Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler have captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
The unlikely tag team took on Bayley and Sasha Banks for the titles at Sunday’s WWE Payback pay-per-view event. The match aired in the middle of the card in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Center on WWE’s streaming service.
Baszler and Jax are just the seventh team to hold the titles. The finish of the contest saw an interesting finish as Baszler had Banks in a leg submission while also putting Bayley in a rear-naked choke and in the process, used Banks’ arm to put over the throat of Bayley for the win.
WWE made the match announcement this past Monday night on RAW when Baszler battled SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley in a non-title match. Jax pulled her partner out of the ring and stood with her to stare the champs down.
They would later have an exchange of words and Baszler said she would help Jax win the titles if Jax left her alone and stayed off her back. This led to Baszler slapping Jax and walking off.
Bayley and Banks first won the titles on the June 5th during an episode of SmackDown when they beat Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross.
What are your thoughts on Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler winning the WWE Tag Team Titles? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Bully Ray recently commented on Shayna Baszler’s status in WWE.
The tag team legend talked about how Baszler has been ‘misused’ by the company as of late. This seems especially true since her WrestleMania loss against Becky Lynch. Bully Ray would indicate that he felt WWE need to ‘rebuild’ Baszler’s character, and make her the bad ass she represented whilst in NXT.
Bully Ray on Shayna Baszler
“I don’t want to see Shayna Baszler right now in a competitive match” Bully Ray began on the show. “You know what I would have done with Shayna Baszler on Monday night? I would have had Shayna Baszler pop Sasha Banks in the mouth backstage.”
“I would then have had her come to the ring, I would have had Shayna Baszler beat the sh*t out of Sasha Banks, beat the shit out of Bayley. Then? Take both of their championships and hold them in the air.”
“Because they [WWE] need to rebuild Shayna little bit” Bully Ray continued. “I need Shayna Baszler to be that bad mother trucker that she’s supposed to be, not having a competitive wrestling match. I don’t care about her having a competitive wrestling match right now.”
Bully would then compare Baszler’s past character to that of Brock Lesnar. “This woman Shayna Baszler is supposed to be like a killer, like a Brock [Lesnar]. I mean stop me if I’m wrong. Shayna Baszler, the girl that hit the back of that neck of Becky Lynch; this wild rabid animal who can break you, snap your arm, and bite the back of your neck, just poke your eye out and destroy you. Have her do that to those other two girls (Sasha and Bayley), let’s reestablish her.”
Ray would elaborate further, saying “let’s turn her into this menace to the women’s division. Let’s turn her into this loose cannon, snap Sasha’s arm, snap Bayley’s arm, take both of their championships. If you’re going to get somebody over, let’s really get them over. Let’s strap a rocket to their back and shoot them to the moon.”
Do you agree with Bully? Let us know in the comments
Shayna Baszler has made her return to WWE television.
The former WWE NXT Women’s Champion did so during Monday’s episode of RAW when she interrupted WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth and Akira Tozawa. The two stars were slated to take part in a title match, but Baszler took out Tozawa’s ninjas.
She allowed Tozawa and Truth to leave the ring. This led to her cutting a promo about how she’s been patient and has allowed everyone on the show to have their fun, which ends now because she’s done.
Baszler sent a warning to all the weak-minded women’s champions who were running around fooling themselves with the delusion that they are in control. She stated that the limbs and terror left in her wake are a distant memory. Now, she’s back to remind them of the reality, which is her.
Baszler sent out the following message on her official Twitter account after the segment:
Baszler has been absent since the May 18 RAW episode where she beat Natalya in the Submission Match. It’s been reported that McMahon pulled her from TV because he had “soured” on Baszler.
Shayna Baszler spent 549 days as NXT Women’s Champion split across two title reigns. She was the first to win the title a second time and holds the record for most combined days as champion. Baszler then debuted on the main roster and was pitted against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania.
The future looked bright for Baszler on the main roster but as of this writing, she hasn’t wrestled for WWE since May 12th. Her last match was a victory over Natalya in a submissions match on RAW.
