Athena (Formerly Ember Moon) Comments On WWE Release, Helping Ronda Rousey For Her Return

Ember Moon signed with WWE in September 2015 and made her television debut at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II.

During her time in WWE, Moon won the NXT Women’s Championship and the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships alongside Shotzi and wrestled on both Raw and SmackDown.

Moon’s time with WWE came to an end on November 4 when she was released by the company.

Speaking on her Twitch channel, Moon commented on her WWE release.

“Without WWE, I wouldn’t be were I’m at today. I got to travel the world, meet amazing people and make amazing friends that are going to be with me for a lifetime. At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s all bad. Every time I look at the negatives, and there were plenty, trust me, the positives outweigh that. There is no use in being mad,” she said.

Moon continued, explaining that she doesn’t feel it’s fair for her to bitch and moan when so many of her friends, who didn’t get the same opportunities as her, were also released.

“I feel very sorry for me friends that did get let go too early. What I mean by that is those men and women that never got an opportunity to showcase themselves on the level that I know they can showcase themselves. That’s part of the reason why I feel like it’s not fair for me to come on here and bitch and moan and whine. It’s not fair. Where I had the opportunity to wrestle on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT and became a champion and did a lot with my career, it’s not fair when those of my friends barely got started,” she said.

Ember had to wait out her 90-day non-compete clause before she could return to the ring. The non-compete expired on February 2.

When asked what she learned during the 90 days, Ember said “patience is a virtue” before saying, “I felt like a lot of self-reflection about what I could have done differently. I feel like I wouldn’t have changed anything. I felt for some time I was just stagnant and there was no opportunity to grow at times.”

Moon’s first post-WWE match has been announced as she will face Thunder Rosa at Warrior Wrestling 19 on February 12.

Moon said about the match, “It’s an opportunity to prove that I’m not some washed up has been. For awhile, I felt like that and I know in my heart and soul that I’m better than that.”

Moon also confirmed that she helped Ronda Rousey get ready for her return at the Royal Rumble, which Rousey mentioned on social media.

Thank you for helping me get ready for #RoyalRumble2022 @AthenaPalmer_FG ! If you want her to train you too check out her school https://t.co/pKsdie1CeC

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) February 3, 2022

Moon has not wrestled since the October 5 episode of NXT when she lost to Mandy Rose.

During the Q&A session, Moon mentioned that Asuka was her favorite opponent in WWE and said she wished she could have wrestled Sasha Banks in a singles match. “They knew if we had that match, no one could keep up with that,” she said.

She also said that when she gets signed, or if she was signed, she wouldn’t tell people, they would just have to wait and see.

When asked if she would go back to WWE, she said, “I did not have a terrible experience there. If they asked, maybe, depending on the circumstance, but maybe. I’m open.”

Regarding plans for her prior to her release, Moon said she was going to turn back into the old Ember Moon character, but didn’t reveal any more information.

With her non-compete clause up, Moon will be back on her Twitch on a regular schedule.

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