Sasha Banks, aka Mercedes Varnado has been the subject of much speculation. However, we've finally gained some clarity on some details.
It was confirmed to Fightful that Mercedes' WWE exit was negotiated "months ago," likely when Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc. reported as much. However, WWE has yet to officially confirm this, and she remains listed on the company's official website.
It was also reiterated to us that Sasha Banks was able to take wrestling related bookings on January 1, something that Fightful Select reported this past fall. When we asked if that was "contractual," we were told that it was, and were informed that WrestleCade was far from the only wrestling-related operation to make attempts to book her. We've also heard that some conventions even tossed around the idea of rebranding themselves as "entertainment" conventions to get around the technicality of being a pro wrestling convention, in hopes of booking her before January 1. Ultimately that didn't happen.
Beyond that, we were also informed that the New Japan Pro Wrestling deal is a go, and was agreed upon as far back as the last week of November. Those that we've spoken to familiar with that deal said that they haven't heard of anything regarding All Elite Wrestling and Mercedes yet, but also stated that doesn't mean it isn't happening.
We're told that Sasha Banks had actually told people that she's trained with recently that she wouldn't be wrestling through the end of 2022.
This article first appeared on our premium service, Fightful Select and was republished here on Fightful. If you complain about it being "old news," you have to buy SRS a TurboMan doll. Subscribe to get exclusive news every day, and a half-dozen weekly podcasts.
To directly support us and our continuing breaking news, interviews, and the like, subscribe to FightfulSelect.com. You'll get exclusive news sent to you directly before anyone else, and dozens of podcasts monthly including Alex Pawlowski's Sour Graps, Sean Ross Sapp's Q&A, Retro Reviews and more