According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the reason Baszler is no longer on television is that Vince doesn’t get her character.
“Vince also soured on Baszler completely because he never conceptually grasped the style that an MMA fighter should use in pro wrestling and she doesn’t check his buttons when it comes to women in wrestling,” wrote Dave Meltzer.
The report also stated that Baszler had been scheduled to win the women’s Money In The Bank match before Vince scrapped the idea. He then decided to remove Baszler from television altogether. This was done before Paul Heyman was removed from his role on the creative team.
The 34-year-old Baszler debuted for WWE in the 2017 Mae Young Classic. In addition to her pro-wrestling career, Baszler has a 15-11 MMA record.
WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler recently appeared on WWE’s The Bump. The former NXT Women’s Champion appeared on the WWE Network show to discuss a number of topics from her recent career with the company.
One of the points raised was the WWE RAW Women’s Championship match between Asuka and Nia Jax that will be taking place Sunday at WWE Backlash.
“I can sit here and tell you that Asuka got handed a title and whatnot. But she is a former champion” Shayna Baszler began. “So that’s not to say that she’s not a formidable opponent. She has proven that, but I think Nia Jax is on a roll lately, she’s been literally just picking people up and tossing them around, and nobody’s been able to stop her.”
Shayna Baszler elaborated further, saying “she did it to me in the Money In The Bank match. She just picked me up and threw me against the wall. Next thing I know? I’m waking up and the thing is over. So I know firsthand about how that goes and how it feels.”
Baszler would then talk about her and Asuka have similar backgrounds, even talking about how they trained with similar coaches. “Asuka is crafty and she’s game. We kind of came up in the same lineage through pro wrestling, kind of the same family tree. She trained with some people that I’ve trained with. And some of our coaches were teammates. So, if I know anything about where she came from in her training? In her upbringing? She hasn’t even scratched the surface of what she can show, so I know her toolbox goes a lot deeper than we even realise. So it’s gonna be…it’s gonna be a good match.”
Do you think that we’ll get a match for the title between Asuka and Shayna Baszler? Let us know in the comments
WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler recently appeared on WWE’s The Bump. The former NXT Women’s Champion appeared on the WWE Network show to discuss a number of topics from her recent career with the company.
One of the points raised was Shayna Baszler’s mental approach when walking to the wrestling ring and previously the MMA cage.
“When I was fighting in MMA? The first round is the walk to the ring” Shayna Baszler began on the show. “And that’s when all the self talk starts. It’s funny, because I was on a reality show; and they sat me down in a setting, much like this and they’re like, ‘so tell us what’s going through your mind as you make that walk?’ That’s where all the self talk is.”
Shayna Baszler Talks Mental Strategy
Shayna Baszler elaborated further, saying “it’s like, ‘I’ve worked so much harder for this, she doesn’t deserve this.’ That’s where you have to be, you have to have that mentality. And when you verbalise that to people that have never made that walk? It sounds arrogant, but the truth of the matter is if you want to achieve the things that have been achieved by people that have made that walk? You have to have that mentality.”
Shayna Baszler then talked about the backlash she and her Four Horsewomen of MMA partner Ronda Rousey received when talking about the mentality. “I got that backlash for verbalising what goes on in my head. Ronda also got that backlash for verbalising what goes on as well.”
WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler recently appeared on WWE’s The Bump. The former NXT Women’s Champion appeared on the WWE Network show to discuss a number of topics from her recent career with the company.
One of the points raised was Shayna Baszler’s approach to her character on camera. Baszler is known for her smash mouth hard hitting style, with more of an emphasis on her in-ring work rather than promo abilities.
Shayna Baszler on Action over Words
“I think without saying much, everyone knows what I’m about,” Shayna Baszler began on the show. “And to be honest? I haven’t had to be in the ring very long with people to let them know what I’m about either. I think what someone does says a lot more than what someone says.”
Shayna Baszler would elaborate further, saying “I think whether people live by that or not? Everyone would agree to that. But that’s a thing that the one of the martial arts gyms I used to train at that [lived by], the team motto. It’s just something that carries over [to WWE].”
