Mercedes Mone – formerly known as Sasha Banks – left WWE in 2022 due to creative frustration in the women’s tag team division and dissatisfaction with the way she was treated as a performer, leading her to wrestle in NJPW in 2023 and eventually sign with AEW earlier this year. On the same day that the Netflix docuseries “Mr. McMahon” was released, Mone appeared on “The Breakfast Club” where she discussed her relationship with McMahon, stating that she did not appreciate being condescendingly treated by the former CEO and viewed her exit from the company as an act of self-respect.

Advertising

“I left for many different reasons. A lot of personal things happened with me and the chairman at the time. I didn’t like the way he spoke to me and the way I was being condescendingly treated. I thought to myself: it’s time to really listen to your soul and your heart,” Mone said. “It was enough for the source of my light to come into my body and say, ‘If you stay, this is not OK. This is for the rest of your life. What are you going to teach your children? What are you going to teach people?’ If you feel like this after ten years here, you have to stand up for yourself.’ That’s what I did.”

Mone went on to share that the same inspiration that sparked her passion for wrestling at the age of 10 resurfaced in 2022 and has now led her to step away from WWE and pursue dreams that prioritize her growth. She also explained that during her time in WWE, there was no protection for female wrestlers and she continues to work to change that for women’s wrestling today.

Advertising

If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit “The Breakfast Club” with ah/t to Wrestling Inc. as the source for the transcription.