Tag: Sasha Banks

Is there still hope for Naomi, Sasha Banks for Royal Rumble?

Could Sasha Banka and Naomi reappear at WWE Royal Rumble later this month? Here’s the latest.

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It wouldn’t be a January in professional wrestling without some intense speculation about who might make a surprise appearance at Royal Rumble. And while that kind of discussion has often focused on legends from WWE’s past who could arrive for a one-off appearance in a Rumble match, the nature of free agency and talent movement today means people are much more interested in who might be coming back to WWE as regulars.

That’s especially true because the company has two stars who left together and might be ready to return. Sasha Banks (currently Mercedes Moné) and Naomi (performing at the moment as Trinity) famously walked out on an episode of Raw and left their tag team titles behind, but their beefs with the booking of the women’s division could very well have evaporated under the current creative leadership of Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

So does that mean we could see them as entrants in the women’s Rumble match? Yes, though, one looks much more likely than the other.

Dave Meltzer wrote about both wrestlers in his latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required) and made it clear he believes there’s a chance Naomi will be in St. Petersburg, since she’ll be clear of her obligations for TNA Wrestling.

Trinity Fatu is expected to finish up at the tapings on 1/19 and 1/20 in Kissimmee, FL, and then return to WWE. The timing would indicate she could be back at the Rumble.

Banks appears to be a much longer shot. She’s been rumored to be close to signing with AEW for some weeks, which would obviously exclude her from a WWE reunion any time soon. Meltzer, however, left the door open for something to come together within the next week.

The original plan was for Giulia to lose to Mercedes Mone on this show, but Mone hasn’t returned and even with all the AEW rumors (and there is expectation in AEW that she’ll be in after finishing up some acting commitments this month), nothing is for certain and some in WWE believe there is still a shot for her in the Royal Rumble.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful obviously feels otherwise.

So while neither woman is a lock to be involved in the Royal Rumble match, Naomi certainly looks like a much more likely possibility. We’ll find out soon enough, as the 2024 Royal Rumble takes place on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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It looks like a Sasha Banks-WWE reunion is dead for now

A new report suggests the possibility of a WWE return for Sasha Banks has fallen through for now.

It doesn’t appear that Boss Time will be back in effect in WWE any time soon.

There appeared to be some momentum recently around a reunion between Mercedes Moné, formerly known as Sasha Banks, and WWE, with fans noting what appeared to be hints being dropped on social media. However, a new report from Fightful Select (subscription required) suggests talks between the two sides have “failed to progress,” and that Moné may appear in some other promotion “imminently.”

The two sides had recently been engaged in conversations about a return. We’re told the dialogue was friendly, the back and forth failed to progress, and WWE sources claim that their side walked as a result of it.

The question is where Moné may turn up next. She had posted training videos in late November that showed her gearing up to get back in the ring, but without tipping her hand as to where that might take place. Since leaving WWE in 2022, she had competed for both NJPW and STARDOM before injuring herself in a match with Willow Nightingale in May.

While the relationship between Bushiroad (parent company of NJPW and STARDOM) and Moné was said to be positive, there was always a feeling that a return to the U.S. might be her next move once she healed up. TNA Wrestling has been teasing a big signing for Jan. 13 at Hard to Kill, and there was natural speculation that Moné would fit the bill.

AEW could also definitely use her star power, and you can be sure the wrestling world will be on high alert watching to see if Moné might pop up at the Worlds End pay-per-view Saturday night on Long Island. While the WWE faithful will be disappointed that Banks doesn’t appear to be in the company’s immediate plans, seeing Mercedes in action anywhere will be a very welcome way to end 2023 or begin 2024.

Mercedes Moné confirms injury suffered at NJPW Resurgence

Mercedes Moné tweeted that she’d “heal and be back better than ever.”

Wrestling fans anxiously waiting to see where Mercedes Moné will pop up next may have to be patient for longer than expected.

Reports began circulating Sunday night that Moné was injured during her main event match at NJPW Resurgence against Willow Nightingale, with PW Insider saying that the word backstage was that she suffered a broken ankle.

While she didn’t confirm that diagnosis, she did take to Twitter to confirm she was injured, saying that she was “gonna heal and be back better than ever.”

It’s certainly a bummer for Moné, who had embraced her life after WWE, where she shot to stardom as Sasha Banks before famously walking out on the company last year. Her work with NJPW was well received, and she enjoyed a brief run as IWGP Women’s Champion before dropping the title to Mayu Iwatani at a Stardom event in April.

