Mercedes Mone Has Mixed Feelings About All Out, Says ‘Extreme’ Spots Are Usually Talent Decisions

In a post on her Mone Mag newsletter, Mercedes Mone wrote about her mixed feelings on AEW All Out, particularly when it came to the extreme violence on the show. The PPV drew criticism for some of the spots on the show, especially during the Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland main event.

Mone wrote: “All Out was extremely violent, and honestly, Daniel Bryan’s stuff was tough to watch. I have mixed emotions. When done right, that kind of stuff can tear a roof off like Daniel’s did. However, I wouldn’t want my brother Joshua to watch stuff like that, or kids, for that matter. Let’s face it, wrestling is multi-generational. When I do signings, I greet so many parents and their children. Growing up, I didn’t have a father, so it especially warms my heart to meet families and hear how much their wrestling viewing experiences and memories mean to them. Then again, there is an audience that loves the extreme, and you want to cater to them, too. When you see your favorite stars going to the extreme, you may want to blame the promotion. Honestly, though, it’s the talent who will usually make the calls in the ring. While I credit talents who go to the extreme in terms of violence inflicted upon themselves for their passion and courage, I also want talent to have longevity and to graduate from this world healthy and able to function. Our bodies go through enough with all the bumps, not to mention the travel and schedule. Personally, I’m at a place career-wise where I’d like to avoid extreme matches – unless it’s a true big value add to the company.“