At long last, Trinity Fatu is back in the world of professional wrestling after her exit from WWE last May.
Alongside tag team partner Mercedes Mone (then known as Sasha Banks), the former Naomi walked out of an episode of Monday Night Raw amidst reports of creative frustration and behind-the-scenes tension. The women were stripped of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships and suspended without pay.
Mone made her return to wrestling at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 when she confronted KAIRI, and while Trinity was in the audience, she did not join her friend in appearing for the promotion. Instead, her return came at an April 28th taping of IMPACT Wrestling, where she’s now signed to a contract. The episode containing her debut aired on May 4th.
Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Trinity opened up about the “hard and hurtful” lesson she learned when people were critical of her decision to step away from WWE.
“I understand the game, I understand the business, and I knew what I was walking away from that day. I just didn’t expect to go through it publicly. Mercedes didn’t let me go through it by myself, so having each other made that a lot easier. But to go through that public humiliation together, it was a lot.
“To be taught a lesson while sitting back, that was hard and hurtful. But it got me to this point, and I’m pretty happy to be where I am right now.”
Trinity Fatu Wants To Bring More Eyes To The IMPACT Knockouts Division
Continuing, Trinity said that the time after her WWE exit was the first time she wasn’t performing in front of an audience, and she says it was a challenge. However, she’s happy with her new career direction and wants to help the women’s division in IMPACT grow.
“I wasn’t singing; I wasn’t dancing. That’s the first time in my life I wasn’t doing any type of performing. The whole process was challenging, and it was difficult to maneuver through in the beginning. But I evaluated what I wanted in my life and I’m better for it.
“The difficult times, those are going to make victory even sweeter. I have an incredible locker room of women to work with. There are new possibilities, like wrestling the guys in intergender matches. There’s so much talent there—Killer Kelly, Jordynne [Grace], Jessicka [Havok], Rosemary, Tasha [Steelz], Masha [Slamovich], Taylor Wilde—those are some badass women. My goal is to bring more eyes to the division.”
Along with Mercedes Mone, Trinity’s friend and former Team BAD member Tamina was also in attendance for her IMPACT debut, wearing a disguise in an attempt not to be recognized.