Backstage Update on Rumors of Mariah May’s AEW Departure Affecting AEW’s Plans for All In Texas & Mercedes Mone vs. Athena Match Rumors

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that those close to Mercedes Mone stated that she was willing to lose to Athena to build a rematch at this July’s All In Texas event.

Meltzer reported that when AEW officials had decided on the Mone vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm match for the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In Texas, it made no sense for them to have Mone lose her match against Athena and not win the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup Tournament.

Meltzer also reported that AEW officials original plans were for Storm to defend her title against “The Glamour” Mariah May at All In Texas but those plans were changed when May was not going to sign a new deal to stay in the company. AEW officials reportedly then decided to go with the biggest match for women in the company for their biggest show of the year for the reason why Mone was chosen as May’s replacement.

Fightful Select reported that their sources within AEW denied that there were ever any talks or plans for a Mone vs. Athena match at All In Texas.

It was reported that while Mone had no issue putting over others if it served the story, high level AEW officials maintained that there was never a plan for her to lose to Athena during the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup tournament. One source spoken to stated that Mone has not been against taking losses but the topic simply hasn’t come up during her current push.

It was reported that it is currently not known if Mone had personally pitched the idea of losing to Athena but those spoken to stated with confidence that the working plan for All In Texas has long been Mone vs. Storm. Those spoken to reportedly stated that this plan was locked in well before May’s departure.

In regards to May’s departure and the potential impact it had on AEW’s plans for All In, it was reported that when May had informed AEW that she would be finishing up with the company by her Hollywood Ending match with Storm, AEW officials had already finalized their creative direction for Storm’s title match at All In. Those spoken to reportedly stated that May’s departure had no bearing on the planned Mone vs. Storm match.

Those spoken to reportedly stated that the only effect May’s departure had was on early creative discussions about her next program, which included ideas for a non-title feud if she had remained in the company.

One source spoken to within AEW reportedly stated that the plans for Mone vs. Storm at All In Texas had been in the works for as a long as a year.