Shayna Baszler: I Think People Are Now Appreciating What I Did For NXT
Shayna Baszler is arguably the most dominant NXT Women’s Champion of all-time, having held the title for a combined 548 days between her two reigns.
Baszler last wrestled in NXT on January 22, 2020 when she defeated Shotzi Blackheart. She and Nia Jax made a surprise appearance on the brand on the February 17, 2021 episode of NXT when they confronted Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai ahead of their upcoming WWE Women’s Tag Team Title bout.
Speaking on Wrestle Buddies, Baszler discussed her return to NXT and being back in front of a crowd again.
“The nature of Raw, being a much bigger show, makes NXT more intimate and that’s something that stays with you. It’s something we’ve missed during this time with not having a big live crowd. NXT fans really follow the story and grab onto the character. I’m so glad I got to experience that, even though they hated me during the time I was there. I didn’t see it until I went to Raw and you don’t know what you got until it’s gone and I think people are appreciating what I did for the title, the division, and the girls that were there at the time. When I went back to NXT and had the surprise appearance, it was like, ‘Oh, right, there are people during our promos. We have to talk between the crowd chanting.’ It was a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait until WrestleMania and the first live crowd back. They are going to be just as excited as we are,” she said.
Baszler & Jax will defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles on the March 3 episode of NXT against Kai & Gonzalez, who earned a shot at the belts by winning the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Fightful will have live coverage of NXT beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
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