Why Mercedes Monet almost retired before VW’s success

Long before he grows up, Mercedes Mone (and Sasha Banks in WWE)then known as the Mercedes KV, it struggled on the independent circuit.

Prior to her appearances as Sasha Banks on the NKST and WWE main rosters, which ended abruptly in 2022The Mercedes KV was hustling and trying to make a name for itself. During her time before WWE, KV wrestled for multiple promotions, including a stint with John Cena’s father, John Cena Sr.

Cena Sr. recently appeared on the Best For Business podcast, where he reflected in his memory with Monet. While the current TBS champion was looking to quit the job at the time, the veteran announcer believed he had the potential to make it big.

“Another one I picked (was) Sasha Banks,” Cena Sr. noted. “I remember doing a show with her for Chris Setter at Powerhouse Wrestling. Her mom was there and she said, ‘I don’t know, maybe I should give it up.’

“I said, ‘No, don’t! You don’t realize what you’ve got. She had so much ability, but it’s (horribly) difficult for the Indians. It’s not an easy fight there. It’s very easy to be defeated. I told everybody, and I still do, ‘Don’t do it, only one person is going to beat you in this business,’ he’s going to beat you in this business.

Monet, then known as Sasha Banks, finally found her break when she joined WWE in 2012 and later developed into one of WWE’s four female riders.

Mercedes Mone wanted to prove that WWE is not the only place for wrestling success

Last year at the AEV Double or Nothing media scrum, Mercedes Mone reflected on her victory and claimed that VVE was not the only place to succeed in the pro-wrestling industry.

“It feels so amazing. I’ve been waiting for this moment, really since I signed the contract with AEV,” she said. “But really, for the past two years, not knowing where I’m going to be. What’s going to happen after I leave WWE, what’s next for me. Because a lot of times in wrestling, people think that WWE is the only place. And I think tonight we showed the wrestling world that it’s not the only place.”

Mone joined AEV in 2024 and has already established herself as one of the biggest names on the roster.