Mercedes Mone, a notable figure in the arena of professional wrestling, made waves with her recent entry into AEW. Despite her positive career movements, she has not been without controversy, stemming from an incident at a WWE live event in December 2017 where she was labelled an “unsafe worker”.
The incident in question unfolded during a match with Saraya, where Mone inadvertently struck Saraya in the neck, causing an abrupt end to the match due to the resultant injury. It is important to note that this took place just one year after Saraya was forced out of the ring because of a previous neck injury.
Fast-forward to 2022, Saraya was given the green light to return to the ring, despite having been declared medically retired due to spinal stenosis.
Mone recently confronted the unfortunate event head-on during an interview with “Hot 97”. She confessed,
“I was deeply affected by it….it pushed me into a cycle of despair because wrestling is my greatest aspiration and dream, and I’ve always strived to be the best in it. Therefore, hearing even the slightest whispers that you might not be a safe player is unsettling. And it wasn’t even the other wrestlers; it was the fans’ perception of my safety that frightened me. The risks inherent in this industry can often be frightening; there’s always the chance of an injury, a mishap that might bruise or break something. But the nature of the business demands that we risk our lives on the mat, while doing everything in our power to safeguard each other. Unfortunately, accidents like these happen”.
A video of Mone’s candid discussion about her departure from WWE and addressing her label as an unsafe wrestler can be viewed here.