Sasha Banks appeared at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 in her first wrestling role since her WWE walkout in May 2022.
The decorated former women’s champion made her debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling on January 4 at the Tokyo Dome after months of speculation about her future after she and her tag team partner Naomi left an episode of Monday Night Raw over creative issues.
KAIRI retained the IWGP Women’s Title before the lights dropped in the Tokyo Dome and new music hit revealing the superstar now known as Mercedes Moné sporting her ring gear.
Strutting down to the ring in what the English commentary team described as the ‘worst kept secret’, she confronted the champ and dropped her before dumping the belt on her now-rival.
Getthe mic, she said: ‘Congratulations on making history tonight. I also know a thing or two about making history. I am here in New Japan and STARDOM to make some more.
‘Allow me to introduce myself. I’m the standard, the conversation, the blueprint and the CEO of this women’s division. So KAIRI… enjoy your IWGP Women’s Championship while you can. Because at Battle in the Valley in San Jose, I’m gonna leave you bankrupt b***h. And you can bank on Moné.’
