It had been over seven months since Sasha Banks had been seen inside a televised professional wrestling ring. The former WWE Women’s Champion walked out of her former employer ahead of a May 2022 edition of Monday Night Raw alongside tag partner Naomi, citing creative frustrations with the direction of the women’s tag division. Reports swirled in the subsequent months about Banks’s WWE status, with some claiming she had been quietly released while others stated that she was still listed on the company’s internal roster. Things reached a fever pitch this past November when Banks began teasing her future, and the following month reports surfaced that The Boss had agreed to dates with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Mercedes Monè (FKA Sasha Banks) officially makes her NJPW debut & comes face to face with KAIRI! 🚨🚨🚨Mercedes looks incredible.This. Is. Happening. #WK17 #NJPW pic.twitter.com/wJJX0eSTcJ
Mercedes Moné is here!Welcome to #njpw, @mercedesvarnado!#njwk17 pic.twitter.com/MCuWSs99y4
