Mercedes Mone can't wait to experience a Tokyo crowd this April.
Mercedes Mone debuted for New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 17, attacking KAIRI and setting her sights on the IWGP Women's Championship. Mercedes will be debuting in the ring at NJPW Battle in the Valley in San Jose, California, on February 18.
Mercedes has now revealed that she will be wrestling in Tokyo, Japan, this April. While Mercedes did not give any further details about her appearance, she did say that she was in the crowd for the match in NOAH between Shinsuke Nakamura and The Great Muta, saying that she hopes to experience that crowd reaction for herself one day.
"I think it's just the realism that comes from it," Mercedes said on the Under The Ring podcast about what attracts her to Japanese wrestling. "Feels like a real legit fight and sport. In the United States, it's really about the entertainment aspect, but in Japan, it's about the athleticism and the sport of wanting to beat your opponent.
"I actually got to be at Pro-Wrestling NOAH, for Nakamura and Great Muta's match and to hear the crowd and just to hear the different receptions of how their energy is presented when they watch wrestling. It's so just magnifying where I'm just like, 'That's what I want to hear. That's what I want to experience.' It's just timeless. They're just so transformed into watching and feeling it instead of just being overall entertained. They're just like, 'Wow, [claps]' they just treat it with so much respect that I'm just like, I can't wait to perform in April in Tokyo."
The former Sasha Banks does say that she isn't sure what the reaction will be on February 18 in San Jose, California. However, if the fans are loud for her, she's hoping to integrate some of that American culture into NJPW.
"I'm not quite sure due to it being an American crowd and the first time that I'm performing in nine months, I expect the fans to be really loud. That's what I want. I want to bring the American culture to Japan as well to let them know that they can be loud and go over the top, but tomorrow night, I'm not quite sure what the reaction is going to be. I don't know if they're just going to be quiet and just into watching and just cheering for good things, or they're just going to be so loud and into it, which I'm hoping and expecting it to be. I just expect it to be awesome. Because it's a sold-out crowd. It's a sold-out Civic Center. I just think it's going to be one of the best pay-per-views of this year. I mean, the card is so stacked, and as a wrestling fan alone. I'm excited just to sit back and watch as well."
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter previously reported that Mercedes was signed for some scheduled dates in April 2023, with her first match in Japan reportedly taking place in Sumo Hall at NJPW Sakura Genesis.
The former Sasha Banks is also scheduled to appear at WrestleCon during WrestleMania weekend.
Excited to welcome @MercedesVarnado to WrestleCon!! She will be exclusive to Session 4 on Sunday April 2nd. Preorders and mail order available at https://t.co/DEtNCI468w You must have Convention Admission for Session 4 in addition to a pre-order or cash purchase at the table. pic.twitter.com/5vvrt42BVm
— WrestleCon - LA March 30-April 2 2023 (@wrestlecon) February 17, 2023
Fans can check out what Mercedes had to say about her future following her NJPW debut at this link.
Fightful will have full coverage of the event on Saturday, February 18.
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