Mercedes Mone: The difference between AEW & WWE is ‘night and day’

Mercedes Mone says that she has “the space to be heard” in AEW.

Mone, who will wrestle Britt Baker at AEW All In, published an article for The Independent on Saturday titled “How I helped women’s wrestling get the respect it deserves.” She wrote about discovering wrestling at 10 years old, working with her four horsewomen teammates, and ultimately landing in AEW.

“Every day I’d daydream about stepping into that ring like one of my heroes – Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Manami Toyota, Aja Kong – and making a name for myself as one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots,” she wrote.

“While wrestling had always featured women – some of whom I grew up idolising, and who were incredible talents in their own right – they had always played second fiddle to the men. I, along with the horsewomen, made it a mission to change all that.”

Now that she’s in AEW, Mone says she’s ready to shake up the industry again.

“In 2022 I left WWE. It was something my heart told me I needed to do, and it ended up being the right choice – this year I signed with WWE’s biggest competitor All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and now I’m ready to disrupt the business all over again.”

“The women’s division here is something special, and I love seeing it progress and grow. I remember seeing the current women’s champion, Toni Storm, back when she was in WWE. Back then she was so shy and introverted – now every week I’m glued to my set like I’m 10 again, waiting to see what Timeless Toni does next. Or Mariah May, who came into this business a superfan like me, and is taking over (a little like me, too). Or Willow Nightingale, who I beat for my TBS Championship – she’s just starting out, but she’s going to be huge.”

“The difference between the two companies is night and day. In WWE you have no idea what you’ll be doing week to week, but here I have space to be heard. Along with Tony Khan and with my friend and personal writer Jennifer Pepperman, there’s time to sit down and really plan out the kinds of stories we want to tell. I’m treated with genuine respect, and I really feel seen in a way I sometimes haven’t before. I love it so much here.”

“I’m going to make sure that women’s wrestling keeps on growing. I’m here to tell the world that we cannot be ignored – we cannot be denied. I’ve helped make room not only for myself, but for every great woman who steps into that ring – and this Sunday at All In, we’re going to show them that we’re here to stay.”

Sunday will be Mone’s seventh match in the company, with the TBS title having been on the line in each one. Mone is 6-0 with wins over Willow Nightingale, Skye Blue, Zeuxis, Stephanie Vaquer, Nyla Rose, and Hikaru Shida.

Mone’s full article in The Independent is available here.