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Maya World - AEW
For Maya World, All Elite Wrestling has become her oyster. The breakout star is set for her biggest opportunity so far on June 28 at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view where she’ll face Mercedes Moné in the 2026 Owen Hart Cup finals. It’s a dream scenario for the 23-year-old, who idealized her opponent as a fan. Add in the fact she defeated mentor Athena in an upset during the semi-finals to get within striking distance of earning an AEW Women’s Championship shot at All In from Wembley Stadium on August 30.
The milestone night comes amid an emotionally draining few weeks for Maya World, whose real name is Ashanti Wilson-Stevenson. On June 7, her 25-year-old brother Jatwane Anton Wilson died after being struck by an SUV. The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department in Texas reported he was standing outside of his disabled vehicle on State Highway 205 and entered a lane of traffic when the fatal incident occurred. Maya World cited him as a catalyst for getting her into pro wrestling. She looks to honor his memory moving forward. Support came pouring in with those inside and outside the industry donating to a GoFundMe.
Ahead of the show, Maya Word opens up about her inspiring underdog story.
You’ve had the highest of highs career-wise the last few weeks, but you’re also dealing with this tragedy of losing your brother on top of mind. What has been getting you through?
Maya World: Honestly, knowing that I’m doing all this for my brother and my family. They have something to look forward to after such a tragic thing that happened to us. For me, as soon as it happened, my brain has been wired that I’m doing this for him. It has just been that the whole time.
What does it mean for you to have that support from the locker room and pro wrestling community?
That GoFundMe got me so emotional because a lot of that was from the pro wrestling people and the community coming together. My family was astonished by it as well. Tony Khan, Will Ospreay, people like that. It really meant a lot to me because this all came out of nowhere for us. Funerals are expensive, and thankfully, we did have one for him. Thank you everyone who donated. It was emotional to see everyone rallying around me. It was definitely not what I was expecting.
You’ve had a lot thrown at you working for AEW and Ring of Honor. Yet you continue to run with the ball. What has been your mindset when given the ball after unforeseen circumstances?
I had to just be strong through it all. I just had to put everything out there and stay ready, which was something I was always taught. It’s about staying ready for moments like this. Even with the tragedy that happened, it was something I had to remember everything I was taught and everything I’ve done to get to this moment.
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Hyan and Maya World (Lee South/AEW)
Anyone in particular who has really been there for you through this?
[My tag partner] Hyan for sure has been there for me. I even got a phone call from Athena. When she found out what happened, she checked in on me. A lot of the locker room have been checking in on me and saying they are here for me if I need to talk. Of course, my family and friends are there, but Hyan has been a top supporter for me. She was my first phone call after it happened.
Speaking of Athena, you defeated her to get to the finals. You’re now having this big match against Mercedes. You couldn’t have written a more poetic story going into the pay-per-view.
It’s something that is so surreal. It probably hasn’t fully settled in that I’m facing Mercedes, but it was definitely a story written in the stars. Me replacing [Sareee] on that side of the bracket and whose next opponent was Athena. That all came together in such a fairy tale type of way. I’ve felt that through every match so far. Something in my heart that felt different than anything I’ve felt so far. I don’t think it has settled in that I’m facing Mercedes. It probably won’t until after the bell rings at Forbidden Door. She was someone who I looked up to in my career, inspired me, who I watched, and studied. Finally, beating Athena has also given me that confidence. This was like our fourth match, and Athena was always beating me. So, beating her has given me that thought that, “Wow, if I can beat her, one of the best in the world, I can get past someone who I have idolized, studied, and prepared for my whole career.”
For those not familiar with you, what should they know?
Growing up I did a lot of sports. I was an athlete and a confident athlete. That’s where the “It Girl” [persona] came from. When I first started, I was a bit of a showoff. That is how it started out. I knew I was good, and I had to give that off to people. Now I really have that confidence in who I am. I started calling myself that because I knew I was good, and it was time to show all these people who I’m about. It was the same through my independent wrestling career, showing people who I was and getting my name out there.
Talk about what your ring name represents.
It’s my world that I want to take over. It was about making sure everyone knows who I am. It was really that simple. My first coach Lou Gotti, who came up with the last part. It was thinking about what am I trying to get across? At first I wasn’t sure, but it was different. So, I thought, “Why not?” It fell along the lines of what I was trying to do, which was take over. That’s where it originated from.
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AEW
What has the transition been like in AEW being on TV on a bigger platform?
It’s still early so far for me to think much of a change. A few more people have gotten to know me since the tournament has been happening. I’m still flying under the radar. Being so young, I had so much advice for when things like this were going to happen. Going from the indies to being signed, I learned how to carry yourself. I’d still say it’s early for me. I’m not going to get as much as an Athena where whenever I would travel with her, it was all the time people coming up to her. Now it’s more for me, and something I have to get used to.
What are your thoughts on the state of the women’s division in AEW as new faces such as yourself are rising through the ranks?
AEW didn’t even start that long ago, so a lot of the people that were here are people entering their prime or people like me who are just starting out. Willow came from where I was as the indie wrestler who did extra work and got signed. Others like Skye Blue, Julia [Hart], a lot of them have come up and learned on the job basically. I was inspired by them in a way like if they could do this I can do this. Everybody just grinds and wants to be the best and push each other to be the best because it’s good for the whole locker room. I really love our locker room. There are so many girls in there I’m dying to face. I feel like we all have a mission to make sure that everyone knows our locker room is the best. It is just to keep capitalizing on moments like the Owen Hart Tournament or the TBS Championship “Survival of the Fittest” match.
We’re seeing Harley Cameron and Willow on the red carpet for Supergirl. With the synergy between Warner Bros Discovery, anything you want to put out there that you want to do in terms of appearing on another show?
Walking the red carpet would be cool. I love Supergirl and want to see the movie. I haven’t thought about it all that much yet. I don’t want to jump the gun or anything. When moments like that happen for me, I’ll be excited. I do love movies and shows and all the things they have under them.I do want to walk a red carpet or two. My big thing though is I’m a big sports fan and studied journalism, so all I want to do is go to a Jacksonville Jaguars game. That’s the main thing.
I’m sure Tony Khan can arrange that. On the topic of TV shows, anything you like to watch while on the road or to wind down?
Lately, it has been Love Island. I have been watching that. It’s only a few weeks in, but I’m watching this season. Not anything else in particular. Stranger Things I’ve watched. There are a few shows, but I am stuck on Love Island right now.
Is that a show you would do?
You know it’s just for my entertainment. I like entertainment. I would not want to be on that show though. No way.
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How would you say you’re looking at this big match with Mercedes coming up? Anything different you’re doing to prepare?
It definitely means so much to me. It has hit me a little differently in a way. I have to mentally get my mind right. I know this is a big deal, someone I idolize, and someone I did not expect to face like this early on. It’s such a big match and one of the main events on one of the biggest pay-per-view events of the year. Things like that have not set in for me. I have also felt like with Mercedes, I’ve watched and studied her for close to 12 years. In a way, I feel prepared. I feel like I know her like the back of my hand. Also, in the same breath, I know she is Mercedes Moné . It’s not ever going to be just a simple match ever. I have to be prepared for that part of it. I feel like I’m definitely ready. My brain is wired to know who I’m doing this for. I feel this different energy within my heart. It’s starting to feel like a fairy tale for me. I feel like I’m on this high, and I’m just ready for Sunday to get in the ring.
AEW Forbidden Door, June 28, 8/7c, Pay-Per-View and HBO Max
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