Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of Raw live taping in May, which resulted in getting suspended by WWE. There were numerous reports about Sasha Banks potentially returning back to WWE.
Mercedes Varnado had some other plans. She debuts at NJPW under the ring name of Mercedes Mone, she is set wrestle Kairi at NJPW Battle in the Valley in February.
Dave Meltzer recently on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that WWE is under the impression that Sasha will not wrestle in AEW, and her NJPW contract is for few matches.
“I also know from WWE that they are very strongly under the impression that she will not wrestle for AEW … 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?(H/T: RingSideNews)
For AEW, it would be really stupid to put her on television if she’s going back in 6 months. I don’t know that she wants to make that commitment that she can’t go back.”(H/T: RingSideNews)
IT’S MERCEDES MONÉ!@mercedesvarnado is in the Tokyo Dome!!!#wk17 #njpw pic.twitter.com/PD54lqLr1L
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023