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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Justin Barrasso

Mercedes Mone Is Ready to Make a Statement With NJPW

WWE Kairi Sane Mercedes Moné IWGP Sasha Banks Japan New Japan Wrestle Kingdom

If you enjoyed watching Sasha Banks make history in WWE, then you are going to love watching Mercedes Moné in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Banks—who will now wrestle as Mercedes Moné—chose to follow her convictions and step outside of WWE. Her journey now brings her to Japan, where she debuted Jan. 4 at the Tokyo Dome during Wrestle Kingdom. She will make her in-ring premiere Saturday night at New Japan’s Battle in the Valley show in San Jose.

“Life is too short not to follow your dreams and find happiness,” says Moné, whose name is Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado. “I was brought into this world to make a statement, and now I can do it in New Japan.”

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