People still talk about the incident in May 2022 with Mercedes Mone and Naomi, as they decided, due to WWE creative differences with Vince McMahon, to walk out of the company while they were WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
They were later suspended and stripped of the titles until they negotiated their releases. Mone went to NJPW/STARDOM while Naomi went to TNA Wrestling, only for Naomi to be back in WWE and Mone in AEW now.
While doing an interview with WFAN, Mone was asked about her decision to walk out of WWE.
Mone said, “For so many years, everyone wants the tea on that drama. You’re not going to get it unless you buy the book, maybe ten years later. For me, I went from a Legit Boss to a CEO because I wanted to grow. There was something in my soul that said, ‘You need to grow.’ I wanted to be the CEO of my own life. There was a light source that came into my heart that day. ‘You have to do what’s right for you. What’s happening right now at this moment is not right. You have to take your life in your hands and go make it happen. Go make your heart happy. Go let them know that what they’re doing right now is wrong and show them.’ I did. I had to let them know that I am the right one that you messed with that day, and now here I am today, one of the highest-paid women in women’s wrestling history. The TBS Champion is going after the New Japan Strong Women’s Championship this Sunday [at Forbidden Door]. I get to do so much of my dreams because of that day that I walked out and trusted my heart.”
Mone continued, “I have so many friends and family there, still in WWE. That place is always going to be a special place in my heart because that’s what I grew up watching; that was my goal in life, and I got to accomplish and live out all my dreams there. I can’t think there would be enough for all of the opportunity that they gave me, but I’m here to make more. I’m here to put women’s wrestling on the map and make it globalized, so it’s not just one place for people to watch women’s wrestling. I want people to watch it all over the world, and I want fans to know that there’s so many amazing, incredible women performers everywhere.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit WFAN with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
