Report: Backstage News On Scrapped Plans For Mercedes Moné At AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door

Following reports that All Elite Wrestling and Mercedes Moné held "significant discussions" about an AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door appearance, Fightful Select have revealed additional details about those talks, including who Moné may have faced in a match at the June 25 pay-per-view.

Fightful noted they have not confirmed that AEW and Moné held talks but All Elite Wrestling did at the very least reach out to New Japan Pro-Wrestling to work out a deal for a Moné appearance at Forbidden Door. AEW mentioned to NJPW as far back as January 2023 they would like to use Moné. 

AEW and NJPW talent believed Moné would be working Forbidden Door and there were rumours backstage that the former Sasha Banks would be facing Saraya at the pay-per-view. It has not been confirmed if those plans were ever in place, though, and Saraya was not approached about facing Moné at the event. 

Saraya and Moné have an obvious history since a neck injury from a Moné kick at a WWE house show in December 2017 led to Saraya's retirement. The two-time Divas Champion ended up returning to the ring in November 2022 at Full Gear and she has since been a regular performer on AEW TV. 

Saraya has previously expressed interest in a match with Moné, mentioning her as a possible opponent for AEW All In.

Despite the talks about a Moné appearance, her status for Forbidden Door is in doubt after the former IWGP Women's Champion suffered an ankle injury at NJPW Resurgence on May 21.