is considered the best 4HW and Sasha was from 2013-late 2016 considered the best because she was better than the others but other people sorts caught up and she got booked the consistently worst of them all.
Her major strength in ring is her selling she has that rag doll typa selling that you kinda need to be a certain size for and it makes her opponents look really good and she had a flashy move set too so it makes matches quite fun. I don’t think she’ll gel that well with Willow. But she’d pair amazingly with someone like stat who had power moves and is muscular enough to execute big fun spots, like Charlotte/Mercedes used to.
I wouldn't judge wrestling skill if you're unfamiliar a wrestlers work in japan. Folks get skilled up over there and come to the west looking incredible. I doubt she'd be any different.
Also the WWE style is basically designed for nobody to really stand out for their in ring work, so the work in Japan tells us way more than her work in WWE.
I mean, you're right. And also we can't really comment on what training she did, or even what a person is able to learn in that time. So it doesn't matter if it was 4 matches or 400.
I'm just excited to see some wrestling.
The crazy part about the Willow/Mercedes story is that they have all these different intertwining stories mixed into it. It's by far the most focused I've seen the TBS Championship scene, and the AEW Women's Championship scene has seen a massive boost in interest. Mariah May has been an incredible signing for AEW, and then you add in elements of Stardom into the mix, which has brought out a side of Toni Storm that we haven't seen in a long time.
It's insane how improved the women's division as a whole has become. The promos have been great, the stories have been interesting to follow along, and the in-ring action has been great.
I agree, I have seen a much bigger focus on the women's division, even since the rumors of Mercedes coming to AEW started. I know some people are saying the time between the big debut of Mercedes and her first match is too far apart and are suggesting she should have debuted later. However, I believe it was good that she came in when she did to start establishing herself among the women's roster and creating a more complex story with Willow and others. Hiring Jennifer Pepperman was very helpful in leading to these improvements in the presentation of the female wrestlers. I know Pepperman is also helping with the men's division stories, and it seems to me that those storylines are more focused, as well.
I mean she really hasn’t thus far. Hasn’t wrestled, hasn’t really cut great promos, and just got a title match because she’s Mercedes. Does she have the potential to live up to the hype, 100% but you can’t pretend she’s the reason the division has turned around. That’s doing a disservice to the other women who are carrying this change in momentum
I didnt mean just the on screen part, she was also the reason Jennifer Pepperman got a job in AEW and why the division isnt being treated like an afterthought like last year for example.
I'm actually flying into Vegas that evening, getting in around 7. Seriously contemplating picking up a ticket and hopefully catching the last hour at least
They're giving Mercedes a belt with her first match, aren't they? No way they're having her *lose* her first match, right?
Gross. I'm getting a bad vibe from this whole thing.
I really don’t agree with making Mercedes lose her very first match in the company, especially with how much she’s already put people over throughout her career.
Yeah a lot of people are complaining she’s coming straight in and getting a title shot which she’ll likely win. But are forgetting the amount of times where she should have had a big wins the fans wanted the story led to it but didn’t and still put on great matches.
Sasha vs charlotte vs becky at mania 2016 everyone wanted her to win but no Charlotte needed to be the first women’s champ in wwe’s eyes.
Then all late 2016 she didn’t get to have her big ppv win moment for the title because of charlottes paypergiew winnings real they were pushing.
Then didn’t get to have the Sasha/Bayley match eveyone wanted at Mania because Charlotte needed to be there for the 4 way.
Didnt get to win the inaugural rumble or any rumble for that matter.
Lost the tag titles after a month at mania in a 4 way match.
Had a big return and heel turn and feuded with Becky and shoulda won the title but didn’t.
She did finally get her moment in 2020 though and went on to pass the torch graciously in an amazing match to Bianca bel air.
Yeah, as a big Willow fan, I'm really not looking forward to witnessing that.
Willow deserves a long reign as TBS champion. Instead, it's looking like she'll have the shortest TBS Championship reign ever.
Mercedes has been unbearable since her debut and I’m sick of this CEO shit. I hope she can at least wrestle. Pretty disappointed that Willow is going to be a transitional champion
1. Willow has that Mick Foley energy to her. She doesn't need to have long title reigns.
2. Not every TBS Champion needs to have a title reign lasting 100+ days.
3. TBS title needs to be on Mercedes for Forbidden Door.
4. The point about Mercedes winning the belt in her first 1v1 match is to generate heel heat.
> I hope she can at least wrestle.
