Speculation Grows Online Over Mercedes Mone’s Involvement With STARDOM

By: James Carlin

New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced today that AZM and Mina Shirakawa will be representing STARDOM overseas as they make their way to Chicago on April 12 for Windy City Riot.

As if that wasn’t enough, the SNS post also garned the attention of former IWGP Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone, who has been out injured since May 2023 and is speculated to arrive in AEW at her hometown in Boston at their show Big Business.

A pair of emojis on NJPW’s Windy City Riot announcement led many to believe Mercedes Mone can still wrestle STARDOM talent upon her return.

Mone’s reply was also met with a response by Mina Shirakawa, who simply replied with a smirk emoji – implying that the two could very well meet at the event. Shirakawa had previously made a challenge to Mone while she was still IWGP Women’s Champion at the beginning of 2023.

Bankrupt??Someone's been drinking too much "Gin and Juice".

Let me bring you back to reality.🫠💥
There's an English saying…
Put your money where your mouth is. I won't go bankrupt…I'll rip the Banks Statement to shreds!#STARDOM #njpw #IWGPWomensChampion https://t.co/x8YpjH8pEi

— 白川未奈　Mina Shirakawa (@MinaShirakawa) February 21, 2023

Mone’s title reign saw her defend against AZM in a three-way match at NJPW’s Sakura Genesis event which also involved Hazuki in the championship match; she last wrestled for STARDOM at Yokohama Arena when she was defeated by Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women’s Championship, which The Icon still holds to this day.

As Mone continues to recover from injury, the signs look to suggest the seven time world champion will be able to work for both AEW and STARDOM moving forward through Tony Khan’s relationship with Bushiroad, who own both New Japan Pro-Wrestling and STARDOM.

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