Mercedes Mone: Kris Statlander match might be second favorite of my career

Mercedes Mone had a great experience facing Kris Statlander for the first time ever.

The two shared the ring in a highly praised match at AEW Full Gear on November 23 with Mone defeating Statlander to remain TBS Champion. In her Mone Mag this week, Mone reflected on the pay-per-view, saying this is one of her favorite matches that she has ever had. Mone said it might rank second, presumably behind Sasha Banks vs. Bayley from NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in 2015.

“Wow! What an incredible night at AEW Full Gear! I’m still buzzing from the electrifying atmosphere and the unforgettable matches that unfolded, but there’s one moment that has etched itself into my heart and mind — the jaw-dropping showdown between me and Kris Statlander,” Mone wrote. “It might just be my second favorite match of my entire career!”

Mone said she was truly impressed by Statlander. While Mone thinks Willow Nightingale is the heart and soul of the AEW women’s division, she believes that Statlander is the strength.

With how strongly they reacted at Full Gear, the New Jersey crowd gave Mone a moment she’ll never forget.

“The energy in the arena was electric as the bell rang, and I could feel the anticipation build with every second. When the announcement came through, ‘And still…’ with over 10,000 fans on their feet chanting ‘AEW’ it was pure magic. That moment felt like a culmination of everything I’ve worked for, and the roar of the crowd was a symphony of support that I’ll never forget,” she wrote.

“Our match set a new record as the longest women’s match in AEW history, and it was an honor to be part of such a monumental moment. As we went toe-to-toe, the intensity only grew, and I knew we were creating something special in that ring. There’s a certain camaraderie that develops when you share the canvas with someone who brings out the best in you, and I felt that with Kris.”

Mone’s next TBS Championship defense has already been made official. The belt will be on the line when she takes on Anna Jay at AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash on Wednesday, December 18.