The CEO is back!

After an absence of five full months, Mercedes Mone made a surprise return on last night’s episode of Dynamite as the wildcard in the Owen Hart Cup tournament, replacing the injured Willow Nightingale.

Mone successfully defeated Alex Windsor in the tournament match and advances to the next round and will face the winner of the match between Persephone and Hazuki.

A fireworks display preceded her entrance and as soon as her name popped up on the video, the crowd gave her a big pop.

Mone wrestled Windsor in December of last year where Windsor defeated her for the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s title, but last night’s match had a different ending, and the reigning Owen Hart Cup tournament champion must surely be the favorite for this year’s event as well.

The former champ last wrestled on AEW television on the December 31 episode of Dynamite, losing the TBS title to Willow Nightingale. Her last overall match was on March 31, losing the WPW Women’s title to Jody Threat.