AEW’S TOP PROMOS OF THE WEEK: MJF-Bandido was a template for MJF going forward, the great Mercedes promo most fans didn’t see

I have a Mercedes Mone promo in the article this week, but it’s not the one you saw on Dynamite this week. This is a pop quiz to see who watched Collision this week because if you didn’t, your lasting image of Mone is her in the ring covered in cake. In my opinion, the promo she cut on Collision is what she should have done on Dynamite this week.

The more I thought about the Willow Nightingale celebration segment this week the more I didn’t like it. I even went back and watched it again and on the second watch it worked even less for me. I’m just not sure why this had to be played as a comedy angle, from the entrance when Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander couldn’t get their party poppers to go off to Mercedes Mone covered in cake (again) by the end of the segment. Don’t even get me started on the conga line they did at the end either.

Willow Nightingale just beat Mercedes Mone for the TBS Title after she was the reigning champ for 500-plus days. I just don’t understand why that should be celebrated in a comedy segment. I thought Willow was kind of awful on the mic this week and – as someone described it during the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show – “Substitute Teacher, Willow” was back in class. Give me the Willow who cut that awesome promo on FTR a few months ago, not the annoying substitute teacher who is trying to keep up with the actual teacher’s lesson plan. Roll in the TV on that metal cart we all know and love growing up in public schools and put on a movie.

Imagine how this segment goes if Willow comes out and cuts a serious promo about overcoming Mone and how it was a defining moment in her career. Then you have Mercedes come out (who looked great, by the way; the veil she had over her face was incredible) and have her look at Willow and cut the same exact promo she cut on Collision (see below), but in the ring. Now you are leaving people with an, “Oh god, what is Mone going to do when she comes back?” rather than just have her lying in a ring covered in cake.

I would guess more than half of the AEW regular audience didn’t even see her promo on Collision and that’s a mistake. It was the same type of promo that MJF cut before he left for his hiatus a few months ago and everyone praised it and it made the anticipation for his return even more palpable. I don’t think this Mone spiral should be treated as a comedy angle. I thought Mone falling into another cake was lazy writing. So…

Mercedes Mone – Collision 1/10/26

It goes without saying, but I highly suggest you go watch the promo that Mone cut on Collision this week. It is one of the best promos she’s had since she’s been in AEW. She has a line at the beginning: “Heroes don’t build divisions. Icons do. I am undeniable.” What a cold-blooded line.

Now imagine her hitting Willow with that line in the ring and then Willow could react to that by responding on the mic or having her use her facial expressions to tell the story.

Mone also talks about how she “elevated” the division and that she is going to take a break from the division to show everyone just how much she elevated it. Mone also talks about how when she comes back, she is going to start collecting more than just titles.

Mercedes Mone is coming back to snatch people’s souls, and I am here for it. I thought her tone was perfect in this promo and it really got me hyped for her return. I have always been a fan of Mercedes in-ring skills, but was never really a fan of her mic work or acting abilities. I think this last month, beginning with her backstage promo at World’s End, Mone has really elevated her mic work and acting skills.

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MJF (AEW World Heavyweight Champion) and Bandido – Dynamite 1/7/26

Another strong week for MJF on the mic and another week of him scaling back the “open mic night” insults. Bandido also played his part extremely well in this segment and it really elevated the excitement I have for this match next week.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous when MJF walked out with a translator, but I thought it just all worked perfectly. The only misstep I would say would be MJF awkwardly holding onto the ropes with his ass in the air for too long so he could take the 21 Plex. It would have been so much easier and a better visual to just find a way to have Bandido clock MJF with the Dynamite Diamond ring.

MJF calling himself a “Lucha Libre Legend” and telling Bandido he was going to “put in a good word with Tony Khan for you, kid” was so good. They missed a merchandise idea by not selling MJF “Lucha Libre Legend” t-shirts, if you ask me.

I also thought they had a great shot of Bandido while MJF was talking to him, and you could see the intensity in Bandido’s eyes as MJF was running him down. I thought Bandido did such a good job just telling a story with his eyes in this segment.

The translator gimmick made me worried at first, but I thought they absolutely nailed it, and Bandido telling MJF “I speak English, you stupid son of a bitch” was just a perfect ending to this segment.

MJF just does so many small things that you don’t notice on a first watch like when he simply said to the translator “translate my friend.” Calling someone your “friend” while you order them to do something is just something a dick like MJF would do. I’m really excited about this match, and I’m also excited to see how the Dynamite Diamond ring comes into play which we all know it will.