Amid widespread debate online, AEW President Tony Khan has stepped in to defend Mercedes Moné’s AEW title reign, highlighting her 13 championship victories across AEW and the independent wrestling scene. This latest pushback comes after renewed claims by critics that Moné’s dominance stifled opportunities for other women, prompting Khan to address the controversy and clarify the intentions behind Moné’s run.
Responding to Accusations of Creative Overreach
Questions around Moné’s influence reached a peak during a conversation with Jon Alba, who emphasized the online criticism and noted how many believed Moné wielded too much creative control during her time as champion. Alba challenged the narrative, remarking on the nature of holding, and eventually losing, so many titles in such a historic run.
“Mercedes had a hell of a year… Is it strange to hear when all these fans, because there’s a lot of them, say, ‘Ah, she has creative control, she’s burying all these other women’? Meanwhile, when you win 13 belts or whatever the number is, you’ve got to lose all 13 eventually, too,”
Jon Alba, Journalist, said.
Tony Khan quickly dismissed these criticisms, insisting Moné’s journey was never self-serving. Instead, he argued, her dominant streak was crafted as a multi-layered story designed to raise the profile of the AEW women’s division and ultimately benefit the roster as a whole.
Khan Highlights Storytelling and Moné’s Professionalism
Khan praised Mercedes Moné as a professional collaborator, making it clear that her string of victories was not a means to hold down other talent, but part of a strategic build-up to a dramatic conclusion.
“Mercedes is tremendous to work with, and I had been adamant about building Mercedes up and having Mercedes continue to win and win and win,”
Tony Khan, AEW President, explained. He detailed that this long-term story culminated in a marquee match with Toni Storm, with both the AEW World and TBS titles on the line.
“Then finally, you have this match… Mercedes versus Toni Storm, the TBS champion versus the world champion for the world title… and Timeless Toni Storm picked up that great win,”
Tony Khan, AEW President, added.
Khan stressed that Moné’s loss was always part of a larger vision, emphasizing the chemistry between Moné and Toni Storm, and hinted at future clashes between the two.
“They have incredible chemistry… I would expect to see them involved again down the line because they’re two of our greatest stars… there’s so much meat on that bone,”
Tony Khan, AEW President, remarked.
Mercedes Moné Addresses Her Critics
Shortly after Khan’s comments, Mercedes Moné herself spoke to the criticism in an interview with Moné Mag, indicating that detractors did not factor into her thinking.
“Why would I acknowledge the critics? The goal is shown. It’s been shown. For the people that can’t see it, it’s on them,”
Mercedes Moné, AEW Wrestler, stated.
Elevating New Talent Across the Wrestling World
Beyond championship gold, Moné’s tenure included highlighting up-and-coming wrestlers from around the world, such as Denmark’s Aliss Link, RevPro’s Kanji, and Scotland’s Emersyn Jayne. This approach positioned her reign as one of shared opportunity, seeking to spotlight underappreciated talent rather than dominate the scene exclusively.
Moné has often emphasized preparation and adaptability as her tools for success.
“As the CEO of women’s wrestling, I study my opponents like no other and I always find a way to win,”
Mercedes Moné, AEW Wrestler, commented.
The Broader Impact on AEW’s Women’s Division
Khan’s spirited defense and Moné’s continued focus on elevating other stars have reframed her AEW title reign as more than just a showcase of her own abilities. The story-driven journey, coupled with her willingness to share the spotlight with figures like Kanji and Emersyn Jayne, suggests that both Khan and Moné see the division’s future growth as rooted in long-term storytelling and the elevation of new talent. Fans of AEW and the global wrestling community will be watching closely to see how Moné and her rivals continue shaping the landscape moving forward.
