Report: Sasha Banks Exited WWE Months Ago

While Sasha Banks (AKA Mercedes Varnado) is still listed as an active talent on WWE.com, the former Raw Women's Champion has been done with the company for months, according to Fightful Select. 

Varnado's departure from WWE was reportedly negotiated "months ago", likely when Wrestling Inc. reported in June that Banks had been released from the organisation. Although Banks has been out of WWE for some time, she was only able to begin taking wrestling-related bookings from January 1, 2023, due to contractual reasons. There was a lot of interest in booking Banks for wrestling conventions but they were unable to do so before 2023. 

With Banks gone from WWE, she is expected to debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 17 and enter a programme for the IWGP Women's Championship. Fightful noted that Banks' deal "is a go" and was agreed in the last week of November.

There has been speculation about Banks potentially joining All Elite Wrestling but those familiar with her NJPW deal haven't heard anything about that. That doesn't necessarily she isn't AEW-bound, though.  

Banks was one of the top stars in the WWE women's division as one of the Four Horsewomen. She hasn't been on WWE TV since she and Naomi walked out of the May 16 edition of Monday Night Raw over a creative dispute.