Marking her first wrestling appearance since May of 2022, Sasha Banks came to the headlines in early 2023 by joining the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. Quitting the WWE, she and Naomi walked out prior to an episode of WWE Raw because of the creative differences they were having with the then head of the team, Vince McMahon and despite a change in WWE management, a return didn’t fall in place.
Sasha Banks and Naomi were subsequently suspended and stripped of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships and afterward, they never resurfaced on WWE programming. In fact, they’re also removed from vignettes that air in the WWE programming.
Ex WWE Star Sasha Banks To Star In Action-Thriller Movie The Collective
WWE had never made any announcement regarding the release or departure of the multi-time women’s champion from the company but Wrestling Inc.’s Raj Giri reported in June that WWE had released her. Afterward, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp noted that she was free to negotiate wrestling bookings with companies other than the WWE beginning January 1.
Then happened the debut of Sasha Banks in the NJPW promotion which also promises future appearances in Stardom. These contracts are exclusive and the former top WWE Superstar will have the flexibility to work elsewhere if she so chooses, which was the reason that people believed that she will appear on AEW Dynamite during the January 11 episode as Saraya’s partner.
Sasha Banks expected to be back in the WWE fold by the officials
That never happened and AEW fans were majorly disappointed over how Saraya chose Toni Storm as her tag partner. Now, people in WWE also reportedly believe that Sasha Banks will eventually return home to the company following her run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Stardom will be over as Mercedes Moné.
According to the reports of Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio WWE is “very strongly under the impression” that the former Sasha Banks will not be signing with All Elite Wrestling despite the ongoing rumors. Due to her top status in the WWE, she should be back in the fold after she gets back to wrestling in the USA when Japan will be “out of her system.”
“They think that she’s coming back at some point, and she’ll get this out of her system [and] she’ll do her New Japan matches. Because, she’s only contracted for a couple of matches … and if she’s going to AEW, she has to sign for 3 years minimum, because why bother if she’s going back?” (quotes courtesy Felix Upton of Ringside News).
As noted above, Sasha Banks made her NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17 by confronting and attacking International Wrestling Grand Prix women’s champion Kairi. The two will now wrestle in a match at NJPW Battle in the Valley in San Jose, California, on February 18.