Though there was speculation that would be her last appearance for NJPW/Stardom, Moné agreed to extend her time with those promotions at least through Resurgence, which took place in Long Beach and was heavily marketed around her participation.

Moné had made it known that she intended on making this the “world tour” portion of her wrestling career, and AEW fans had grown excited over the thought that she might show up for one of that company’s upcoming shows — either Forbidden Door with NJPW in Toronto, or All In London. All of that will have to wait, however, as she recuperates from her injury.

Mercedes Moné is staying in NJPW … for now

Moné lost her title at a Stardom show but immediately said she’d be working a NJPW event in the U.S. in just a few weeks.

Mercedes Moné is no longer the IWGP Women’s Champion, but that doesn’t mean she’s leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling right away.

That’s significant because for some time, the thought was that Moné was only going to stick around NJPW for a short time, and that dropping the title would be a sign she’d be moving on. She did the first part over the weekend at Stardom All Star Grand Queendom, where she was defeated by Mayu Iwatani in the show’s penultimate match.

But afterward, Moné said she wanted to get the title back at some point and declared that the next stop on her “world tour” would be the NJPW Strong Resurgence show on May 21 in Long Beach.

NJPW is already promoting her for that event, which would be the second card she will work for the company in the U.S. following Battle in the Valley in San Jose in February — where Moné won the IWGP Women’s Championship by defeating Kairi.

Moné’s contract with NJPW and Stardom parent company Bushiroad was said to originally expire after this weekend’s event, but Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that both sides agreed to an extension several days ago. The question now is how long that extension will be, and if it runs through the summer.

If it does, that could put Moné in play for Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 4. An even more tantalizing prospect would be if she’s available for Forbidden Door, the dual-branded show with AEW which is slated for Toronto on June 25.

Wrestling fans have wondered for some time if the former Sasha Banks might show up in AEW at some point, and Forbidden Door would allow her to do that without actually signing with the company — particularly if the build is like last year’s, where some New Japan talent appeared on AEW Dynamite and Rampage in the weeks leading up to the event.

For now, anyway, Moné will be working for NJPW at least one more time in a place she knows well.

Mercedes Moné signs with agency to secure opportunities ‘across film, television, theater and more’

Moné has signed with one of the largest talent agencies in the world.

Mercedes Moné may be a pro wrestling champion again after winning the IWGP Women’s Championship at NJPW Battle in the Valley, but that doesn’t mean her ambitions outside the ring are slowing down.

Quite the opposite, in fact. Variety broke the news that Moné — real name Mercedes Varnado, and known to wrestling fans everywhere as Sasha Banks during her time in WWE —  has signed with United Talent Agency, or UTA.

UTA is one of the biggest talent agencies in the world, with hundreds of agents representing clients across every form of entertainment imaginable. The article suggests the agency will help Moné “secure new opportunities across film, television, theater and more.”

That would seem to mesh pretty well with her stated plans of taking her brand global. Working with NJPW is a big step in that direction already, though Moné has yet to work in Japan or outside the U.S. since agreeing to a deal with the company in January. She’s expected to make her in-ring Japanese debut in April.

Moné also started dipping her toes into the world of TV and film during her stint in WWE. She made a high profile TV debut playing Koska Reeves on the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian,” a well-regarded and popular part of the Star Wars universe. Appearances on unscripted reality and competition shows followed, but Moné has yet to have another significant acting role.

Signing with UTA signals that may change sooner rather than later. Fans will have to keep an eye on not just when Moné will wrestle again, but where else she might be popping up since the agency should help her have more options that ever.

For more on Moné and her plans for the near future, check out her recent appearance on our Under the Ring podcast with host Phil Strum below.

Mercedes Moné, formerly WWE’s Sasha Banks, talks in-ring return at NJPW Battle in the Valley

Moné will challenge Kairi for the IWGP Women’s Championship in San Jose, her first match in nine months.

For fans of Mercedes Moné, which means most fans of pro wrestling, the wait is almost over.

More precisely, it’s been two separate waits: First, seeing where Moné, who went by the name Sasha Banks in WWE, would turn up next after walking away from the company where she established herself as one of the most talented and popular women’s wrestlers in the world last May.

She answered that question by revealing her new identity at Wrestle Kingdom — the biggest annual event for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) — in Tokyo last month, where she challenged IWGP Women’s Champion Kairi to a title match. Even that required everyone to be a little more patient, as the bout was slated for Feb. 18 at New Japan’s Battle in the Valley in San Jose.

