It's Mone Time.
Mercedes Mone (formerly Sasha Banks) made her NJPW debut, confronting KAIRI at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. Mercedes got a full entrance and was dressed to wrestle. She laid out KAIRI after KAIRI had successfully defended the IWGP Women's Title against Tam Nakano.
Mercedes said she was in NJPW/STARDOM to make history before issuing a challenge to KAIRI for NJPW Battle in the Valley on February 18.
Mercedes Moné is HERE! #wk17 pic.twitter.com/klwPLxVMFe
— AJ (@Y2AWWE) January 4, 2023
"In San Jose, I'm gonna leave you bankrupt, bitch. You can bank on that"
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 4, 2023
Mercedes Mone vs. Kairi Sane is set for February 18 pic.twitter.com/oSTYxzeYqw
Mercedes Moné is here!
— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) January 4, 2023
Welcome to #njpw, @mercedesvarnado!
元WWE、元サーシャ・バンクス改め、 メルセデス・モネー選手が参戦決定!!#wk17 pic.twitter.com/xBYUJNfadR
IT’S MERCEDES MONÉ!@mercedesvarnado is in the Tokyo Dome!!!#wk17 #njpw pic.twitter.com/PD54lqLr1L
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023
Mercedes has not wrestled since a May 15, 2022 WWE live event when she teamed with Naomi to defeat Natalya & Shayna Baszler. Mercedes & Naomi walked out of WWE at the May 16 episode of WWE Raw after meeting with Vince McMahon over their creative direction. They were the reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions at the time, but were stripped of the titles and subsequently suspended for walking out.
Ahead of Wrestle Kingdom 17, Mercedes took to social media to thank WWE, Triple H, Vince McMahon, and more.
Fans can find results from NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 by clicking here. Watch the event with the Fightful staff by clicking here.
