Sasha Banks reactions from NJPW, AEW, WWE, and elsewhere
Added 2022-12-09 02:16:13 +0000 UTCKnown professionally as Sasha Banks, Mercedes hasn't wrestled since walking out on WWE back in May, and subsequently was suspended. PWInsider has reported that NJPW is bringing Mercedes into the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom show, which is interesting timing for multiple reasons.
Earlier this year, WrestleCade tried to book Sasha Banks for their Thanksgiving weekend event. Despite a high price tag, they were confident that she would yield a return, and were planning the booking. However, as talks progressed, they were told that Banks wasn't taking wrestling booking until after January 1. Wrestle Kingdom is after that date, as is the AEW LA date that features Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter against Saraya and a mystery partner.
Fightful has already heard from reps from multiple companies, asking about Sasha Banks' status and inquiring what we think it would take for her to make appearances, even one offs.
Fightful asked about Mercedes' status with WWE after the heavy promotion of her appearing on USA Network's Barmageddon. Nobody that we inquired with at WWE had heard any change or update on her status, or were at least willing to say as much. However, several AEW talent were excited about the possibility of her coming in. One source quickly agreed they thought that having Sasha Banks on their show weekly is another "anchor" for their women's division, something that could kick start interest in it, and feel would significantly help viewership
When asking with NJPW sources, they would not confirm or deny the news, which is usually something they'll quickly deny if it isn't true.
Comments
You just looked blindly at the screen and typed out some shit that made no sense.
Fightful Select
2022-12-12 18:30:20 +0000 UTCSo nothing really new to report.
T Mar
2022-12-09 19:27:13 +0000 UTCThe thing about Sasha--if she goes back to WWE, is she going to have to lose to Rhonda Rousey? She was given the tag titles twice to make something of them in lieu of having to do a bunch of singles, and WWE management at the time undercut all the tag stuff in lieu of pushing singles stuff (with rhonda I think...) which was part of the reason Sasha and Naomi walked out. IF she goes back to WWE, they have to promise her big tag team stuff....or a win over Rhonda in singles. Sasha is huge, but who is going to beat Rhonda clean? Until they get over that, Sasha SHOULD stay away. Will she? WE should know something in a few weeks!
David Feig
2022-12-09 19:19:13 +0000 UTCAEW hasn’t been able to land content on HBO yet, so I remain skeptical that it’s going to be different for Sasha as an individual performer at this point. I still think inarguably WWE provides her the biggest platform if wrestling isn’t her main focus, oddly enough.
2022-12-09 17:42:36 +0000 UTCSnoop wrestled a match in AEW lol... Jade's also feuding with Bow Wow right now, who is Snoop's best friend and protege, so I don't think that's a coincidence.... she can also command a ton of money working indies and having a possible dual-contract, on top of movie and tv roles... there's a lot more reasons to do wrestling outside of WWE..
Rob Iapicca
2022-12-09 17:38:19 +0000 UTCGoing to AEW would be perfect, she can easily land a show on HBO.
2022-12-09 16:12:48 +0000 UTCBoth MJF and Jade Cargill just landed roles in big movies and Jericho was in the masked singer. AEW has connections with Warner Media, which means HBO max. Yeah WWE is more main stream but there is just as much opportunity in AEW for outside projects.
Anthony M
2022-12-09 15:41:18 +0000 UTCYes, that’s why I said it’s my opinion. Hope that helps!
2022-12-09 15:15:52 +0000 UTCThere's a difference between what you think she *should* do and what she wants to do. This woman cries about what wrestling means to her in interviews. It may be unfathomable to you, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.
Allyssa Golden
2022-12-09 14:50:46 +0000 UTCThere’s just no way it’s Sasha, I’m sorry. She’s acting now, she’s in the Mandalorian. Her cousin is Snoop. She’s got every connection in the entertainment world and I just can’t see her going to the #2 wrestling promotion (by a large margin) when she’s ready to hit the mainstream. I know we all seemingly really want this to happen, but WWE offers too many opportunities and too much money. So if it’s not WWE, she’s just gonna work on and off dates. That’s my opinion
2022-12-09 14:18:39 +0000 UTCCould she be the catalyst for the "forbidden door" for the WWE? Have her work these shows as Sasha Banks and I think we get our answer.
Connor Augenstein
2022-12-09 13:39:52 +0000 UTCSasha AEW confirmed lol
jim hogan
2022-12-09 09:09:04 +0000 UTCI think she winds up with a very loose deal with AEW that allows massive flexibility to compete elsewhere and pursue other career opportunities. Maybe she’s on a dozen shows a year + PPV.
David C
2022-12-09 06:53:34 +0000 UTCShe could be getting Triple H permission to go. As her condition to return. Trinity going to end up in AEW
2022-12-09 06:26:27 +0000 UTCSo, what about Trinity Fatu?
CSDX
2022-12-09 05:18:52 +0000 UTCThat’s not really a fair comparison. Adam Cole signed and debuted right after his contract ended with WWE. I’m sure there wasn’t an immediacy to take him off the roster page since he was still negotiating with WWE and AEW. It’s been six months and Sasha is still listed on the internal roster and can’t take bookings until January 1st.
2022-12-09 04:26:43 +0000 UTCAdam Cole was still listed on the WWE.com roster page all the way until he debuted at A ll Out so I would take that with a grain of salt
Dorian Espinoza
2022-12-09 04:09:41 +0000 UTCI’m assuming she is since she’s still listed on the internal roster and her agent said she’d be available for bookings after January 1st. Surely she would’ve popped up somewhere by now if she wasn’t.
2022-12-09 03:13:55 +0000 UTCNobody knows if she’s still signed to WWE since apparently they don’t want anybody to know
Joel Wood
2022-12-09 03:07:32 +0000 UTC
