Wrestling Roundup: Mercedes Mone Debuts, Charlotte Flair Returns and More

Welcome to the wrestling roundup where we look at the biggest stories from the past week or weekend in wrestling. In the wrestling roundup, we not only will look at the news but rumours as well. Again fans love speculating on rumours. And all the rumours will be cited from credible sources in the wrestling world. Remember with rumours, none of them have been confirmed. With that said let’s dive into this edition of the wrestling roundup looking at Mercedes Mone Debuts at Wrestle Kingdom, Charlotte Flair Returns, Kenny Omega Back in New Japan, and much much more

Wrestling Roundup

New Japan News: Mercedes Mone Debuts at Wrestle Kingdom

Mercedes Varnado now known as Mercedes Mone debuted at Wrestle Kingdom 17. After Kairi defended her IWGP Women’s championship, Mone entered the Tokyo Dome. No longer was she the Boss Sasha Banks, but rather the CEO. Mercedes Varnado had been trademarking her new name and slogan leading up to her debut.

IT’S MERCEDES MONÉ!@mercedesvarnado is in the Tokyo Dome!!!#wk17 #njpw pic.twitter.com/PD54lqLr1L

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023

Reports had her appearing at the event, but nobody knew what her appearance was going to be like. We got our answer on January 4th. After taking it all in Mercedes attacked Kairi. Was it executed that great? No, but considering this was her first appearance in seven months, Mone did a good job. Mercedes got her points across and told a fallen Kairi that she is the CEO of New Japan’s women’s division and Stardom.

Mone had been teasing that she wanted to fight Kairi outside of WWE and she will get that opportunity to live her “Bankrupt” when she challenges Kairi for the title on February 18th at the Battle in the Valley in San Jose, California.

Of note, WWE superstar Bayley was in Japan backstage supporting her friend Mercedes. There is a picture of Mercedes, FTR, and Bayley floating around on the internet.

WWE News: Charlotte Flair Returns And Wins Gold

On the final edition of Friday Night Smackdown of 2022, which saw John Cena wrestle and be celebrated for 20 years in WWE, there was another return to the spotlight. After being off for months, Charlotte Flair returned to the WWE.

After Ronda Rousey retained her Smackdown women’s title against Raquel Gonzalez, Flair’s new music hit and the Queen arrived demanding a title shot. Not at the Royal Rumble, but that night. And Rousey just defended the title, we had another title match with Flair winning the Smackdown women’s title from Rousey.

pic.twitter.com/f5vLSEjukX

— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) December 31, 2022

It appears we are heading for Flair vs Rousey program at the Rumble.

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WWE: Wrestling Roundup: Sasha Banks at Wrestle Kingdom, The Rock at Wrestlemania

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New Japan News: Kenny Omega Back in Tokyo Dome

Kenny Omega was back in a New Japan Pro Wrestling ring four years after dropping the New Japan World Championship. Omega challenged Will Ospreay for the IWGP US Title. Before the match though these two had a legendary press conference. No disrespect to Okada and Jay White, but this was the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 17.

If you weren’t already hyped for this match, this got you ready for it. Ospreay and Omega delivered an instant classic. Probably the match of the year. You knew this match was going to be special given what Ospreay and Omega had done in their trios encounter in AEW.

Omega was back as the Cleaner while Ospreay was defending his home from the outside. Excellent match. The two best wrestlers of this generation delivered and exceeded expectations. Omega defeated Ospreay to win the US Title for a second time. But how these two men walked out of the Dome is still remarkable.

More Wrestling News

-Shinsuke Nakamura was back in Japan for the first time since he left for WWE as he wrestled the Great Muta in his final match.

– AJ Styles is sidelined with a broken ankle after suffering the injury at a house show in Hershey, PA.

– Karl Anderson dropped the Never Openweight Championship to Tama Tonga at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Thus ending the speculation of NJPW and WWE working together. It could still happen down the road.