The tension between Mercedes Mone and Athena has reached new heights following Mone’s triumph in the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament at AEW Double Or Nothing. The CEO’s path to championship contention is now clear, but a persistent challenger refuses to be left in her rearview mirror.
Mone Captures Owen Cup Trophy in Hard-Fought Battle
Sunday night’s AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view saw Mercedes Mone overcome Jamie Hayter in a spectacular finals match to claim the prestigious Owen Hart Foundation Tournament trophy. This victory firmly establishes Mone as one of the division’s top competitors since her highly-anticipated AEW debut.
However, amidst the celebration, one particular rivalry continues to simmer below the surface. ROH Women’s World Champion Athena, who fell to Mone in the tournament’s semi-finals last month, has been relentlessly campaigning for another opportunity to face The CEO.
“The Fallen Goddess” Refuses to Back Down
Athena hasn’t been subtle about her desire for redemption. The ROH Women’s World Champion has taken to social media repeatedly, using X (formerly Twitter) as her platform to challenge Mone to a rematch. These callouts have been persistent and direct, making it clear that Athena considers their business far from finished.
Mone Addresses Athena’s Challenges Head-On
During the AEW Double Or Nothing Post-Show Media Scrum, Mone finally responded to Athena’s constant challenges with characteristic confidence and a touch of defiance:
I mean, don’t make me go to Ring Of Honor right Tony? … I’m not afraid of going to Ring Of Honor Athena. Athena legit is one of the best women I’ve ever been in the ring with and if she has a problem with me, I know where to find her.”
This statement not only acknowledges Athena’s skills but also throws down the gauntlet, suggesting Mone would be willing to enter Athena’s territory at ROH to settle their score. The respect between the competitors is evident, even as the challenge intensifies.
Championship Opportunity Awaits at AEW All In
While the Athena situation simmers, Mone’s immediate future is already mapped out. Her Owen Cup victory has earned her a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship, currently held by Toni Storm. The title match is officially set for AEW All In on July 12 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Storm successfully defended her championship at Double Or Nothing against Mina Shirakawa, setting the stage for what will be a first-time-in-AEW encounter with Mone. Interestingly, the last time these two competitors shared a ring was back in 2021 when they teamed together on WWE SmackDown, adding another layer of intrigue to their upcoming championship clash.
Navigating Multiple Challengers
Since joining AEW, Mone has quickly accumulated a list of rivals within the women’s division. Her tournament run has showcased her skills while simultaneously painting a target on her back. The situation with Athena represents just one of several potential feuds brewing for The CEO.
What remains to be seen is whether Mone will address Athena’s challenge before focusing entirely on her championship opportunity against Storm. Could we potentially see Mone pulling double duty between AEW and ROH in the coming weeks? Or will Athena have to wait until after All In for her opportunity at revenge?
With the women’s division heating up across both AEW and ROH, how will Mercedes Mone balance her championship aspirations with the growing list of competitors gunning for her spot? And what might happen if The Fallen Goddess decides waiting is no longer an option?
