AEW’s landscape has changed completely after the Jacksonville-based promotion secured one of their biggest signings. Namely, Mercedes Mone, who made her Big Business debut. After being sidelined for months due to a serious ankle injury, the CEO chose to sign a deal with Tony Khan’s company instead of WWE.
However, it looks like the AEW head honcho is unable to decide who should be Mone’s nemesis in AEW. And the lack of a decisive direction for the female star has incurred heavy criticism from legends of the sport, one of whom recently laid bare his thoughts on Khan’s booking of Mone.
Pro wrestling legend questions Tony Khan’s booking
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Dutch Mantell, a former wrestler, manager, and booker, recently opened up on his thoughts on Tony Khan’s handling of Mercedes Mone so far. On his podcast, he claimed that AEW did bring in Mone but is just making her talk rather than fight. While this seemed fine for her hometown of Boston, this didn’t fit well for other locations. And with him questioning the decision, he claims that he’ll soon receive a word from the AEW president asking for suggestions. Mantell said, “Tony Khan, is, Khan is going to hear this. And he’s going to call me. Well, I won’t tell you what he calls me. But he’ll call me up and say, What were you in that goofball, the UK goofball talking about? See, he calls you a UK goofball. I wouldn’t I wouldn’t do that. I would never, you know, insult you like that. But see, he could. But he’d want to say, What would you do? And I’d have to give him something. I’ll give him exactly what I give you.”
However, he believes it is too late now. He added, “But it’s too late now. I mean, you can do it later on. But you know, you don’t get a second chance to make it right. One thing about wrestling, you don’t get the second chance to do it.” It is worth noting that Mone’s decision to leave WWE was because she was dissatisfied with the company’s booking. And if it actually is too late for Khan to fix it, then Mone might have an issue with it going further. But for now, she enjoys her stature as one of the highest-paid female wrestlers in the world.
Mone and a bag full of Money
The CEO’s decision to join AEW instead of returning to WWE was reportedly attributed to her desire for a higher salary. According to Dave Meltzer, the former 7-time WWE Women’s Champion was looking for a deal equivalent to what her colleague Becky Lynch earns. Although WWE’s offer didn’t live up to her expectations, Tony Khan put a significant financial offer on the table that reportedly makes her the highest-paid woman in wrestling. Even if it doesn’t reach the $5 million a year figure circulating online.
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Apparently, a WWE star too confirmed that Mone is the highest-paid woman in wrestling and that her colleagues were thrilled that AEW made this offer and happy for her. Because in the long run, it means that there is a better market for the best female wrestlers. Pointing out that women make great numbers, despite still being paid much less than men. Nevertheless, the monetary benefits she earns have to warrant her presence during AEW programming. And Khan will have to make sure that she is optimally booked to reap the rewards that Mone sows. What do you make of Mantell’s words about Tony Khan’s lackadaisical booking? Let us know in the comments section below.