Money is always a factor in determining where a wrestler wants to work, but other factors, such as schedule, creative freedom and even the quality of opponents, can also weigh into this decision. When AEW signed former WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks earlier this year, expectations were high, especially since the deal made her the highest-paid woman in WWE history. struggle. But some say Banks, now called Mercedes Mone, failed to deliver on her promises during her time in AEW. On “Broken open radio” Ric Flair agreed with the show’s co-hosts that you are only as good as the opponents you feed. Highlighting the lack of stars elsewhere in the women’s division, the two-time WWE Hall of Famer suggested that Banks might want to one day return to WWE, where the best competition is.
“She has this mindset that she can do whatever she wants, because she’s so good,” Flair said of Mone, who he always called Sasha Banks. “It’s the truth. I think she’ll come back to WWE eventually.”
Flair placed Mone in the upper echelon of performers capable of “staying on top” for 10 years or more, comparing her to Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, John Cena and Randy Orton.
“If you look at the last 10 years, what Sasha has been able to do… name the guys who can stay at the top for 10 years,” he said. “Never take a step back. Always in the main event. Whether they win or lose, they’re in the main event.”
Mone has spent much of 2024 racking up wins against mid-range talent. Mone defeated Dr. Britt Baker, arguably the company’s second biggest female star, in their one and only showdown at All In London 2024. Many believe the match didn’t have the build-up it deserved. Meanwhile, Mone does not have a match on AEW’s upcoming pay-per-view, World’s End, as of this writing.
