WWE: This is the version of Shayna Baszler everyone wanted to see all along

There was a lot to talk about coming out of Monday Night Raw. One of the big angles of the evening saw Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax go at it in a singles match, where Baszler picked up the victory. But it was the onslaught that she poured on after the match that helped fans get excited about the potential of her future direction. If the ruthless version of Baszler is back, this is the version that many have opined to see on the main roster.

The match between Baszler and Jax was violent from the very beginning. They both laid in some heavy shots, with them all reverberating through the microphones. When Baszler got Jax down to lock in the Kirifuda clutch, that signaled the end of the match. But the beating afterward signaled the true end to a team that had been WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions twice. Baszler may have looked stressed about what she was doing, but that did not stop her from continuing the acts of violence.

This is the Baszler that fans wanted to see go over Becky Lynch at WrestleMania in 2020. Since coming into the promotion via NXT, Baszler was booked in a highly successful fashion. Fans may not have enjoyed all her matches, but it was clear that she looked all the part. She is one of the most believable acts booked by the WWE in a long time, right up there with Brock Lesnar who shares a decorated grappling and MMA background.

Getting this version of Baszler back is exactly what the WWE women’s division needs. It is even better since this comes right before the WWE Draft. If she stays on Raw or moves to SmackDown, there is a big opportunity to create an impact as a singles performer. Since moving up to the main roster she was misused in a way that kept her out of the limelight. Outside of her angle with Lynch, she was not booked in any true singles feuds of consequence. This is an opportunity to correct that mistake and build Baszler into one of the baddest women in the division, which would elevate all of those involved with her along the way.

Baszler has been hinting on social media about breaking free of chains. With her actions on Monday, we should all be hopeful that she will return to the version of Baszler that held the NXT Women’s title for a combined 549 days. That version of Baszler would be a great boost to the main roster in more ways than one.