Mercedes Moné retained the AEW Women’s Championship at Full Gear 2026, defeating Marina Shafir in a highly contested match.
The match, which served as the sixth bout of the pay-per-view event, saw Moné use a controversial pinfall to secure victory over her judo-trained challenger. Superluchas reported that the champion used the ropes to help pin Shafir and retain her title. The contest was widely praised by wrestling fans, with the Superluchas rating system awarding the bout ★★★★★★★★★★¾, a rare mark indicating a match of exceptional quality.
Shafir, known for her background in judo, came into the match looking to impose her will from the opening bell. She targeted Moné early, applying a leg scissors and stomping on the champion to assert her dominance.
As the match progressed, both competitors exchanged near-falls and signature maneuvers. Moné attempted her “Statement Maker” finisher early on, but Shafir blocked the move. The challenger responded with powerful judo throws, including a mat return that sent Moné crashing headfirst into the turnbuckle. Shafir also connected with an uranage for a two-count, while Moné countered with a Meteora from the corner to earn her own near fall.
Moné slapped Shafir repeatedly, an action that seemed to ignite the challenger. In response, Shafir mocked Moné with Daniel Garcia’s signature dance, a taunt designed to provoke her opponent.
Moné attempted to put Shafir away with a tilt-a-whirl cross-armbreaker, but the judo expert fought out of the hold by grabbing her own hands. Shafir then escalated the confrontation by lifting her middle finger and placing her bare foot in Moné’s mouth, a moment of pure humiliation designed to break the champion’s spirit.
Despite the setback, Moné fought back, trapping Shafir in a crossface. Shafir managed to reverse the pressure into her own version of the Brutalizer, but Moné escaped with a quick roll-up for a two-count. The champion returned to the crossface, adding elbow strikes and targeting Shafir’s arm to wear down her resilient challenger.
Moné attempted a tope suicida, launching herself over the top rope, but Shafir intercepted her in mid-air with a “Mother’s Milk” powerbomb. The move left Moné reeling outside the ring, and Shafir followed up with a series of punishing strikes, including a headbutt, a Giant Swing, and a tiger feint kick.
Shafir then slammed Moné’s head against the ring apron and connected with another Meteora, this time on the edge of the ring. After a roundhouse kick, Shafir hoisted Moné onto her shoulders for a powerslam onto the ring barrier.
The challenger seemed to be in complete control, but Moné found a way to fight back, driving Shafir’s throat into the ropes and hitting a second Meteora to stun her opponent.
Shafir eventually broke free with a knockout kick and prepared to deliver her finisher, the Death Rider. However, Moné countered the move, spinning out into a “Statement Maker” before transitioning back into the Brutalizer.
Enraged, Shafir reversed the hold to apply her own Brutalizer, appearing to have the match won. In the final seconds, however, Moné twisted her body to roll Shafir up into a pin, using the ropes to help secure the three-count and retain her championship.
AEW has not yet announced an official date for the next women’s championship match or challenger.
Related reading