Baszler would then comment on some Superstars who seemingly try to ‘pop’ the other talent backstage.
“I think people in this business worry too much about making people laugh backstage when they’re talking on the mic or when they’re on camera. What matters more is what we do in the ring. It doesn’t matter if I can get on a camera and say ‘I’m the best wrestler ever! I’m gonna beat everyone up! And then I go on the ring and don’t prove it.”
Shayna Baszler would finish by re-iterating her style as a performer in WWE. “But if you say nothing else but go in the ring and beat everyone up? They can’t come back for weeks or months? Then that says a lot more than anything you would have said on a camera. So it’s just, it’s a model that I live by.”
Shayna Baszler continues to go on the attack towards Becky Lynch over becoming a mother.
The former NXT Women’s Champion knocked the former RAW Women’s Champion for getting pregnant while being one of the top stars in WWE.
She did so while making an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Bump.
“No, I think it’s garbage,” Baszler said. “What are we teaching? Responsibility? She had responsibilities to uphold as ‘the champion’ of the division. Like, take care of your responsibilities first. Don’t leave the division in an uproar and then hand your title away to whoever you feel [deserves it].”
Baszler continued by noting that it’s ridiculous how everyone is saying that it’s wonderful but she thinks that if Lynch was your daughter then you would smack her upside the head and tell her that she needs to be smarter. Basylzer added that it’s a double standard.
Lynch is due in December with her first child with Seth Rollins, who proposed to her back in August.
She announced the news last month on an episode of RAW, which also saw her award Asuka the championship.
Their WrestleMania clash was the culmination of an intense rivalry between the two Superstars. Despite Becky Lynch managing to defeat Baszler, it appears as though the feud between the two is far from over. According to Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE intends to keep their rivalry going.
The manner in which Lynch won was allegedly done in order to keep Baszler protected. Lynch was able to reverse Baszler’s Kirifuda submission hold into a successful pin.
Shayna Baszler Reflects On Her Loss To Becky Lynch
WWE shared a post-WrestleMania interview with Baszler during last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW.
Addressing her loss, a frustrated Baszler indicated that she isn’t finished with Lynch. “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,” she said. “The thrill of victory and, for you, Becky, I promise you, the agony of my defeat.”
After months of build-up, Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler took place.
Lynch successfully retained the WWE RAW Women’s Championship over the former NXT Women’s Champion at the WWE WrestleMania 36 pay-per-view event in Orlando, Florida.
The feud kicked off in February when Baszler attacked Lynch after she defended RAW Women’s Championship against Asuka. The segment ended when Baszler bit the back of the neck of Lynch.
Fans thought that this was a segment to book the match at WrestleMania right away. However, WWE went in a different direction.
WWE booked a Women’s Elimination Chamber Match at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Wells Fargo Center last month.
This contest saw WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Ruby Riott vs. Sarah Logan vs. Liv Morgan, vs. Natalya with the winner becoming the new #1 contender for the RAW Women’s Title.
As seen in the contest, Bazler won the match and earned the opportunity to challenge for the strap at WrestleMania 36.
In the run-up to this weekend’s WrestleMania 36, WWE has been frequently referring to Shayna Baszler as a “Cage Fighter.” Baszler, who is a former MMA fighter, recently discussed the differences between competing in MMA and pro wrestling.
“Obviously there is a familiarity with making that walk to the ring, or a cage, or whatever it may be, to face someone in one on one personal combat,” Baszler informed SuperSport. “Someone is there to stop you, you are there to stop them. Being in that situation and also in front of a large live audience, and all the lights and stuff that comes with [being on]TV, that is a very familiar feeling for me.”
Baszler continued, “There was no adjustment time as far as that happened… I’ve been in every situation you can think of in a contest like that… The ‘submission magician’ isn’t just an invented name. Mauro called me that when he was calling one of my MMA fights. Never feeling lost or stressed out is the biggest advantage I have coming from Mixed Martial Arts.”
Shayna Baszler has previously fought in several MMA promotions. Her experiences include Elite XC, Strikeforce, Invicta Fight Championships, and even a short stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She is set to face off against Becky Lynch for the RAW Women’s Championship this weekend at WrestleMania 36.
WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch has revealed her dissatisfaction regarding her previous clash with Shayna Baszler. Lynch opened up about their last meeting during an interview with Sports Illustrated.
The last time the two shared a ring, they were competing in an inter-promotional Triple Threat matchup at last year’s Survivor Series. That match also included Bayley. Baszler, who was the then-NXT Women’s Champion, would secure the victory for the black-and-gold brand.
According to Lynch, their triple threat did not meet her standards for a main event clash. Four of the seven matches scheduled for that night’s Survivor Series were triple threat matches.
Becky Lynch On Receiving Criticism
When asked if the fact it was a women’s match headlining the show, Becky Lynch was quick to say, “It shouldn’t be about women—people shouldn’t use it as a chance to say, ‘That’s why women shouldn’t be main-eventing. You can’t wipe out an entire gender based on your opinion to a match.”
Lynch added, “No excuses, I’m open to criticism. Give me your opinion, I’ll take it. This is what anyone in the main event, male or female, has to deal with. If you ever have a bad night or a match that people don’t agree with, you’re the one out there that has to change and adjust. It makes you better in the long run.”
WrestleMania 36 is just a week away. With the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, WWE has been forced to pre-tape the biggest show of the year.
One of the bigger matches on the card; will see WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch take on Shayna Baszler for the Championship. In a potentially massive slip up, Mark Henry may have revealed the stipulation for the match.
During the most recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry was discussing the Roman Reigns and Goldberg situation. Roman Reigns has taken himself off of the WrestleMania card due to health worries, and Henry suggested that Matt Riddle be the replacement opponent for Goldberg at the event. In doing so, he discussed a match stipulation he’d like to see added to the RAW Women’s title match
Henry stated “You know, you got one match in an octagon hopefully. And hopefully you know what they can do with Shana Baszler and Becky Lynch. And then you can turn around and have one more right behind it, or have it before [Goldberg vs Riddle]. Just a tune up.”
“then you can turn around and have one more right behind it”
Mark Henry
The ‘World’s Strongest Man’ would obviously be referring to Riddle and Baszler being former MMA fighters, thus giving the stipulation some merit. However, with Riddle being pure speculation, it’s interesting for Mark Henry to say “you got one match in an octagon, hopefully.”
So, with WrestleMania 36 being behind closed doors and information being sparse; has Mark Henry just slipped that we’re getting an MMA match for Lynch vs Baszler? We have one more episode of RAW before WrestleMania 36 next week, could WWE announce the match stipulation then?
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently shared his support in WWE’s decision to book Roman Reigns vs Goldberg at WrestleMania 36. However, during a recent episode of his podcastThe Hall of Fame, Booker T remained unconvinced about another headline matchup: Shayna Baszler vs Becky Lynch.
“I’m not sold on it. I’ll just say that. I’m not sold on it yet,” he confessed. “But I’m like this man. I’m thinking about the performance more than anything, I’m thinking about when you go out and perform, you know, in Elimination Chamber…WrestleMania. Those are big moments for me. Going into a match like that. I trust Becky Lynch. Becky has done a lot of good things over this last year, she’s put herself in position to, you know, be called ‘the man.’”
Booker T On Becky Lynch’s Past Opponents
Booker T noted how Lynch has been performing at a consistent quality against “really, really high calibre talent.” Booker T then pointed towards her matches with both Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks, adding how they can “go out there and really perform [at the] next level.”
“Now I’m wondering, Becky Lynch against Shayna Baszler. You know, how is that thing gonna go? How are they going to match up? As far as going out there and creating some beautiful magic? Because at the end of the day it really is all about Shakespeare. It really is all about going out there and performing for the fans.”
Becky Lynch aims to defend her WWE RAW Women’s Championship against Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania 36. The event takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Backstage news has surfaced regarding Vince McMahon and Shayna Baszler.
We noted earlier on the site that the WWE Chairman & CEO made several changes to Monday’s RAW from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
WWE originally announced WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka vs. Baszler for this show. However, Asuka suffered a left wrist injury the night before at the WWE Supershow.
