Biography
Who is Mercedes Moné?
Early life and real name
Mercedes Moné was born as Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado on January 26, 1992, in Fairfield, United States. She began her wrestling career in 2010 on the independent circuit. She worked for Chaotic Wrestling during this early period.
WWE career as Sasha Banks
Mercedes Moné signed with WWE in 2012 and used the ring name Sasha Banks. She won the NXT Women's Championship in the developmental territory. In October 2015, she competed in the first iron woman match in WWE history against Bayley. This match was the first women's match to headline an NXT TakeOver. Pro Wrestling Illustrated named her Woman of the Year and the match Match of the Year.
She joined the main roster in 2015. Mercedes won the WWE Raw Women's Championship five times. In 2016, she and Charlotte Flair became the first women to headline a WWE pay-per-view and compete in a Hell in a Cell match. She won the inaugural WWE Women's Tag Team Championship with Bayley. In 2020, she won the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. This made her a Grand Slam Champion and Triple Crown Champion. Sports Illustrated named her Wrestler of the Year that same year. At WrestleMania 37, she and Bianca Belair became the first African Americans to headline the event.
AEW and global championships
After leaving WWE in 2022, Mercedes debuted in NJPW and Stardom at Wrestle Kingdom 17. She became a one-time IWGP Women's Champion. She signed with All Elite Wrestling in 2024 and won the AEW TBS Championship. Her reign is the longest in the history of that title.
In 2025, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked her No. 1 in the PWI Women's 250 and named her Woman of the Year for a second time. She once held 13 belts including 11 championships. By 2026, Mercedes Moné won the AEW Women's World Championship. This achievement made her the only wrestler to be a world champion in WWE, AEW, NJPW, and CMLL. She also performs for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and independent promotions.
Acting and personal details
Outside of the ring, Mercedes Moné works as an actor. She portrays the character Koska Reeves in the second and third seasons of The Mandalorian on Disney+. This series is a space western. She is 165 centimeters tall and has won a Slammy Award and ESPY Awards.
Birthday and age
Mercedes Moné was born on January 26, 1992, which makes Mercedes 34 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Mercedes shares the date with 33 other famous people.
Explore more
