On a recent edition of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T discussed AEW signing Mercedes Mone and the impact that she will have on Tony Khan’s promotion.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Mercedes Mone’s expected AEW arrival: “Mone is about getting that paper, baby. You know, you saw the dollar signs, right? At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. If Mone couldn’t make a deal with WWE and the door’s there at AEW, I mean, why not do it? I mean, that’s — how many times have I seen it, man? How many times have I said? I mean, 1,000 times more. When we talked, we was talking about Mone going to Japan, right? And that’s what Mone was going to be. That’s where she was gonna be. And how many times have I said it, dammit? If you don’t have to work in Japan, you ain’t gonna work there. If you could work right here at home, you gonna do it. That grind in Japan is not like here in the United States. Those arenas are not like here in the United States. You can work the Tokyo Dome all you want, but it ain’t like being at home in a warm bed with a remote control in your hand.“
On working in Japan: “Everybody that says they go run over to Japan — bro. At the end of the day, it’s about getting paid. So if people do not understand when I talk about this kind of stuff, the only thing I’m relating this to is myself being in it and doing it. You know what I mean? I got a chance to go to Japan early in my career. Twenty-seven years old, still young and fresh and hot. ‘Ready to go!’ One tour in Japan and my a*s couldn’t wait to get home. I almost flew myself back after being there 21 days straight.
“So no, anybody who’s listening to me who has been through this and has done it one time, they understand exactly what I’m talking about. They say, ‘Wait a minute, I can get a big check at home? And I don’t have to do this? I don’t have to be on these buses going through these towns and doing all that?’ Boom, let me get back home as quickly as I can.’ So, for Mone going and doing the Japanese experience? Big ups. It’s a great experience. And I tell everybody, ‘If you’re young, you gotta have that experience at least once in your life.’ You know, but if you go and work, you want to do it right here at home if you can get paid to do it.”
On what type of version will fans get from Mone: “The last time we saw Mone, she went out and had an injury. She’s hurt. When she comes back, and goes out there and does it, what version of Mone? Are we going to see? No no, this will be pretty much the first version of Mone that we have seen on American TV. So I got to see how this thing plays out. Sometimes when you get out of a system, sometimes when you’re not working with guys within that system, everything changes. It really does, and I say that because I’ve worked with guys in WCW. I’ve worked with guys in TNA, ECW, WWF, WWE. I’ve worked with a bunch of independent guys all over. So many guys, so my thing is when you change the system sometimes… when I finally got a chance to work with ECW guys after watching them on television, thinking those guys could work. And worked with them one time — RVD [is] an exception, a couple of guys an exception. But some of those guys, you go, ‘Wait a minute, I thought these guys could work,’ and they couldn’t work at all. And so you really have to be very, very careful when you step into a different situation.”
In a recent episode of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T discussed the signing of Mercedes Mone by All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the potential impact she will have on Tony Khan’s promotion. Booker T expressed his excitement about Mone joining AEW and highlighted the financial aspect of her decision.
Booker T emphasized that Mone is all about “getting that paper,” meaning she is focused on maximizing her earnings. He mentioned that if Mone couldn’t reach a deal with WWE, it makes sense for her to explore opportunities with AEW. Booker T also reflected on his own experiences in the wrestling industry, mentioning how he had previously discussed the possibility of Mone going to Japan. However, he noted that if wrestlers have the option to work in their home country and avoid the challenges of working in Japan, they would likely choose to stay at home.
The discussion then shifted to working in Japan, with Booker T sharing his personal experience. He admitted that while going to Japan may be seen as a great opportunity, it ultimately comes down to getting paid. Booker T recalled his own tour in Japan when he was 27 years old and how he couldn’t wait to return home after being there for 21 days straight. He explained that the demanding schedule and traveling can take a toll on wrestlers, making them appreciate the comforts of home.
Regarding Mone’s return to wrestling after her injury, Booker T expressed curiosity about what version of her fans will see. He mentioned that this will be the first time American audiences will witness Mone’s character on television. Booker T highlighted the importance of adapting to different systems and working with various wrestlers throughout his career. He cautioned that sometimes wrestlers may not live up to expectations when transitioning to a new promotion or working with different talents.
In conclusion, Booker T’s discussion on his podcast shed light on the signing of Mercedes Mone by AEW and the potential impact she will have on the promotion. He emphasized Mone’s desire to secure a lucrative deal and highlighted the challenges of working in Japan. Booker T also expressed curiosity about how Mone’s character will evolve in AEW and the importance of adapting to new systems in professional wrestling.