Sasha Banks Opens Up On Asking For Her WWE Release In 2019
Sasha Banks has opened up about her lengthy absence from WWE following WrestleMania 35, a period that saw her ask to be released from her WWE contract.
Back in 2019, Sasha Banks was one of the top stars of WWE’s women’s division, becoming half of the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions alongside her friend Bayley. Calling themselves ‘The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection’, the pair were victorious in the first women’s tag team Elimination Chamber match that February. However, after losing the gold to The IIconics at WrestleMania 35, Banks disappeared from WWE TV for several months.
In a new interview with The Athletic, Sasha Banks has discussed this period of her career when, despite all of her success up to that point, ‘The Boss’ wanted something else. At the time, Banks had been working through a separated shoulder and suffering from depression.
Following the title loss, she reached a point where she asked for her release, only for the request to be turned down by Vince McMahon who suggested she instead take some time to time off to figure things out.
“I felt so sad every day and I didn’t know why. I had to take myself away from a situation and such a fast world where I had to stop and realize who Mercedes was and who Sasha Banks was. I had no time off. I never got to see myself, my family. I took that time to figure out what I loved besides wrestling.”
Sasha Banks eventually returned to WWE TV on the Raw after SummerSlam 2019, immediately turning heel by attacking Natalya. She reunited with Bayley soon after this and the two recaptured the gold to become two-time Women’s Tag Team Champions, while also being two of the more memorable acts throughout the pandemic era.
Sasha Banks is set to team up with Naomi at WrestleMania 38 in a Fatal Fourway match for the Women’s Tag Team Championships, currently held by Carmella and Queen Zelina. The bout will also feature the teams of Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan, and Shayna Baszler and Natalya.
H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the above transcription.