• Mercedes Moné Says She “Lost Her Smile” During Her WWE Run In 2018
Mercedes Moné/Sasha Banks could not stay at the top for long in WWE. She won the RAW Women’s Championship several times between 2016 and 2020, but none of her reigns were lengthy enough to build credibility, as most ended within days or weeks. Her only decent title run came with the SmackDown Women’s Championship from late 2020 to early 2021.
A fan on X recently compared Moné to WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels following her 11th title win at AEW WrestleDream.
The CEO responded:
“Call me Moné ‘CEO’ Michaels.”
Another fan replied, “Just gotta lose your smile now too. Complete the cycle,” referencing HBK’s infamous 1997 promo.
Moné jokingly responded, “I did in 2018,” taking aim at one of the darkest periods of her WWE career when she was struggling mentally and emotionally.
The current AEW TBS Champion was not featured much in the main event scene after 2017 and went nearly three years without a singles title after losing the RAW Women’s Championship to Alexa Bliss just eight days after winning it at SummerSlam that year.
Things worsened when she and Bayley became the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions at Elimination Chamber 2019, only to lose the titles less than two months later at WrestleMania 35.
In a 2021 interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin on Broken Skull Sessions, Moné revealed she fell into depression during her time in WWE. She said that for 7 years, she didn’t even hear her own name, Mercedes, anymore, only Sasha Banks. She eventually asked for her release from WWE, but Vince McMahon denied it and gave her time off instead; she returned to the company four months after WrestleMania 35.
The booking of her Women’s Tag Team Championship reign with Naomi became the reason for her departure from WWE, as both walked out of the company a few months after winning the belts.
• Released WWE Star Was Paralyzed Mid-Match After Suffering Neck Injury
Braun Strowman has dealt with multiple injuries throughout his pro wrestling career, which was reportedly one of the main reasons WWE released him earlier this year.
During an interview with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, the former Universal Champion recalled a 2023 match with Otis, where he suffered a serious neck injury that briefly left him paralyzed.
“In 2023, I had that really bad neck injury in the ring where I pinched my spine and both my arms went limp, and I was paralyzed for about three seconds during the match. You watch that match with Otis, you can see it happen.
I go to take off. I’m really weeble wobbling. I give the rest of the match. And while I’m out there in the ring and in the back, it feels like I’m having boiling water poured down my arms, or my fingers would go numb and go to sleep.
I’m literally freaking out, oh my God, my career is over. My day-to-day life’s over. Thankfully, I’m really close with Stone Cold Steve Austin; this injury was really, really similar to the injury that ended his career.
I called Steve. Talk to Steve a lot. He gave me a lot of reassurance and eased my mind with having the surgery. He’s had great success afterwards, no issues and stuff like that.”
• “It’s the World Heavyweight Championship I’m after” – SmackDown Star Says His Retirement Isn’t Near
Following John Cena’s farewell this year and AJ Styles’ planned departure next year, Shinsuke Nakamura hinted at his own retirement.
After WWE’s Japan tour concluded, The King of Strong Style took to X to hint that he may hang up his boots soon. Here’s what he posted:
“What a special place Japan is. especially for those of us who wrestle.
As AJ said, it’s a place worthy of giving everything you’ve got. Of course, that’s true anywhere in the world… but there’s something sacred here. I don’t know if it’s because I’m Japanese, but I believe the wrestlers and fans who shared this space all felt the same. Maybe.
He did too — John Cena, AJ — they’ve all chosen to step away from the ring. It reminds me that my own time might not be far off.
But I still have things I must do. I’m still struggling, still fighting, not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
All I can do is live this day with everything I have.
Thank you.
If only… one more time…”
During an interview with Tokyo Sports, Nakamura clarified that his retirement won’t happen anytime soon and he wants to win the World Heavyweight Title in WWE.
Here’s what the 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble winner said:
“Fortunately, I haven’t had many injuries, so it’s not like I have to retire right now. But nothing lasts forever. If you ask me about the next 10 years, I have my doubts, but if you ask me about five years, maybe.
You never know what tomorrow brings, so I just have to do what I can now. That’s what keeps me going – the belief that I can still do it.
For me, it’s the World Heavyweight Championship. That’s what I’m after. When you think about the things Japanese wrestlers, especially men, haven’t yet broken through on in America, that’s it. I don’t know if it’ll serve as proof of anything, but sometimes I wonder – if I can’t do it, what happens then?
I just want to leave behind a path, a sense of hope, for the next generation of Japanese and Asian wrestlers.”
