Moving on from the WWE, Sasha Banks has adopted the new moniker of Mercedes Mone after arriving at the New Japan Wrestling Promotion. In the first match performed in the promotion, she became the new IWGP Women’s Champion and the face of the company’s female division by defeating the former champion KAIRI.
Along with Naomi, Sasha Banks was the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion in the WWE following Wrestlemania 38. But within a month, she made her departure from the company in May 2022 due to reported creative differences with the previous Vince McMahon-led regime. A suspension followed that after which her contract expired with the WWE at the beginning of this year, allowing her to jump ship.
Ex WWE Star Sasha Banks Slays The Mandalorian Season 3 Red Carpet Appearance
After becoming a free agent at the start of 2023, Sasha Banks made her debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling back at Wrestle Kingdom on January 4th by confronting KAIRI. Then in her in-ring debut for NJPW at Battle in the Valley from San Jose, California, she defeated KAIRI to become the new IWGP Women’s Champion.
Sasha Banks had never opened up on her WWE exit
So far, her experience in NJPW has been fulfilling but it appears that she’ll be willing to make a return to the company if the WWE officials consider the same. During an appearance at Planet Comicon in Kansas City, Sasha Banks was asked about a comeback in WWE since Triple H took over creative.
In response, Sasha Banks mentioned that no one knows the real story behind her WWE departure in the first place,
“First of all, nobody knows the story. You don’t know the story, but you’re reading whatever you want to read and believe whatever you want to believe. Nobody knows the story because I haven’t said anything, and I’m not going to say anything because that’s just the classy boss that I am. The CEO, but one thing, it’s up to them.” (quotes courtesy POST Wrestling)
But before the WWE return could happen, chances are brighter that Sasha Banks could end up having an appearance on AEW programming. The second AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door PPV takes place on Sunday, June 25 in Toronto at the Scotiabank Centre. Since this is a cross-brand event, fans are hoping to see her wrestle, possibly for her title against a top superstar from AEW.
