Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks) has a very intriguing answer when asked if she has creative freedom in AEW
Mercedes Mone has made waves by joining AEW. The current TBS Champion will defend her title at Forbidden Door against Stephanie Vaquer, the current NJPW Strong Women's Champion in a Winner Takes All Match.
Mone's time in the AEW has been a matter of discussion for a while now. some reports suggest she became the highest-paid female wrestler after signing with AEW. In a conversation with TMZ Sports, Mone was asked whether she has creative control over the storylines she's a part of in AEW, The CEO said:
"Every single week, you gotta watch. Yes, I have creative control, because I work with Tony Khan very closely, so, it's a great combo," she said. [From 00:40 to 00:47]
Check out the video below:
Creative control means the wrestler has the final say over the storylines they will be part of. If the said wrestler doesn't like what they're presented, they can refuse to do that and or drop the title. Only the best and most popular wrestlers had a 'creative control' clause in their contracts, like Hulk Hogan in WCW.
Mercedes Mone, fka Sasha Banks of WWE, is among the most popular female wrestlers. She began her WWE career in 2013 and walked out of the company over creative differences in 2022. Following that Mone performed in NJPW and STARDOM. She made her AEW debut in 2024 on Dynamite: Big Business and her in-ring debut took place at Double or Nothing, where she won the AEW TBS Championship by defeating Willow Nightingale.
Mercedes Mone is confident about retaining her AEW TBS Championship
Mone is set to face Stephanie Vaquer at Forbidden Door, which will be her third defense of the AEW TBS Championship, and she is pretty confident about the match.
In the same conversation, Mercedes Mone began by discussing what she plans to achieve in AEW, and how the company is helping her achieve her dreams. Mone then spoke about defending her championship:
"I feel like here at AEW, all of my dreams and opportunities is endless. So, of course, being the TBS Champion and at this Sunday, at Forbidden Door, I'm about to be two-time Champion. I am going to be the TBS Champion and the new Strong Champion. So, yes, this little creativity of taking all the belts and going global, it's beautiful," she said. [From 00:10 to 00:30]
Fans are excited to see Mercedes Mone defend her title at Forbidden Door.
If you use the quotes in this article, please credit TMZ Sports and H/T Sportskeeda Wrestling.