Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on Jade Cargill, Mercedes Moné and More

Jade Cargill made a big impression in her first SmackDown appearance and will look to do so again when she takes to the WrestleMania 40 stage fin a six-woman tag team match as part of Night 1 on Saturday.

Thanks to pro wrestling insiders, there is a look at just how long the WWE production team worked on the captivating entrance for the company's brightest young star.

This collection of rumors also features an update on Mercedes Moné's contract with All Elite Wrestling and the latest on Joe Gacy after a scary conclusion to his match Tuesday night on NXT.

Jade Cargill's Entrance Report

Jade Cargill made her SmackDown debut on the March 29 episode and wasted little time dazzling fans with a special entrance that looked like something out of a movie.

The 31-year-old is clearly a star who is being treated and presented like one.

Corey Brennan of Fightful Select wrote: "Cargill's entrance has been one that has been worked on for quite some time, with multiple changes being made in the last few weeks."

It is evident in the way WWE treated and presented Cargill on that episode that there are power players behind the cameras who have huge plans for the young star.

Not only did she have the captivating entrance, complete with lighting and graphics, but she also bookended the show, addressing fans early and getting physical with Damage CTRL by night's end.

She will make her WrestleMania debut Saturday, teaming with Bianca Belair and Naomi to battle Dakota Kai, Asuka and Iyo Sky in a six-woman tag team match.

Expect her presentation to be even more captivating on the bigger stage, with greater production value and a red-hot crowd ready to cheer her on as she overpowers her opponents.

Latest on Mercedes Moné's AEW Contract

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported additional details on Mercedes Mone's debut with the company.

"Mone got a new theme, which she produced herself. One of the reasons indicated to Fightful was that not only was her theme almost note for note Kriss Kross' 'Jump,' but that Kriss Kross' song itself had a couple of other samples, and many clearances would be required. We spoke to sources that were happy that the 'CEO' nickname was hammered home in the new entrance."

The report also stated there are "significant plans and hopes" for her return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling as of last month.

Finally, The CEO has her own locker room in AEW, though this is not the first time that perk has been offered to a high-profile addition to the women's roster.

By all accounts, Mone has been treated like the megastar acquisition many believe her to be. There are questions about her usage on Dynamite to this point, but she has had the red carpet rolled out for her in reflection of the star management believes she is and can still be.

The Boston native appears to be on a collision course with Willow Nightingale for a match at some point, the most logical direction given the first encounter between them saw Mone injured and put out of action, costing her the New Japan Pro-Wrestling STRONG Women's Championship.

That match will do wonders to elevate Nightingale while also providing the women's division an actual story with depth and layers to it, something it has long needed.

Update on Joe Gacy Following NXT Injury Scare

Sapp and Brennan also reported the latest on Joe Gacy following a scary conclusion to his match with NXT North American champion Oba Femi Tuesday night:

"Fightful's Corey Brennan was able to confirm that Gacy's injury scare was legitimate, with the concern being for a possible concussion. Fightful is told that Gacy was able to walk to the back under his own power, but match graphics and a promo to set up his match with Shawn Spears were briefly put on hold."

We did eventually see a backstage vignette in which Gacy approached NXT general manager Ava about a match with Spears, which was made official for Saturday's Stand & Deliver.

The potential injury prevented an exchange between Femi, Dijak and Josh Briggs ahead of their three-way match for the North American title Saturday, forcing the production team to call an audible and do a backstage segment instead.

Gacy has been an integral part of what NXT has done in recent months, so it's only appropriate that he would be featured on the Stand & Deliver card in some way, even if it is as part of the countdown show.