Sarath Ton's Career Started in Wrestling Though He Always Had Interest in Designing – More about Sasha Banks' Husband
Sarath Ton goes by a slew of monikers, but only Sasha Banks can call him hubby. The pro wrestler turned designer married banks in a secret ceremony to avoid being ripped apart online by his new wife's "crazy" fans.
Sasha Banks shares the design talents of her husband, Sarath Ton, with friends and foes in the ring at the WWE, where he is a costume designer. He has created looks for wrestling royalty like Triple H, Paige, and Summer Rae.
Ton met his wrestler wife at the beginning of their respective careers. The couple has no children yet, except for Ryu Maivia Ton, an adorable Corgi who spots a following of 50k.
Sasha Banks (R) attacks Nia Jax (L) during to the WWE Live Duesseldorf event at ISS Dome on February 22, 2017, in Duesseldorf, Germany. | Source: Getty Images
Who Is Sarath Ton?
Ton was born June 9, 1983, and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. The designer of Combodia descent goes by various monikers such as Mikaze and Mr. Castle, as well as Kid Mikaze and Rutherford Hayes in his wrestling days.
He started his wrestling training in earnest during his junior year of high school. After taking a sewing class as a senior, he emulated the WWF's Hardy Boys, who designed their costumes. He began to create gear for himself and a few friends from low-cost materials like old clothes.
Kid Mikaze made his wrestling debut on the independent circuit in 2001 and was a two-time CW Heavyweight Champion. His unique style blending martial arts with wrestling and awe-inspiring aerial stunts made him a crowd favorite.
Kid Mikaze Taps out of the Ring
He made his only WWE appearance as a wrestler as Rutherford Hayes with William Fillmore against Ryback in a "Handicap Squash Match." The Sun reports that Mikaze was tapped out as a wrestler when a blow to the head left him unconscious during a live NXT taping.
Banks gave a rare look inside their guarded private life in a WWE interview. After she signed with WWE, he quit his job to relocate with her to Tampa, Florida. She credits him with helping her cope with the new environment.
He seamlessly pivoted to costume design and got his WWE break with a two-month stint at "Wrestlemania." His holistic approach to costume design got him an extended contract and more responsibilities within the organization. He is also part of the backstage crew.
Sarath Ton Has Designs for Other Creative Outlets
The life-long "sneakerhead," whose brother-in-law Joshua is autistic, partnered with Footlocker to create a shoe for "Autism Acceptance Month." His favorite feature is the elastic laces that enable people with lower motor skills to put on the shoe themselves. He elaborates in an ONE37pm interview:
“Spending time around [Joshua ] and getting to know his genuine spirit and love of life is very inspiring to me. I’ve always felt that if I could take his level of appreciation for the little things and apply them to my life."
His design aesthetic is inspired by a love of comic books, fashion, and TV. Ton is one half of "Sarath and Chris's Movie Therapy Podcast," and his wife hinted in an AfterBuzz interview that he is also working on a book.
Sarath Ton and Sasha Banks Keep Their Relationship Private
For months a single leaked photo from their ceremony taunted fans of their private ceremony. She confirmed the wedding that took place on August 4, 2016, in an interview with Lilian Garcia on AfterBuzz TV in March 2017. She explained her reluctance to talk about Ton:
"I just think fans are just so crazy. I see what they write to him on Twitter, and I don't like that stuff. If you're saying he's ugly, or he shouldn't be with me because of this or that, that hurts me, you know? I just don't like that he reads that every day, you know what I mean?”
Banks admitted she was initially put off by his rat tail hairstyle but eventually bonded over Korean movies. The couple seldom posts about each other on social media. The sporty couple enjoys travel, and Ton shared a rare post of their adventures in Napa.
Sarath Ton Is Behind Sasha's Costumes
Banks told the Miami Herald that she asks him to make her look the best, and he makes it happen. Since they met on the independent circuit, Ton has designed her drip, including her signature look, "The Boss."
Key inspiration for her wrestling persona came from her rapper cousin Snoop Dogg.
Banks is supportive of his designing career and confessed to shamelessly trying on AJ Styles's gear, and has multiple snaps having a first go at her husband's creations for other wrestlers. He has designed for wrestling stars like Triple H, Paige, and Summer Rae.
Sasha's Early Life and Sacrifice for Brother
The woman who smacks down gender barriers was born Justine Mercedes Kaestner Varnado on January 26, 1992, in Fairfield, California. Her parents, Judith Kaestner and Reo Varnado split a few times during her early years.
Banks detailed a rough childhood of poverty and sacrifice during an appearance on "Making Their Way to the Ring." She volunteered to drop out of school to become her brother's caregiver at 13. She told her single mother: "I'll do anything for this family. Just give me wrestling."
She and Joshua watched wrestling in their youth, and he has been to a few of her NXT matches. Banks is happy to see him cheering from the front row at a live event, even if it's encouraging her opponents like Dana Brooks, who he loves, to beat her up.
Sasha Banks | Source: sabrebiade on Flicker (Public Domain)
Sasha Banks Becomes The Boss
The key inspiration for her wrestling persona came from her rapper cousin Snoop Dogg. She told BET that after she saw how everyone in his entourage called him "Boss," she took it further by calling herself "The Boss."
The nickname caught on, and she surpassed her hype with a series of firsts in the wrestling world. She smashed the glass ceiling and rival Charlotte Flair when they headlined the first female "Hell in a Cell" pay-per-view. She is Sports Illustrated's 2020 wrestler of the year.
Sasha Banks | Fort George G. Meade on Flicker
Estimating her exact net worth is tricky due to the WWE's complex remuneration structure comprising bonuses and merchandise royalties. Before being suspended in May 2022 after a walk-out, The Boss was among the highest-paid female wrestlers raking in $250,000 annually.
Banks has taken up acting like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jon Cena. She stars in the second season of "The Mandalorian" on Disney + as Koska Reeves.