AEW's arrival at London's Wembley Stadium in 2023 for its inaugural All In event represented a seismic shift in the wrestling landscape. The organization, considered a mere challenger brand, packed more than 70,000 fans into the iconic UK stadium. 

Around that same time, the company that prided itself on being a place to find the best wrestling in the world had ambitious aspirations of adding to its roster Mercedes Moné, one of the best women's wrestlers of her generation. Moné's unexpected arrival in the stands at that very first AEW All In show only stoked those flames as the former Sasha Banks recovered from a devastating ankle injury suffered against Willow Nightingale. 

Now, three years later, AEW returns to Wembley once again, where Moné will attempt to win the one title she has yet to hold: the AEW Women's World Championship.

"I knew after [the first show at] Wembley, my heart was so set on AEW," Moné told Uncrowned ahead of AEW All In 2026 this Sunday. 

"I loved the energy of Wembley. I love the fans there. I love the matches, and everything just aligned and felt so right. I'm so excited for this year. I'm excited to feel the same energy as I did when I barely was able to walk in with my crutches, sitting there as a fan."

Mercedes Moné's arrival to AEW in 2024 marked a major moment for the company. (Lee South, AEW)Lee South

Moné's return to the ring is a testament to how far she has come. She remembers going to the hospital the night of the ankle injury in May 2023, and doctors telling her it wasn't broken — only for a subsequent second opinion to confirm her worst fears.

"That just shattered my career," Moné said. 

What followed was more indecision. With her ankle in a badly damaged state, she saw numerous doctors, received more opinions and more second opinions, and was left wondering if she'd even be able to walk the same, much less wrestle again. 

"There was so much uncertainty in my mind, that the whole time it was really hard. At the same time, all I have is wrestling. All I know is wrestling. All I love is wrestling," Moné said. 

"It's incredible how much life can just take you in the last three years. But as long as you push forward, as long as you manifest and you believe that you can do something, no one can stop you."

Just over a year after the injury that nearly ended her career, her second chance began in earnest in May 2024, with AEW gold and a simple message: Mercedes Moné is back. 

It was a return that aligned perfectly with opportunity, kicking off a run that would shape the AEW women's division. Her first match back came — ironically — against Nightingale, with Moné capturing the TBS Championship and immediately beginning her next chapter.

It didn't take long for Moné to become AEW's premier belt collector, using her veteran experience to leave her mark on the industry while claiming 13 different titles around the world. 

"I wanted to make women's wrestling global and not just in one place, and I want it to be seen all over the world and inspire the next generation," Moné said.

"I feel like here at AEW, it was ready for it. It was at the tip, and hopefully me coming here helps open new doors of opportunity that women can do everything that the men can do, but even more."

Over the past year, AEW cleared the runway for Moné to wrestle throughout the United Kingdom and beyond, winning championships across multiple countries and multiple promotions in what she calls "one of the greatest experiences" of her entire career.

Those experiences have also become part of Moné's identity as one of AEW's leaders. She points to work ethic and walking the walk as the best way to get her point across.

"It's showing up, showing out and just doing the best that you can do every single week, every single show. It's giving the fans your heart and your soul. And I feel like I don't need to go to every person and tell them," Moné said. 

"I just show them."

For all she's experienced over her three-year run in AEW, Moné places particular value on sharing the ring with women who were inspired by her much-celebrated NXT championship match in Brooklyn against Bayley more than a decade ago.

"It's just been nothing but beautiful fruition. This is everything that I've wanted since I was a little girl, to just change the definition of what it was to be a women's wrestler. And now we're doing that. We're leading the way, and women are taking charge," Moné said.

"We want more, and I'm happy to lead that way, and I want other women to follow me." 

For Moné, leading the next generation of talent is another shared characteristic with her longtime friend and fellow member of WWE’s pioneering Four Horsewomen, Bayley. With Bayley's WWE future uncertain amid recent speculation about her contract status, Moné would relish the opportunity to share the ring with her fellow Horsewomen again.

"For one more match with Bayley, what would that mean? I don't know, that could be only a dream," Moné said.

"We'll see. It doesn't matter what company or where we are, I definitely would love to have one more match with her."

Mercedes Moné challenge old rival Willow Nightingale for the AEW Women's World Championship this Sunday at All In. (Ricky Havlik, AEW)Ricky Havlik

For now, Moné's focus is on completing the journey that began in the Wembley crowd three years ago, with the AEW Women's World Championship yet again within reach. 

She's been here before, even at last year's All In event against Toni Storm, but failed to finish the job. Now, she has a chance on Sunday against AEW’s latest Women’s Champion, Nightingale — the same woman whose career she'll be tied to forever. 

"It's just finishing my mission. It's getting the one championship that I have yet to hold that I know that I'm destined to hold," Moné said.

"My heart has just been waiting for this for the past three years. So when you have been denied something for so long and you have been dreaming about it — you can't have nothing but a fire, and nobody can stop this fire. Not even Willow."