Sasha Banks recalls finding herself during WWE hiatus in 2019

Sasha Banks has reflected on her hiatus from WWE last year, which had mixed reports about exactly what happened.

Banks and Bayley dropped the Women’s Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 35. At the time, it was reported that Banks and Bayley were not happy about this booking decision. She was originally booked for the women’s Money In The Bank match that year but was replaced by Bayley.

Banks later clarified in her Chronicle documentary that burnout and focusing on her mental health were the main reasons why she took the time off.

She returned to WWE television in August 2019 and had been tied to Bayley in a long storyline that just wrapped up at this year’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event where she won the SmackDown Women’s Title.

Banks talked about the hiatus while doing an interview with Bleacher Report.

“I found myself. 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 re-find my love and re-find my passion and re-find 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.”

Banks also talked about her acting future, facing Asuka at Survivor Series, and more. Check out the full interview here.