The AEW Women’s World Championship opened the title-match portion of WrestleDream 2026 with a bang. Champion Mercedes Moné put her gold on the line against former Women’s World Champion Thekla — and the CEO walked out still holding the crown.
Mercedes Moné (Credits: AEW)
Faceguard Becomes a Weapon
The closing stretch of the match turned chaotic. Moné ripped off her faceguard — worn to protect her broken nose — and struck Thekla with it, a brazen move that showed just how far she was willing to go to keep the title. She followed up by going for her finisher, the Moné Maker, but the resilient Thekla countered out and nearly stole the match with a pin that earned a dramatic two-count.
Moné Maker Seals the Defense
The champion didn’t miss twice. Moné eventually connected with the Moné Maker on Thekla and sealed the pinfall, retaining the AEW Women’s World Championship in the first championship bout of the night. It’s another successful defense for Moné, who continues to cement herself as one of the most dominant titleholders in the division.
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Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
