AEW President Tony Khan has firmly denied recent rumors suggesting that Mercedes Moné has creative control in the company.
During the official media call for this weekend’s All In: Texas pay-per-view, Khan also addressed the status of former AEW Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker.
The speculation surrounding Moné’s creative influence began after the undefeated TBS Champion started collecting other titles, including the CMLL Women’s World Championship. Her on-screen “CEO” persona, in which she claims to be calling the shots, further fueled these rumors among some fans.
Khan Shoots Down “Ridiculous” Rumors
When asked directly about the rumors during the media call, Tony Khan called the notion that Moné has creative control “ridiculous” and “definitely not true at all.” He made it clear that he is the sole authority on creative decisions in AEW.
“I’m the only person with creative control over the show,” Khan stated emphatically (H/T to Fightful). “At the end of the day, I’m responsible for what you see… I’ve had the final say since day one of AEW. I’ve had the final creative control since the beginning of the company.”
Khan praised Moné as an “incredible talent” and a “great addition to AEW,” but explained that her strong booking is a reflection of her star power, not a contractual clause.
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The History Of Creative Control
The concept of “creative control” is a sensitive topic in professional wrestling. During the Monday Night Wars of the 1990s, top stars in WCW like Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart were famously granted creative control clauses in their contracts.
This often led to backstage political turmoil and booking decisions that benefited the individual star over the company, a situation that many historians believe contributed to WCW’s eventual downfall.
This history is why a wrestling promoter like Tony Khan would be so quick and firm in shutting down any suggestion that a wrestler has that level of power in his company.
Khan Addresses Britt Baker’s Status
Elsewhere on the call, Khan also denied recent reports that Dr. Britt Baker was seeking her release from the company. It had been reported that Baker was unhappy with her position and wanted to break her AEW contract.
Khan shut down this speculation, indicating that Baker, whose deal runs until late 2026, would be remaining with the promotion.
Khan concluded by emphasizing that AEW’s success is a “team effort” between the wrestlers, staff, and fans. He stated that the “idea that anybody in AEW has a creative control card and that’s why anybody would get a push here… that’s not how it works.”
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