Shayna Baszler enters WWE, guaranteed to blow your mind.
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO, THE WORLD OF SPORTS HAS SLOWLY (AND RIGHTFULLY) BECOME A PLACE WHERE WOMEN ARE FINALLY GETTING THEIR PROPER DUE.
Serena Williams ‘ name is routinely mentioned amongst the best tennis players, male or female. The women’s soccer teams of the United States and Canada are reaching levels of popularity not before seen. And Ronda Rousey is one of the biggest names in Mixed Martial Arts.
Indeed, it’s a women’s world.
The WWE, of course, is not immune to such a turning of the tide, either. For the better part of two years, the “Women’s Revolution” has been taking over, as a series of ultra-talented competitors stake their claim for air-time, main event slots, and match of the year candidates.
Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and more have all become household names within the world of professional wrestling, a group of competitors showing fans weekly why they deserve the adoration of men and women alike, and why they are very comfortable mixing it up shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts.
Men are enjoying the matches and respecting the competitors therein like never before. Women and young girls have role models they can proudly cheer for, or support through merchandise or social media accounts. WWE live event crowds are littered with fan wearing shirts and holding signs for their favourite female competitors.
And while certain people, myself included, have been critical of certain aspects of the “women’s revolution”, overall fans should be pleased that the division has come so far.
And excited for the very idea that there is so much more room to grow.
WWE will continue the evolution of the revolution in a few weeks, when the Mae Young Classic streams on the WWE Network. A 32 woman tournament featuring fighters from all across the globe, the single-elimination event brings together some of the absolute best talent women’s wrestling has to offer.
The event begins airing on August 28th, with the finals slated for September 12th.
(Note: for those inclined, the tournament has been taped all the way up to the finals. Spoilers are out there for those interested).
Many of the competitors will be known to wrestling fans for their contributions in various independent promotions. While one in particular does have independent work under her belt, it is perhaps her connection with the aforementioned Ronda Rousey that will capture fan attention from the onset.
Shayna Baszler, one of the Four Horsewomen, is no stranger to World Wrestling Entertainment.
Appearing on WWE television a few times alongside the former UFC Champion, Baszler’s love of professional wrestling runs deep. A true student of the game, her love for WWE began long ago and continued to follow her throughout her personal and professional life. While the Four Horsewomen shared housing together, it was Baszler who would routinely turn the television to WWE programming.
Eventually, the rest were hooked as well.
For Baszler, it wasn’t just the athleticism that drew her in, it was the entertainment value as well. Something she was able to harness and unleash once under the tutelage of Josh Barnett. A quick study, and a determined learner, she and Barnett actually bridged the geographical gap separating the two by having him, an MMA fighter in his own right as well as a wrestling commentator, write a syllabus and and create his own instructional videos. The idea behind the learning aides was to help Baszler sharpen both her catch wrestling skills and her persona, something Barnett understood from early in his career would be necessary for longevity.
In Baszler he saw someone who had the ability, like him, to harness a personality that would translate to the wrestling ring and sought to help her unlock it. Barnett is also credited with giving her the nickname the “Queen Of Spades” coining the term after being wowed by the many card tricks she can perform.
Baszler was eventually convinced by Barnett to embrace the more outspoken aspects of her personality. While she showed reluctance at first, she eventually heeded his advice, going so far as to carry a guitar to the MMA octagon with her, accentuating her rock star persona.
Though many know her as one of the badass fighters riding shotgun with Ronda Rousey, her MMA career is actually quite storied, and began around the year 2006.
In fact, with appearances in Elite XC, Strikeforce, FCF, Invicta, and the UFC, it is not a stretch of hyperbole to label Baszler one of the true pioneers of the women’s portion of the sport.
It was on a 2013 season of The Ultimate Fighter: Rousey Vs Tate that the “Queen Of Spades” caught the attention of “The Rowdy One” (though surely not for the first time). After winning her qualifying fight, securing a spot in the TUF house, Rousey made her the first pick for her squad during team selection. What followed was a fast friendship with deep personal and professional roots, one that has and continues to evolve right alongside the continued evolution of the two ladies.
After losses to Bethe Correia and Amanda Nunes (two incredible tough opponents, looking back on it) Baszler left the UFC. Whether the knee injury suffered during the Nunes match played a part, or whether her or the UFC were simply looking to go another direction, isn’t known.
What is known is that the native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota was not going to stay down for long.
A frequent visitor to PWG shows in California, she would make a splash in March of 2015 by accompanying ReDRagon to the ring for their Tag Team Championship defence at the Ring Of Honor 13th Anniversary Show.
After further training under Barnett throughout the spring and summer, Baszler made her in-ring debut in September, losing to Cheerleader Melissa.
Less than one year later, she would taste gold for the first time in professional wrestling, defeating Ruby Raze to become the Premier Women’s Champion. Less than two months later she would add to her collection, defeating Heidi Lovelace to win the Absolute Intense Wrestling Women’s Championship.
Over two short years, Baszler would continue her meteoric rise, claiming titles and staking a place as one of the best up and coming women’s wrestler of this era. Her resume, already littered with the aforementioned names, also includes matches against Mia Yim, Nicole Matthews, Britt Baker, Nicole Savoy, Mercedes Martinez, Kay Lee Ray, Sumie Sakai, Nixon Newell, and countless others.
She next looks to ply her trade and continue her rapid ascent in the already-discussed Mae Young Classic (again, spoilers are there if that’s your thing).
We have heard stories in the past of certain people taking to professional wrestling very naturally and quickly. Her rise to the current heights from which she finds herself staring down at her competition from suggests Baszler belongs very comfortably in those discussions.
Of course, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised.
Perhaps instead we should be admonishing ourselves for sleeping on Baszler. After all, this is a strong, determined woman who has made indelible marks everywhere she has went. From various fighting organizations, to her fight to get Sioux Falls an athletic commission for the sport of MMA, to her certification as an EMT, it appears there is very little she can’t do once her mind is set.
Shayna Baszler is calling the shots. She holds all of the cards. Not in her hands, of course. But up her sleeve, tucked securely behind the Queen of Spades, ready to be deployed at will.