Mercedes Moné (fka Sasha Banks) Debuts in New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Eight months after Sasha Banks Mercedes Varnado and Naomi Trinity Fatu walked out hours before the start of an episode of Monday Night Raw the non-stop speculation about where Mercedes Varnado would appear (back at WWE? Debut in AEW? etc.) has ended. After weeks of rumors, Fightful.com reporting on January 1st that Mercedes was a free agent, and Mercedes posting a series of tweets thanking multiple people at WWE and the WWE Universe, the 10x Champion, former WWE Superstar debuted under her new ring name Mercedes Moné at the Tokyo Dome for NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4th. She attacked the inaugural (and current) IGWP Women’s Champion Kairi after her first defense against Tam Nakano.

IT’S MERCEDES MONÉ!@mercedesvarnado is in the Tokyo Dome!!!#wk17 #njpw pic.twitter.com/PD54lqLr1L

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023

Mercedes Moné is here!

Welcome to #njpw, @mercedesvarnado!#njwk17 pic.twitter.com/MCuWSs99y4

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 4, 2023

This is what I want! #wk17 #njpw #STARDOM pic.twitter.com/P7OnKqbQSW

— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023

https://instagram.com/p/Cm_UTg6OHZL

I’ve never felt more loved! I can’t thank my family enough for being here for me.
🇯🇵💙 pic.twitter.com/cDgblYIpPE

— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023

Am I dreaming?! https://t.co/JqT8MYrdzq

— KAIRI /カイリ🏴‍☠️ (@KAIRI_official) January 4, 2023

https://instagram.com/p/CnFKtNmJK9y

Sources: njpw twt 1 / njpw twt 2 / wrestling news co / sean ross sapp / kairi official / mv twt 1 / mv twt 2 / mv ig / bayley ig / and me because i woke up at 2am cst to watch this match/debut lol