Sasha Banks walked out of WWE in May 2022 over creative disagreements

Sasha Banks, whose real name is Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado, left WWE on May 16, 2022, after refusing to perform at an event. She had been with the company since 2013 and was one of its most prominent women's wrestlers. The immediate cause was a disagreement with WWE management over how her character was being used in storylines.

Banks had been scheduled to defend the Raw Women's Championship against Rhea Ripley at a live event in San Jose, California. She informed WWE management that she did not want to perform that match. When the company would not change the booking, she left the building and did not return to work. WWE initially suspended her, then released her from her contract on June 10, 2022, after she did not show up for scheduled appearances.

The split was public and contentious. Banks posted on social media that she felt disrespected by how WWE was handling her character and that she had repeatedly raised concerns with management that went unaddressed. She stated that she had asked for time off to recover from burnout but was denied.

Key Takeaways

  • Sasha Banks left WWE in May 2022 after refusing to perform a scheduled match, citing creative disagreement with management over her character's direction.
  • WWE suspended her initially, then released her from her contract on June 10, 2022, after she did not return to work.
  • Banks stated publicly that she felt disrespected and that her concerns about burnout and character use had been ignored by management.
  • She signed with AEW (All Elite Wrestling) in November 2022 under the ring name Mercedes Mone and has since become a major figure in that promotion.

The creative conflict that led to her departure

Banks had been frustrated with WWE's creative direction for some time before the May 2022 incident. She felt that her character was not being developed in meaningful ways and that her input on storylines was not being heard. In interviews after leaving, she described feeling like a prop in other wrestlers' stories rather than the center of her own narrative.

The specific trigger was the Raw Women's Championship match she was asked to defend. Banks believed the booking did not make sense for her character and that losing the title in the way WWE had planned would damage her standing. She asked management to reconsider the match or give her time away from performing to recover from exhaustion. WWE declined both requests.

This was not Banks's first conflict with WWE over creative control. She had walked out once before in 2019 over similar issues, though that situation was resolved and she returned to the company. The 2022 departure proved permanent.

What happened after WWE released her

After WWE released Banks on June 10, 2022, she was free to work elsewhere once a 90-day non-compete clause expired. During that waiting period, she took time away from professional wrestling to rest and spend time with family. She also appeared in a music video and pursued other projects outside of wrestling.

In November 2022, Banks signed with AEW (All Elite Wrestling), WWE's main competitor. She debuted under the ring name Mercedes Mone and quickly became one of AEW's top women's wrestlers. She won the AEW TBS Championship and later the AEW Women's World Championship, roles that gave her the creative control and character development she had sought in WWE.

Banks has stated in interviews that her time away from WWE allowed her to reset mentally and that AEW's approach to creative storytelling aligned better with what she wanted as a performer. She has been more visible and central to AEW's women's division than she was in WWE during her final years with that company.

The broader context of WWE departures in 2022

Banks was not alone in leaving WWE during this period. Several other wrestlers departed in 2022 over similar issues: creative frustration, feeling underutilized, and disagreements with management over character direction. The departures reflected broader tension between WWE's creative team and performers who wanted more input into their own storylines.

WWE's creative process at that time was highly centralized, with Vince McMahon (who returned as CEO in July 2022 after stepping down in 2022) and a small group of writers controlling most major decisions. Wrestlers had limited ability to pitch ideas or refuse bookings they disagreed with. This structure led to frustration among performers who felt their expertise and instincts were being ignored.

Banks's departure and subsequent success in AEW highlighted the difference between the two companies' approaches. AEW gave performers more creative input and flexibility, which appealed to wrestlers who had felt constrained by WWE's system.

Banks's career before the split

Sasha Banks joined WWE in 2013 after training in the independent wrestling circuit. She quickly became known for her technical wrestling ability, charisma, and willingness to take risks in matches. She won multiple championships during her time with WWE, including the Raw Women's Championship, the SmackDown Women's Championship, and the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.

Banks was part of a group called The Four Horsewomen alongside Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Bayley. This group was credited with elevating women's wrestling in WWE and helping to drive the company's "Women's Evolution" and later "Women's Revolution" initiatives. She was a main-event performer and had some of the most critically acclaimed matches in WWE women's history.

Despite her success and popularity, Banks felt that WWE was not using her at her full potential in her final years with the company. She believed she could be a bigger star and that her creative ideas were being dismissed. These frustrations accumulated over time and eventually led to her departure.

How the departure affected WWE's women's division

Banks's departure removed one of WWE's most skilled and popular women's wrestlers from the roster. Her absence was felt in the women's division, particularly in the Raw brand, where she had been a centerpiece. WWE had to rebuild storylines and title pictures without her.

The loss of Banks, combined with other departures and injuries during 2022, created gaps in WWE's women's division that took time to fill. Younger wrestlers moved into more prominent roles, and some wrestlers who had been in secondary positions got more screen time. This created opportunities for some performers but also meant that WWE lost the star power Banks had brought.

From a business perspective, Banks's departure to AEW also meant that WWE's main competitor gained a major talent. AEW used Banks effectively in its marketing and programming, which helped raise the profile of that company's women's division.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Sasha Banks and Naomi leave WWE at the same time?

Naomi walked out of WWE on the same night as Banks in May 2022, also over creative disagreements. However, Naomi was rehired by WWE in November 2022 after negotiations. Banks did not return and instead signed with AEW. The two wrestlers had different outcomes despite leaving for similar reasons.

Has Sasha Banks said she regrets leaving WWE?

Banks has not expressed regret about leaving WWE. In interviews, she has stated that the departure was necessary for her mental health and career satisfaction. She has said that AEW gave her the creative freedom and respect she was seeking, which suggests she views the move as positive.

Could Sasha Banks return to WWE in the future?

It is possible but uncertain. WWE and AEW have occasionally allowed wrestlers to move between promotions, though it is not common. Banks would need to want to return and WWE would need to want to bring her back. As of now, she appears committed to AEW and has not indicated interest in returning to WWE.

What is Mercedes Mone doing now?

Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) is a main-event performer in AEW. She has held multiple championships and is involved in major storylines. She also appears on AEW's television programming regularly and is one of the company's top women's wrestlers.