Thus, WWE doctors didn’t clear her to compete. As a result, Kairi Sane replaced her and lost to Baszler.
Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there was said to be a lot of “negativity and uncertainty” regarding McMahon’s reaction to this contest.
In fact, McMahon felt that the Baszler vs. Sane match did not get the desired reaction and that Baszler did not come off like a WrestleMania headliner.
This could play a factor regarding whether Baszler gets to WrestleMania 36 as originally planned.
WWE booked a Women’s Elimination Chamber Match for Sunday’s (March 8, 2020) WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Wells Fargo Center on the WWE Network.
This contest will see WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka vs. SBaszler vs. Ruby Riott vs. Sarah Logan vs. Liv Morgan, vs. Natalya.
The winner will become the new #1 contender for the RAW Women’s Title, which is currently behind held by Becky Lynch.
WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch has addressed Shayna Baszler’s “dirty” tactics during a recent conversation with Pro Wrestling Sheet. Their issues stem from last week’s episode of Monday Night RAW, which saw Baszler attack Lynch from behind following her successful championship defense over Asuka. Baszler would proceed to remove her mouth guard before biting into the back of Lynch’s neck. It wasn’t long until her mouth was covered in the champion’s blood.
“She’s tough. She did a lot for women in MMA. I don’t think she gets nearly enough credit for what she’s done in that,” Lynch said. “She’s been in NXT making a name for herself the past few years, but last night she wanted to make a name for herself against me.”
She continued, “If she wanted an opportunity, all she had to do was ask, she didn’t have to take a chunk out of the back of my neck, but if that’s the way it’s going to be, well then that’s the way it’s going to be. She can fight dirty… I can fight a lot dirtier.”
Becky Lynch and Shayna Baszler are expected to build towards a RAW Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 36. The event takes place on April 5th from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
If you use any quotes from this article, please provide a H/T to SEScoops.
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of Busted Open Radio Bully Ray recently commented on the ‘biting’ angle that took place on this Monday’s RAW. Part way through the broadcast NXT Superstar Shayna Baszler attacked Becky Lynch. This was following her match with Asuka. Baszler would bite the back of Lynch’s neck at the conclusion of the bout, shocking many as it was such a departure from her character in NXT.
“‘you were expecting Rhonda? You got much worse, you got Shayna Baszler”
Bully mentioned as much, saying “I would have liked less is more and keep it simple. Play to Shayna’s strengths. I almost would have liked to [have] seen at the end of the segment, you know Shana standing over Becky, and you could have got one line out of her where she could have told Becky ‘you were expecting Rhonda? You got much worse, you got Shayna Baszler.’
“Was I shocked? Yeah was I shocked, but in a good way? I’m really not sure.”
Ray also talked about how the bite itself ‘was’ shocking, but not necessarily in a good way. “The biting thing just kind of takes me out of it. Was I shocked? Yeah was I shocked, but in a good way? I’m really not sure.”
“To me the last person that needed anything was Shayna Baszler”
Bully also questioned how the company’s Creative came to give Shayna Baszler this extra wrinkle in her character. “They [creative] probably said ‘we need something for Shayna, we need something different. We need something shocking, we need her to do something that is going to have people talking. She can’t just beat up Becky, that’s passe.’ To me the last person that needed anything was Shayna. Because she’s such a credible badass, she acts it, she walks in, she talks it. But in the world of the WWE, if you’re just a ‘wrestler’ or if you’re just a fighter? They’re probably going to look to tinker with you and and give you ‘something.'”
Do you think that Shayna Baszler will be using the ‘biting’ gimmick going forward? Let us know in the comments
Shayna Baszler has made her debut on WWE RAW and did so in a big way.
The former NXT Women’s Champion appeared on Monday’s episode of RAW in Ontario, CA at the Toyota Arena on the USA Network by attacking Becky Lynch, who made her latest title defense as RAW Women’s Champion against Asuka.
The segment ended when Baszler bit the back of the neck of Lynch and they did some fake blood to make it more real.
