Image Courtesy: WWE
Writer: Nikunj Walia
In a shocking turn of events, Mercedes Varnado, better known by her ring name Sasha Banks walked out during the May 16 2022 episode of Monday Night Raw alongside fellow WWE Superstar Naomi following a creative dispute with former WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon.
Channel: Wrestlefanent
WWE Star Sasha Banks has been one of the top attractions of the WWE women’s division for a long time being a part of highly prolific matches against the likes of Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, winning multiple WWE Women’s championships, and also attaining the pinnacle of sports entertainment by main eventing Wrestlemania 38 alongside current WWE RAW Star Bianca Belair.
WWE veteran commentator Michael Cole released WWE’s official statement regarding Sasha and Naomi’s situation on the following episode of WWE Smackdown announcing their suspension with a tournament to be held in the future to crown the new WWE Women’s Champions vacated by Banks and Naomi:
The Boss is yet to comment on the situation publicly, while inside sources report that Banks lawyers are reportedly working on her WWE release. A report from Raj Giri also suggested that she was released on June 10th and it came from Erika Schreiber, VP of Business and Legal Affairs for Talent Relations in WWE. A public statement confirming her release has not been made as the leadership is trying smooth things over with Sasha Banks.
However, The Blueprint seems to have moved to other bastions of her life being spotted a number of times in public, going by her original name Mercedes Varnado and spotting her original black hair look which could be indicating a carefree and a much happier life post-WWE.
Let’s check out all instances of Sasha Banks being spotted since the WWE Walkout:
The most recent Sasha Banks sighting saw The Legit Boss enjoying a concert in Orlando with her best friend and current WWE Superstar Bayley, who is currently inactive due to injury.
The two seemed to have enjoyed themselves while also getting clicked with the band State Champs.
Saw some friends in Orlando 🤝 pic.twitter.com/lAqUNxF8h3
— State Champs 👑 (@State_Champs) July 16, 2022
Another photo of Mercedes. Looks like a photoshoot to promote Kanndela product. #SashaBanks pic.twitter.com/1172c67n1l
— ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕪𝕨𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝔹𝕒𝕟𝕜$ (@THENEXTBlGTHlNG) June 23, 2022
Sasha Banks has always been very supportive of her friend, former WWE Star Samuray Del Sol formerly known as Kalisto over the years. Kalisto, an amazing luchador talent wasted by the WWE has started his own CBD brand- Kanndela and Sasha took part in their photoshoot alongside her dog Ryu Maivia held at the Qreate Coffee + Studio in Orlando, Florida. This came almost a month later since Sasha Banks walked out on WWE.
You can see pictures by Qreate Coffee + Studio shared on Instagram.
During the month of June 2022, Banks underwent Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) at Newsom Eye. This was the first time Sasha Banks was seen sporting a new hairstyle, going from her blue hair WWE in-ring look to black.
They posted the video and the photos with the caption “We are thrilled that another #WWE superstar graced us with their presence and is now seeing clear with her #NewsomEyes Mercedes Varnado was excited to have #PRK surgery with Dr. Newsom, and could not be happier with the results!
Sasha Banks on stage last night with Steve Aoki pic.twitter.com/usmFda0qcR
— ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕪𝕨𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝔹𝕒𝕟𝕜$ (@THENEXTBlGTHlNG) May 21, 2022
Sasha Banks’s first appearance since her WWE Walkout came only a few days later when she was spotted at a Steve Aoki concert in Minneapolis, Minn. She was seen hanging out with friends and also seemed to enjoy showing her dance moves alongside her cousin Snoop Dogg’s son, Cordell Broadus partying behind Aoki’s DJ set up in front of a packed crowd.
Sasha Banks is all set to make her first non-WWE appearance at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) and is charging a price of $30,000 per appearance while taking only non-wrestling bookings until January 1st, 2023 as reported by Fightful Select.