Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks) opens up about why she infamously walked out of WWE

Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks) has shed light on why she infamously walked out of WWE. The Boss left the Stamford-based promotion in 2022.

Mone emerged as one of the most popular stars in WWE since signing with the company in 2012. Alongside her fellow Horsewomen (Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Bayley), Mone played a key role in raising the bar for women's wrestling in the promotion.

However, her tenure in the company came to a surprising end after she and her tag team partner Naomi walked out of the promotion on the May 16, 2022, episode of RAW due to creative disagreements with Vince McMahon over their booking. Shortly afterward, Mone made her debut for NJPW in 2023, and earlier this year, she inked a deal with All Elite Wrestling, where she is the current TBS Champion.

During an interview with WFAN, Mercedes Mone was asked about her unexpected departure from WWE. The 32-year-old star responded by hinting that she might address the subject in more detail in a book at some point in the future.

However, Mone disclosed that she wanted to grow and develop as a performer to fully realize her potential, which she seemingly believed would not happen in the sports entertainment juggernaut.

"For me, I went from a Legit Boss to a CEO because I wanted to grow. There was something in my soul that said, 'You need to grow.' I wanted to be the CEO of my own life. There was a light source that came into my heart that day. 'You have to do what's right for you. What's happening right now at this moment is not right. You have to take your life in your hands and go make it happen. Go make your heart happy. Go let them know that what they're doing right now is wrong and show them.' I did."

She continued and claimed that her drive to establish herself as a more prominent star has led her to become one of the most well-paid female wrestlers in the world today.

"I had to let them know that I am the right one that you messed with that day, and now here I am today, one of the highest paid women in women's wrestling history. The TBS Champion, going after the New Japan Strong Women's Championship. I get to do so much of my dreams because of that day that I walked out and trusted my heart." [H/T Fightful]

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Vince Russo believes WWE would not pay Mercedes Mone as much as Tony Khan

Former wrestling writer Vince Russo recently shared his two cents on AEW President Tony Khan paying his top stars such as Mercedes Mone and MJF a lot more money than they would have received from WWE.

Speaking on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Outlaws podcast, Russo said:

"Let's face it, him [MJF] and Rebecca De Mone [Mercedes Mone], they got three times the amount that they would have gotten in the WWE. Bro, they know what they can get out of Tony [Khan]. He's told the world, I'm a billionaire and I wanna collect toys. They know, that they can get any price and he [MJF] got three times the amount. So, good for him, I hope he got 10 million dollars."

Mercedes Mone is set to put her TBS Title on the line against NJPW Strong Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer in a Winner Takes All match at Forbidden Door 2024.