In 2019, Sasha Banks was on top of the wrestling world. She was a multiple-time women’s world champion, and as a pillar of WWE’s Four Horsewomen, had been instrumental to the revolution in women’s wrestling that had swept across WWE. In February of that year, she added to her astounding resume, winning the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Championship with fellow Horsewoman Bayley. Their reign did not last long, however. Less than two months later the duo lost the gold to The IIconics at WrestleMania 35. Shortly after, Banks abruptly disappeared from WWE for four long months. Where did she go?
Rumors Took Over After Banks’ Hiatus
When Sasha Banks took leave from WWE, no one knew why. Ryan Satin reported, and WrestleVotes backed up, a claim that Banks and Bayley were so upset about losing their titles so quickly that they were laying on the floor of the locker room, and later the hotel, loudly complaining to anyone who would listen about how angry they were. The rumors only grew from that. Soon it was being reported that Banks and Bayley were not only laying on the floor but kicking and screaming, throwing temper tantrums like little children.
Bayley didn’t disappear, though, only Banks. It led many to believe that Banks was jealous of the success of Becky Lynch and Charlotte, who along with Ronda Rousey, headlined WrestleMania 35, the first women’s match in history to do so. Angry that she wasn’t in such a high-caliber bout, Banks took her ball and went home. Fans waited for her release to come, sure that Vince McMahon would not tolerate such behavior, even from such a big-name talent. There were more rumors that Banks wanted to quit. Neither came to be, and Banks remained employed.
RELATED: 8 Things You Didn't Know About Sasha Banks And Bayley's Friendship
Banks Tells All About Why She Left
Four months after her disappearance, Banks returned to WWE in August 2019. The true reason for her absence was never discussed until weeks later on an episode of WWE Chronicle. There Banks made it clear that the rumors about her having a crying meltdown backstage were not true. Banks admitted she had left because she was burnt out with the hectic WWE schedule, and to take care of her mental health.
“I found myself,” Banks told Bleacher Report in 2020. “For so long, I was playing Sasha Banks and I forgot who Mercedes was. I forgot that Mercedes created Sasha Banks and Mercedes had that dream of becoming a wrestler and I lost that. I took that time to refind my love and refind my passion and refind what I wanted in life and what I wanted to be and what I aspired to be because I kept living in my past and not thinking about my future. I took the time for me and really discovered myself, and after I did that, it’s almost like the universe has opened so many doors for myself when I realized who Mercedes was. It was a beautiful lesson and a beautiful journey, and I’m so thankful for all my hardships and rocks in the road because they’ve guided me and taught me so much. I’m so thankful for that time I got to take off because now I’m better than ever. I feel amazing.”
One rumor was true, however. Banks had asked Mr. McMahon for her release, but he refused. In an interview with Ariel Helwani in 2021, Banks said, “I wasn’t feeling good, so I felt like I did all that I could, and I needed that break, I needed that release. And then Vince told me no and that was a great decision on both ends because he knew what he saw. He’s so smart, he’s so kind, he’s so gentle. He actually knew what I needed, which was time.”
RELATED: Sasha Banks Reveals Why She Was On Hiatus For Four Months
The Boss Came Back Better Than Ever
For all of Vince McMahon’s criticisms, he made the right call here, knowing that Sasha Banks simply needed a break. It worked wonders. When Banks returned in the late summer of 2019, she was back to being her usual Boss self.
She and Bayley would recapture the Women’s Tag Team Championships, and even mocked and laughed about the past rumors of their WrestleMania meltdown. Banks would go on to win more singles championships as well, as well as having a Hell in a Cell Match with Becky Lynch, and captaining the SmackDown women’s Survivor Series team.
Banks’ accomplishments soon pushed past the boundaries of WWE, as the woman behind the character, Mercedes Varnado, took the turn into acting, showing up in a supporting role in the huge hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian.
