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Twitter reacts to Mercedes Moné in-ring debut

BySamantha Schipman|
TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 04: Mercedes Mone enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling - WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 in Tokyo Dome on January 04, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 04: Mercedes Mone enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling - WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 in Tokyo Dome on January 04, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

On Saturday night, Mercedes Moné finally made her in-ring debut for NJPW. She debuted for the promotion at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in a historic moment. 

“The CEO” faced KAIRI for the IWGP Women’s Championship at Battle in the Valley. KAIRI became the first IWGP Women’s Champion in November at the NJPW and STARDOM X-Over show.  This was her second title defense.

Moné vs. KAIRI was the first match in a double main event. The women went hard and even brought tables (!!). Moné hit the Meteora, Bank Statement, and the Bayley to Belly. There was even an Eddie Shimmy.

In a bout that lasted about 27 minutes, Moné became the second IWGP Women’s Champion. She hit her new finisher, the Moné Maker.

Wrestlers react to Mercedes Moné

Shortly before her match, Moné tweeted a picture of herself with Sami Zayn with the caption “Pro wrestling is magical.”

Earlier in the evening, Naomi (Trinity) simply tweeted Moné.

KAIRI tweeted on Saturday afternoon pictures of herself and her opponent from WWE.

Moné’s gear was inspired by the late Hana Kimora. AEW’s Lee Moriarty took notice as did Cheeseburger.

https://twitter.com/CheeseburgerROH/status/1627196261152567299?s=20

IMPACT World Champion, Josh Alexander, tweeted after the win. He competed in the first match on the card.

https://twitter.com/Walking_Weapon/status/1627199506939887617?s=20

NJPW’s Robbie Eagles tweeted that Mercedes vs. KAIRI was “incredible” and “hopefully it inspired plenty of others in our industry.”

Jungle Kyona quote tweeted a video from NJPW and tweeted (translated) “Hana, are you watching this? Your feelings are getting through to her. Hana had great respect for Sasha Banks.”

NJPW has three shows announced for the US. The crossover show with IMPACT Wrestling is on March 30. That will be followed by Capital Collision in Washington, D.C. on April 15 and Collision in Philadelphia the following night. It remains to be seen who will be the first to challenge the new champion.

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