Mercedes Mone On Her WWE Exit: It Was The Hardest Decision, But That Moment Changed My Life For The Better

Mercedes Mone comments on her WWE departure. 

Mercedes Mone (formerly Sasha Banks in WWE) left WWE in May 2022, walking out during an episode of WWE Raw alongside Naomi. The two were the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions at the time, but left over a reported creative disagreement with Vince McMahon. 

Mone would go on to join NJPW in January 2023. 

Speaking to Evan T Mack on the Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast, Mone was asked what happened and why is she no longer with WWE. 

“That’s a big question. That’s a big, big question. I really believe in, not only the universe, but I believe in myself and a higher power of light that comes over me. Something inside of me told me that I needed to go do this and stand up for myself. It was a very hard decision because wrestling in WWE has been my whole life. People don’t know, it’s been my whole life. It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my whole life, but it’s the proudest. It’s crazy, because I would not be sitting here, living the best version of my life and getting to be everything I’ve ever dreamt of, and more. It makes me so excited because that moment changed my whole life for the better. I’m so thankful for that moment. I’m so proud of myself. I’m so proud of Trinity, of just how strong we were. Everybody wanted to talk about it. Everybody wanted to act like they were in the room. Everybody acted like they were in the room, or worked there, or were backstage, or knew what happened, or knew what was said. All I know is that I handled it like a CEO, like the boss that I am, with my head held high. I can’t say anything but amazing things to WWE. I’m so thankful to the career they gave me, the fans they gave me, the life they gave me. The dreams that they gave me. So many dreams. I got to chase and live them all. I get to do so much more. I have a lot of unfinished business in wrestling in a lot of places,” she said.

Mone debuted for NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17 and would go on to win the IWGP Women’s Championship. 

Mone hasn’t wrestled since May 21, when she suffered an ankle injury against Willow Nightingale at NJPW STRONG Resurgence 2023. 

She will reportedly debut for AEW at AEW Dynamite Big Business on March 13. 

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