TBS Champion Mercedes Mone becomes double champion at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone is now a “champ champ” as she defeated NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer in a competitive title vs. title match at Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.
The end came when Mone hit the Mone Maker which immediately led into the crossface that got a quick tap from Vaquer.
Both women emptied out their respective tanks with high-flying offense, submission attempts and hard-hitting moves like Vaquer ensnaring Mone’s head with her legs and repeatedly driving her head into the mat in rapid fire fashion.
The Long Island, New York, fans turned on Mone during the match, getting behind Vaquer and booing Mone’s offense as announcers tried to explain it was due to her being from Boston.
The win gives Mone her second title in two months after she defeated Willow Nightingale for the TBS title at May’s Double or Nothing.
This was a rematch from their May 2023 semifinal bout in a one-night tourney for the inaugural Strong Women’s title that Mone won, going on to then seriously injure her ankle in that night’s final against Nightingale which played into the story of how Sunday’s match was made.
The win ends the 112-day reign of Vaquer which saw her defend the title four times.