Mercedes Moné addressed the rumors about her departure from WWE in 2022, clarifying that it was her decision to leave despite being offered a sizable contract. On a podcast, Moné shared that even with the lucrative deals from WWE, she had lost her passion for wrestling and was unhappy.
She explained, “They offered me a five-year contract. At that point, I was… I wasn’t happy anymore. I lost my passion for wrestling.”
Struggling with creative frustrations and a dwindling passion, Moné, along with Naomi, left WWE in May 2022. Their exit prompted WWE to act swiftly, and as a result, both were stripped of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Moné’s motivation to leave WWE stemmed from her desire to explore opportunities she felt WWE was not providing at the time. After a solid run in WWE, she was ready for a fresh start.
She revealed, “I asked for a release so I could go to New Japan, and it once again reinvigorated my love for wrestling.”
Her decision paid off as her debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestling Kingdom revived her passion for the sport. She went on to win the IWGP Women’s World Championship, defeating Kairi.
Currently, Moné is a part of AEW and holds the TBS Championship. Since leaving WWE, she has continued to thrive, holding multiple non-AEW titles as well.
Fan Take: Mercedes Moné’s journey highlights the importance of creative satisfaction and passion in wrestling, reminding WWE fans that talent retention goes beyond just lucrative contracts. Her success outside WWE also signals a growing competitive landscape, which could push WWE to evolve and innovate for the benefit of the sport.
