According to PWInsider, Sasha Banks, under her real name of Mercedes Varnado is expected to appear at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on January 4, 2023 from several sources.
The report notes it is unknown if Varnado will be appearing before the live crowd. However it is said by PWInsider, that NJPW is indeed bringing Varnado to the event.
Back in October, Banks teased a potential match with IWGP Women’s Champion Kairi, by posting a match graphic to her Instagram, which was then Kairi later posted to her Twitter.
Banks has not wrestled since she and Naomi walked out of the May 16 Raw due to creative differences. They were both suspended and then stripped of the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Banks has not been listed on WWE’s internal roster. She is however, still on the wwe.com roster.
PWInsider also notes in their report that Banks recently made a number of trademark filings related to her real name, the terms Mercedes Mone’, Mone’ Talks, Bank Mone’, and Statement Maker under company name Soulnado.
F4WOnline is also an additional source for this report. We will provide any updates as they become available.