How WWE Destroyed Shayna Baszler
December 18th 2019 was the beginning of the end of NXT as we all knew it, such was the seismic sensation of Rhea Ripley's euphoric Women's Championship win over 'The Queen Of Spades'.
The black-and-gold brand had made good on a strong run of shows around Survivor Series season, but this specific win was a result earned through the core of the show's beloved roster. It was a core lost within months to ramshackle booking and a panicked attempt to recapture lightning in a bottle, but rushing was only making it worse. Triple H almost certainly knew that, but he was bound at this point to his new paymasters and a now-far more watchful eye of his Father-In-Law.
WWE is a content factory rather than a wrestling company now. They're all about the figures, so let's look at a few. Baszler had held the title for 416 pulsating days before the December defeat. 4 people defeated her in May 2021, yet only 3 managed that during over 2 years as a TV character before then. These are the numbers that helped draw the number, but there are two more that highlight how and why WWE never replicated the feat on Wednesday nights.
Ripley lost that belt to Charlotte Flair after just 99 days. Baszler lost her aura in defeat to Becky Lynch in 98. Heading into 2020, seemingly no two wrestlers mattered more to the company's loyalest fans. By WrestleMania 36, Vince McMahon was determined to tell the opposite story.
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