10 Specific Ways WWE Could Debut NXT Stars On The Main Roster

4. Shayna Baszler

The Velveteen Dream
WWE

Shayna Baszler is a savage submission machine. The natural - inevitable - major opponent is WWE’s other savage submission machine: Ronda Rousey. This is a money match that, more than any other, possesses the potential to truly legitimise women’s wrestling as a serious concern not beholden to the gender stereotypes that still undermine the division, even at this forefront of the Women’s (R)evolution.

Owing to their shared history and natural fan expectation, we should be introduced to Shayna as she reintroduces herself to Ronda in a backstage segment. Create a tense tone in which something feels off. Have Shayna’s sinister body language and piercing facial expressions betray her cordial words. Have her stare a hole through Ronda slightly too long. Have her grip Ronda’s hand for slightly too long, elongating the shake.

Create the expectation…and wait to deliver upon it.

Baszler’s character motivation is clear: where she mastered pro wrestling on a less prestigious stage for less money, Ronda was immediately positioned on the most prestigious stage, WrestleMania, for more money than any other female talent including, obviously, the Queen of Spades.

Only by mirroring this resentment, through a spree of cathartic midcard killings, can the audience begin to feel it.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!