Mercedes Mone on online criticism: I don’t let words affect me

  • Ian Carey
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During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Mercedes Mone revealed what led to her starting a website and digital magazine.

Mone launched “Mone Mag” earlier this year and has since announced a new website, MercedesMone.com, to go along with it. She says the idea behind both is to “control the narrative” and get her voice back.

Mone said:

“This whole last two to three years, the internet, people just wanna create their own stories. Really [the website] was just to control the narrative and to get my voice back. Going on social media every single day and seeing these made up stories… It’s like enough’s enough.”

“Oh, things don’t get to me at all anymore (laughs). I learned a long time ago to not let words affect me, because the internet used to affect me so much. Just the littlest things… would ruin my whole day.”

“We have no idea who is on the other side of the keyboard. I don’t know if these are bots. I don’t know if it’s someone who looks like you. I don’t know if it’s a witch or rat or whoever, but at the end of the day I don’t care what you have to say about me.”

Mone is scheduled to defend her TBS title against Kris Statlander at AEW Full Gear on Saturday. During the interview with Sports Illustrated, Mone also spoke about how she enjoys devising a game plan/moveset geared specifically to her opponent.

“I love training for my opponent. I love to try to create different moves and move sets that I can outdo their moves. I made sure I stepped into the ring for Kris Statlander because she is a legit powerhouse in this women’s division. And I definitely won’t take her lightly. My back still hurts from being thrown into the wall.”

Mone says she enjoys working with wrestlers who have a size and strength advantage over her.

“I become more agile. I become faster… because I have to think about how and what am I gonna do to take down these bigger opponents. How much faster do I have to be? Do I have to climb to the top rope to jump on them? Do I have to take out a knee, an ankle? I have such amazing matches with stronger people and people who are bigger than me because I love doing high flying stuff. I love when I can have a good base to try out these cool new moves that I have imagined in my head.” 

Tonight will be Mone’s tenth match in AEW. She has a perfect 10-0 record, winning the TBS title in her first match and defending it successfully nine times since.

Mone’s full interview with Sports Illustrated is available here.