Mercedes Mone made her surprise return to AEW Dynamite on June 3, entering as the wild card in the women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. The appearance marked her first time back on AEW programming in five months.

Moné faced Alex Windsor and secured the win via submission with the Mone Maker, advancing to the semifinals. The victory also served as payback after Windsor defeated Moné for the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship in December.

This was Moné’s first AEW appearance since early January, when she was written off television following an angle involving Willow Nightingale during a TBS Championship celebration. Nightingale had previously defeated Moné on the December 31 New Year’s Smash edition of Dynamite to end her title reign.

Moné steps into the tournament spot originally vacated by Nightingale, who suffered a shoulder injury in mid-May and was forced to relinquish the championship. Prior to her return, Moné’s last match came on March 31, when she dropped her final independent title to Jody Threat.

Moné won last year’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament but fell short in her attempt to capture the AEW Women’s World Championship from Toni Storm at All In: Texas.

Looking ahead, next Wednesday’s Summer Blockbuster edition of Dynamite will feature key tournament matches. In the men’s semifinal, Swerve Strickland faces Brody King in a rematch from Dynasty. Strickland advanced by defeating Bandido at Double or Nothing, while King moved forward after beating Claudio Castagnoli.

The winner of that bout will go on to face Will Ospreay in the tournament finals at Forbidden Door, with a future AEW World Championship opportunity at All In on the line.

On the women’s side, Sareee is set to make her AEW debut against Skye Blue in a quarterfinal match. The winner will advance to face Athena in the semifinals.

Current lineup for AEW Dynamite Summer Blockbuster next Wednesday:

• Swerve Strickland vs. Brody King in a men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament semifinal
• Sareee vs. Skye Blue in a women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament quarterfinal

Mercedes Moné Returns on AEW Dynamite, Advances in Owen Hart Tournament

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