Remembering Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks) and Naomi's WWE walkout two years later: What caused the uproar?

WWE fans will remember the night Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks) and Naomi walked out of the company. On the May 16, 2022, episode of RAW, the duo walked out and later were suspended before being released.

Naomi and Banks were WWE Women's Tag Team Champions at the time, but creative differences came to a head. After their releases, they enjoyed fruitful runs in other promotions, with Sasha Banks appearing on New Japan Pro-Wrestling as Mercedes Mone before signing with AEW.

Naomi joined IMPACT Wrestling, where she won the TNA Knockouts World Championship. Her spell in the promotion was a success, but there was always a feeling she'd return to WWE.

The current SmackDown star opened up about her exit and explained that it stemmed from how she was treated. She said in an interview a year ago that she left because of how she was talked to and handled.

Naomi and Sasha Banks received criticism from some fans for walking out. The 36-year-old suggested that the backlash got to her:

"To go through all the backlash and the negativity and the lies and the rumors and then to also kind of just feel lost, it broke me."

That was one of the rare times The Glow delved into her exit, but her former tag partner, Sasha Banks, was more open to competing in other promotions as she headed to NJPW. The five-time WWE Women's Champion was adamant that her decision stemmed from a desire to try out a new challenge in NJPW.

She said in April last year:

"That’s what I thought was the big time (performing in WWE). But I did that. I wanted to make new history, and the place to do it is here in Japan. Japan has the highest standards for women’s wrestling, and I want to set the standard in New Japan."

Mercedes Mone's run in NJPW didn't last overly long. Unfortunately, she broke her ankle, leading to a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Her return came in AEW, where she's known as The CEO.

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Triple H hinted at Sasha Banks' return before she joined AEW as Mercedes Mone and Naomi returned to WWE

Many fans expected Sasha Banks to return to WWE when Triple H took over creative responsibilities from Vince McMahon. The company's former chairman called the shots when Banks and Naomi walked out.

Triple H became WWE's Chief Content Officer and previously held a good bond with The Boss from her time in NXT. The Game admitted a 'communication breakdown' when speaking to BT Sport two years ago. He lavished praise on the AEW star:

"She’s an unbelievably talented young woman that can do just about anything she wants. It just comes down to what does she want to do now, with her life, her career, whatever that is."

Although Banks had held talks with her former company earlier this year, a reunion didn't occur. They couldn't agree on a deal and she headed to AEW, making her debut at Big Bussiness in her hometown on March 13.