Mercedes Mone: Why Fans Are Divided Over Her Role in Wrestling

Fan Complaints

Fans have voiced many complaints about Mercedes since she joined AEW. At first, fans were skeptical about her in the company after many underwhelming performances. These performances were mainly due to Mercedes’s lack of skills on the microphone. Many people have used her first promo in AEW and multiple backstage segments as justification.

In her first few weeks, her promos fell flat, and didn’t have the presence or liveliness they could’ve. Additionally, fans also point out her first few matches in the company felt lackluster or didn’t live up to the hype it was given.

Mone’s match against Britt Baker at All In 2024 is a prime example, where the match felt slow and awkward, and not what someone would expect from the buzz of the industry and the returning champion at the time. On the other hand, many fans argue that Baker’s ring rust following a nine-month absence and a fatigued Wembley Stadium crowd could’ve played a part in the match’s disappointing feel. 

Mercedes Mone or Mercedes “Hogan”?

Another complaint is that Mercedes is overpushed by the company. Some believe that Mone takes away opportunities from other women on the roster by hogging the spotlight. Fans use her AEW record as one example.

At the time of this article’s publication, Mercedes has an impressive 26-4 win-loss record. With all 26 wins coming from singles matches, three tag team match losses, and only one singles loss courtesy of “Timeless” Toni Storm. Fans assume this is due to Mercedes being given creative control, after confirming it with TMZ in 2024.

After beating Willow Nightingale for the TBS Championship, Mercedes Mone quickly became a double champion after defeating Stephanie Vaquer for the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship at Forbidden Door 2024.

Since then, Mercedes has accumulated four more championships. First, she defeated Mina Shirakawa for the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship, then the CMLL World Women’s Championship, and the EWA Women’s Championship. She also won the Prime Time Women’s Championship in Poland and simultaneously won the BestYa Women’s Wrestling Championship.

Most recently, she acquired the Discovery Wrestling Scottish Women’s Championship, giving her a total of nine championships, if you count her Owen Hart Tournament win.

Many fans feel like Mercedes Mone holding all these belts is not a positive, but rather a negative. Online, fans have critiqued promoters for giving Mercedes more and more titles. Perhaps attributing to the “monopolization of professional wrestling,” which some viewers speculate was an underlying theme during Mone’s recent program with Toni Storm. 

Fan Praise

Fans argue that putting these championships on Mercedes has actually led to positive outcomes. Examples include more eyes on other promotions, unknown or underrated female wrestlers getting spotlighted, and adding to the legitimization of women’s wrestling. By carrying many belts and doing media outside of wrestling, Mercedes brings more intrigue to not only AEW, but CMLL, NJPW, RevPro, and other independent companies in Europe and the U.S. 

Another positive fan note is that Mercedes does not bury talent in the process of beating them. Instead, she elevates them. Unlike dominant champions such as Roman Reigns or Hulk Hogan, fans argue that women have shone since wrestling Mercedes.

Some women who reap this benefit are: Athena, Kris Statlander, Mina Shirakawa, and Stephanie Vaquer. Fans even speculate thatMone’s encounter with Vaquer at Forbidden Door helped Vaquer get signed by the WWE. Since then, both Vaquer and Mone have found much success in their respective companies. 

Conclusion

There is no denying that promoters see Mercedes as a star, despite what fans think. Mone’s accomplishments throughout her career speak for themselves, and there’s no telling what other heights “The CEO” may reach next. Currently, Mercedes is adamant about not going back to the WWE. She seems to be enjoying her time in AEW, as well as defending her championships around the world.