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The Real Reason Mercedes Mone Quit WWE

Mercedes Mone

Mercedes Mone has finally revealed the reason she walked out on WWE and says she was left feeling like she didn’t belong in the company.

Prior to taking on the world as Mercedes Mone, the AEW TBS Champion made her name in WWE as Sasha Banks. As her career progressed Mone became known not only as one of the biggest female stars in the company but one of the biggest stars on the whole roster.

That all changed when Mercedes Mone and Naomi both sensationally walked out of WWE in May 2022 while still the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. WWE made the rare move of acknowledging the very real-life drama on TV with Michael Cole announcing the pair had been suspended.

Eventually, both women left the company, although after a stint in TNA, Naomi has now returned. For Mercedes Mone, however, it was off to NJPW before signing with AEW where she has made a big splash.

Mercedes Mone Says WWE Exit Was Her Hardest Decision

Speaking on Hot 97, Mercedes Mone was asked directly why she walked out of WWE in 2022 and revealed she was not happy with how she had been spoken to on the day she left:

There’s so many reasonings [why she left WWE]. The biggest thing is just listening to my heart and my soul. Something didn’t feel right that day, how we were talked to didn’t settle in my heart and I just instantly knew if I wasn’t gonna take control of my life right here and now then I was never going to be happy there having someone talk to me the way that they do or feeling like you just don’t belong like ok I’ve been doing this for 14 years and to feel this low, my soul’s like no get up go.

It was the hardest decision, WWE’s always been my dream [from] when I was 10 years old. To be with that company for 10 years, to walk out was the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my whole life but it’s now the greatest decision I’ve ever made because where I am today, the TBS Champion, the highest-paid woman in women’s wrestling history. Thank you Kev, thank you Tony, thank you AEW.

I can go on and on about these amazing opportunities since I listened to my heart and walked out. I walked out of that door and I walked into so many more doors that were open for me. So it’s a beautiful thing when one door closes or when they want to push you out of it, just know there’s so many doors, there’s so many keys waiting for you to grab to go open those doors and opportunities so you have to go out there and get it.

And know it’s ok to be afraid, it’s ok to make mistakes because that’s how you grow, that’s how you learn. These past 2 years are where I’ve grown the most and it’s the most fulfilling feeling in the world knowing that I made mistakes but how I overcame them and where I am today because I feel the greatest I’ve ever felt in my whole life.

Mercedes Mone left AEWx NJPW Forbidden Door as a double champion as she defeated Stephanie Vaquer to retain her TBS Title and win the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship.

Mone had little time to celebrate however as she was confronted by Dr Britt Baker DMD who made her long-awaited return to AEW.

If you use any quotes from this article please credit original source and then h/t with a link back to TJR Wrestling for the transcription.