MERCEDES MONÉ NAMED FEMALE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
AEW star Mercedes Moné has been named Female Wrestler of the Year by the prestigious Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) magazine, topping the annual Women’s 250 ranking for 2025, which lists the 250 best female wrestlers in the world. This is the first time Mercedes has topped the list, marking one of the greatest accolades of her career.
The evaluation period considered by PWI was from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. During this time, evaluators analyzed criteria such as in-ring achievements (titles and wins), industry influence, technical skill, quality of rivals faced, and frequency of competitions.
Mercedes Moné had an outstanding year, winning several titles and establishing herself as one of the most influential wrestlers on the international scene. Her popularity grew considerably, especially after her arrival at AEW, where she had memorable appearances and high-level rivalries. Furthermore, she also competed in different promotions around the world, which reinforced her global impact on women's wrestling.
This achievement is even more significant because Mercedes did not appear in the previous ranking due to the low number of matches during that period. In 2025, however, she had a full schedule and performances that placed her among the most complete in world wrestling.
According to PWI itself, this is the first time since 2013 that the top three spots in the ranking do not belong to WWE, which shows a change in the landscape and the strengthening of other companies, especially AEW and the international women's circuit.
The Top 10 of the 2025 PWI Women’s 250 is as follows:
1. Mercedes Moné
2. Toni Storm
3. Saya Kamitani
4. Tiffany Stratton
5. Stephanie Vaquer
6. IYO SKY
7. Athena
8. Sareee
9. Naomi
10. Rhea Ripley
Mercedes Moné's victory reinforces the power and growing visibility of AEW's women's division. Critics and fans praised the recognition, highlighting the talent, charisma, and professionalism of the wrestler, who has been expanding her career and consolidating her name as one of the greatest today.
With the "Wrestler of the Year" award, Mercedes reaches a new level and becomes one of the central figures in world wrestling. The recognition by PWI is another important step in her trajectory and promises to open doors to new rivalries and achievements within AEW and on the global stage.
