Record-breaking ex-WWE star to be the 1st female member of AEW's Hurt Syndicate? Exploring the chances
AEW has been stacked with surprises lately after the introduction of MVP and Shelton Benjamin as members of The Hurt Syndicate. MVP has been handing over his business card to All Elite talents in a bid to add more members to the faction. Meanwhile, reigning ROH Women's World Champion Athena could show up as the first female member of the faction. The Texan star was a part of WWE from 2015 to 2021.
Athena is the longest-reigning current ROH Women's World Champion (689 days and counting), and her reign is also the longest for a champion in the promotion's history. However, the AEW star could lose her title to Billie Starkz, who recently ended their partnership. Tony Khan has also sparked interest in bringing Athena back on All Elite Wrestling television. She last appeared at AEW WrestleDream 2023 Zero Hour.
MVP and Shelton Benjamin are looking to dominate the men's division. However, the duo might bring in The Wrestling Goddess as the first female member of The Hurt Syndicate, and this could turn into a great angle for the reigning ROH Women's World Champion. Aligning with veterans like MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and possibly Bobby Lashley could turn out to be a fresh start for Athena after her dominance over the ROH Women's Division.
However, the angle is speculative at this point.
Mercedes Mone would like to face AEW star Athena
AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone has had some great matchups in the promotion ever since she made her debut in March 2024. The CEO has had her battles with ROH Women's World Champion Athena in the past, but they all came in multi-women matches.
In the Mone Mag Volume 2, Mercedes Mone heaped praise on The War Goddess and said that she's never seen any other woman do what the 36-year-old has done inside the squared circle. Mone called Athena her dream opponent and claimed that their potential in-ring encounter would be one of the greatest matches ever.
"They say fantasies can't come true; only dreams can. On that note, a dream match would be against Athena, the Ring of Honor Women’s Champion. I’ve only had two matches with her, but they have been multi-women matches. I think she’s an incredible talent. Like the others, I’ve never seen women do things that she’s done before. She also seems to love it just as much as I do. I think if I’m given the chance and opportunity, we would have one of the greatest matches ever," she wrote.
Meanwhile, we will have to wait and see who dethrones the ROH Women's World Champion in the coming weeks.