Disappointing Update on Former WWE Champion’s Royal Rumble Return
Rumors have been swirling about the potential return of former WWE Raw Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné, known as Sasha Banks during her WWE career, at the upcoming Royal Rumble event on January 28th. However, a disappointing update from within WWE suggests that her appearance is unlikely.
In a surprising development, new backstage reports suggest that former WWE Raw Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné will not be appearing at WWE’s upcoming Royal Rumble event on January 28th. When asked about the possibility of Moné returning at the Rumble, a WWE source dismissed it.
Former WWE Champion Not Appearing at Royal Rumble?
According to a backstage WWE source, when asked about the possibility of Moné showing up at the Rumble, they replied,
“Well, we’re not really interested in contract tampering with her, so I doubt it.”
I asked a WWE source this weekend who had been working on the Royal Rumble about the possibility of Mercedes Mone showing up.
"Well, we're not really interested in contract tampering with her, so I doubt it." was their reply. pic.twitter.com/JLMk1xWHhB
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 26, 2024
This means that WWE is not actively pursuing Moné and that she will most likely not be a surprise entrance in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. With Moné’s WWE return looking improbable, attention has shifted to the possibility of her signing with rival promotion AEW. According to reports from Wrestlezone, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer recently reported that AEW is confident Moné will join the company soon.
Meltzer states that Moné’s AEW debut will be “played up” with a major announcement expected in the near future. This lines up with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful’s report that WWE believes Moné may be AEW-bound following a breakdown in contract negotiations over monetary issues.
So while concrete details remain unknown, the consensus is that Moné likely has a deal in place with AEW and will be debuting imminently rather than making a shock return at WWE’s Royal Rumble.
As anticipation builds to see one of wrestling’s biggest free agents back on television, all signs point to Mercedes Moné resurfacing in AEW over the coming weeks. With AEW Revolution scheduled for March 5th, that event seems a prime opportunity for her introduction if she doesn’t appear on episodes of AEW Dynamite before then.
While Royal Rumble may no longer be an option, Moné’s legions of fans won’t have to wait too much longer for the next chapter of her career. AEW’s approach to building up her arrival indicates that she will be featured prominently from day one. The wrestling world will be watching closely to see when and how the former WWE superstar returns to the ring.
Who Will Emerge Victorious in Star-Studded Women’s Royal Rumble?
As per Bleacher Reports, the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match is shaping up to be the most unpredictable and star-studded Rumble in history. Several top female Superstars have legitimate claims to victory, making for a fascinating showcase with huge implications.
Former winners Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair are threats to become the first two-time Rumble winners. Meanwhile, Damage CTRL leader Bayley continues hinting she’ll win and challenge champion Rhea Ripley so both she and Iyo Sky hold gold.
Intriguingly, Bayley has hinted at dissension within Damage CTRL, so she could shockingly turn on her stablemates en route to Rumble victory. There’s also buzz that recent WWE signee Jade Cargill could make her anticipated debut as a surprise entrant.
With so many elite talents competing, the stage is set for a thriller women’s Rumble match. An exciting new champion and WrestleMania program could emerge from the unpredictable bout. Who will outlast 29 other Superstars to earn a coveted main event spot on The Grandest Stage of Them All?
Royal Rumble will be live on Saturday, 27th January at 8 p.m. ET, streaming exclusively on Peacock.
