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AEW & NJPW Reportedly Push Back On Mercedes Moné Creative Control Rumors

Despite the beliefs of many, the CEO has not been calling the shots on whether or not she wins matches.
Rick Ucchino|
Mercedes Mone on AEW Dynamite
Mercedes Mone on AEW Dynamite | Ricky Havlik - All Elite Wrestling

Mercedes Moné has been on an absolutely dominant stretch over the past year.

Whether she's been wrestled in AEW, NJPW, HOG, or Rev Pro, the CEO has not lost a singles match since returning from injury last May. Her reigns with both the AEW TBS Championship and NJPW STRONG Women's Championship are both approaching the one year mark.

The last time Four Belts Moné tasted defeat was back at NJPW STRONG Resurgence 2023 when she called an audible mid-match and had Willow Nightingale beat her after she suffered a severe ankle injury.

Despite her undeniable star power and in-ring ability, Moné is consistently one of the scrutinized performers in professional wrestling. A very common talking point surrounding the WrestleMania main eventer is the notion that she has had “creative control” since arriving in All Elite Wrestling.

With each passing victory, unfounded claims bubble up to the surface that Mercedes has used said creative control to ensure that she had her hand was raised after the final bell.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has now spoken to folks in AEW and NJPW, who flat out deny those rumors. The idea of Moné refusing to do the job for someone like a Harley Cameron or Athena is apparently ludicrous due to the fact that she's never even been approached about losing a match.

"Fightful Select reached out to sources in the know within AEW and NJPW who both denied that type of thing ever happened, and said they’ve never heard of her having creative control," Ross Sapp reported Thursday night. "Beyond that, a source familiar with both said “she hasn’t turned down losing, because losing hasn’t even been broached." Both companies had plans to push her heavily.”

Ross Sapp says that reps for AEW and NJPW chalk up Mercedes' own claims of having creative control to be largely in character statements.

Moné meantime, may soon be adding another belt to her collection. She'll face Jamie Hayter in the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament at AEW Double or Nothing later this month. A victory will earn her a shot at Timeless Toni Storm's AEW Women's Championship at All In Texas.

Mercedes Mone
All Elite Wrestling - Lee South

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Rick Ucchino
RICK UCCHINO

Rick Ucchino is the Assistant Editor & Content Coordinator for The Takedown on SI. He also works full-time for 700WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio as a local news and sports anchor, in addition to his time covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sirius XM. Rick has been on the professional wrestling beat since 2019, having provided coverage for a number of outlets, including Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network. With an educational background in theater, creative writing and journalism, Rick focuses primarily on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle himself. He had the privilege of training with former WWE & WCW cruiserweight Jimmy Wang Yang for nearly two years and retired early due to back issues with a perfect 1-0 record in singles competition. Rick is a married father of two incredibly adorable children, who are budding pro wrestling fans themselves. Much to the chagrin of their mother. You can reach Rick at rwucchino@gmail.com

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