Why Mercedes Moné winning the Owen Cup has the internet in a chokehold

Pull Up a Barstool

Pull up a barstool and pour yourself a double of whatever cheap whiskey is on the bottom shelf. We are sitting here on June 30, 2026, and the pro wrestling industry is running on pure, unadulterated adrenaline. If you aren't currently scratching your head over the latest social media crossover, you might want to check your pulse.

Last Sunday, the annual wrestling holiday known as Forbidden Door delivered a chaotic night of heavy hits and high-flying madness. The men's tournament saw Will Ospreay climb the mountain to claim his crown. But the real firestorm started when Mercedes Moné won the women's tournament.

Moné did not just win; she did it in style. She walked down the ramp sporting a sharp pink and black outfit inspired by WWE veteran Natalya's look from the first Evolution event. This bold statement immediately set the wrestling corner of the internet on fire.

The Owen Cup Backlash

Wrestling fans are never happy. That is a universal law of physics. But the reaction to Moné's victory is particularly polarized because she only entered the bracket after she replaced an injured Willow Nightingale in the wild card slot.

To many fans, this felt like a forced pivot. Willow is a beloved babyface who fans wanted to see succeed. Mercedes taking her spot and winning the whole thing for the second consecutive year rubbed people the wrong way.

First, you have the loyal fans who think Mercedes is the best thing to happen to the division. They argue that she brings a level of star power and mainstream attention that no other female wrestler on the roster can match. To them, the gear tribute was a beautiful touch that showed deep respect for the business.

Here is what one enthusiast posted on Reddit after the match:

u/HartCore97: Mercedes wearing the Evolution gear is an incredible detail. People hate on her, but her respect for the history of the women's division is unmatched. She knows exactly how to make a match feel like a major event.

Then you have the skeptics who are tired of the Moné show. They argue that AEW is relying too heavily on established ex-WWE talent instead of building their own stars. For them, these back-to-back tournament victories feel like lazy booking.

A post from a frustrated fan captured this sentiment perfectly:

u/DubFanatic88: Willow Nightingale got hurt and we get Mercedes winning the whole tournament again. It is lazy booking and ruins the point of using the tournament to build new stars. She does not need this win to be over.

Bridges Across the Divide

Wrestling tribalism is a terminal disease. Fans spend their days fighting in the trenches of social media, acting as if the two major promotions are locked in a literal war. It is always refreshing when the actual wrestlers show that they do not care about the imaginary borders.

Mercedes posted a side-by-side photo on Monday showing her new gear next to a classic shot of Nattie wearing the original design. The caption was just two simple heart emojis. It was a direct nod to a woman who has spent decades anchoring the WWE women's division.

Nattie did not ignore the gesture. She quoted the tweet and shared a throwback photo of the two of them alongside Bayley and the Bella Twins. She added a heartfelt caption that highlighted the history behind the gear.

That gear was from the very first Evolution PPV. A piece of history that meant a lot to me and so many other women wrestlers everywhere. Every piece of gear tells a story and I'm glad this one inspired you. Low-key legends always do...

This interaction is fascinating because Natalya is a WWE lifer. Seeing her publicly praise an AEW champion who just won a tournament named after her late uncle is a big deal. It shows that respect in this industry runs deeper than corporate contracts.

The Realist's Take

Let's cut through the noise and talk about the actual booking. Mercedes winning the tournament again is a safe choice, but safe choices do not make for legendary television. Putting her in the tournament after Willow's injury was a panic move that showed a lack of faith in the rest of the roster.

AEW has a locker room full of hungry athletes who could have used this spotlight. Throwing the trophy at the biggest star every single time is a lazy crutch. When you treat the rest of the roster like background actors, you cannot be surprised when fans stop caring.

But we also have to admit that Mercedes knows how to perform. The gear tribute was a calculated nod to a historic event that proved women could main-event a major show. By linking her victory to Nattie and Evolution, she elevated the moment beyond a standard tournament win.

Here is what the contrarian crowd is saying online:

u/KingOfTheRing: Thekla is going to absolutely destroy Mercedes at All In anyway. All this tournament did was delay the inevitable STARDOM takeover. The match on August 30 is where the real work begins.

Who Wins the Argument?

So who has the right of it? The truth lies in the middle, but the skeptics have a stronger point. Moné is a phenomenal athlete, but her promo segments can feel scripted and robotic. Her matches are clean, but they lack the raw intensity that Willow Nightingale brings to the ring.

Wrestling needs stars, but it also needs a sense of stakes. When the same person wins the tournament every year, the trophy starts to lose its shine. If Mercedes walks into All In on August 30 and easily defeats Thekla, it will confirm the worst fears of the critics.

At the end of the day, the Owen Cup is about honoring a legacy. By paying tribute to Natalya, Mercedes showed that she understands the history she is trying to build. Now she must prove she can carry that weight against STARDOM's best at All In.