Saraya Shoots On Sasha Banks Being Her Mystery Partner On AEW Dynamite

Saraya has given All Elite Wrestling‘s women’s division the boost it needed as fans continue to speculate about who her mystery partner will be on the January 11 episode of Dynamite. Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter challenged the former WWE star to a tag-team match last week, which means there will be a lengthy build toward the big reveal. AEW has had its fair share of surprise wrestlers over the last few years, but it feels a bit different this time. Speculation persists that Saraya is tabbing Mercedes Varnado, who wrestled as Sasha Banks in WWE, to be her partner against Baker and Hayter. She recently addressed these rumors.

During an interview with Forbes, Saraya said the following when asked about the Sasha Banks rumors. “I feel like anytime there’s a mystery, everyone always goes straight for Mercedes (laughs). They’re like—straight away—it’s her!” She continued, stating that “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.” Saraya explained why she’d want to work with Banks, “[i]n the wrestling side of things, she’s such a fantastic athlete, you can’t deny her talent. She’s fantastic.“

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AEW Fans Should Remain Open Minded About Saraya’s Mystery Partner

If Saraya’s tag-team partner isn’t Sasha Banks, AEW fans will likely be upset at this point. This isn’t really fair because there’s been no indication that Tony Khan has signed the 30-year-old to any kind of deal. It’s been fantasy booking on social media that has audiences so excited about the prospect of Sasha Banks going All Elite, and not a storyline on television. To date, there have been no teases that the partner will be Mercedes. If Saraya casually says “it’s boss time” or something like that in the coming weeks, then that changes things. So far, that hasn’t happened.

To Saraya’s point, several other wrestlers could join her in California for the January 11 episode of Dynamite. Someone like Chelsea Green or Mickie James could fill the role. James, in particular, could be an exciting option, as her Last Rodeo storyline has been a hit for Impact. However, fans have convinced themselves that Saraya’s partner will be Banks. Recent news that Banks is close to signing on with NJPW for several dates, including an appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 17, will only fuel that fire.

Still, the feeling is that Tony Khan and AEW have backed themselves into a corner with a month-long buildup to this reveal. Other big debuts have been kept a secret until the night of, while Claudio Castagnoli only got a few days of build before making his debut at Forbidden Door. Going several weeks between announcing the tag-team match with Saraya, Baker, Hater, and a mystery person implies that the reveal will be significant. Sasha Banks is the most prominent free agent for the women’s division and arguably the most recognized pro wrestling name available, period. She’d be a monster signing for Tony Khan, which is why All Elite Wrestling fans are clamoring for it to happen.

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Source: Forbes