Saraya praises Sasha Banks for taking career into her own hands

In a recent interview with the Metro, Saraya praised Mercedes Varnado (Sasha Banks) for taking her career into her own hands.

“I love the fact that she took her career into her own hands, and she knows her worth and she knows she wants to be treated a certain way, and she deserves to be treated that way because she’s done a lot for the wrestling business,” Saraya said.

“She’s one of the girls that puts butts in seats, and you want to see wrestle and you wanna see main event. She deserves all those things.”

Varnado hasn’t appeared in pro wrestling since walking out of WWE Raw this May, but that’s expected to change with her showing up at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4.

Last month’s announcement that Saraya and a mystery partner will be facing Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter on the January 11 episode of Dynamite has also led to speculation that Varnado could be coming to AEW. Saraya told the Metro that she’ll be happy for Varnado wherever she ends up going.

“Wherever she ends up, I’m gonna be happy for her, and anyone that gets her is gonna be very, very lucky. I just selfishly hope that I get to wrestle her one day,” Saraya said.

Saraya commented on the speculation of Varnado being her mystery partner in an interview with Forbes that was published in December: “I feel like anytime there’s a mystery, everyone always goes straight for Mercedes (laughs). They’re like — straight away — it’s her! There’s plenty of women out there, I’m not going to say yes or no to anybody, but there’s a lot of exciting prospects for a potential tag partner.”

Varnado filed a trademark for “Mone’ Banks” on December 27.

After departing WWE this July, Saraya made her AEW debut in September. She returned to the ring by defeating Baker at November’s Full Gear pay-per-view. It was Saraya’s first match in nearly five years. Saraya was medically disqualified from competing in the ring during that time due to neck issues.