Mercedes Mone Escapes Marina Shafir, Keeps AEW Women's World Title At Full Gear 2026

Mercedes Mone survived Marina Shafir to retain her AEW Women's World Championship at Full Gear.

Shafir started the match dominant over the champion with the grappling and striking advantage, making use of repeated Judo throws until Mone had her hands up pleading for no more. 

Mone managed to turn the tide shortly after that, though, making use of the turnbuckles as she hammered her challenger's face against them. Mone continued to focus on the left arm of Shafir, looking to soften up her up for the Statement Maker. 

They went on to exchange submission attempts, Shafir looking for the Brutalizer to no avail and Banks twice getting her cross-face locked in. Shafir escaped, going on to tap Mone out with the Mother's Milk, but it did not count as the finish because it occurred outside of the ring. 

Back in the ring, she took a page out of Claudio Castagnoli's book to hit a giant swing. The action spilled to the outside once more and it was Mone who had the control on their return, finally cinching in the Statement Maker. Shafir escaped and sought for a Death Rider, but then Mone cinched in the Statement Maker again, looking to turn it into a Brutalizer before Shafir reversed it to lock in her own. 

Mone leveraged Shafir up onto her shoulders, trying desperately to get her foot on the bottom rope for assistance. She didn't get her foot on the rope but it didn't matter as the referee made the three-count, confirming her winning pinfall. With her win, Mone completed her third title defense since winning it from Willow Nightingale in August.