Shayna Baszler has more long-term value than Ronda Rousey

Shayna Baszler’s continued development in WWE NXT has drawn attention as her close friend, Ronda Rousey, stands in the spotlight.

This was an intriguing week in sports as the “Ronda Rousey vs the media” storyline took another turn. Rousey’s appearance on multiple ESPN shows ended with a lot of criticism to go around. But while the industry talks about Rousey, there’s another member of the Four Horsewomen who is budding into a potential star within the WWE. That is the “Queen of Spades” Shayna Baszler, and if you know her backstory with professional wrestling then you know that she’s someone who has long-term potential in the promotion.

Yes, Rousey is the attention getter. Her name alone drove millions of PPV buys for the UFC. She’s one of the few individuals that were able to carry an event on her own and do big business for the organization. With that in mind it’s understandable that her transition to the WWE is a story that’s garnered a lot of attention.

But while she’s set to debut at WrestleMania 34 along the likes of all-time greats Kurt Angle, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, Baszler will continue to put in work at NXT Takeover the night before. In many ways, that line runs parallel to how Baszler and Rousey’s careers shaped up in mixed martial arts.

Rousey shot onto the scene after tearing through Strikeforce and taking the title away from Miesha Tate in 2012. From there she became the catalyst that caused UFC President Dana White to reconsider his stance on women fighting in the Octagon. However, nearly ten years before Rousey stepped into the MMA space, Baszler was fighting against any opponent she could on cards all across the country. So when she finally made it to the UFC in 2014, her best days were behind her.

When that door closed, another opened for Baszler and just like she did with MMA, she kicked it wide open. Her years training with Josh Barnett, another MMA athlete with ties to professional wrestling, helped her be prepared for the squared circle and it showed. In less than two years in the business she’s performed for major organizations such as Shimmer, World Wonder Ring Stardom, and others. She took to the trade in a way that turned heads and her credibility as a legit fighter only helped.

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But when she was brought in to compete in the Mae Young Classic in 2017 there were some complaints, as many speculated it was a move to help get Rousey in the future. That conversation continued when Baszler reached the final against Kairi Sane. Even though she dropped that match, she’s arguably the best prospect to come out of that tournament.

Less than a year later she’s poised to take the title away from Ember Moon in the coming weeks. Instead of being thrust into the limelight like Rousey, she’s getting the opportunity to work on her in-ring abilities and character at the WWE Performance Center – valuable time that the former UFC champion will not have. We can picture Baszler’s style and gimmick running up against the likes of Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Becky Lynch and others in ways that Rousey hasn’t shown in the brief moments she’s been in the ring. Baszler has received praise from many wrestling experts such as Taz who has spoken very highly of her during his show.

Baszler is also the more reliable long-term option as there’s no true word on how long Rousey will stay in the promotion. While they’ve made it a point to say she’s signed a long-term deal, there’s no telling what opportunities may come knocking on her door in the future. Baszler comes with the same level of legitimacy as Rousey without the same level of concern that she may leave for other work in the entertainment space. Instead, Baszler can easily be seen holding a title for an extended period of time, locked in a featured run against the other names in the women’s division.

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The WWE women’s division is at a point in which the talent pool is deep. You have the main roster filled with those that kicked off the “women’s revolution,” and an NXT roster that features the likes of Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Vanessa Borne, Lacey Evans and more. But keep an eye on Shayna Baszler. At the end of the day, no one should be surprised when she’s a more valuable commodity to the WWE than her close friend, Ronda Rousey.