Moné debuted for New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Wrestle Kingdom 17 event in the Tokyo Dome, marking her first wrestling-based appearance since leaving WWE in May 2022.
However, many expected her to be announced for the upcoming episode of Dynamite as Saraya’s mystery partner. Instead, former AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm was selected as her partner to take on Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and current champion Jamie Hayter.
The announcement of Storm being Saraya’s partner and not Sasha Banks has led many to believe that a deal with AEW might be in jeopardy. Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio speculated that it might be down to having to make at least a three-year commitment.
Meltzer elaborated by saying that Mercedes only signed a short deal with NJPW in case she wanted to return to WWE. However, the idea in Japan is that she will be exclusive to their company, meaning she won’t go to AEW.
Mercedes Moné (Sasha Banks) already has a championship match in her future
Even if the former Sasha Banks doesn’t go to AEW, she still has a lot coming up when it comes to her New Japan Pro Wrestling schedule, with her debut match being a championship match.
On February 18th at the Battle in the Valley event, Mercedes Moné will challenge KAIRI for the IWGP Women’s Championship. Moné laid out her challenge to the former WWE Superstar following her match at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
The former Sasha Banks also highlighted fellow young Stardom performer AZM and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling’s Miyu Yamashita as two women she would love to get in the ring with over the coming months.
Do you think Mercedes Moné could become the new IWGP Women’s Champion? Let us know in the comments section down below!
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