Mercedes Monè wants to change the game.
The former Sasha Banks arrived in NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17, where she attacked KAIRI after her successful defense of the IWGP Women’s Championship. NJPW subsequently announced that Monè will challenge KAIRI for the gold at NJPW Battle in the Valley on February 18.
In an interview NJPW posted on its YouTube channel, Monè discussed her arrival in NJPW. She noted that KAIRI has something she wants, and she’s also aiming to take back global recognition of who she is.
“The first place on my domination tour had to be New Japan Pro-Wrestling and STARDOM,” Monè said. KAIRI has something that I want. I have a long history with KAIRI, and I’m coming to take back what’s mine, and that is global recognition of who I am. You can bank on Monè. I’m all about history, and if it ain’t about history, then it doesn’t make any sense. When I found out about the IWGP Women’s Championship, my heart was filled with so much joy. I knew instantly what I wanted, and that was that title.
Mone referenced KAIRI’s post-match speech at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 and noted that it spoke to her, as they both seemingly share the same goal. Mercedes made it clear that she’s trying to put NJPW on the map. Even with her “global domination” tour, Monè stated that she is in NJPW to stay.
“The speech by KAIRI afterwards is what really got to me,” Monè said. “She said we can make this even more special, make pro wrestling even more bigger, have more household names. That’s why Bank Monè is here. I’m trying to put New Japan on the map and make it global. I know it’s been around for so long and there’s so much history here. But it has never been looked at the same since I stepped into the game. Ever since Banks Monè has been the freest agent in the game, everybody’s just talking about me. ‘Where’s she gonna to? Where’s she gonna go?’ New Japan Pro-Wrestling is where I wanna go, and I’m here to stay.
“The CEO” gave KAIRI credit and noted that she was also a star in her own right, given her successful WWE run. But Monè called herself the top superstar in the world.
“I’m Banks Monè. I’m Mercedes Monè . I am the top superstar in all of the world, so she can’t even compare to me,” Monè said.
Ahead of their title match, Monè expressed her excitement and stated that she was been dreaming about this match. She vowed to make it the greatest women’s bout of all time. Mone also teased that she is going to take the title everywhere.
“I’ve never been more excited, more nervous. I never get nervous, but I am so ready for this. I’ve been dreaming about this. I’ve been really, really wanting this. For it to be in the United States, in San Jose, California, I have so much history there. I’ve had the greatest matches there. So February 18 is gonna be the same. I’m gonna make sure that is the greatest women’s match of all time. When I hold up my championship, oh cute little KAIRI, I’m gonna send her back to Japan. She can go back to STARDOM, and I can be the global superstar that I’m meant to be. I’m about to take that title everywhere. Not just New Japan. Everywhere.”
Check out the updated card for NJPW Battle in the Valley here.
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