Dave Meltzer labels Mercedes Mone the top American female wrestler
Cageside Seats • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 5, 2026, 10:00 PM
Last updated Sep 5, 2026

Pro wrestling historian Dave Meltzer sparked a debate within the industry by naming Mercedes Mone the best overall worker among American women in history. The assessment, shared on Wrestling Observer Radio, places Mone in a top tier alongside active peer Becky Lynch. Meltzer also noted both athletes as prominent candidates for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. While Meltzer holds a respected position, observers point to the difficulty of comparing historical figures like Mildred Burke to modern performers such as Trish Stratus. The evolution of the sport's makes direct comparisons across eras challenging for fans and historians alike. The discussion continues as participants assess the technical and cultural contributions of various women throughout the history of professional wrestling.
- •Dave Meltzer identified Mercedes Mone as the best overall worker among American female wrestlers.
- •Mone and Becky Lynch are considered top candidates for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
- •Industry discourse centers on the difficulty of comparing athletes across decades of wrestling evolution.
- •Historical figures mentioned in the discussion include Mildred Burke and Trish Stratus.
- 10:00 PMCageside Seats — Is Mercedes Mone the greatest women’s wrestler in American history?
"That’s the debate raging on in the wake of comments made by The Wrestling Observer and resident pro wrestling historian Dave Meltzer, who said this on Wrestling Observer Radio: “Mercedes is probably the best overall worker of American women wrestlers ever. I mean, I couldn’t come up with anybody else as the best.” He also wrote about her candidacy for the WON Hall of Fame recently, saying she’s right there with Becky Lynch as far as the closest among active wrestlers. Granted, Meltzer is not the be all end all as far as opinions on the greatness of anyone in the pro wrestling industry but he’s a respected voice that garners a great deal of reaction, such as this Feed post right here on Cageside Seats: There’s a legitimately interesting discussion to be had here, considering even the role of women in pro wrestling has changed dramatically through the years. After all, how can we compare what Mildred Burke was doing in the 1940s to what Trish Stratus was doing in the 90s to what Mone is doing today? I’m looking for thoughts here, folks. Tell me what you’re thinking on all this.
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