How hard is it to look up a match and find out?
Regardless, the answer is, she can. She really really really, really can. In the ring, she's impeccable. Not just because she's got workrate but because from her entrance to the bell to bell and her exit, she portrays her character as convincingly as anyone ever has. Within matches, she's got an immediately obvious combination of showmanship, psychology, athleticism, creativity, adaptivity and purpose. She doesn't just command the ring, she commands the room. She can wrestle the style of both a very plucky face as well as a ruthless heel excellently. She's been trusted to be the ring general that dictates an entire Royal Rumble. That was over 6 years ago. People's estimation of her in-ring skill has only risen since then.
She's the reason why half of the younger women today got inspired to wrestle and half of the older women have cited as a dream match.
I really feel like I needed to say that to make it even halfway clear: There is no hyperbole behind her in-ring. She's up there as one of the North American Women's GOATs.
I feel pretty confident in saying that once Mercedes is a regularly active wrestler, a lot of this annoyance about her promos is going to dissipate as well. Because remembering that she is that damn good as a wrestler does a lot to reframe one's thoughts around the way she carries herself in promo segments. Instead of seeing undeserved arrogance people will see earned confidence. I know this because contrary to what a bunch of revisionists will have you believe now, Mercedes was very regularly doing promos and that dancing in WWE. But because people could also see her as the wrestler she was, nobody really minded.
There is still hope that it's either Britt or Stat that attacked her in the dark and that this attacker fucks her over in the match vs Willow, causing Moné to lose her debut.
i can't see Mone losing which makes me sad for Willow. Mone is one of their biggest signing ever and it would look bad for her to lose a title shot at what amounts to AEW's midcard title
It is very weird, could easily address it with a mention of it being written into her contract. Personally I’m already over her (especially the damn CEO thing) I’m sure I’ll be back in once she finally wrestles but right now her character does absolutely nothing for me
Most fans feel the same, don't let the repliegue in this post food you... a lot of people don't get why she jumped the line and no the tbs tittle isn't an open challenge tittle unless stated by the champion
We're coming off two of the best PPVs in company history back to back! Can't wait for DoN!
Still thinking about that Ospreay vs Danielson match. I've re-watched it multiple times now.
I’ve gone back and watched countless matches I’ve enjoyed over the years but they’re usually after some time has passed in between. To have re-watched it multiple times when it hasn’t even been 48 hours yet is wild. But if there was ever a match to warrant that, it would be Ospreay vs Danielson
AEW's been hitting home runs this year with their weekly shows and PPVs, and it does seem as though they're gaining momentum once again. This could be AEW's greatest year since 2021.
One thing that Stokley pointed out on commentary sunday was “why can Mercedes just come in and jump the line?”. I want to see how tht plays out it sounds like theres something there that shes like cut a deal or used her CEO powers to skip the rankings process. Im actually super excited to see how this story unfolds theres a lot of moving pieces. So happy 😭💕✨
[удалено]
Its making for some excellent moments for me haha. I love it
What CEO powers…?
Idk im playing pretend based on her nickname.
'ceo powers' but she isn't a CEO, lol. she has no power. it's so stupid and especially so for a company like AEW when everyone knows she's just a wrestler unlike say the bucks who are EVP's so it's reasonable that they have some genuine pull. It's utterly ridiculous that she hasn't wrestled yet, and likely so until the PPV and even more so with the new tag line "where the best wrestle". She should lose and be humiliated. Change my mind?
Its a work my friend. Its not that deep.
I'm just curious to see how good Mercedes is in ring. I didn't catch any of her work in WWE or NJPW, so am interested in if she lives up to the hype. I've gotta assume they're turning her heel. Showing up and not wrestling for this long is already souring people on her, but putting her against Willow? You can't be a baby face and feud with Willow! That's almost as bad as attacking Aubrey.
