Current Plans for Mercedes Mone’s IWGP Women’s Championship & NJPW Contract Update

As noted before, Mercedes Mone, former Sasha Banks in WWE, made her official debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at this past January’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event. Mone made her official in-ring debut for NJPW at their Battle in the Valley 2023 event earlier this month in San Jose, California.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Mone’s current dates-based contract with NJPW only has two dates remaining that she is currently committed to working.

The first is on April 8th for NJPW’s Sakura Genesis 2023 event in Tokyo. Mone reportedly is currently scheduled to defend her IWGP Women’s Championship against Stardom talent AZM at the event. Meltzer reported that NJPW officials had considered plans at one point for a rematch between KAIRI and Mone to take place at this event but made the decision for AZM to be Mone’s opponent instead.

The other is on April 23rd for Stardom’s major event at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama. Stardom officials reportedly currently have plans for Mone to defend her IWGP Women’s Championship against Mayu Iwatani at their event. Meltzer reported that this match is expected to be part of a double main event planned for the show, the other match being Tam Nakano vs. Giulia for the World of Stardom Championship.

Meltzer reported that should Mone’s not come to terms for any additional dates, Iwatani is expected to defeat Mone at Stardom’s event and carry on with NJPW and Stardom’s original plans for the belt, which involved Iwatani being given a strong push as champion to coincide with the release of her documentary film outside of Japan. If Mone were to accept additional dates, Meltzer reported that Mone likely would retain and NJPW continues on with their current plans for the belt for the United States market.