“Don’t like being handcuffed,” Mercedes Mone explains why she left WWE to later join AEW

Mercedes Mone will wrestle in her first match since her debut at AEW Double or Nothing.

“Don’t like being handcuffed,” Mercedes Mone explains why she left WWE to later join AEW

Mercedes Mone (via Variety)

Mercedes Moné walked out of WWE two years ago while she held the Women’s Tag Team Championships with Naomi. She left due to creative differences with WWE management. She went on to join New Japan Pro Wrestling and revealed the reason why in an interview.

While speaking with The Ringer, the CEO explained to the host, Cameron Hawkins, that she felt handcuffed while in WWE. Mercedes Mone stated that she didn’t like being handcuffed and wanted a chance to grow as a wrestler. In NJPW, she reached the finals of the Strong Women’s Champion tournament before she suffered an injury. 

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After staying away from in-ring action for more than 10 months, she finally made her debut for AEW at Big Business. Moné was there to take care of unfinished business. The CEO directly called out Willow Nightingale, who had defeated her in the finals of the tournament to crown the first-ever Strong Women’s Champion.

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I don’t like being handcuffed. The only place to grow is with change, and I needed that change.
Mercedes Mone via The Ringer

Interestingly, in her first match after her return from an injury, she will fight the same opponent at AEW Double or Nothing. The 34-year-old star will challenge Nightingale for the AEW TBS Championship. It will be interesting to see if Moné becomes a new champion in her first match for the Jacksonville-based company.

Bully Ray praised the contract signing segment involving Mercedes Mone and Willow Nightingale

Mercedes Mone will be challenging Willow Nightingale at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view for the AEW TBS Championship. Before their match, they came face-to-face in the ring to sign the contract for their match. As usual, things got physical, and the champ ended up Doctor Bombing the CEO through the table. Recently, Bully Ray expressed his thoughts on the whole segment.

Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone
Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone (via AEW)

While speaking on the Busted Open Radio, the Hall of Famer expressed his admiration for how the 31-year-old star had fully cemented herself as a heel. He also praised both women for how the segment took him by surprise. Bully stated that he loved everything about it, noting how Nightingale was getting cheered when she attacked Mone.

So I think we know going into this, Mercedes is definitely a heel and plus, she smacked Willow, she went to go hit her with the Championship and then Willow put her through the table. A great segment. I loved everything about it.
Bully Ray via the Busted Open Radio
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Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, had a memorable career in WWE, winning multiple world titles and tag team titles. She claimed that at Double or Nothing, people would come to know why she is the CEO, and she even called herself the greatest women’s wrestler of all time. 

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