WWE RAW Underground Wrestler Told Not To Use MMA Skills Against Shayna Baszler
Protecting the Queen of Spades was a priority on RAW Underground this week.
Shayna Baszler was a featured fighter on this week's edition of RAW Underground, single-handedly fending off three opponents at once in the Shane McMahon-helmed skit's most one-sided section.
Baszler's victims were independent wrestlers Marina Tucker and Sofia Castillo, as well as NXT athlete Emily Andzulis. The latter was tapped about by 'The Queen of Spades' but brought significant martial arts pedigree to the table, having trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other combat sports in the past.
Per Bryan Alvarez on the latest Wrestling Observer Live, Andzulis was instructed specifically not to utilise any of these skills when facing Baszler, with WWE telling her that she had to look clueless against the former RAW Women's Title contender. Underground's goal was to make Shayna look dominant, so WWE gave Andzulis this edict to ensure her conqueror looked as good as possible.
Andzulis, 28, has a 0-1 record in amateur MMA. She made her debut on NXT's live circuit this past February.
Baszler, meanwhile, was a considerable star during the formative era of women's MMA, fighting her last bout in 2017. She is as natural a fit for RAW Underground as WWE has anywhere on its roster.