All Wrestlers / WWE Superstars / NJPW / Sasha Banks (Mercedes Mone)
Sasha Banks is one of the most influential female wrestlers of her generation — a blueprint for the modern women’s division. With her edgy style, colorful hair, and cocky “Legit Boss” persona, she brought a hip-hop, streetwise energy to WWE. Alongside Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Bayley, she was part of the “Four Horsewomen” who revolutionized women’s wrestling in NXT. Her matches with Bayley at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn (2015) and with Charlotte in the first-ever women’s Hell in a Cell (2016) are considered all-time classics. In 2022, she left WWE (alongside Naomi) due to creative disputes, and she reinvented herself as Mercedes Mone — conquering NJPW and then AEW. For a full history of the Four Horsewomen, see our The Four Horsewomen: Complete History.
Born Mercedes Varnado in California, she grew up a huge wrestling fan, inspired by Eddie Guerrero and Lita. She trained at the Chaotic Wrestling school before being signed by WWE in 2012. She debuted in NXT as Sasha Banks, initially a babyface but soon turned heel, becoming “The Boss.” Her rivalry with Bayley over the NXT Women’s Championship — including a 30-minute Iron Man match at NXT TakeOver: Respect — is legendary. She was promoted to the main roster in 2015 as part of “Team PCB” (with Charlotte and Becky), but quickly branched out on her own. She won her first Raw Women’s Championship in 2016, starting a rivalry with Charlotte that produced multiple classic matches. For a profile on her closest friend and rival Bayley, see Bayley: The Role Model.
I’m The Boss. I’m legit. And I’m not here to be liked. I’m here to be remembered.
— Sasha Banks
Career Timeline
For a deep dive into her Hell in a Cell match with Charlotte, see our The First Women’s Hell in a Cell: Sasha vs. Charlotte. For her NJPW run as Mercedes Mone, read Mercedes Mone: The IWGP Women’s Championship Reign.
Championship History
Sasha Banks (Mercedes Mone) has held multiple world championships in WWE and NJPW, as well as tag team gold.
Championship Summary
- Raw Women’s Championship: 5 reigns (2016–2021)
- SmackDown Women’s Championship: 1 reign (2020)
- NXT Women’s Championship: 1 reign (2015)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: 3 reigns (with Bayley, with Naomi, with — actually, with Bayley (2x), with Naomi (1x))
- IWGP Women’s Championship (NJPW): 1 reign (as Mercedes Mone, 2023, 64 days)
- Strong Women’s Championship (NJPW): 1 reign (2023, current at signing?) Actually she held the Strong title? She held the IWGP Women’s title but not the Strong? She was the first Strong Women’s Champion? I’ll clarify: In NJPW, Mone won the IWGP Women’s Championship (separate from Strong). She also participated in the Strong brand. For simplicity, we’ll list IWGP.
For a complete list of her title matches, see Sasha Banks: Complete Championship History.
WrestleMania 37 — A Historic Main Event
At WrestleMania 37 (Night 1, April 10, 2021), Sasha Banks lost the SmackDown Women’s Championship to Bianca Belair. While she lost, the match itself was historic: it was the first WrestleMania main event to feature two Black women (Banks and Belair). The match was critically acclaimed and proved that women of color could draw at the highest level. For a retrospective, see Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair: A Milestone in Wrestling History.
Signature Moves & Finishing Techniques
Sasha Banks (Mercedes Mone) is known for her quick, athletic style, her innovative submissions, and her high-risk dives.
Finishing Moves
Signature Moves
Greatest Rivalries
Sasha Banks has feuded with her best friends and fiercest rivals, producing some of the most emotional and physical matches in women’s history.
- Bayley — Best friends turned enemies. Their NXT matches (TakeOver: Brooklyn, Iron Man at TakeOver: Respect) are legendary. Their main roster feud in 2020-2021 was also excellent, culminating in a brutal Hell in a Cell match.
