Sasha Banks left WWE in 2023 and signed with TNA Wrestling

Sasha Banks (real name Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado) departed WWE in June 2023 after nearly a decade with the company. She had been one of WWE's most prominent women's wrestlers, known for matches on major pay-per-view events and her role in the women's evolution of professional wrestling. Her exit came after contract negotiations broke down, and she did not renew her deal when it expired.

In October 2023, Banks signed with TNA Wrestling (formerly Impact Wrestling), a competing promotion. She debuted for the company at their Bound for Glory event and has since held the TNA Knockouts Championship. Her move to TNA marked a significant shift in her career trajectory, as she moved from WWE's larger audience to a smaller but established wrestling organization.

Key Takeaways

  • Sasha Banks left WWE in June 2023 when her contract expired and negotiations for renewal did not result in a new deal.
  • She signed with TNA Wrestling in October 2023 and has competed for the company since then, winning championship titles.
  • Banks was a central figure in WWE's women's division for years, appearing in main events and headlining multiple WrestleManias.
  • Her departure was part of a broader wave of WWE wrestlers leaving the company during that period, including other high-profile names.

Her career in WWE before leaving

Banks debuted in WWE in 2013 and spent ten years with the organization. She was part of the women's evolution that transformed WWE's women's division from a secondary attraction into a main-event draw. She held the Raw Women's Championship, the SmackDown Women's Championship, and the NXT Women's Championship at different points in her career.

Her most visible period came between 2015 and 2022, when she was regularly featured in main events, pay-per-view matches, and storylines involving the company's top female wrestlers. She headlined WrestleMania 32 in 2016 and appeared in multiple WrestleManias after that. Banks was also known for her work in NXT before moving to the main roster, where she helped establish that brand's women's division as a training ground for top talent.

By 2023, Banks had been with WWE long enough that her contract was set to expire. Rather than renew on WWE's terms, she chose to explore other opportunities. The decision reflected both her desire for different creative direction and the changing landscape of professional wrestling, where wrestlers had more leverage to negotiate with multiple promotions.

Why she left and what led to her departure

Banks has not publicly detailed every reason for her departure, but wrestling journalists and industry observers pointed to contract negotiations as the central issue. WWE offered renewal terms that Banks did not accept. The specifics of what those terms were—salary, creative control, schedule—remain private, as is standard in contract disputes.

Her departure came during a period when several other WWE wrestlers also left or were released. The company was undergoing changes in leadership and creative direction under new WWE management. Some wrestlers felt the timing was right to explore other promotions, particularly as AEW (All Elite Wrestling) and TNA had become more established alternatives with their own television deals and revenue streams.

Banks had also expressed interest in other forms of entertainment beyond wrestling. She appeared in a small role in the film "The Mandalorian" and had pursued acting opportunities. Her departure from WWE may have reflected a broader desire to have more control over her time and career direction rather than being locked into a long-term exclusive contract.

Her move to TNA Wrestling and current status

After leaving WWE, Banks signed with TNA Wrestling, which airs on AXS TV and streams on TNA+. She debuted at Bound for Glory 2023 and quickly became a focal point of the company's women's division. In early 2024, she won the TNA Knockouts Championship, one of the company's top women's titles.

At TNA, Banks has had more creative input and has been positioned as a major star rather than one of many top wrestlers competing for screen time. The smaller company structure means she appears more frequently in main events and has more control over her character direction. Her presence has raised TNA's profile, as she brings name recognition from her decade in WWE.

Banks continues to wrestle for TNA as of the most recent information available. She has not indicated plans to return to WWE, though professional wrestling has a history of wrestlers moving between promotions multiple times throughout their careers. Her current contract status with TNA is not publicly disclosed in detail.

The broader context of wrestlers leaving WWE in 2023

Banks was not alone in leaving WWE during this period. 2023 saw several other wrestlers depart, including Bray Wyatt (who later returned), Karrion Kross, and others. Some were released by WWE as part of cost-cutting measures, while others, like Banks, chose not to renew their contracts. The year represented a shift in the wrestling landscape where wrestlers had more options and leverage than in previous decades.

The rise of AEW and the continued operation of TNA meant that wrestlers no longer had to accept WWE's terms or face limited options. This shift in power dynamics affected contract negotiations across the industry. Wrestlers could point to competing promotions and demand better terms, more creative control, or different schedules. Banks' departure reflected this new reality in professional wrestling.

What fans and the wrestling community said about her leaving

Sasha Banks' departure generated significant discussion among wrestling fans and media. Many expressed disappointment that she was leaving WWE, as she had been a central figure in the women's division for years. Others supported her decision, noting that she deserved to explore other opportunities and that TNA could offer her a different creative environment.

Wrestling journalists and commentators analyzed her move as a sign of WWE's changing position in the industry. Where WWE once had near-total control over professional wrestling talent, wrestlers now had genuine alternatives. Banks' choice to leave was seen as both a personal career decision and a broader indicator of how the wrestling business had shifted since the early 2010s.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Sasha Banks retire from wrestling?

No. Banks left WWE but signed with TNA Wrestling and continues to wrestle. She has held championship titles in TNA and remains active in the profession.

Can Sasha Banks return to WWE?

Technically yes, though no return has been announced. Wrestlers sometimes move between promotions multiple times in their careers. Any return would depend on both parties reaching a new contract agreement.

How much was Sasha Banks paid by WWE?

WWE does not publicly disclose individual wrestler salaries. Banks' earnings would have included a base salary, bonuses for pay-per-view events, and merchandise revenue, but the exact figures are not public information.

Is Sasha Banks still wrestling in 2024?

Yes, she continues to wrestle for TNA Wrestling. She holds championship titles and appears regularly on the company's programming.

Why did WWE and Sasha Banks not reach a deal?

The specific terms of the disagreement have not been publicly disclosed. Contract disputes typically involve salary, creative control, schedule, or other terms that both sides could not agree on.