Published: Jun 17, 2026 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026 by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
AEW
Hazuki and AEW’s Mercedes Moné will collide in the semifinals of the Owen Hart Cup Women’s Tournament, with the STARDOM star sharing her thoughts.
Hazuki was victorious in her quarter final match against Persephone, with Mercedes Mone progressing to the Semifinals following a win over Alex Windsor.
With Hazuki and Mone set to face off on this week’s AEW Dynamite, the former CMLL-Japan Women’s Champion has shared her thoughts on facing the AEW star, tweeting (translated by Grok):
“Tournament semi-finals.
“This is my third match against Mone, and I’ve never managed to beat her.
“I’m going to win here and advance to the finals!!
“World-class Hazuki is still unstoppable! 🔥”
Hazuki last faced Mercedes Moné in NJPW Strong Style Evolved in December 2024, but was unable to capture the STRONG Women’s Championship from the AEW star.
Their first-ever encounter took place in the previous year and also featured a loss in a three-way match for Mone’s IWGP Women’s Champion, also featuring AZM.
A Significant Step To AEW Championship Opportunity
Introduced in 2022, the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament has been a staple of the AEW calendar for the men’s and women’s roster.
While the tournament may see the winner receive a commemorative championship and ‘The Owen’ trophy, since 2024 it has also included a world championship opportunity at AEW All In.
Mariah May would defeat “Timeless” Toni Storm for the Women’s World Championship at AEW All In back in 2024, with Bryan Danielson also seeing victory in his match against Swerve Strickland, claiming the World Championship in a Title vs. Career match that served as the main event of the Wembley Stadium, London, England pay-per-view.
Last year’s All In wouldn’t see the same level of success, with Mercedes Moné being unable to unseat Toni Storm as AEW Women’s World Champion, although “Hangman” Adam Page would dethrone Jon Moxley for the World Championship in the main event fought under Texas Death Match rules.
This year’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament sees the final play out at Forbidden Door at SAP Center in San Jose, California, with the winner of Hazuki vs. Mone facing either Athena or Maya World. The men’s final will see Swerve Strickland go one-on-one with Will Ospreay.
Whoever comes out of each final as the victor, they’ll head to Wembley Stadium on August 30 to face, at the time of writing, MJF or Thekla, for their respective championship.
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