Add it up and it’s been nine months since Moné has stepped in the ring for any match, let alone one with so much intrigue around it. As she told the host of Wrestling Junkie’s Under the Ring podcast, Phil Strum, it still feels a bit surreal.

“I’m having a hard time processing that it’s all real, but it is, because it’s tomorrow,” Moné said. “I’ve been waiting for this for months, but I am so excited that my first match back in nine months is against Kairi, who is absolutely one of the best wrestlers in the whole world.

“This is a dream come true. I’ve been preparing for this match for the past couple months, and I’m just ready to go to do this match. I’m ready to get it over with. I have the same feelings that I did at Wrestle Kingdom where I’m just like, ‘oh my God, can it just come, can it just go past already?'”

Moné caught many industry observers off guard by resurfacing in NJPW, as opposed to a return to WWE (there were reports of a possible reconciliation that fell apart over money) or perhaps signing with its primary competition, AEW.

But this is a pairing that could easily pay dividends for both parties. Moné has made inroads into other forms of entertainment, including acting (she was part of the popular Star Wars Disney+ show “The Mandalorian) and music. She’s likely freer to pursue those ventures without being tied down to a multi-year deal with one of the big two United States-based wrestling promotions.

NJPW, meanwhile, is trying to become a bigger presence in the U.S. market. It only recently established a women’s title after years of featuring only male wrestlers — it does have a sister promotion, Stardom, for which Moné will also appear — and Moné helps give that effort both credibility and star power.

That hopefully symbiotic relationship begins Saturday night at Battle in the Valley, which is being broadcast on pay-per-view by FITE.

“I’m ready to enjoy every moment in this magical time in my career,” Moné said. “I’m so ready for tomorrow.”

Saraya says the first person she texted when she was cleared to wrestle again was Sasha Banks

Saraya also revealed a good reason for the uncertainty over her status during her first few AEW appearances.

When Saraya made her AEW debut on the Dynamite episode of AEW Grand Slam, wrestling fans who had followed her WWE career as Paige were excited but also a little confused.

Was she in the company to be an authority figure of some sort, someone to give on-screen direction to the women’s division? Or had she been cleared from the serious neck injury that ended her in-ring WWE tenure after several years? Seeing as she didn’t get physically involved in any of her first few appearances, it wasn’t clear.

As Saraya revealed on The Sessions with Renee Paquette, there was a good reason for the uncertainty: She hadn’t been cleared when she signed with AEW, and only got the good news that she could resume wrestling — which she shared with the world on this week’s Dynamite — on Oct. 31 (h/t to Wrestling Observer for the transcription).

“Halloween, perfect day, I went to the doctor here in California, one of the best doctors around,” Saraya said. “He did a bunch of NFL, NBA, all these huge action stars, celebrities, actors & actresses, and all that fun stuff.

“Then he sat there and went through them all and he was just like, ‘you’re cleared’ and I just burst into tears.”

The 30-year-old said the advice she was given was to start with just one match a month and build from there, and to take time off if she felt her neck wasn’t feeling right. But the doctor felt confident that Saraya’s surgeries and subsequent healing would give her “some cushion” on bumps to the neck.

Also notable was Saraya discussing putting another well-known wrestler’s mind at ease. As Paige, she was injured during a tag team match in WWE and was working against Sasha Banks at the time it took place.

Saraya has never blamed Banks for the kick that ended her WWE career, exacerbating a previous neck injury, and has been open about the idea that it was her own fault for proceeding with in-ring action like nothing was wrong. Still, she took the time to reach out to Banks immediately after being cleared.

“The first person I texted as well was Mercedes, Sasha,” Saraya said. “She was one of the first people I texted. All that stuff, that can mentally f–k someone up to end someone’s career.

“I just said, ‘Hey sis, I just want to let you know since I know this whole thing was tough on you mentally, but my doctor just cleared me and told me my neck is 100% ready to go. I haven’t told anyone else but I know this will make you feel good. I’m back, haha.’ And she was over the moon and stuff like that.”

Saraya’s first AEW match is set to take place against Britt Baker at Full Gear on Saturday, Nov. 19.

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Sasha Banks, Naomi have freed up their next weekend

Showing up on SmackDown would definitely fit the bill for an “unforeseen scheduling conflict.”

It’s been fairly quiet on the Sasha Banks and Naomi front for a bit, but that might be changing after Crown Jewel.

