AEW: Tony Khan on Jack Perry “Doing Great Things” in NJPW, Dustin Rhodes on Sting’s Retirement, Mercedes Mone on Progress of Women’s Wrestling

Tony Khan Comments on Jack Perry’s Current Work in NJPW

As noted before, Jack Perry made his surprise official debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at this past January’s Battle in the Valley 2024 event. Perry has been absent from AEW since this past August due to his suspension over his involvement in a backstage incident with CM Punk at AEW’s All In event.

ComicBook.com held a recent interview with AEW CEO Tony Khan. One of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts about Perry’s current work and stint for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

“I think you have to stay tuned. Absolutely, Jack is doing great things in New Japan. The New Japan Cup, he’s had a great run. He established himself over there, he feels he’s the scapegoat. He’s doing great things, he’s wrestling for a great promotion, and it’s been great tracking Jack’s progress in New Japan and he’s done excellent work there.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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Dustin Rhodes Comments on Being Happy Sting’s Career Had Perfect Ending

A recent episode of the Sports Guys Talk Wrestling podcast featured Dustin Rhodes as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Rhodes’ thoughts about Sting’s retirement match at AEW Revolution 2024 and being happy that Sting got to end his career on his own terms.

“To end it all in Greensboro, which I have fought in many times — and when I was a youngster, me and Brad Anderson would drive to Greensboro to watch the Starrcades and see the crowds. To end it in a town like Greensboro was very fitting and to see him go out there and perform at his age and still bring it like he has, jumping off of things through tables, off of balconies — it’s amazing. My knees right now are killing me, my shoulders, I’ve had so many surgeries. To see him do that, he never complains. He’s never foul mouthed about anything, he’s very respectful and very professional. I love him to death and I’m just happy that he did have the perfect career ending and it’s so special watching it and knowing that this is it. It’s sad, I don’t want him to quit, I want him to continue on until he’s 100. But, our bodies are not gonna allow that. He gave a lot of love to a lot of people for many years.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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Mercedes Mone Comments on Progress of Women’s Wrestling Over Past Decade

A recent episode of the Kick Rocks podcast featured Mercedes Mone as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Mone’s thoughts about the progress of women’s wrestling over the past decade.

“It’s so beautiful. I’m going to put over the women, but it’s not just the women, it’s the men. This is the most pro wrestlers in the history of wrestling and it’s the most women have ever been a part of this business. To see how many women are at pro wrestling schools, to see how many women are at different promotions from independent to STARDOM to TNA to AEW to WWE. I have no words for it. I started in WWE with eight women in developmental. I don’t even know how many there are know, there are probably 30, and then you have main roster and AEW and STARDOM. It’s beyond my biggest dreams. I watched wrestling like, ‘How can I do this like the men?’ I discovered Japanese pro wrestling and was like, ‘Oh wow, they actually do it like the men, but harder.’ I saw that and wanted that in the United States. I always wanted to change the definition of what it was to be a diva.”

Mone also gave her thoughts about if she views the word “diva” as being negative for a women’s wrestler.

“To me, now, no, because it means so much. Back then, I could never watch it with my mom or grandma. My grandma would make fun of me. ‘Yeah, that’s what I want to do.’ Those are the times. We weren’t treated equally, we weren’t treated the same. We weren’t given the same respect. Now women are main eventing. We are beyond killing it and it’s amazing.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com