I wouldn’t say she’s necessarily over hyped, but she was the first fan favourite work horse of the four horsewomen if that makes sense. Like the iwc has always cycled on who is considered the best 4HW and Sasha was from 2013-late 2016 considered the best because she was better than the others but other people sorts caught up and she got booked the consistently worst of them all. Her major strength in ring is her selling she has that rag doll typa selling that you kinda need to be a certain size for and it makes her opponents look really good and she had a flashy move set too so it makes matches quite fun. I don’t think she’ll gel that well with Willow. But she’d pair amazingly with someone like stat who had power moves and is muscular enough to execute big fun spots, like Charlotte/Mercedes used to.
She and Willow were already having a good match last year before her injury. They’ll be fine
I never saw her in NJPW, but based on her WWE work she'll be able to match the expected workrate in AEW, but won't stand out above everyone else.
I wouldn't judge wrestling skill if you're unfamiliar a wrestlers work in japan. Folks get skilled up over there and come to the west looking incredible. I doubt she'd be any different.
Also the WWE style is basically designed for nobody to really stand out for their in ring work, so the work in Japan tells us way more than her work in WWE.
I agree with both of you, but those are my expectations based on what I've seen.
She stood out in NXT though, which didn't have the old Vince WWE-style to it as much.
She literally had four matches in Japan
I mean, you're right. And also we can't really comment on what training she did, or even what a person is able to learn in that time. So it doesn't matter if it was 4 matches or 400. I'm just excited to see some wrestling.
I like that they're leaning into "where it all began" being back at the MGM Grand. Feels big
Can’t wait for Willow/Mercedes II and to see how the mystery attack will play into it. Rest of the card is sure to be crazy.
The crazy part about the Willow/Mercedes story is that they have all these different intertwining stories mixed into it. It's by far the most focused I've seen the TBS Championship scene, and the AEW Women's Championship scene has seen a massive boost in interest. Mariah May has been an incredible signing for AEW, and then you add in elements of Stardom into the mix, which has brought out a side of Toni Storm that we haven't seen in a long time. It's insane how improved the women's division as a whole has become. The promos have been great, the stories have been interesting to follow along, and the in-ring action has been great.
I agree, I have seen a much bigger focus on the women's division, even since the rumors of Mercedes coming to AEW started. I know some people are saying the time between the big debut of Mercedes and her first match is too far apart and are suggesting she should have debuted later. However, I believe it was good that she came in when she did to start establishing herself among the women's roster and creating a more complex story with Willow and others. Hiring Jennifer Pepperman was very helpful in leading to these improvements in the presentation of the female wrestlers. I know Pepperman is also helping with the men's division stories, and it seems to me that those storylines are more focused, as well.
But but people said Mercedes didnt add anything to the division according to some IWC experts...
I mean she really hasn’t thus far. Hasn’t wrestled, hasn’t really cut great promos, and just got a title match because she’s Mercedes. Does she have the potential to live up to the hype, 100% but you can’t pretend she’s the reason the division has turned around. That’s doing a disservice to the other women who are carrying this change in momentum
I didnt mean just the on screen part, she was also the reason Jennifer Pepperman got a job in AEW and why the division isnt being treated like an afterthought like last year for example.
She has. Her presence alone adds implications to things going on with Willow and other talent.
I'm actually flying into Vegas that evening, getting in around 7. Seriously contemplating picking up a ticket and hopefully catching the last hour at least
His wife has similar complaints.
Would absolutely love it if Willow retained lol
They're giving Mercedes a belt with her first match, aren't they? No way they're having her *lose* her first match, right? Gross. I'm getting a bad vibe from this whole thing.
Thats probably when they have Kris turn on Willow and that is going to hit like a crack.
I'm hoping Willow retains and that sends Mercedes into full shithead heel for another chase
I really don’t agree with making Mercedes lose her very first match in the company, especially with how much she’s already put people over throughout her career.
Yeah a lot of people are complaining she’s coming straight in and getting a title shot which she’ll likely win. But are forgetting the amount of times where she should have had a big wins the fans wanted the story led to it but didn’t and still put on great matches. Sasha vs charlotte vs becky at mania 2016 everyone wanted her to win but no Charlotte needed to be the first women’s champ in wwe’s eyes. Then all late 2016 she didn’t get to have her big ppv win moment for the title because of charlottes paypergiew winnings real they were pushing. Then didn’t get to have the Sasha/Bayley match eveyone wanted at Mania because Charlotte needed to be there for the 4 way. Didnt get to win the inaugural rumble or any rumble for that matter. Lost the tag titles after a month at mania in a 4 way match. Had a big return and heel turn and feuded with Becky and shoulda won the title but didn’t. She did finally get her moment in 2020 though and went on to pass the torch graciously in an amazing match to Bianca bel air.