Israel Lutete of Sportskeeda pointed out that the two women (under their real names of Mercedes Varnado and Trinity Fatu) were supposed to be taking part in the Vulture Festival pop culture event in Los Angeles next weekend on Nov. 12, but were pulled from the guest list due to “an unforeseen scheduling conflict.”

Of course, Banks and Naomi may have had to pull out for any number of reasons, but considering the increasing buzz about their potential WWE return, the timing is definitely interesting. The Nov. 11 episode of WWE SmackDown is being held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, and will be a live episode after this week’s edition was pre-taped thanks to travel to Crown Jewel. Making it the comeback show for the former women’s tag team champions would certainly be a way to give that show a shot in the arm.

In an incident that would have been the top pro wrestling story in many other years except this one, Banks and Naomi walked out during the May 16 episode of Raw, reportedly in dissatisfaction with their creative direction as champions and the booking of the women’s division in general. They were subsequently suspended indefinitely by WWE and haven’t been seen on the company’s programming since.

But that was when Vince McMahon was still in charge of WWE’s shows, and things have changed since then. Head of creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque has spoken openly about the potential for Banks, in particular, to return, though he cited her outside interests (primarily acting) as a reason she might want to and said it would have to make sense for both sides.

The women’s division has received a boost from the return of Bayley and her Damage CTRL stable, but is still missing two of its biggest names, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. Welcoming back Banks and Naomi would help WWE mitigate their absence even more, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out after Crown Jewel to see if that is indeed what’s in the cards.

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WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship history: Every title change to date

See the full WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship history, including every title change from February 27, 2019 to date.

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship was one of those “it’s about time” deals for wrestling fans when first established on the night before Christmas (no, really) in 2018. With two of the most popular stars in recent memory, Bayley and Sasha Banks, as the inaugural titleholders, the belts were on their way to a memorable start.

Though WWE has had some … issues keeping the women’s tag team division stocked with interesting and viable teams since then (the same could be said for the men, to be honest), the titles have remained a topic of prominent topic of conversation among wrestling fans. This was especially true in the aftermath of Banks and Naomi walking out on WWE, vacating the championship for a time.

The titles have since made their way back to being a fixture on WWE TV and hopefully will remain that way going forward. Let’s take a look at the complete WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship history, from Feb. 27, 2019 to date.

Most recent update: Oct. 27, 2022

Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque talks Sasha Banks return: ‘It has to be right for everybody’

The door is open for a Sasha Banks return, according to Paul “Triple H” Levesque, but the ball seems to be in her court.

Since Paul “Triple H” Levesque has taken creative control of WWE programming, returns have been the order of the day. In the span of just a few weeks, Karrion Kross, Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis have returned to the fold, to name a few. Which raises the obvious question: What about Sasha Banks?

Banks and Naomi infamously walked out on WWE during the May 16 episode of SmackDown, and while there have been rumblings about a reconciliation since, neither wrestler has made a return yet.

A potential comeback for Banks was an obvious topic of discussion during Levesque’s recent interview with Ariel Helwani for BT Sport, and he seemed open to it while cautioning that Banks’ options include things outside of wrestling, so it would have to be something she wanted to do and would make sense for both sides (h/t to Fightful for the transcription).

Time will tell. Time will tell. In a lot of ways, communication breakdowns are terrible. There was a communication breakdown there, for whatever reason. Starting back up that communication, it’s not a difficult process, but it’s a process, and you have to go through the process.

She’s an unbelievably talented young woman that can do just about anything she wants. It just comes down to, what does she want to do now with her life, her career, whatever that is. The passion, clearly, for what we do, there is a passion for other things as well.

It comes down to what does she want to do? It has to be right for her. It has to be right for everybody. She is, as you’ve seen over the course of her career of coming into the PC [Performance Center] at NXT, is an unbelievable performer that I believe in with everything I have. That is one of the biggest stars in our business. It’s just what she wants to do.

The “other things” Levesque refers to could be more TV and movie roles. Banks has already made a high profile appearance in several episodes of “The Mandalorian,” and it’s not hard to imagine her pursuing acting on a more regular basis.

Still, WWE fans are anxious to see her back in the ring, and with Levesque (who has been a vocal Banks supporter throughout her career) in charge of creative, it would now be a surprise if it didn’t happen. For the time being, it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing if Michael Cole gets to yell out “It’s Boss time!” again soon.