Nixed pitch for Mercedes Mone's first AEW loss revealed [Reports]

This year's edition of the AEW Owen Hart Foundation Tournament saw several high-profile matches that were attached to major storylines heading into All In: Texas.

One of these matches was the semi-final between Mercedes Mone and Athena, which happened at AEW Dynamite Spring Break Thru. While The CEO went on to win that match, a new report suggests that her going over wasn't always the plan.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter recently reported that there was an internal pitch for The CEO to lose that match to Athena, which would also mark the TBS Champion's first singles loss in All Elite Wrestling. The idea was to build a heated rivalry between the Mone and the Fallen Goddess, eventually culminating in a rematch at All In: Texas.

However, plans reportedly shifted once Tony Khan decided to book Toni Storm versus Mone instead for All In. With that match locked in, the creative team felt it made little sense for Mone to lose earlier in the tournament and not emerge as the Owen Cup winner.

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Mercedes Mone to defend her title outside AEW; sends opponent a message

At AEW Grand Slam: Mexico, Mercedes Mone captured the CMLL Women's Title by defeating Zeuxis. She was later confronted by a rising star of the promotion, La Catalina, who challenged her for the title.

The CEO accepted the challenge and will now defend it against her 25-year-old challenger at the Fantastica Mania event in Mexico later today. Ahead of the match, La Catalina weighed in on the title opportunity on the 'Informa' show and took some digs at the belt collector.

The CEO has since responded to her challenger in Spanish, sending a sharp message of her own, which, when translated, spells out:

"See you tomorrow b*tch #CMLL."

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With just a few hours before Fantastica Mania kicks off, all eyes will be on Mone's first defense of her CMLL Women's Title.

About the author

Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda's AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.

As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry's unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.

Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.

Karan's favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.

In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin's technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.

He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.

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Edited by Arsh Das