WWE NXT: Shayna Baszler Deserves a Rematch at Evolution

Shayna Baszler’s rise among the ranks of NXT has been well-documented and long-awaited, and there has been much speculation as to when Shayna will finally break onto the main WWE roster. A Raw or Smackdown debut may be just around the corner for Shayna, but right now she needs to lead the women of NXT into the all-women’s pay-per-view, WWE Evolution, with one more go at the NXT Women’s Championship.

Shayna Baszler could hardly be considered a “leader” on the NXT women’s roster. She has spent the entirety of her time in NXT (including her reign as NXT Women’s Champion) bullying other women on the roster, and she has continued that behavior since losing her championship to Kairi Sane.

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However, just as quickly as she made a name for herself in locker room, she’s captured the attention, and even the hearts of the NXT audience. She is the strongest heel in the NXT women’s division, and probably the strongest female heel on the entire WWE roster. She is met with cheers each time she steps into the ring, and every time she snaps someone’s arm or chokes someone out, Shayna becomes more and more of a fan-favorite.

Then of course, as is the case with all NXT superstars, the more success they have, the more people speculate when each superstar would be ready for an main roster call-up. Shayna thus far was widely though to be making her main-roster debut after her championship loss at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV to Kairi Sane and also leading into Evolution PPV, rumored to perhaps have involvement with her Four Horsewomen cohort, Ronda Rousey.

While any booking for Shayna on the Evolution card would be bound to show off exactly why Shayna’s brutality and cunning are so widely beloved by audiences, there is exactly one right way to book Shayna, and that’s to solidify (but promptly say goodbye to) her roll as the leader of the NXT women’s division.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Didn’t you just say Shayna’s not a leader?” In the typical sense, no. She doesn’t have the same unbridled optimism or heroic altruism that former NXT Women’s Champions like Bayley or Ember Moon had. Yet, that’s exactly what makes her an important, if not the most important asset in NXT going into Evolution.

While Shayna’s not the first heel champion NXT has ever had, she’s undoubtedly the most ruthless. It’s uncharted territory for NXT in a few ways, as it signifies the widest spectrum of female performers NXT has ever had with Shayna fastened tightly on one end.

Now, how does this have anything to do with Evolution? As you’re probably already aware, all women’s championships throughout WWE are scheduled to be defended, and I am officially throwing a hat in the ring for a Kairi Sane/Shayna Baszler rematch for the NXT Women’s Championship. Logic would prove this to be possible; every losing champion is granted a rematch, right?

However, this booking decision would be about way more than a simple contractual issue. If you want any woman to represent for the yellow brand at the inaugural women’s pay-per-view, to shine under the biggest spotlight women have seen in the WWE to date, you put the best in there.

The best, of course, is Shayna Baszler. In whole terms, Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler 2 is the strongest possible match NXT could present right now, mostly because of what it will bring out in Shayna.  As I’m sure we all remember, Shayna gave no credit to Kairi Sane when Sane one the championship; Shayna rather internalized the loss and said it was her own fault for letting Kairi win. You can bet that’s indicative of an intensifying sense of revenge in Shayna, which would lead to more violent methodology in the ring.

Shayna Baszler should absolutely not win the title back, of course; viewers want to see Shayna at her most unmerciful, her most unrelenting, and that’s what happens when Shayna’s angry. If she’s taking it up a notch already to get the better of Sane in her rematch, imagine the ire exploding out of her if she loses a second time. More importantly, imagine that fire as it boils over the onto the WWE main roster.

If there was only one word I could use to describe Baszler leading up to Evolution, it’s… well, “it”. Shayna is at the forefront of the NXT women’s division, even without the NXT Women’s Championship around her waist. If NXT wants to showcase their absolute best at Evolution and prove to regular and non-regular viewers alike that their women’s roster deserves our attention, give Shayna Baszler her rematch.