Mercedes Moné, in a conversation with Katee Sackhoff, called out male wrestlers for blocking women’s opportunities in wrestling. She argued that women already generate as much revenue as men through TV ratings, merchandise, and ticket sales, so they deserve equal pay and screen time.
Moné, who has broken multiple barriers in the industry, including being the first African American woman to main event WrestleMania, aims to create more opportunities for women in wrestling.
She criticized the inconsistency in how women are treated, noting that even when they succeed, opportunities are often taken away. Moné believes male wrestlers and backstage officials resist giving women more screen time, but she refuses to accept the status quo. Instead of waiting for chances, she urged women to take them and assert their place in wrestling.
Here’s what the AEW TBS Women’s Champion said:
“My thoughts are, number one, we already do. Especially in the sport I’m in—pro wrestling—it’s proven every week. It’s shown in television ratings, in merchandise sales, and in the fans who come to events, hold up their signs, and buy tickets specifically to see the women. It’s clear that we bring in just as much as the men, so why not get paid equally? Why not receive the same amount of TV time?
That’s exactly what I’m here to do and to prove. I’ve had the opportunity to do that so many times because of the hard work I’ve put in my whole career. I was the first woman to main event a pay-per-view, which is so special. I was the first African American woman to main event WrestleMania. I’ve accomplished so many firsts, and my biggest goal is to make that happen for women all over the world.
I want to create a place where women know that if I can do it, they can do it too. If I can accomplish my dreams, they can accomplish theirs. If I can main event, so can they. If I can be the highest-paid woman in the sport, then so can others. That’s what I want for women in pro wrestling and for women’s sports globally.
These men. That’s the biggest roadblock. We prove ourselves all the time, but the consistency isn’t there. It’s like, ‘Okay, we’ll give them a chance.’ Then when we succeed, they think, ‘Oh, don’t let them be better than us. We need to take that chance back.’
It’s about showing them that it’s okay to give us the same respect and opportunities—and to not take them away. It needs to be consistent, not just a one-time thing. It shouldn’t be, ‘Okay, you can main event this month, but next year, it’s about us again.’
Yes, it’s the male wrestlers not wanting to give up their screen time and also the people in the back. Society is so used to keeping women at a lower level, but we can’t lower ourselves anymore. We can’t just sit back and say, ‘It’s okay, I’ll wait my turn.’ No—we’re going to take it. I’m going to take it and be consistent with it. It’s up to us as women to claim our spot and keep it.”
