Mercedes Mone Says She’d Pursue IWGP Women’s Title If She Wanted It

Mercedes Mone, the second-ever IWGP Women’s Champion who defeated KAIRI in February 2023 and held the title for 64 days, is considering the possibility of going after the prestigious championship again. Since her loss to Mayu Iwatani in April 2023, Iwatani has retained the title, continuing to solidify her reign.

In a recent interview with Tim & Eli on Battleground, Mone discussed her ambitions and the logistics of pursuing the IWGP Women’s Title once more. “I gotta look at my schedule. I gotta see if I can be out there in Japan every single week,” Mone said.

Mercedes highlighted the convenience of defending her current NJPW Strong Women’s Championship stateside, where the promotion regularly runs shows. “As the New Japan Strong Women’s Champion, we have a promotion here in the US that loves to run a lot of shows, so it’s easier to just jump on a flight and go there,” she explained.

While Mone expressed that she could potentially make a move for the IWGP Women’s Championship again, she also hinted at her interest in other titles across the wrestling world. “If I wanted that IWGP Women’s Championship again, then I would go after it. But there’s always a plan, and there’s always a time for everything. That’s not the only title that I see my eyes on. I see that little title that Mariah May is holding; I love seeing what Athena is holding down in Ring of Honor. There’s a lot of championship gold out there in women’s wrestling. So we’ll see,” Mone teased.

Currently holding the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, Mone will soon find out who her next challenger will be at NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed. Fans are excited to see what’s next for the trailblazing wrestler as she navigates her career and chases new gold.