Baszler’s appearance on this show and her now being a full-time star on RAW has been reported about over the last week.
This has been expected for quite some time but her move to the main roster had been delayed. However, Dave Meltzer noted last week that her being moved is something that has been planned for probably close to a year.
Baszler entered into the Women’s Royal Rumble Match as a surprise entrant last month.
The belief is that Baszler will challenge Lynch for the RAW Women’s Title at WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania.
WWE presents the WrestleMania 36 pay-per-view event on Sunday, April 5, 2020 in Tampa, Florida at the Raymond James Stadium that will air on the WWE Network.
Latest reports suggest that Shayna Baszler will be joining the Raw brand as a permanent roster member and it appears that her debut can come much sooner than we thought.
PWinsider is reporting that the former NXT Champion is expected to be at the next episode of Monday Night Raw from Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA and this is expected to be her starting date with the Red Branded Show.
It was reported recently that Baszler is being moved to the Red Brand after she competed in the Women’s Royal Rumble match earlier last month.
According to reports from Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this move has been in the works for a while and talks of putting Shayna on Raw have been going on for a year.
While there is no news on what WWE is planning for Shayna Baszler once she switches rosters, rumors are that she will be facing the Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at WrestleMania this year.
Lynch is also scheduled to defend her title against one half of WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors, Asuka on the upcoming episode of Raw.
So while it’s not confirmed what the company has planned for Shayna Baszler, it’s possible that she comes out during or after this match. Though we will have to tune in to Raw to figure out whether or not she actually makes her debut at the show.
Shayna Baszler was the final elimination in the 2020 women’s Royal Rumble match. The 39-year-old entered the Rumble at the #30 position but was tossed out by Charlotte Flair.
According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Baszler is set to become a regular member of the RAW brand shortly. Baszler’s last match on NXT was a victory over Shotzi Blackheart on the January 22nd, 2020 episode. Blackheart had eliminated Baszler from a battle royal that saw Bianca Belair earn the next title shot against Rhea Ripley on a previous show.
“She is leaving NXT and this has been planned for a long time, probably close to a year,” wrote Dave Meltzer. “So the thing about not wanting to transfer stars in NXT to the main roster and give the idea NXT is developmental or a stepping stone rather than a third brand doesn’t apply to her.”
The report continued to note that NXT stars will no longer be called up to the “main roster” unless an angle has been planned for a long time.
Shayna Baszler To RAW
Baszler is the only 2x NXT Women’s Champion in the history of the title. She’s also held the title for more combined days than any other champion in the title’s lineage. Her 549 days spent with the title tops Asuka’s 510 days spent all during her one reign with the belt.
Shayna Baszler entered into the Royal Rumble on Sunday as the 30th entrant. She tossed out 8 other competitors before being the final elimination by Charlotte Flair. Baszler’s longtime training partner and 4 Horsewomen of MMA stablemate Ronda Rousey posted her reaction to Baszler’s performance on her official YouTube channel.
Ronda gets quite into the match. Video of her reaction can be viewed in the player below:
Ronda Rousey Responds To Royal Rumble Return Speculation
Rousey posted the following to her Twitter account after it was clear she would not be returning at the Rumble:
Rousey has said she’s pitched ideas to WWE about her return, however. In an interview with People, Rousey said she’s hoping to find a way to balance family and a WWE career.
“I think I need to figure out a different way of doing it. To be able to not have to choose career over family or family over career and kind of find that happy medium,” Rousey said.
“Right now, I think my family needs my undivided attention,” she continued. “I’m happy to give them that. But I’m trying to figure out a way or a system or somehow that I could give both my family and WWE the best of me and not be half-ass in both.”
Shayna Baszler, who is known for having a very dominant persona as a heel on the NXT women’s roster, often receives fan criticism, with many citing that her gimmick has gotten boring and repetitive.
Baszler doesn’t just have a fierce persona, she is also a brute in the ring. She is a two-time in NXT Women’s Champion and has held the title for 416 days, second only to Asuka’s as the longest-reigning champion. Last week on WWE NXT, Rhea Ripley was able to defeat Baszler and win the title for herself.
