Mercedes Mone

Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE, is one of the most influential and decorated women’s professional wrestlers of her generation. Born Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado on January 26, 1992, in Fairfield, California, she grew up watching wrestling and was inspired by Eddie Guerrero, who became her lifelong hero. She is also the first cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg, a connection that has occasionally intersected with her wrestling career in memorable ways.

Mone began her wrestling career on the independent circuit before signing with WWE in 2012, where she was assigned to their developmental brand NXT. Under the ring name Sasha Banks, she became the NXT Women’s Champion and was part of the ‘Four Horsewomen’ alongside Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Bayley. This group is widely credited with revolutionizing women’s wrestling in WWE. In 2016, Banks and Charlotte Flair made history by competing in the first women’s Hell in a Cell match, the first women’s main event on Raw in years, and other groundbreaking firsts that helped elevate the women’s division.

During her WWE career, Banks won the Raw Women’s Championship five times and the SmackDown Women’s Championship once, and was a Women’s Tag Team Champion. She also gained crossover fame through her role as Koska Reeves in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, showcasing her acting abilities to a global audience. In 2022, she and Naomi walked out of WWE over creative disagreements, which led to her eventual departure from the company.

In 2023, Mone signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and later joined AEW (All Elite Wrestling), where she adopted the ring name Mercedes Mone. She quickly won the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, establishing herself as a top star in the promotion. Her charismatic persona, in-ring ability, and business savvy have made her one of the highest-profile free agent signings in wrestling history, and she continues to build her brand through wrestling, media appearances, and entrepreneurial ventures.