Shayna goes over pro fighters wanting to become pro wrestlers.
There have been a number of notable names who have transitioned from the octagon to the squared circle and vice versa. Names such as Ken Shamrock, Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey, Bobby Lashley, Dan Severn and many others made the jump or went back-and-forth between the two sports. A competitor who has also done that is the current NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler. Baszler was a recent guest on Busted Open Radio where she spoke with Dave LaGreca & Bully Ray about a number of topics including pro fighters transitioning to the sport of wrestling.
“I think it's two sides to a coin. I think they see a lot of success and they see us having a good time and they want in on that. They want to take part in that which is awesome." She continued, "but I think at the same time there’s a misconception about it being easier or something along those lines, where they you know, ‘Well I do this so I could do this’, and I think, so on the other side of that the understanding will come a little bit slower of how difficult pro wrestling is, but I think getting a set of different eyes as far as people that were into MMA and maybe they dismiss pro wrestling, will pay attention just because Ronda or myself just so happens to be on a card, and I think that… where I come from training with Josh Barnett and Billy Robinson and that MMA and pro wrestling have a very shared history, and I think the MMA side has forgotten more of that history than the pro wrestling side has—where it all has kind of the same origins." Baszler explained. "So, I think that rather than it being the new thing that everyone thinks that we’re doing, we’re just kind of throwbacks to what pro wrestling used to be.”
"The Queen Of Spades" has transitioned nicely and is currently on-top of the NXT women's division. Bully Ray asked Shayna is there is any interest that she has to move up to the main roster and as of right now, Shayna does not see any reason why she would want to be called up at all.
“There’s always things to learn." Shayna said. "I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I need to go anywhere else. I will take opportunities that come. My coach Josh, he has a saying and its, ‘The body’s a submission waiting to happen’ so, wherever the most bodies are lined up for me to go after is where I’m willing to go. Its not about the letters behind the name it's about the bodies."
Baszler also gave her take on if she thinks pro wrestling is more challenging than MMA. If you are going to use the quotes above, please credit Busted Open Radio with an H/T to Fightful.com for the transcriptions.
