As of January 1st, Mercedes Varnado is a free agent as she’s no longer contractually obligated to WWE. The former Sasha Banks is set to make an appearance at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom tonight, though the nature of her appearance is unknown as of this time.
Wrestle Kingdom 17 will mark the first wrestling-related appearance for Varnado since she and her tag team partner Naomi walked out of WWE in May amidst creative disputes with Vince McMahon. Following their walkout, the pair were stripped of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship and suspended without pay. The two have continued making public appearances together during their hiatus from wrestling, and though she’s not scheduled to appear, Naomi is reportedly in Tokyo to support her friend, as is current Raw star Bayley.
Mercedes Varnado Thanked Her Former Persona Sasha Banks Along With Vince McMahon, Triple H, And Others
Ahead of her NJPW Wrestle Kingdom debut, the former Sasha Banks took to social media to say “thank you” to a number of influential individuals following her WWE departure. First, she thanked WWE itself, followed by expressing gratitude to William Regal and Triple H, who were influential in her beginnings with the company in WWE NXT.
Thank you @WWE
— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023
Thank you @RealKingRegal
— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023
Thank you @TripleH
— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023
Varnado then thanked the WWE Universe and sent out a special shoutout to the Krew, the name she calls her fans across the world, telling them she loves them “so much.”
Thank you @WWEUniverse
— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023
Thank you #Krew I love you so much
— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023
The star also thanked former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon before thanking “Sasha Banks” herself, indicating that she’s closing the chapter of her former persona as she looks ahead to the future.
Thank you @VinceMcMahon
— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023
Thank you #SashaBanks 💙
— Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023
It remains to be seen what’s in store for Varnado during her NJPW Wrestle Kingdom appearance and beyond. According to one report, talent within AEW believe she’ll also be making her debut in All Elite Wrestling soon as she’s expected to be Saraya’s mystery partner on the January 11th episode of AEW Dynamite. However, one talent believed a deal could not be struck until she was free of her contractual obligations to WWE.