Mercedes Mone explains why she refuses to sign autographs at airports
Mercedes Mone, fka Sasha Banks, is among the most famous professional wrestlers today and one of the most sought-after celebrities globally. She faces a problem every celebrity has ever faced - over-enthusiastic fans.
Mone, of course, has her way of handling them, and she recently revealed that she doesn't sign autographs at airports. The AEW TBS Champion spoke about how she handles this, and why when she appeared on the WFAN podcast.
"I don't sign at the airports. For me, that's stalking because you shouldn't know when I land, what flight I am on, same thing at the hotels. If you're finding out what hotel I'm staying at, no, no no. You come to the arena early, and I'm always there, willing and ready to sign. I autograph. I am ready and happy to meet my fans but, when it comes to that personal space of coming off a flight after traveling for so long, and not even in your character mode, you don't wanna get handed a bunch of stuff that you know, it's not even for them, they're going to put that out on eBay so they can make their money," she said. [21:08 - 22:46]
Sports fans are pretty emotional about the performers they like, and hecklers in the wrestling arena are not uncommon. Therefore, it makes sense for Mone to dissuade 'airport behavior'.
Mercedes Mone opens up about rumors of being the highest-paid female wrestler
Mercedes Mone has wrestled in WWE as Sasha Banks. She left the company in 2022 over creative differences. Once she did that, there were rumors about where the CEO would sign up. She made her AEW debut on the special program Dynamite: Big Business.
She later made her in-ring debut on Double or Nothing 2024 and defeated Willow Nightingale for the AEW TBS Championship. Since her signing, there have been rumors of her being the highest-paid female wrestler, and the Boss has seemingly clarified them in an interview with Stick to Wrestling's James Stewart on Boston's 98.5 Sports Hub.
"That sounds beautiful," said Mone. "My name is Mercedes Mone for a reason."
Mone is set to face Stephanie Vaquer, the current NJPW Strong Women's Champion, at Forbidden Door, 2024 in a Winner Takes All Match.
If you use the quotes from the first part of the article, please credit WFAN and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling.