6 Interesting Observations From WWE's Mae Young Classic
3. Baszler Protected, But Solid
Shayna Baszler has only been wrestling for two years, but her decade of experience in MMA certainly has helped her with her development in the squared circle.
While Baszler finished runner-up in the Mae Young Classic, she certainly can’t be categorized as the second-best competitor in the tournament. She was somewhat protected in having mainly experienced opponents (Mia Yim, Candice LaRae and Mercedes Martinez) fighting her and making sure she looked like a million bucks. They also kept her matches relatively short while sticking to her strong suit: striking and submissions.
However, it’s also fair to say that Baszler held her own throughout the tournament. Just because you aren’t the best in-ring performer and have veterans providing the opposition, you still have to get the job done yourself. And the Queen of Spades certainly did that. She also played the badass heel role really well.
It’s unclear whether she’ll actually come to WWE as a full-time wrestler or participate in a “Battle of the Four Horsewomen,” but Baszler definitely accredited herself.