WWE’s Performance Center Shake-Up: Mercedes Mone Slams Run Time Change Ahead of Netflix Deal
In a pivotal choice set to reshape WWE’s programming panorama, the corporation’s flagship display, WWE Raw, will go through splendid modifications starting October seventh, 2024. With a temporary settlement extension from america Network, WWE Raw will shorten its broadcast from three hours to two until it transitions to Netflix on January sixth, 2025. This upcoming trade has sparked a whirlwind of reactions from each wrestlers and fanatics, with a few welcoming the flow into, on the identical time as others, like Mercedes Mone, are voicing robust competition.
Mercedes Mone, formerly called Sasha Banks at some point of her WWE tenure and now a pinnacle celebrity in AEW, failed to keep again in expressing her frustrations. In an interview with The Breakfast Club, the AEW TBS Champion called out the impact the shorter run time have to have on wrestlers, specially ladies, who already face restrained show time.
A Blow to Wrestlers’ Opportunities
For Mone, the discount in run time interprets into lost possibilities for talent, particularly female performers, who frequently struggle to stable huge TV time in a male-ruled organization. WWE has been criticized inside the past for its marginalization of women’s suits, regularly relegating them to shorter segments as compared to their male opposite numbers. With one much less hour of programming, Mone fears this hole may additionally additionally widen even further.
“I think that sucks for the wrestlers,” Mone stated bluntly. “If you lose a whole hour, that’s a whole opportunity of performing in front of a live audience and in front of millions watching at home.”
Her concerns are echoed by many fans who have long pushed for more equitable representation of female wrestlers. Mone, an outspoken advocate for women’s rights in wrestling, emphasized that this cut could disproportionately affect female talent. “We’re only given five to eight minutes,” Mone continued, “so we need that extra hour—we need that time to tell a story.”
The Netflix Switch: A Mixed Bag
While Mone sees the run time trade as negative to WWE abilities, she did well known the potential for increase with WWE’s glide to Netflix. The streaming large’s address WWE, set to kick in early next yr, is anticipated to enlarge the employer’s reach, attracting new demographics and enhancing viewership worldwide.
Mone believes this platform could eventually bring new opportunities to wrestlers, even if the short-term effects are frustrating. “The move to Netflix is so huge for them that they’re gonna gain so much more opportunities in so many different other ways,” she said, offering a glimmer of hope amidst her criticism.
Mercedes Mone’s Personal Success Story
Though Mone can be upset by means of WWE’s contemporary selections, her profession trajectory has been not anything quick of meteoric on the grounds that leaving the company. The 32-12 months-vintage joined AEW in early 2024 and has in view that turn out to be one of the organisation’s brightest stars, prevailing the AEW TBS Championship and reportedly signing a document-breaking settlement. Rumors advocate she is now the very best-paid lady wrestler within the international.
Mone’s delight with her modern role is palpable, while she eyes further fulfillment. Although she has not disclosed her AEW profits, she these days confirmed that she feels she is being paid what she deserves and remains targeted on growing her brand. “I’m happy where I am now, but there’s always more to achieve,” Mone hinted at some point of the Breakfast Club interview.
H/T: Fightful for the above transcription.