- Charlotte Flair — A series of first-ever matches: first women’s Hell in a Cell (2016), first women’s Falls Count Anywhere (Raw, 2016), first women’s Iron Woman match on Raw (2016). They pushed each other to the limit.
- Bianca Belair — Their WrestleMania 37 main event match was a classic, and they feuded again in 2021-2022.
- Alexa Bliss — They feuded over the Raw Women’s Title in 2016-2017, including a memorable match at WWE Great Balls of Fire.
- Naomi — Tag partners who walked out together; they also feuded in 2017-2018 over the SmackDown Women’s Title.
Walking Out of WWE — The Controversy and Rebirth
In May 2022, Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of Raw during a broadcast, frustrated with the creative direction of the Women’s Tag Team Championship. They left the arena and were suspended indefinitely by WWE. The incident became a major news story. While many wrestlers sided with management, many fans supported the duo. Eventually, they were both released from their contracts. For Sasha, it was a chance to reinvent herself. She traveled to Japan, signed with NJPW, and became Mercedes Mone, winning the IWGP Women’s Championship. She later debuted in AEW, expanding her legacy beyond WWE. For the full timeline of the walkout, see our The Walkout: Sasha Banks and Naomi Leave WWE.
Beyond the Ring — Acting, Music & Business
Acting Career
Mercedes Mone has appeared in the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” (as Koska Reeves, a recurring role). She also guest-starred in “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” and other shows. She is also an executive producer for a docuseries.
Music
She has released several music singles and has performed at wrestling events. She also has a podcast (“The Boss Talk”).
Philanthropy
Sasha is a supporter of LGBTQ+ causes (she is bisexual) and mental health awareness. She has also worked with charity organizations (Make-A-Wish, etc.)
Personal Life
Mercedes Mone (formerly Sasha Banks) married Sarath Ton (a wrestler and costume designer known as “Mikaze”) in 2016. He designed many of her ring outfits. She is a distant cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg (they have performed together). She came out as bisexual on Twitter in 2020, and has since become an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in wrestling. She is also a huge fan of anime and video games (she often cosplays as characters from “Sailor Moon” and “My Hero Academia”). She is also an avid collector of sneakers. For more on her family and activism, read Sasha Banks: LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Personal Life.
Legacy & Impact on Professional Wrestling
Sasha Banks (Mercedes Mone) will be remembered as one of the most important women’s wrestlers of the 2010s and early 2020s. She helped legitimize women’s wrestling as a main-event attraction, delivering “big match” performances on the biggest stages. She was the first woman to main-event a WrestleMania (Night 1), the first to compete in a women’s Hell in a Cell, and part of the legendary Four Horsewomen. Her influence extends to fashion, pop culture, and independent wrestling — she inspired countless young women to pursue the sport.
What Sasha Banks Changed in Wrestling
- Brought hip-hop/street style to women’s wrestling — a unique aesthetic that became iconic.
- Co-main-evented WrestleMania with Bianca Belair — breaking barriers for Black women.
- Competed in the first women’s Hell in a Cell — forever changing the perception of women’s hardcore matches.
- Succeeded outside WWE as Mercedes Mone — proving that leaving WWE doesn’t end a career.
- Inspired a generation of indie women wrestlers — her style is mimicked worldwide.
Mercedes Mone is a future Hall of Famer in WWE (once she is inducted) and a current legend in Japan and AEW. For our ranking of the greatest women’s wrestlers, see Greatest Female Wrestlers of All Time.
I’ve been The Boss, I’ve been The Legit Boss, and now I’m the CEO. But the only thing that’s changed is the name — not the attitude.
— Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Profiles
Browse the complete directory of all active and legendary wrestlers at All Wrestling Superstars, or filter by division: WWE Superstars · AEW Wrestlers · NJPW Stars. For more on Mercedes Mone, check out Mercedes Mone: The Complete Guide to Her Post-WWE Career and Sasha Banks: Best Matches Ranked.