Ripley talked about her huge win against Baszler in a recent interview with Newsweek and touched on the criticism that the Queen of Spades receives from fans. “I read a lot of things on Twitter, and I see a lot of things about Shayna and about me. I absolutely hate it when they rag on her and say she’s boring.”
Rhea defended Baszler, saying that her character is not supposed to be exciting and that her job is to make the fans hate her, not like her.
“She’s a heel, she’s not supposed to be exciting. She’s not supposed to make you like her. She’s not supposed to do any of that stuff. She’s doing her job right. And I hate when people disrespect that fact. So to go out there and put on a match like that with Shayna and prove to everyone how wrong [they are about] not only me but her as well, it’s a feeling that can’t be matched. I just love proving people wrong.”
Rhea must know how hard it must be playing a heel character as she herself was one when she performed in NXT UK. She was also the first women’s champion of the brand. Hopefully, critical fans see this and understand that Baszler has a role to play and a job to do.
Triple H has spoken highly of NXT Champion Adam Cole’s stellar week leading into this past Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view. He referred to the Undisputed Era leader as “NXT’s Iron Man.” Now he has praised for NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler for her major main event victory.
“The Game” wrote the following on Twitter, responding to WWE’s own message highlighting Survivor Series’ final scores:
“.@QoSBaszler: The Queen of Spades, the #WWENXT Women’s Champion and the Standard Bearer of the @WWENXT Women’s division. The exclamation point of this #SurvivorSeries in her victory over two of the VERY best in this business. #NXT 4#Smackdown 2#WWERaw 1”
.@QoSBaszler: The Queen of Spades, the #WWENXT Women’s Champion and the Standard Bearer of the @WWENXT Women’s division.
Prior to her Sunday night main event opportunity, “The Queen of Spades” wrestled in a hellacious WarGames at NXT TakeOver. Despite her team’s best efforts, Team Ripley would walk away successfully from the cage.
At Survivor Series, Baszler defeated both WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley. They competed in a non-title Triple Threat matchup. This win helped NXT comfortably take the point advantage over RAW and SmackDown. The black-and-gold brand ended their night with 4 victories.
With NXT coming out on top, WWE has firmly established them as their third brand, further distancing themselves from the developmental system they once were.
WWE booked a rare match that saw all of the female champions under the banner of the company and it took place on one night at Survivor Series.
This interesting match saw a battle between RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley.
The contest served as the main event of Sunday’s (November 24, 2019) WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view event in Chicago, Illinois at the Allstate Arena on the WWE Network.
Baszler ended up winning the non-title triple threat match. As a result of this win, Baszler has all of the bragging rights. This marked the first time that the women’s champion from NXT was featured in the main event match of Survivor Series.
It’s interesting that it was featured among all of the interbrand matches at what is considered one of the big four events of the year for WWE along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam.
WWE set up this match when they had Baszler invade the infamous November 1st episode of Friday Night SmackDown to attack Bayley. Since then, the women have appeared on episodes of each brand.
What are your thoughts on WWE having win the interbrand match at this show? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.
Shayna Baszler has now passed Asuka in terms of days spent as NXT Women’s Champion. WWE recognizes Asuka’s reign with the NXT Women’s Championship as lasting 522 days. Technically, Asuka vacated the title after 510 days but the episode where she officially vacated the belt didn’t air for another 12 days.
Baszler’s days spent as champion is spread out over 2 reigns.
NXT Women’s Championship Statistics:
Shayna Baszler (2x) 524+ days spent as champion.
Asuka (1x) 522 days spent as champion.
Paige (1x) 308 days spent as champion.
Charlotte Flair (1x) 258 days spent as champion.
Bayley (1x) 223 days spent as champion.
Sasha Banks (1x) 192 days spent as champion.
Ember Moon (1x) 140 days spent as champion.
Kairi Sane (1x) 71 days spent as champion.
Baszler is also the only wrestler to win the women’s championship in NXT on more than one occasion. She will wrestle on both the NXT TakeOver: War Games and Survivor Series shows this weekend.
