Sasha Banks opened up about the hiatus she took from WWE after WrestleMania 35 during a recent interview with Ariel Helwani Meets. She noted that it was the best decision she could’ve made.
“It was at that WrestleMania when I was just like, ‘Woah, I’m not nervous. I don’t feel anything and this is Wrestle – freaking – Mania. I couldn’t believe it! The biggest fangirl that wanted this her entire life didn’t feel anything at the biggest show ever? I mean, this is every wrestler’s dream to be here, and at the very moment, I knew that I needed to take a break. And I was like, alright, I’ve got to go find myself and I did, and it’s the best decision I ever made and I’m so thankful that I did.”
Banks also confirmed she did ask for her release at the time, but Vince McMahon denied her request.
“I felt like I wasn’t giving my highest good. So if I’m not giving my highest good, if I’m not being the best, if I’m not being used as the best, then I’ve got to go find that. I’m always that performer wanting to be #1 and I felt in my heart that I just wasn’t feeling good. 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. At the end of the point, all of use just need a little bit of time.
Initially, no [I wasn’t upset at him] because I just needed time. I have so much respect for him, if he’s like, ‘Okay, if you need time? I’ll give you time.’ I just needed time.”
