Daniel Garcia has high praise for Mercedes Mone.
In mid 2022, Mercedes Moné, then known as Sasha Banks, made the decision to bet on herself and exit WWE. At the beginning of 2023, she would make her New Japan Pro Wrestling debut, attacking then IWGP Women's Champion Kairi Sane.
The pair would go on to have a match at NJPW Battle In The Valley in February, with Mone coming out on top, capturing her first piece of championship gold since leaving WWE. At Stardom All Star Grand Queendom in April, Mone would lose the championship to Mayu Iwatani, ending her 64 day reign as champion.
Since leaving WWE, the ever present interest from All Elite Wrestling has loomed over Mercedes and despite not signing for the company, Tony Khan has expressed on multiple occasions that he would love to have Moné in his company.
That being said, Khan is not the only one with interest in working with Moné. While speaking to The Walkway Fight Club, Daniel Garcia would discuss Moné, stating that he believes she is one of the greatest performers of all time, male or female.
“I think a Mercedes, not even in a women’s division, I think she’s one of the greatest performers of all time. I think she carries herself like a star. Her in-ring ability is amazing. I think she’s very creative, very unique. I’ve never met her, but you can tell her work ethic is insane. When she left, took a break for a year, and she was going to all these different schools. She trained in Mexico, she trained in Japan, she trained with House of Glory in New York City, just learning and adapting to all these different styles to improve her game. Just always being a student, not being complacent, not just resting on her laurels. She never seems like the type to do that. I really admire her, I love watching and studying her matches. I think she’s one of the best of all time, male or female." he said
Disaster struck for Moné after losing the IWGP Women's Championship, as when she attempted to capture the NJPW STRONG Women's Championship at NJPW Resurgence in May, she would suffer an ankle injury in a match with Willow Nightingale that has kept her sidelined to this day.
Fightful Select has provided a recent update on Moné and her links to AEW, which you can read here.
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