Mercedes Mone makes it clear that she wants to face Mickie James, and the IMPACT Knockouts Champion says she would be honored to face her.
Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, left WWE and began a new chapter of her career when she made her NJPW debut at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. She then defeated KAIRI to win the IWGP Women's Championship at NJPW Battle in the Valley on February 18. During this run, Mone has been the subject of plenty of speculation, as fans want to see her face a number of top stars.
Mone has expressed her interest in having a match with IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Mickie James, who has invited Mone to come to IMPACT to face her, and company president Scott D'Amore has stated that they have to make the match happen.
Speaking at Planet Comicon 2023 (via COOLTOY), Mone was asked about the match. She responded by saying she wants to face James, but she is waiting for the bag. Mone called James one of her idols and reflected on the way the legend inspired her when she was growing up. She noted that James and her feud with Trish Stratus pushed her to become a wrestler.
“Is it going to happen? Like I said, I’m waiting for the bag. I’m waiting for Mickie James. But absolutely do I want to wrestle Mickie James. Mickie James is legit one of my idols and someone who I grew up and I was just like, ‘Wow. That was such a standard to me.’ Her and Trish Stratus, that storyline inspired me so much that I wanted to be in the WWE even more. I’d never seen a women’s storyline like that. It transcended through a whole year of buildup, and Mickie James’ character was just so amazing. When they finally had their WrestleMania match, I was just like a kid. I was like, ‘Oh my… I have to do this, I want to do this’" Mone said.
Mone went on to describe how she wanted to face James when she returned to WWE, but aside from some tag team matches at house shows, they didn't get the chance to face each other. She stated that having a singles match with Mone is her dream, and she's confident that she can make it happen in 2023. In a nod to James' Last Rodeo, Mone also teased that she could retire James and send her back to the rodeo.
"When Mickie James came back to WWE, I was praying and hoping that we would actually get to wrestle. We never got to. We had maybe a tag matches on house shows, but we never had a one-on-one, which is my dream. I definitely believe in 2023 that I can definitely make that dream come true. So I definitely would love to face Mickie James and retire her ass. Send her back to that rodeo and go ride that horse. Bye, Mickie," Mone said.
In a tweet, James responded by sharing a meme of her reaction and writing, "I see you. I hear you. I love you. I respect you. I’d be honored. Try me shugs." She also tagged IMPACT President Scott D'Amore, NJPW, and IMPACT Wrestling in the post.
-- @MercedesVarnado I see you. I hear you. I love you. I respect you. I’d be honored. Try me shugs. ----
— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) March 20, 2023
cc: @njpwglobal @njpwglobal & @IMPACTWRESTLING @ScottDAmore #champvschamp #lfdt pic.twitter.com/L0mm8EJfIG
During the panel, Mone stated that no one knows the story of her leaving WWE. Check out her comments here.
Mone recently commented on potentially appearing at Forbidden Door 2. Click here to see what she had to say.
James will defend the IMPACT Knockouts World Championship at IMPACT Sacrifice. Check out the card here.
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