Mercedes Mone is all about making money moves.
Since departing World Wrestling Entertainment in 2022, the former Sasha Banks has reinvented herself, adopting the “CEO” persona while collecting championship after championship.
Her stock has risen as she’s added the All Elite Wrestling TBS Championship, the New Japan Pro Wrestling Strong Women’s Championship, and the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) World Women’s Championship to her portfolio.
But her latest acquisition is putting the “bull” in “bull market.”
AEW’s Mercedes Mone and The Beast Mortos confirm they’re dating
Mone is wealthy in more ways than one: she recently confirmed that she’s dating her fellow All Elite Wrestling star, The Beast Mortos.
The couple made it Instagram official when Mortos, the former Black Taurus, shared a photo of him and Mone to his Instagram story. The picture, seemingly taken during AEW’s recent trip to Mexico City, showed the luchador without his trademark mask, with a bull sticker conveniently hiding his identity. Mone looked glamorous, as usual, with a bright smile on her face.
“En tus brazos encuentro paz,” the Mexican wrestler wrote, which translates to “In your arms, I find peace.”
Shortly after this post, the couple confirmed their relationship with TMZ Sports, joking that it’s a “real beauty and the beast situation.” Though, if judging by the thirst traps Mortos posts online, it's not hard to see why she fell for this man.
Moné was ‘Free’ to find love
Mone, real name Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado, was previously married to professional wrestler and costume designer Sarath Ton (the former Mikaze). The couple wed in 2016 and filed for divorce in July 2024. They finalized the split the following month.
Mone elaborated about the split on a 2024 edition of her "Mone Talks" show.
“I’m just ready to be free. I’m ready to be free of not being afraid. And for so long, I’ve kept this secret because of how fast life has been going, and so much that has been happening in wrestling and everything. And I just didn’t want the outside world to judge or say anything, especially during the time when all of this was happening. But, I’m getting a divorce.”
During the chat, Moné said that she and Ton separated at the end of 2020 and kept the split secret. She was busy filming "The Mandalorian" and trying to be in the main event of WrestleMania. She didn’t know how her then-boss, Vince McMahon, would react.
“Because I was in a storyline with Bianca [Belair], Carmella, and Carmella’s [sommelier], and Vince was so obsessed with me and the sommelier that I’m like, oh my god, he wanted us to be together and all this stuff. So me and Sarath just decided we’re gonna keep this a secret.”
Moné also added that despite the divorce, she and Ton still have “such a great relationship.”
All’s Fair in Law and Lucha
The news of Mone and Mortos’ relationship comes shortly after the luchador announced that he was pursuing his law degree. On June 13, Mortos posted on X that “in a few months, I will be a lawyer.”
“If you don’t want to pay your ex-wife a divorce settlement, call me,” added Mortos. “I’m still learning to speak, but I can help you.”
Mortos made a special appearance on AEW Grand Slam: Mexico. The June 18 event took place at the historic Arena México, a venue synonymous with CMLL. Mortos got his start in the early 2000s, wrestling for CMLL under the name Semental (“Stallion”) before joining the rival promotion Lucha Libre AAA in 2011.
Fightful Select reported that AEW President Tony Khan personally met with CMLL’s boss, Salvador Lutteroth Lomeli, to soothe any sore feelings. Mortos was able to perform in the main event, wrestling in Arena México for the first time in 14 years.
That means Mortos was also on-hand to watch his new love defeat Zeuxis to win the CMLL World Women’s Championship.