Mercedes Mone Credits Tonga Loa For Opening The Door To NJPW

Mercedes Mone has explained how a chance meeting with Tonga Loa led to her signing with NJPW.

After walking out of WWE in 2022, Mercedes Mone found herself a free agent for the first time in a decade. While many expected her to sign with AEW or even go back to WWE, The CEO went a different route, making her shocking debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January 2023.

The star quickly made a name for herself in the promotion, capturing the IWGP Women’s Title from Kairi Sane the following month and going on to hold it for two months. Unfortunately, her time in the company was cut short when she suffered an ankle injury in the final of a tournament to determine the inaugural NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion in May 2023. Mone ended up being on the sidelines for nearly a year, and when she was ready to return to the ring, she signed with AEW.

Despite this, Mone has continued to make her presence felt in New Japan and only recently ended a 313-day reign with the STRONG Women’s Title.

Mercedes Mone Always Dreamed Of Wrestling In Japan

Speaking on Marking Out with MVP & Dwayne Swayze, Mercedes Mone admitted she didn’t know what to do after leaving WWE, but finally settled on achieving her dream of wrestling in Japan.

“When I got let go, I was like, ‘Oh my Gosh, I don’t know who I am. Who am I?’ I went back to the kid (in me) and was like, ‘Your dream has always been Japan. You always wanted to wrestle in Japan. Go chase your dreams and your goals that you haven’t gotten to achieve.’”

As luck would have it, Mone had a chance encounter with then-NJPW star Tonga Loa at the wedding of former WWE star Mojo Rawley. Loa put Mone in touch with Rocky Romero, and soon after, found herself signing a contract with New Japan.

“I remember being at Mojo’s wedding and I ran into T [Tonga Loa]. We just talked wrestling because he was in New Japan at the time. I’m like, ‘I always wanted to go to New Japan.’ He’s like, ‘Let me get you in contact with Rocky (Romero).’ I messaged Rocky right away, ‘Hey, I’m really interested in joining New Japan.’ He’s like, ‘Shit. Okay. Absolutely. Let’s get it going.’ Just from that text message, two months later, I signed a contract with New Japan.”

At Forbidden Door, Mercedes Mone is set to put her TBS Championship on the line against AEW’s Alex Windsor, CMLL’s Persephone, and a yet-to-be-determined entrant from NJPW’s sister company, STARDOM.

Do you want to see Mercedes Mone continue her run as the TBS Champion? Do you think it’s time for her to lose some of her titles? Let us know your thoughts below!

H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.