Sasha Banks walked out of WWE in May 2022 during a contract dispute
Sasha Banks left WWE on May 16, 2022. She did not finish her contract or announce a retirement. Instead, she stopped showing up to events after a disagreement with WWE management over creative direction and her role on the roster. WWE initially suspended her for 60 days, then later released her from her contract on June 24, 2022.
The departure was sudden and public. Banks had been a prominent figure in WWE for nearly a decade, holding multiple championships and main-eventing major shows. The conflict came after she was moved to a different brand and given storylines she felt did not match her status as a former champion.
Banks did not when ready explain her side of the dispute in detail. WWE's official statement said she had abandoned her position. The actual reasons—what creative direction she objected to, what role she wanted instead, and what conversations happened behind closed doors—remain partially unclear because neither side released a full account.
Key Takeaways
- Sasha Banks stopped appearing at WWE events on May 16, 2022, after disagreeing with management over how she was being used creatively.
- WWE suspended her for 60 days, then formally released her from her contract on June 24, 2022, rather than waiting out the suspension.
- Banks had been with WWE since 2013 and held the Raw Women's Championship, SmackDown Women's Championship, and multiple tag team titles.
- She signed with AEW (All Elite Wrestling) in November 2022 and returned to wrestling under her real name, Mercedes Moné.
What led to the May 2022 walkout
In the weeks before she left, Banks had been moved to Monday Night Raw after spending time on SmackDown. WWE was building a storyline involving her and another wrestler, but reports suggested Banks felt the direction did not reflect her standing as a former world champion. She had been one of WWE's top female wrestlers for years and had main-evented WrestleMania.
The specific creative disagreement was never fully detailed by either party. Wrestling journalists reported that Banks objected to her booking, but WWE did not release a statement explaining what she was being asked to do. Banks herself did not hold a press conference or give interviews spelling out her position at the time.
This kind of dispute—a wrestler disagreeing with management over their character, storyline, or position on the card—is not uncommon in professional wrestling. Usually it is resolved through negotiation or the wrestler accepts the role. Banks chose to stop working instead.
WWE's response and the formal release
When Banks did not show up to events, WWE issued a statement saying she had "abandoned" her position. The company placed her on a 60-day suspension, which would have kept her off television but still under contract. During a suspension, a wrestler cannot appear anywhere else and the clock runs down on their contract.
However, WWE did not wait out the suspension. On June 24, 2022—just over a month after Banks stopped appearing—the company released her from her contract entirely. This was unusual. Normally, if WWE suspends someone, they let the suspension run its course. Releasing her early suggested the company had decided the relationship was over.
WWE did not publicly explain why it chose to release her rather than suspend her. The decision meant Banks was free to sign with another wrestling promotion when ready, rather than being tied up for two months.
Banks' move to AEW and her return as Mercedes Moné
After leaving WWE, Banks did not wrestle for several months. She eventually signed with AEW (All Elite Wrestling), a competing promotion, in November 2022. She debuted on AEW television in December 2022.
In AEW, she wrestles under her real name, Mercedes Moné, rather than the "Sasha Banks" character WWE owned. This is standard practice: WWE owns the rights to character names and gimmicks used during a wrestler's time there. When wrestlers move to other promotions, they typically use their real names or create new characters.
At AEW, Moné has held the TBS Championship and the AEW Women's World Championship. She has been positioned as a main-event wrestler, which aligns with what reports suggested she wanted from WWE—a role that reflected her experience and past accomplishments.
The broader context of WWE contract disputes
Banks' departure was one of several high-profile exits from WWE around the same time. In 2022, other wrestlers including Bray Wyatt and Karrion Kross were also released or left over creative differences. The pattern suggested tension between WWE's creative direction and what some of its top performers wanted to do.
WWE operates differently from other wrestling promotions. The company owns all character names, storylines, and intellectual property. Wrestlers are employees, not independent contractors, which gives WWE more control over how they are portrayed. This structure can create friction when a wrestler disagrees with how their character is being used.
Banks' situation highlighted this dynamic. She had built a reputation over years of work, but WWE controlled how that reputation was used on screen. When she objected to a specific direction, she had limited options: accept it, negotiate, or leave. She chose to leave.
Timeline of events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 16, 2022 | Sasha Banks stops appearing at WWE events |
| May 17, 2022 | WWE issues statement saying Banks abandoned her position |
| May 17, 2022 | WWE places Banks on 60-day suspension |
| June 24, 2022 | WWE releases Banks from her contract |
| November 18, 2022 | Banks signs with AEW |
| December 30, 2022 | Mercedes Moné debuts on AEW television |
What happened to her WWE career after she left
WWE did not erase Banks from its history. Her matches, championships, and storylines remain part of the company's record. However, WWE removed her from its active roster page and stopped promoting her as a current performer. Her merchandise was delisted from WWE's shop.
Since her release, WWE has occasionally referenced her past accomplishments when discussing women's wrestling history. But she is no longer part of the company's current programming or plans. If she were to return to WWE in the future, it would require a new negotiation and contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Sasha Banks retire from wrestling?
No. She left WWE but continued wrestling in AEW. She was not retired; she was between promotions for several months before signing with AEW in November 2022.
Can Sasha Banks go back to WWE?
Technically yes, but it would require both parties to agree to a new contract. WWE would need to want to hire her again, and she would need to want to return. As of now, there is no indication either side is pursuing this.
Why does she use the name Mercedes Moné in AEW instead of Sasha Banks?
WWE owns the "Sasha Banks" character name and gimmick. When wrestlers leave WWE, they cannot use those names elsewhere. Mercedes Moné is her real name, so she uses it in AEW and other promotions.
Was the walkout about money?
Reports at the time focused on creative disagreement rather than pay. Banks objected to how she was being used in storylines, not her salary. WWE and Banks never publicly disclosed financial details of the dispute.
Did other wrestlers leave WWE for similar reasons around the same time?
Yes. Several wrestlers departed WWE in 2022 citing creative differences. The pattern suggested some performers felt their roles did not match their experience or status, similar to Banks' reported concerns.