Just Days After Losing the IWGP Title, Sasha Banks Is in Contention to Win Another Championship Outside WWE

Sasha Banks (who now goes by the name Mercedes Mone) graced the WWE ring for almost a decade before venturing into another wrestling promotion. Unhappy with creative decisions, she left the sports entertainment giant along with her then-tag team partner, Naomi (aka Trinity Fatu).

Months later, she returned to action on NJPW, which made the pro wrestling fans happy. Just a month after her return, she claimed a spot on the women’s roster and solidified her dominance by winning IWGP Women’s title. However, she recently lost her title but now has a chance to claim another piece of gold in New Japan.

Sasha Banks has set her eyes on the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship

Recently, NJPW via Twitter broke out the news that ‘The CEO’ will compete in a tournament to crown the first-ever NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship. It will be a one-night tournament that will take place at the NJPW Resurgence event on May 21, 2023.

Top stars from pro wrestling promotions all around the world will compete in the tournament. The first round will have two matches. Stephanie Vaquer from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) will collide with Mercedes Mone.

Also, Momo Kohgo from Wonder World Ring Stardom will take on AEW’s Willow Nightingale. The two winners of the first round will advance to the next and final round to determine the inaugural NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion.

Within just a short amount of time, the former WWE star has established her distinctive mark on the new journey in the Tokyo-based promotion.

A highlight of Banks’ new venture

After months of absence, Banks returned and made her debut on the Japan-based wrestling promotion. On January 4, 2023, at Wrestle Kingdom 17, she challenged Kairi for her IWGP Women’s Championship and later attacked her. At Battle in the Valley event held on February 18, she defeated her opponent to win her first gold in the promotion.

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On April 8, at Sakura Genesis, she had her first title defense after becoming the IWGP Women’s Champion. It was against Hazuki and AZM. The three fought in a triple-threat match which saw the former WWE star come out victorious and still the champion.

However, a few weeks later, she lost her women’s title to Mayu Iwatani at Stardom All Star Grand Queendom. The event took place on April 23, 2023, which marked the ending of her reign in 64 days. Now she has turned her focus on acquiring another title to her name.

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Will Banks be successful in her attempt to become the inaugural NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion? Or someone else will snatch the opportunity from her? What do you think? Let us know in the comments box below.