It has been teased for weeks and speculated on for months, Sasha Banks has left the WWE and made her New Japan Pro Wrestling debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17. She made her debut as Mercedes Mone following the conclusion of KAIRI vs Tam Nakano. She attacked KAIRI after her title defense and challenged her to an IWGP Women’s Championship match at NJPW’s upcoming event in San Jose.
This is Mone’s first appearance since leaving WWE as women’s tag team champion many months ago. While most expected her to eventually return to WWE she has instead branched out on her own path and looks set to make major strides in Japan.
Mercedes Mone Makes NJPW Debut
AND NEWWWW WWE Women's Tag Team Champions!
@SashaBanksWWE and @NaomiWWE left #WrestleMania Sunday with the titles in hand!
FULL RESULTS: https://t.co/AJCPcb0X3U pic.twitter.com/TJaccZIk2J
— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2022
Mercedes Mone has immediately set her sights on claiming the recently minted IWGP Women’s Championship, which currently acts as a way for Stardom wrestlers to compete on NJPW shows. What this means for her in Stardom and NJPW remains to be seen, although many fans believe she may wrestle in Stardom when they visit Yokohama Arena in April.
The floodgates have opened for the former Sasha Banks who is sure to have the wrestling world at her feet. What dream matches await her in Japan? May we see her in All Elite Wrestling? Time will tell, but we’re certain it will be electric no matter what.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can rewatch all 2022 NJPW events and plenty more tremendous wrestling content from New Japan Pro-Wrestling on NJPWWorld.com; The King of Sports Streaming.
