- Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado was born in Fairfield, California, and lived in various cities across the United States during her childhood, before eventually settling in Boston, Massachusetts. She is of mixed African-American and German descent and is a cousin of the rapper Snoop Dogg. - She received her initial wrestling training at the school of the Boston-based Chaotic Wrestling (CW) promotion, making her debut there as an 18-year-old in October 2010 under the name Mercedes KV. - In December 2011 she captured her first wrestling title when she defeated Alexxis Nevaeh in an I Quit match to become CW Women’s champion. She went on to hold the title for a record 260 days, defending it against the likes of Alexxis, Nikki Roxx, Greek Barbie and Mistress Belmont. During her time on the independent circuit she also appearing regularly for NWA On Fire (where she used the name Miss Mercedes) and New England Championship Wrestling. - In August 2012 she signed a developmental contract with WWE after impressing at a tryout camp, and was assigned to the company’s Florida-based developmental territory, NXT Wrestling, taking the ring name Sasha Banks. She initially appeared on NXT television as a babyface, before turning heel in September 2013 by attacking Paige after a match and aligning herself with Summer Rae. Following this, Sasha began to exhibit a much more sassy and braggadocios attitude and began wearing a sequined jacket, shutter shades and various items of gold jewellery to the ring, dubbing herself the ’Boss of NXT.’ - Summer and Sasha soon joined forces with Charlotte to form a heel faction known as the Beautiful Fierce Females (BFFs). The trio remained united until Charlotte’s NXT Women’s Title win in June 2014 led to their gradual disintegration and Charlotte turning face. In October, Sasha formed a new alliance with Becky Lynch known as Team B.A.E. (Best At Everything). Sasha captured the title from Charlotte at the Takeover: Rival event in February, holding it until August when she was defeated by Bayley at Takeover: Brooklyn. Sasha unsuccessfully attempted to regain her title at Takeover: Respect two months later in the first Ironman match involving female performer’s in WWE history, after which she officially departed the NXT brand. - She made her main roster debut in July 2015, being introduced by Stephanie McMahon as an ally for Naomi and Tamina. The trio became known as Team BAD (Beautiful And Dangerous).