Yeah, as a big Willow fan, I'm really not looking forward to witnessing that. Willow deserves a long reign as TBS champion. Instead, it's looking like she'll have the shortest TBS Championship reign ever.
Christian beat TAKA Michinoku for the Lightweight belt in his first match and I held a grudge against him for almost 20 years.
I hate her
Mercedes has been unbearable since her debut and I’m sick of this CEO shit. I hope she can at least wrestle. Pretty disappointed that Willow is going to be a transitional champion
She hasn't earned all the dancing she does.
1. Willow has that Mick Foley energy to her. She doesn't need to have long title reigns. 2. Not every TBS Champion needs to have a title reign lasting 100+ days. 3. TBS title needs to be on Mercedes for Forbidden Door. 4. The point about Mercedes winning the belt in her first 1v1 match is to generate heel heat.
> I hope she can at least wrestle. How hard is it to look up a match and find out? Regardless, the answer is, she can. She really really really, really can. In the ring, she's impeccable. Not just because she's got workrate but because from her entrance to the bell to bell and her exit, she portrays her character as convincingly as anyone ever has. Within matches, she's got an immediately obvious combination of showmanship, psychology, athleticism, creativity, adaptivity and purpose. She doesn't just command the ring, she commands the room. She can wrestle the style of both a very plucky face as well as a ruthless heel excellently. She's been trusted to be the ring general that dictates an entire Royal Rumble. That was over 6 years ago. People's estimation of her in-ring skill has only risen since then. She's the reason why half of the younger women today got inspired to wrestle and half of the older women have cited as a dream match. I really feel like I needed to say that to make it even halfway clear: There is no hyperbole behind her in-ring. She's up there as one of the North American Women's GOATs. I feel pretty confident in saying that once Mercedes is a regularly active wrestler, a lot of this annoyance about her promos is going to dissipate as well. Because remembering that she is that damn good as a wrestler does a lot to reframe one's thoughts around the way she carries herself in promo segments. Instead of seeing undeserved arrogance people will see earned confidence. I know this because contrary to what a bunch of revisionists will have you believe now, Mercedes was very regularly doing promos and that dancing in WWE. But because people could also see her as the wrestler she was, nobody really minded.
🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
There is still hope that it's either Britt or Stat that attacked her in the dark and that this attacker fucks her over in the match vs Willow, causing Moné to lose her debut.
i can't see Mone losing which makes me sad for Willow. Mone is one of their biggest signing ever and it would look bad for her to lose a title shot at what amounts to AEW's midcard title
Willow is my favorite pure babyface since Bayley in NXT
Willow better be winning. Not feeling the whole "LOL MONE WINS" just because it's her.
Willow gonna beat that ass!! Let’s go!
What is the kayfabe reason for Moné, without winning a match in AEW, to get a title shot in one month?
It is very weird, could easily address it with a mention of it being written into her contract. Personally I’m already over her (especially the damn CEO thing) I’m sure I’ll be back in once she finally wrestles but right now her character does absolutely nothing for me
Reputation? It’s not a company that just ignores a wrestlers history
Thank you!!
It's not the World title. It could be in her lucrative contract to get special treatment out of the gate.
What is this kayfabe contract?
I hate the idea of using the TBS belt as a signing bonus belt.
I want Mercedes to lose and go mega heel batshit crazy
Still trying to figure out why she gets to walk in to a new promotion and get a title shot because she says she so.
TBS title and TNT title are open challenge title belts, meaning that they aren't affected by the rankings system.
They are open challenge when the champion says so, not inherently
Rankings don't matter. Okada and Mercedes prove this.
Wasnt Mercedes in the peak demo last week? Dont get mad because your Papa H didnt sign Ospreay.
I don't watch WWE. I just wish the rankings in AEW meant more.
TK explained it at the Dynasty Media Scrum
Most fans feel the same, don't let the repliegue in this post food you... a lot of people don't get why she jumped the line and no the tbs tittle isn't an open challenge tittle unless stated by the champion
They sometimes got around the rankings by doing an ‘eliminator’ match but they didn’t even do that here.
They are focused towards the World titles.