Mercedes Moné has gone back-to-back.
Moné won the Owen Hart Tournament women’s bracket for the second consecutive year on Sunday night, defeating Maya World in the grand finals as part of AEW Forbidden Door in San Diego.
A near 25-minute showdown between them, which included numerous near falls and close submissions, saw Moné earn the tap-out win in the end.
Moné found a Statement Maker late in the match, re-applying the submission after connecting with a backstabber. They had both searched for the submission in earlier moments of the lengthy epic.
World had many moments where it seemed as though she was going to pull off a massive upset and defeat Moné. She most notably connected with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to the floor, then hit a springboard moonsault to the outside, then another moonsault in the ring for a near fall.
In a testament to how plans can always change in wrestling, both World and Moné weren’t original entrants in this year’s tournament. Instead, they were both slotted into the bracket following departures due to injury.
Moné joined the tournament earlier this month, stepping into quarter-final action after former TBS Champion Willow Nightingale withdrew. And after Joshi talent Sareee wasn’t medically cleared to compete, AEW rookie World was given a spot in the tournament.
World was immediately positioned as an underdog in the bracket, as she was the least experienced AEW name in the tournament. Fans rallied behind the up-and-comer, who joined the bracket shortly after the tragic passing of her brother.
Moné ended a multi-month absence from AEW programming by joining the bracket earlier this month. She advanced to the finals after beating Persephone and Hazuki.
World’s wins earlier in the bracket included a quarter-final victory over Skye Blue, and a huge upset in the semi-finals when she beat Athena. The PPV broadcast featured a promo from Athena following the match, teasing a future rematch between them.
Moné’s victory on Sunday means she will get a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship as part of All In: London.
Past Owen Hart tournament winners include Mariah May, Willow Nightingale, and Britt Baker.
