WWE suspended Sasha Banks after she and Namoi walked out on the company back in May. And subsequently, it’s been confirmed that her representatives successfully negotiated a release that allows her to work for other companies from January 2023, with New Japan’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 set to be her first non-WWE wrestling appearance. Now though, it’s been verified that she did discuss a WWE return.
However, financially, a deal couldn’t be agreed upon, with Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reporting she wanted the same pay level as Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. Nevertheless, WWE clearly didn’t see her at their level of stardom, and their offer to her was far from their deals.
She was said to be seeking a number along the levels of Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair and those internally have said she wasn’t offered numbers close to that.
Dave Meltzer via WONIt now seems inevitable that Banks will eventually appear for AEW, and with her having trademarked her name Mercedes Varnado and Mercedes Mone’ fans are expecting she’ll be using one of those names shortly. Ultimately though, while he love of pro wrestling is unquestionable, her future may be in more mainstream entertainment. With her having recently finished filming a movie in Boston and is believed to have an interest in the music industry, which her cousin Snoop Dogg could likely help with.
