During Saturday night’s episode of AEW Collision, Mercedes Moné appeared in a pre-taped vignette where she announced she is taking a leave of absence from All Elite Wrestling.
The segment featured a disheveled Moné, still covered in the paint and cake she was doused in during Willow Nightingale’s championship celebration on last Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. Sitting on the floor and speaking into a mirror, Moné addressed her recent humiliations at the hands of Nightingale and the Babes of Wrath.
“Heroes Don’t Build Divisions”
Moné began the segment by distinguishing herself from her rivals, referencing her record-breaking title reign that recently ended.
“You want to smile and laugh and play hero?” Moné asked her reflection. “Well, heroes don’t build divisions. Icons do. Over 500 days I held that championship. Not because I was lucky. Because I was undeniable.”
She continued by listing her accolades, stating, “I was the greatest. I was PWI’s number one wrestler of the year. Sports Illustrated number one. And well, it doesn’t matter what year it is. I will always be the greatest.”
Citing “Disrespect” and Announcing Hiatus
The focus of the promo shifted to Moné’s frustrations with her tenure in AEW. She claimed that despite her accomplishments, she has been mistreated since joining the company, citing the embarrassment she suffered on Dynamite as the breaking point.
“Ever since I arrived to AEW, I have been shown nothing but disrespect,” Moné said. “I am so sick and tired of the disrespect around here.”
She then officially announced her departure, framing it as a punitive measure against the locker room.
“To show you bitches a lesson, I am taking a break from AEW,” she stated. “To show you why and how I elevated. And good luck without me.”
A Warning for Her Return
The vignette concluded with a threat regarding her eventual comeback. After laughing maniacally at her reflection, Moné delivered a final warning.
“Because when I return, I am collecting more than just titles,” she said.
This announcement follows her loss of the TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale and the subsequent altercation on January 7 that left her humiliated.
“When I return, I am collecting more than just titles.”
A cold, calculated warning delivered by @MercedesVarnado!
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— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 11, 2026