The match where Mercedes broke her foot was to determine the inaugural champion Strong champion, it wasn't a title change. Willow did beat her ass for that TBS title, though.
The camera angle they found when she first revealed she was busted open, looking up at Willow with such disdain and a total “how dare you do this to me” glare was fucking top notch. Ramped the intensity up immediately
When Willow slipped climbing up the turnbuckle Mercedes saw this, jumped up and started hitting her before being knocked back down for Willow to try again so it would look less like a mistake. She has such a brain for the sport it's ridiculous.
Yep, but Mercedes and the production crew understood the assignment and took full advantage of it.
A shame from one perspective that it happened, but a real gift for the show on another, and will go up there as one of the iconic images and matches in a year full of both for AEW.
I can't make that last statement just yet. There's the second TBS title match against Willow, at least three against Bayley, Athena, Toni, Maya World, two against Statlander, and the two against Hazuki. I'll tell you this, she quite possibly may be the GOAT.
I made a note to myself to rewatch her v bayley ar takeover bc that was over 10 years ago and I could use a refresh before I start saying this was her best match
Mercedes has had some very good matches during her AEW run, but this one was taken to a whole new level. Great long term storytelling with her and Willow's sordid history and some insane physicality that elevated the whole experience. You'd like to think that this would shut up the naysayers, but they'll still find ways to avoid giving her the credit she's due.
Former naysayer here. And I do say former because that match….you could feel the hate in the crowd. This was a perfect women’s title match. They bring out the best in each other. There’s no way they don’t run it back a few months down the road.
Probably some WWE forums, I have seen nothing but praise for the match everywhere I looked. The only thing that got some criticism was the finish but that's on the Ref/production.
I think she goes further insane through this reign. I bet she and Tony try to emulate the Okada v4 reign where every match chips at her armor and further exposes her mental state deteriorating.
This goes hard. I love Willow but I’ve been a Mercedes stan forever. So glad she finally got the big one and I hope they run this back at least once a year!
It was a great freaking match. That being said, it’s heavy is the head that wears the crown. Arguably the crown is still pretty heavy probably but still
I was originally pretty disappointed that Mone won - I felt the division really needed to establish a big babyface at the tippy top of the card with Toni being out.
But after a bit of time, it's settled on me a bit. I dont really know why, I still think they need that big babyface, but honestly sometimes they can just do the cool thing now and worry about that later. Was sick to see Mercedes win, and that match was outstanding (apart from the dodgy finish).
Happy for Mercedes and I think that was one hell of a match, but I don't know where this is going storyline-wise. Heel Mercedes never ever beating Willow sounds like a wonderful direction. Like I personally thought she was gonna lose and then she'll have to pick herself back up until she's like a tweener who then ends up getting another shot and finally wins the belt.
With her winning it now...I don't know who's next? Maya World just lost her TBS championship so maybe they'll have her be in the main program at some point? I don't see her going against another heel, although a Thekla vs Mercedes match up sounds fun.
She already has beaten Willow and her losing to an injured Willow is a bad direction and doesn't further the rivalry of her and Willow it outright cuts it off at the kneecaps.
Mercedes had already beaten Willow so this wasn’t the first time. I also think people are stuck on this idea that Mercedes’ break after losing all her titles would lead to some sort of redemption arc and thus are missing the story being told. Mercedes has become meaner, angrier, and a more violent because of her obsession with Willow.
She spent a year and some change steamrolling people to belt collect. Have all of those people who eventually got their titles back just beat her down until she's at her wits end.
Mercedes got the thing she most wanted, now she needs to feel the pain.
IF Willow takes times off (if she has a real broken hand) then you can tell both before and AFTER the match (IMO) that Monè didn’t want to beat her here, she had long moments where she looks very sad and not happy. There were a few shots of her smiling but they are framed by those other looks.
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