Mercedes Mone is heading to Wembley Stadium with gold in her sights. At AEW Forbidden Door, Mone captured the women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament for the second consecutive year, defeating Maya World in the final to earn a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In London.
The road to this final was an unconventional one. Neither competitor was originally slated to be in the tournament — World stepped in to replace the injured Sareee, while Mone herself came aboard as a substitute for the injured Willow Nightingale. Despite the unusual circumstances, both women made it to the final, where Mone ultimately picked up the victory.
With the win secured, the AEW Women’s World Championship match at All In London is now set: champion Thekla will defend against Mone. It marks back-to-back Owen Hart Foundation tournament victories for Mone, putting her in rare company in the tournament’s history. Previous women’s winners include Britt Baker, Willow Nightingale, and Mariah May — now known as Blake Monroe.
Also on the Forbidden Door card, Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland met in the men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament final, with the winner earning their own title opportunity at All In London. Whoever prevails in that match will face a compelling question heading into Wembley: will they meet current AEW World Champion MJF, or potentially Kenny Omega depending on how the landscape shifts before August?
All In London at Wembley Stadium is shaping up to be a massive night for AEW, and Mone’s return to the tournament throne ensures the women’s division will have a marquee matchup at the top of the card.
Reporting and match coverage produced by the PW Exclusive team. Articles under this byline are drafted with AI assistance and reviewed before publication — see our editorial standards for how we work.
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