Mercedes Moné’s successful TBS Championship defense on AEW Dynamite tonight ended with an unscheduled confrontation. After defeating Alex Windsor, Moné continued to assault her challenger, locking in the Bank Statement submission hold after the bell had rung. Her post-match attack was cut short, however, by the return of Riho, who appeared on AEW television for the first time in over a year.
Riho stormed the ring and neutralized the champion with a diving footstomp, forcing Moné to retreat. While Moné watched from the ramp, Riho checked on Windsor before picking up the TBS Championship belt, signaling her intentions to challenge for the title. The segment suggests a potential championship match between the two at the upcoming All Out.
This appearance marked the end of a long hiatus for Riho, whose last match was on the July 6, 2024, edition of AEW Collision. She suffered an injury during that bout against Lady Frost, which has kept her out of action since.
A foundational member of the AEW women’s division, Riho was the company’s inaugural Women’s World Champion back in October 2019, a title she held for 133 days. In the years following her reign, her presence on AEW programming had become more sporadic due to other injuries and travel restrictions.