Who did Mercedes Moné defeat to win the Owen Hart Cup?

Mercedes Moné defeated Maya World by submission to win the tournament at Forbidden Door. This decisive victory secured her the Owen Hart Cup for the second consecutive year, though it has sparked debate among fans about the predictability of the booking.

When did the Forbidden Door event take place?

The Forbidden Door event took place on June 28. It was during this live event that Mercedes Moné made history by defeating Maya World to win her second consecutive Owen Hart Cup, a major feat that no other wrestler has ever achieved.

Why are some fans criticizing Mercedes Moné's tournament win?

Skeptics argue that giving Mercedes Moné consecutive tournament wins makes the Owen Hart Cup predictable. They believe the tournament should be used to elevate rising stars who need the rub, rather than serving as a prop for an already established champion.

What history did Mercedes Moné make at Forbidden Door?

Mercedes Moné became the first person in history, male or female, to win the Owen Hart Cup tournament two years in a row. She accomplished this historic feat by forcing challenger Maya World to submit during their match at Forbidden Door.

Why do critics think the Bayley match tease is trolling?

Critics argue that the social media tease is just internet trolling because Bayley is currently signed to a long-term contract with WWE. They believe a crossover match is highly unlikely to happen anytime soon due to these promotional and contract limitations.

Mercedes Moné has the Owen Hart Cup, but fans are split on the CEO

A Historic Night at Forbidden Door

Pull up a barstool, order a pint of whatever cheap lager is on tap, and let's talk about the absolute circus that went down last Sunday night. The wrestling internet is currently on fire, and you do not need to look far to see the smoke. At Forbidden Door on June 28, Mercedes Moné did what she does best and made history yet again.

She forced Maya World to submit, securing the Owen Hart Cup for the second consecutive year. She is the first person in history, male or female, to win the tournament two years in a row. Love her or hate her, you cannot deny that she dominates the conversation.

But the real drama started when the cameras stopped rolling. The CEO went straight to social media to tease a potential match with Bayley, a move that set off a massive wave of speculation. As reported by BodySlam.net, this has fans arguing about whether we are seeing a massive defection or just cheap internet trolling. Let us break down the reaction from every corner of the community.

The Community Weighs In on the CEO

The Enthusiasts Think She Is the Best Thing Going

If you check the forums, the Mercedes loyalists are currently taking a massive victory lap. They think she is the only genuine megastar on the roster. To these folks, feeding her consecutive tournament wins is just smart business.

On Reddit, supporters are pointing to the live crowd reaction to argue that Moné is the only one who feels like a genuine draw. One fan noted that the submission finish against Maya World was clean and decisive, which is exactly how a top champion should win. Another poster suggested that a match with Bayley is the biggest possible storyline AEW could run, so even a small tease is worth the excitement.

They are also losing their minds over the Bayley tease, posting dream card lineups and speculating on how Tony Khan could make this crossover happen. The idea of the former Sasha Banks and Bayley renewing their legendary rivalry in an AEW ring has the hardcore fans salivating. For the enthusiasts, she has earned the right to run the show.

The Skeptics Are Tired of the Predictability

But go to any other thread, and you will find a very different story. The skeptics are pointing out that this back-to-back win makes the entire Owen Hart Cup feel predictable. They argue that the tournament should be used to elevate rising stars who actually need the rub, not as a prop for an established champion.

Winning the tournament two years in a row is like giving the MVP trophy to the guy who already holds the championship belt. It is overkill, and it kills the drama. The skeptics are tired of seeing the same name at the top of every card.

Over on the forums, critics are taking a very different stance, arguing that giving the cup to Mercedes again completely misses the point of a tournament meant to elevate rising talent. Another user pointed out that teasing a match with Bayley is just trolling, since Bayley is under a long-term contract with WWE and cannot jump ship. A third comment highlighted the frustration of seeing the same champion dominate the booking while other talented wrestlers are left off the card.

It is like a movie studio teasing a crossover between Spider-Man and Batman when they do not even own the rights to both characters. It gets people talking, but at the end of the day, it is just empty hype. Some fans feel that the entire division is being sacrificed to keep Mercedes happy.

Shida's Win and the Rumor Mill

While the Mercedes debate rages on, a vocal group of fans is trying to redirect the spotlight. They argue the real story of the weekend was Hikaru Shida winning the TBS Title in the first-ever Survival of the Fittest match. As reported by F4WOnline, Shida is the new champion after a chaotic battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

This group believes that Shida's win is exactly the kind of booking AEW needs more of. It was unpredictable, intense, and showed off the depth of the roster. They feel that Shida is a workhorse who deserves to hold the gold and lead the division.

At the same time, fans are dissecting the technical details of the event. AEW recently filed a trademark for the match type called Death's Door, which was introduced at Forbidden Door. As WrestleTalk reported, this trademark filing suggests the company is planning to make this match type a regular feature. Fans are debating whether this new concept will be a fresh addition or just another gimmick that gets overused.

The rumor mill is also spinning out of control with talk of other promotions. There is wild speculation online about a potential Oba Femi situation and rumors of a major WWE to AEW defection. Fans are sharing threads, trying to piece together where the next big signing will come from.

On the WWE front, fans are obsessed with raw reviews and rumors of a massive defection. Speculation is running wild that Oba Femi could be giving up a title match for a jump to the rival promotion. While these reports remain unconfirmed, it has sparked intense debate on whether AEW could handle another major signing.

Meanwhile, MLW is quietly preparing to crown its first-ever Southern Crown Champion on Saturday's Fusion TV. As reported by PWInsider, the crowning of the new champion will happen on this Saturday's television broadcast. While it does not get the same mainstream attention as AEW, the hardcore fans are excited to see how that tournament wraps up.

My Take: The CEO Needs Real Rivals, Not Social Media Bait

Let us cut through the noise and look at the situation honestly. Mercedes Moné is undeniably a star, but the current booking has some serious flaws. Having her win the tournament for the second year in a row makes the entire tournament feel flat.

The Bayley teasing is a fun social media trick, but it is ultimately a dead end. Why tease a match that cannot happen when you have an active roster of women waiting for a chance? It makes the current roster look secondary to WWE stars who are not even in the building.

Moné is already scheduled to face Thekla at All In on August 30th at Wembley Stadium. That match has plenty of potential, and the focus should be on building that story.

Trolling the internet might get views, but it does not build a sustainable division. AEW needs to focus on the talent they have in the ring right now.