Mercedes Moné (Sasha Banks)

Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado is an American professional wrestler and actor signed with AEW. She is the current holder of the AEW TBS Title following her win at AEW Double or Nothing 2024. She is best known for her work with WWE under the ring name Sasha Banks. She is a grand slam champion in WWE. After leaving WWE in 2022, she made her debut with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in early 2023 under her current ring name Mercedes Moné.

Personal Life

Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado aka Sasha Banks was born on 26th January, 1992 in Fairfield, California. Most of her childhood was spent relocating to find schools her autistic brother, Joshua. She briefly settled in Minessota and Boston. Mercedes attended online school. She watched All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling.

Sasha Banks is married to Sarath Ton since 2018. Her husband is a former professional wrestler and currently works as a costume designer.

Professional Wrestling Career

Chaotic Wrestling (2010-2012)

Banks began training at Chaotic Wrestling. She debuted under the name, Mercedes KV. She rose to fame after winning her first CW Women's Championship. She vacated the championship when she signed with WWE.

WWE

NXT (2012-2015)

Banks signed with WWE and started working with NXT. She formed a tag team with Summer Rae called BFF's. In November, Charlotte joined the group. The team disbanded after they lost a tag team match to Lynch and Bayley.

Banks began her rivalry with Charlotte, and the two faced each other at TakeOver. After a few unsuccessful attempts, Banks defeated Charlotte for the NXT Women's Championship at TakeOver Rival. Banks' reign ended after 192 days when Bayley defeated her for the title at TakeOver Respect. After her loss, Banks went to the main roster.

Team B.A.D (2015-2016)

Banks made her main roster debut on RAW as part of the Women's Revolution segment. She aligned herself with Naomi and Tamina. The team lasted till January. Banks returned to RAW in January and was attacked by her former teammates. They feuded for a while before Banks went after Charlotte. At WrestleMania, Banks faced Lynch and Charlotte for the RAW Women's Championship and lost.

Championships and Team with Bayley (2016-2019)

In June, Banks restarted her feud with Charlotte. Over the summer, Banks defeated Charollete three times to win the RAW Women's Championship and equally lost the title back to Charlotte. The feud ended at Roadblock in an Iron Woman match, which Charollete won.

Banks failed to capture the title at WrestleMania 33. Banks began her feud with Nia Jax, where she emerged victoriously. At SummerSlam, Banks defeated Alexa Bliss to win her fourth Raw Women's Championship. Banks lost the title a week later.

In 2018, Banks had a small feud with Bayley, which went on for several months. After a short hiatus, Banks returned in October and teamed up with Bayley. At Royal Rumble, she challenged Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women's Championship and lost.

After a series of matches, she teamed up with Sasha Banks to form Boss n Hug Connection. Sasha Banks and Bayley were crowned as the inaugural WWE Women's Tag Team Champion at Elimination Chamber 2019. The duo lost the title to IIconics at WrestleMania 35 in less than 50 days.

Return and Heel Boss n Hug (2019-2020)

Banks took some time off after their loss at WrestleMania. Banks returned on RAW after a few months and attacked Natalya. She challenged Lynch for the RAW Women's Championship frequently and failed. At Draft, she was drafted to SmackDown with Bayley. The duo reformed their team, and she helped Bayley to keep her championship.

At WrestleMania 36, the team showcased tension among themselves. The team successfully capture their second WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on SmackDown. On RAW, Banks with the help of Bayley won her fifth RAW Women's Championship. She lost the title back to Asuka at SummerSlam.

Feud with Bayley and Bianca (2020-2021)

She began her feud with Bayley after they lost the tag titles. Bayley attacked Banks after their match and she was off television for a few weeks. Banks made her return at Clash of Champions and attacked Bayley. Banks ended Bayley's 380 reign as a champion inside Hell in a Cell.

After Bayley, Banks defended her championship against Carmella and won. At Royal Rumble, Bianca challenged Banks for the SmackDown Women's Championship and won. It ended Bank's 167 days reign as champion.

Return in 2021

Banks returned in July to help Bianca. After chasing Carmella away, Banks turned on Bianca and attacked her. The two were supposed to face each other at SummerSlam, but the match got canceled due to an undisclosed injury. At Extreme Rules, Banks returned and attacked Lynch. She faced Lynch at Crown Jewel for the title, but lost. In 2022, she began teaming up with Naomi. At WrestleMania 38, they defeated Carmella and Queen Zelina to win her third Women's Tag Team Championship.

Walkout from WWE in 2022

During the May 15 episode of RAW, both Banks and Naomi reportedly walked out of programming frustrated at their treatment as champions. Their titles were soon vacated by WWE and both Banks and Naomi have not made any appearances on WWE or any other promotion.

NJPW/ World Wonder Ring Stardom (2023)

Mercedes Moné appeared for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in 2023. She went after Women's Champion Kairi Sane and declared her partnership with NJPW and the World Wonder Ring Stardom. Moné came out on top for the IWGP Women's Title by beating Kairi and defending it in a three-way match. She lost the title to Mayu Iwatani after her 64-day reign. Moné later partook in a competition to crown the inaugural Strong Women's Champion yet lost to Willow Nightingale in the finals. She left the advancement in December 2023.

AEW (2024)

In 2023, Mercedes Moné made an appearance at the AEW PPV All-In. Reports in February 2024 uncovered that Moné had endorsed AEW and would make a big appearance at the AEW Dynamite. During the occasion, Moné saved Willow Nightingale from an assault by Julia Hart and Skye Blue. She made her in-ring debut at Double or Nothing on May 26, where she went on to beat Nightingale to win the AEW TBS Title.

Mercedes Moné's Movies and TV Shows

Sasha Banks made her debut in Hollywood career in the year 2020 by acting in the second season of The Mandalorian. She potrayed the character of Koska Reeves.

Mercedes Moné's Championships and Accomplishments

FAQs on Sasha Banks

Q. Is Mercedes Moné married?

Yes, she is married to Sarath Ton.

Q. Is Mercedes Moné a cousin of Snoop Dogg?

Yes, Snoop Dogg and Sasha Banks are cousins.

*Updated on 26th October, 2022