At one point, the WWE's Women's Division was filled with women who were at best mediocre in the ring, and this was a truly dark era, as women were being promoted because of their looks rather than their wrestling skills. Things have improved dramatically over the past five years though, as WWE has been signing and developing female talent who can legitimately compete, but not all of these women come from pure wrestling backgrounds.
Shayna Baszler is one of several women who come from the world of mixed martial arts, and after spending some time in the Indies, she was signed by the WWE in 2017, and since then, she has become a 2-time NXT Women's Champion. Shayna has been on the main roster for a few months now, and although she failed to win championship gold at WrestleMania, there are still big plans in store for her. Here are 15 facts about Shayna that WWE does not mention.
15 She Coaches A Roller Derby Team
Shayna is known for being an MMA fighter and a wrestler, but she has been involved in another sport for years. Roller derby involves teams of 5 roller skating on a track, and some of these meets can get really physical. Shayna may not compete in the actual derbies, but she does coach the Soux Falls Roller Dollz, who hails from her hometown.
14 The Meaning Behind Her Nickname
Nicknames have always been a part of professional wrestling, and many of the women on WWE's roster have one, including Shayna who is known as the "Queen of Spades." You would think that the name would be in reference to her MMA career, but it actually stems from her ability to perform magic tricks with playing cards.
13 She Used To Live With Ronda Rousey
Ronda is the most high profile MMA fighter to ever sign with the WWE, and when Shayna was still a fighter, she actually lived with Ronda and two other people for a while. It was during this time that the two became training partners and friends. They never faced each other in the Octagon, but considering their previous living arrangements, it was probably for the best.
12 Ronda's Mom Helped Her Become A Wrestler
When you live with people, there is a good chance that you will meet a few of their friends and family members, and this is how Shayna met Ronda's mom. When Ronda's mom first visited, Shayna was watching wrestling on TV, and her mom said that Shayna was not just watching, she was studying. Shayna has admitted that hearing that caused her to believe she could be a wrestler.
11 Her MMA Record
During her feud with Becky Lynch, Shayna brought up her MMA background quite a bit, but she never went into specifics. As a fighter, Shayna had 26 professional bouts, which resulted in a 15-11 record. She may have had more wins than losses, but when you compare her record with Ronda's 12-2 record, Shayna's UFC career was not that impressive.
10 Her Time In University
Education is important, and like many of her fellow superstars, Shayna decided to go to college. She went to MidAmerica Nazarene University, a Liberal arts college in Kansas, where she earned a degree in religion. Based on her resume, it looks like Shayna was not thrilled with the idea of spending the rest of her life as a theologian.
9 She's Been A Lifelong Wrestling Fan
Shayna may have started out as an MMA fighter, but like many of her fellow WWE superstars, she grew up as a professional wrestling fan. When Shayna was growing up, watching wrestling was her favorite pastime, and that love continued into adulthood, as she would often force her roommates to watch Raw and SmackDown.
8 Her Connection To Mercedes Martinez
Prior to joining WWE, Shayna decided to hone her wrestling skills on the Independent Circuit, which is where she met Mercedes Martinez. They met when both women were with SHIMMER, and Mercedes was kind enough to take Shayna under her wing. Now that Mercedes is part of the WWE family, there is a chance the WWE Universe will get to see them in the ring together on the main roster.
7 She Brought MMA To South Dakota
At one point, combat sports like MMA were banned in South Dakota, and State Representative Steve Hickey was the main reason for this. While Shayna was still a fighter, she went to the state to lobby for the sport, and many lawmakers were impressed by her speech. She may have not changed Hickey's mind, but she changed plenty of other minds, which is why the state ultimately lifted the ban.
6 Her Dream Opponent
One of the most common questions wrestlers receive is who their dream opponent is, and in Shayna's case, her dream became a reality. She always wanted to have a match with Asuka, but the likelihood of that happening was very low considering Shayna spent most of her time on NXT. She is part of the main roster now though, and she got to face Asuka in the main event of this year's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.
5 Her Heritage
Thanks to superstars like Rey Mysterio and Roman Reigns, we know that WWE does not mind bringing up a person's heritage, especially if it can be used in a storyline. WWE may have never mentioned Shayna's heritage, but it is fairly unique, as she is half-German from her father's side and half-Chinese from her mother's side.
4 Her Trainer
Mercedes may have taken Shayna under her wing, but she is not the one who actually trained her to become a wrestler. That credit goes to Josh Barnett, who had experience in both MMA and wrestling, and she has said on multiple occasions that he believed in her ability to wrestle before she did.
3 Her Favorite Wrestlers
Shayna has been watching pro wrestling for decades, and like any fan, she liked certain superstars more than others. As a young fan, Shawn Michaels was Shayna's favorite wrestler, which means working alongside him in NXT must have been surreal. She was also a big fan of the Ultimate Warrior, who she latched on to because he was feuding with Hulk Hogan, who everyone loved at the time.
2 She's An EMT
Prior to becoming a wrestler, Shayna had to make ends meet a different way, which is why she decided to work two jobs at one point. It was during this time that she became a certified emergency medical technician in the state of New York, and that background comes in very handy considering her current line of work.
1 Her Age
Age should always be nothing more than a number, but when it comes to pro wrestling and other sports, an athlete's age does matter. Believe it or not, Shayna will be turning 40 in August, and she is already in the record books because of her age, as she is the oldest woman to ever hold the NXT Women's Championship.
Sources: thesportster.com, tvovermind.com, sportskeeda.com