As the current AEW TBS and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion likes to say, “Money changes everything.” That quote was a dominating subject that circulated Mercedes Mone’s next and career-defining move to either return to WWE or make her way over to AEW after her first run in New Japan. Making it the most important decision on whom she would sign with next, Mone chose AEW, where she is thriving to be the figurehead of the women’s division and its highest-paid female athlete. Sitting atop a large sum of money, “Breakfast Club” co-host Loren LoRosa had to confirm with Mone if this statement remains valid that she is still the highest-paid female wrestler in the sport today.

Advertisement

“I hope so! I would like to think so,” Mone replied. “I don’t know other people’s bank accounts, but I like that title. I definitely want to make more. I am [getting what I deserve]. It’s so…I don’t want to say it’s crazy; it’s beautifully deserved and earned, and it’s something that I worked so hard for, for such a long time.”

What was once a taboo thing to do, Mone encourages more female wrestlers to stop settling for less and ask for more before deciding and eventually signing their next contractual financial agreements. She believes that when stars like herself and WWE Four Horsewoman stablemate Becky Lynch, who, at one point, was the first female athlete to top “Forbes” highest-paid WWE Superstars in 2020, ask for more money, more eyes will be put on their division to be included in more substantial main event conversations.

Advertisement

“It’s something that I want women to work for,” Mone added. “I finally got something that, as women, we’re like, no, you can’t even see those numbers. You can’t even talk about those numbers. You can’t even walk into the room and even ask for a raise, or ask for a bonus, or anything. So, to get what I feel like I deserve, plus I feel like I deserve more -and I’m going to get that – it’s so amazing…It gives people a chance to dream more that they can make more too if they put in the hard work.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The Breakfast Club” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

TNA management issued a statement earlier today on X, stating that the promotion has canceled its two-day scheduled television tapings for this week in Spartanburg, South Carolina, due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. In a detailed statement, TNA wrote, “Due to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Helene, TNA Wrestling is canceling both shows scheduled for Spartanburg, S.C. The safety and well-being of our TNA wrestlers, staff, crew and fans are top priority. TNA will provide an update on refunds for the Spartanburg shows, as well as an update on future/additional shows. We wish the best to everyone impacted by Hurricane Helene.”

Advertisement

TNA Wrestling Cancels Shows In Spartanburg, S.C. Due to Hurricane Helene

MORE INFO: https://t.co/pU1vx3y9VX pic.twitter.com/VL9vkfL5Bl

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 28, 2024

With the expansive weather effects of Hurricane Helene, TNA rescheduled their upcoming television tapings twice. Initially, the tapings were supposed to be held this Friday (September 27) and Saturday (September 28). Then, this past Thursday, they announced the rescheduling of tapings to Monday (September 30) and Tuesday (October 1) in a now-deleted post. It’s uncertain what TNA will air during its two-hour flagship show “Impact” next Thursday at 8 PM EST on AXS TV.

TNA is gearing up for its annual fall pay-per-view event, Bound for Glory, on Saturday, October 26, at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan, with television tapings to follow the day after on Sunday, October 27. Last week’s “Impact” cemented the main event as Nic Nemeth defending his TNA World Championship against the company’s most popular babyface, Joe Hendry. Also, PCO and Matt Cardona will finally hash it out in a non-traditional Monster’s Ball Match. These two have been going at it since August over the in-ring marriage between PCO and Cardona’s associate, Steph De Lander,  who is currently out of action due to impending neck surgery.

Advertisement

The strongEST, badEST, and fastEST two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill, will host WWE’s next premium live event, Bad Blood, next Saturday at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The announcement came on last night’s “WWE SmackDown.” In a video published on X, Belair and Cargill are all smiles, as this is the first time either star has hosted a premium live event. “Your WWE Tag Team Champions will be bringing the party and hosting one of WWE’s most spectacular premium live events … While they [the wrestlers scheduled for the event] will get their lick back, we’ll be there to enjoy every second with you,” Cargill announced. “The EST of WWE” hinted that some surprise guests may join them, whether on stage or sitting ringside. “And, who knows. Maybe we’ll have some surprise VIP guests,” Belair teased.

Advertisement

See you in Atlanta!

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions @BiancaBelairWWE and @Jade_Cargill will be the official hosts of #WWEBadBlood!! 🔥#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/AJGew2sYuK

— WWE (@WWE) September 28, 2024

As of this report, the resurrected event has five announced matches, including the newly added contest of Bayley facing Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship after Bayley punched her ticket against Naomi yesterday on “SmackDown.”

Earlier this week, Belair and Grammy winner Cardi B publicized the news that next year’s SummerSlam will be two days, August 2 and 3, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, in a commercial. In the ring, Belair and Cargill are sizing up their competition on who they will defend their titles against next. So far, Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY and Kairi Sane are in the running for another opportunity. Two weeks ago on “WWE Raw,” Sky and Belair had an impressive showing in singles competition that saw Sky best Belair. Belair and Cargill recaptured their championships after defeating The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) at Bash in Berlin last month.

Advertisement

AEW’s Tony Schiavone has been the voice of many professional wrestling promotions throughout his decades-long career, from the newest game in town of Tony Khan’s company, to MLW, and even a short stint in the then-WWF, in addition to Schiavone’s time with WCW. With his knowledge of commentary and interviewing skills, Schiavone was asked about his thoughts on Vince McMahon as a “stick guy,” or in-ring interviewer, on an episode of “What Happened When.” Schiavone said that he always thought McMahon was “one of the best announcers in the business” during his run on the mic.

Advertisement

“I go back, when you think about great commentary teams, I think Vince McMahon and Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura were one of the best commentary teams ever,” he explained. “Just like Gorilla and Bobby Heenan or Jerry Lawler and JR… Vince, realistically, it was his company, so he knew what to say. He knew how to promote things, so I thought he was great in this area.”

He went on to explain that his only issue with McMahon as an interviewer was the fact he was often taller than the talent he was interviewing, and the “idea” is that your announcers should be smaller than the talent. Schiavone said McMahon was smart, and wouldn’t often be on screen with guys he would make seem smaller. Schiavone worked for McMahon briefly, from April 1989 to April 1990. Notably, he was the play-by-play announcer for SummerSlam and the Royal Rumble in that year, alongside Ventura. He has previously said he worked closely with Kevin Dunn and Bruce Prichard in McMahon’s company, and was glad he didn’t have the boss “screaming in his ear” during his WWF tenure.

Advertisement

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “What Happened When” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.