Sasha Banks Is Reportedly Done With WWE – Mercedes Varnado (also known as Sasha Banks in WWE) is expected to be at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17.
As previously reported, New Japan believes she will be free and clear to appear on the show by January 4. This comes after she expressed interest in wrestling former WWE Superstar KAIRI in STARDOM, a sister company to NJPW. Banks and Naomi walked out in the middle of Raw back in May.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that “The Boss” is done with WWE as the two sides were far apart on money as Banks wanted a high number. Varnado will be a free agent by the time the January 4, 2023 show rolls around.
WWE may freeze her deal or give in to her demand for the amount of money she wants to prevent her from going to NJPW or AEW. Banks does have dates booked with NJPW in 2023. Meltzer said he doesn’t know about her potentially going to AEW and whether she will be Saraya’s mystery partner on January 11th on AEW Dynamite.
As of this writing, Banks is “done with WWE,” although that “could change at any moment.”
Stating that the former WWE Women’s Champion has verbally agreed to multiple dates with NJPW, Meltzer said:
“I do know that she’s going to the show (Wrestle Kingdom 17), she will be appearing on the show, she will not wrestle on the show.
“She has dates with New Japan Pro Wrestling in her deal, I do not believe it is signed.
“She still could sign with WWE and this could all fall apart, but she has pretty much agreed to their terms, so as far as they are concerned, they have a deal.
“She will be there, it’s part of a deal to work with New Japan. I do not know how AEW fits in.
“Obviously everyone is going to jump to the speculation that she is the mystery partner of Saraya against Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker on the (January 11) show.
“New Japan Pro Wrestling cannot afford to pay the numbers that WWE was willing to pay her, I can say that. AEW could afford that.”
It has been speculated that Varnado will confront KAIRI at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
At the event, KAIRI will defend her IWGP Women’s Championship against Tam Nakano, after becoming the inaugural titleholder at the November NJPW X STARDOM Historic X-Over event.
NJPW reportedly has an IWGP Women’s Title bout booked for February 18 in San Jose, California, which many have predicted will be when Varnado makes her NJPW in-ring debut.
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Sasha Banks Is Reportedly Done With WWE
