Maya World Credits Athena For Helping Her Meet Mercedes Mone For The First Time

Maya World recalls meeting Mercedes Mone for the first time.

Throughout her entire career on the independent scene, Maya World has been very open about her love for Mercedes Mone, often citing her as the inspiration to her wrestling career.

Speaking with WrestlingNews.co for a new interview, Maya World credited Athena for helping her meet Mone for the first time ever.

“So basically, I was backstage at one of the tapings. It was a Collision taping on Thursday of that week. My phone had died, so I was just watching the show from the talent viewing area with all the talent. Danny Orion and Steve Wolf, who just had a match, they were running and looking for me. They were like, ‘Maya, have you talked to Athena?’ I was like, ‘No, my phone’s been dead. Is she looking for me?’ My first thing I was like, I thought I got in trouble about something like, ‘Did I do something wrong?’ We ran up to catering cause that’s where they were at first and then we ran downstairs back to the locker room area and then I met up with Athena. She’s like, ‘Where have you been?’ I was like, ‘My phone was dead, I’m sorry.’ She’s like, ‘Okay, come here.’ We walked through these double doors and then I saw Mercedes there like signing turnbuckles. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I knew what she was doing, I just like didn’t expect her to do it. But as soon as I saw her, I knew that she was trying to introduce me to her. So yeah, we had this meeting and she was telling me like Athena told her so much about me and I sent her a match for her to watch and things like that. Athena was just standing there like a proud mom just laughing because she could tell I was really like freaking out.”

Maya World last wrestled for AEW/ROH in July 2025, losing to Diamante on an episode of ROH On HonorClub.

Check out the current lineup for the September 17 edition of AEW Dynamite by clicking here.

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