Major Update On Mercedes Mone’s Wrestling Future

A new report has shed more light on the in-ring future of Mercedes Mone after the star formerly known as Sasha Banks debuted in NJPW.

After walking out on WWE during an episode of Monday Night Raw back in May 2022, the future of Sasha Banks in the company was thrown into some doubt. Despite conflicting reports that said that she was soon to be returning to the company given the change in management, it now looks like The Boss has most definitely moved on.

At Wrestle Kingdom 17, Banks – now using the name Mercedes Mone – made her debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling and confronted IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI after her successful title defence against Tam Nakano. Mone attacked KAIRI before raising the championship belt above her head.

Mone then grabbed a microphone and declared herself the CEO of the NJPW women’s division, before announcing that she would be challenging for the title at Battle Of The Valley, which is set to take place in San Jose on 18th February, while also mentioning she would be a part of NJPW and partner organisation STARDOM.

Before Mone debuted at Wrestle Kingdom, Fightful Select reported that talent in AEW have been “no sold” in regard to Mone being Saraya’s surprise tag team partner on the 11th of January edition of Dynamite. Many still feel that Mone is likely to be involved in that match with one AEW talent quoted as saying that they didn’t think a deal “could have been completed” at the time the match was announced due to Mone’s contractual status with WWE.

It was also noted that some WWE writers were caught off guard by Mercedes Mone debuting in New Japan Pro Wrestling with one believing as recently as the start of 2023 that Mone would be back as Sasha Banks by the 2023 Royal Rumble.