WWE has seen a lot of stars go and come back in recent years. Occasionally, a major star leaves, which shocks audiences. That was the case when former SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks left the company. Her real-life friend Bayley is still optimistic that the Boss will eventually return.Sasha Banks, alongside Naomi, walked out of WWE in May 2022. She recently made her debut for NJPW under her new moniker, Mercedes Mone, at the Wrestle Kingdom 17 show in January. Shortly after, she faced KAIRI in an IWGP Women's Championship match at Battle in the Valley and became the IWGP Women's Champion.Bayley was in attendance during her friend's debut in Japan. She spoke to Ariel Helwani and expressed her optimism about seeing The Boss in the Stamford-based company again:"I’ll never give up hope. I’ll never give up hope that she’ll come back. I’ll say yes [if she would come back] because this is her home, this is her dream. I know this is her home and where her heart is, and by her heart I mean me, so she needs to come back to me cause I need her to be my travel partner. I’m gonna say that I’ll never give up hope that she’ll come back." [1:49 - 2:23]WrestlePurists@WrestlePurists“She (Mercedes Monè) needs to come back to me, you know? I need her, I need my travel partner, But I'm gonna say yes like I'll never give up hope that she'll come back (to WWE)”- Bayley(via BT Sport)1753127“She (Mercedes Monè) needs to come back to me, you know? I need her, I need my travel partner, But I'm gonna say yes like I'll never give up hope that she'll come back (to WWE)”- Bayley(via BT Sport) https://t.co/Cy7x8L3HGuThis led to fans on Twitter having mixed reactions to the Damage CTRL leader's quotes.Some fans had an expletive-laden responseTwo LEGENDS, One Table☝🏾☝🏽@TwoHeadsPodcast@WrestlePurists Mercedes is COOKED.Her finisher SUCKS.Her match with Kairi wasn’t too pleasant. Things are not looking great for her future, and she MUST retire immediately! #AcknowledgeME 🏾🏽@WrestlePurists Mercedes is COOKED.Her finisher SUCKS.Her match with Kairi wasn’t too pleasant. Things are not looking great for her future, and she MUST retire immediately! #AcknowledgeME ☝🏾☝🏽 https://t.co/5gF4fvluSASome guy@Somegeekguy@WrestlePurists I am more surprised Bayley isn't contemplating time outside WWE. They don't really seem to value her as anyone but a stepping stone for who they want to push.1@WrestlePurists I am more surprised Bayley isn't contemplating time outside WWE. They don't really seem to value her as anyone but a stepping stone for who they want to push.Ocram@JoesphBarcello1@WrestlePurists why would she go back to that poverty tag division321@WrestlePurists why would she go back to that poverty tag divisionSir Loin of Beefington@terrencegentry@WrestlePurists If she goes back would fans take back all the "she wasn't that good anyway" talk like they did with Cody??3@WrestlePurists If she goes back would fans take back all the "she wasn't that good anyway" talk like they did with Cody??Carball-Tunnel@CarballTunnel@WrestlePurists Barring any controversy, she could come back whenever she wants.@WrestlePurists Barring any controversy, she could come back whenever she wants.John Culkin@theculkineffect@WrestlePurists I respect her for leaving, even if she eventually comes back. How can we miss you if you won’t go away?4@WrestlePurists I respect her for leaving, even if she eventually comes back. How can we miss you if you won’t go away?Amhlilhaus@amhlilhaus@WrestlePurists She almost spoiled sasha plans to come back@WrestlePurists She almost spoiled sasha plans to come back.@belacsburner@WrestlePurists Go to japan@WrestlePurists Go to japanキャメロン@Cameronv1287@WrestlePurists How about you join her instead 911@WrestlePurists How about you join her instead 😉Tom Duff@tommoscoobsduff@WrestlePurists Maybe you could go to her instead7@WrestlePurists Maybe you could go to her insteadMr Myself@HaroldPimpaka@WrestlePurists There is a life outside fuccin’ WWE!4@WrestlePurists There is a life outside fuccin’ WWE!An AEW/NJPW Fan Nick HAS GRIT@SavageEtika@WrestlePurists Bayley needs to go10@WrestlePurists Bayley needs to goRhodes@RhodesJAlex@WrestlePurists Bayley brings no value to the current wwe product.1@WrestlePurists Bayley brings no value to the current wwe product.Jason@JasonPM81@WrestlePurists How delusional ‍1@WrestlePurists How delusional 😮‍💨Mercedes Mone reportedly has two more shows with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Wonder Ring Stardom.Bayley feels Sasha Banks is where she is because of WWEMercedes Mone fka Sasha Banks has long been lauded for her love for professional wrestling and desire to prove herself outside the global wrestling juggernaut.During the same interview, Bayley also discussed her former rival's debut and stated that she wouldn't be there without WWE."Everybody knows how much she loves this and how much wrestling means to her and how much WWE means to her. She wouldn’t be there without WWE so I think it meant a lot to here that I was there for her. I made it right back in time to California so I can fly out for the live events and it was so worth it," said Bayley. [From 0:57 to 01:42]WWE on BT Sport@btsportwwe"I know this is her home and where her heart is."@itsBayleyWWE tells @arielhelwani about her whirlwind visit to Japan and ponders whether we'll ever see Sasha Banks back in WWE.#ArielMeets912204They were involved in numerous memorable segments and matches together. Their partnership was the highlight of the Thunderdome era. Perhaps we will get to see the two real-life friends together inside the ring once again.