Shayna Baszler

Shayna Baszler Biography

Shayna Baszler (born August 8, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. She currently trains under former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett. She has a record of 15 wins and 11 losses, with 14 wins coming by way of submission.

Baszler gained recognition for her pseudo-chicken wing submission that she has used to defeat many female fighters, including Roxanne Modafferi. In an audio interview with Jordan Breen on the Sherdog Radio Network, she dubbed the submission, which she created in training, as the "Shwing."

Under Billy Robinson, Baszler is the only certified female catch wrestler in the United States. As of January 2015, Baszler is ranked #27 bantamweight female fighter in the world according to Fight Matrix, and #22 according to Tapology.com.

Martial arts background and persona

Baszler, a Khun Kru in the Muay Thai boxing association and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt, began incorporating catch wrestling into her MMA training. This proved to be somewhat difficult because she could not train with Barnett in Southern California, so Barnett wrote her a syllabus and a video teaching the step-by-step secrets of catch wrestling and how to improve her verbal skills. Barnett also suggested that Baszler carry an electric guitar to the cage to show that she was outspoken. Baszler reluctantly agreed, and the guitar has become a signature of her rock star-like persona.

Barnett began calling Baszler "The Queen of Spades" due to her card tricks, which is her nickname today. Her card magic can also be related to her submission magic. She is sometimes labeled the "submission magician," confusing commentators with her creativity. Baszler refers to her fans as the "Queen's Army."

Mixed martial arts career

Early career (20062007)

Baszler faced Amanda Buckner at MFC: USA vs. Russia 3 on June 3, 2006. She lost the fight by TKO in the third round.

She faced Samantha Anderson at NFF: The Breakout on March 10, 2007. She won the fight by kimura submission in the first round.

Elite XC (20072008)

Baszler debuted for EliteXC at a ShoXC event on July 27, 2007. She submitted veteran Jan Finney with a first-round armbar and repeated the feat three months later against Jennifer Tate. After defeating Keiko Tamai with an impressive Twister submission at a third ShoXC event, Baszler moved up to the main EliteXC cards.

Baszler next faced Cris Cyborg on CBS television at EliteXC: Unfinished Business on July 26, 2008. She lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Strikeforce (20092010)

Following EliteXC's closure, Baszler debuted for Strikeforce at Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg on June 19, 2009 in a fight against Sarah Kaufman, but lost by Unanimous Decision.

Baszler entered the Freestyle Cage Fighting Women's Bantamweight Grand Prix at FCF 39 on January 30, 2010 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She submitted Megumi Yabushita with a twister submission in the first round of their quarterfinal bout. It was the second time that Baszler had won an MMA fight with the unique submission.

Various promotions (20102012)

Baszler faced late replacement Alexis Davis in the second round of the FCF tournament at FCF 40 on March 27, 2010. She defeated Davis by unanimous decision.

Baszler was scheduled to face Jan Finney in the tournament final at FCF 43 on June 12, 2010. However, Finney withdrew in order to compete in Strikeforce and Baszler faced Adrienna Jenkins instead. Baszler defeated Jenkins by first-round armbar to become FCF Women's Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion.

On November 19, 2010, Baszler faced Elaina Maxwell at The Cage Inc.: Battle At The Border 7. Baszler defeated Maxwell by submission due to a kneebar in the first round to become the first TCI Women's 140 lbs Champion.

Baszler was scheduled to defend her TCI title in a rematch with Alexis Davis at The Cage Inc.: Battle At The Border 10 on July 30, 2011. However, the fight was cancelled after Davis signed with Strikeforce.

Baszler agreed to face Kelly Kobold in a rematch at Cage Fighting Xtreme: Spring Brawl on April 21, 2012. However, it was announced on March 16 that the event had been cancelled.

Invicta Fighting Championships (20122013)

On April 28, it was announced that Baszler would face Sara McMann in the main event of Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann. The event took place on July 28, 2012. In a back-and-forth affair, Baszler lost the fight in what was considered to be a controversial unanimous decision. The bout was named fight of the night.

Baszler faced Sarah D'Alelio at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama on October 6, 2012. She defeated D'Alelio via submission due to a rear naked choke early in round two.

Baszler faced Alexis Davis in a rematch at Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt on January 5, 2013. She was defeated via technical submission due to a rear naked choke in round three. The bout was named fight of the night.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (20132015)

The Ultimate Fighter

In August 2013, it was announced that Baszler was one of the fighters selected to be on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate. In her fight to get into the TUF house, Baszler faced Colleen Schneider and won via an armbar submission in the first round. Baszler was then selected by Rousey as the first team pick and the first fight of the season against Julianna Pea. Baszler lost to Pea after tapping out due to a rear naked choke in the second round.

Baszler was expected to face Sarah Kaufman at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale. However, on April 2, 2014, she pulled out of the bout due to an injury.

Early fights and departure

For her promotional debut, Baszler faced Bethe Correia on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177. She lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Baszler faced Amanda Nunes on March 21, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 62. She lost the fight via TKO in the first round after taking multiple leg kicks and was subsequently released from the organization.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2015-present)

On March 1, 2015 at Ring of Honor's 13th Anniversary Show, Baszler accompanied reDRagon to the ring for their ROH World Tag Team Championship defense. After they won, she helped cut a celebratory promo, where they described her addition to the team as "[finding] our Ringo". After training under Josh Barnett, Baszler made her professional wrestling debut on September 26, 2015, losing to Cheerleader Melissa for Quintessential Pro Wrestling (QPG) in Reno, NV. Baszler was attacked by Nicole Matthews after the match, setting up a future match between them. On October 30, Baszler defeated Matthews in their first match against each other, but lost in their second meeting, a KO or submission only match in January 2016, won by Matthews via KO in just over 9 minutes. On January 23, 2016, at a Magnum Pro Wrestling event in Omaha, Nebraska, Baszler defeated Heather Patera. On July 17, Baszler defeated Ruby Raze to become the Premier Women's Champion at Premier XIII.

Baszler debuted for Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW) in April 2016, losing to Mia Yim. She returned to the promotion in June, defeating Veda Scott. She then returned to the promotion again in August, defeating Annie Social. On September 9, she defeated Heidi Lovelace to become the AIW Women's Champion. She made her first successful defence against Britt Baker on November 5, and again retained the championship against Ray Lyn and Ayzali in a three way match for Rise Wrestling on November 10. She once again successfully retained the championship against Lovelace in a rematch on November 25.

In June 2016, Baszler made her debut for Shimmer Women Athletes at Volume 81, defeating Rhia O'Reilly. She defeated Solo Darling at volume 82, and at volume 83, she unsuccessfully challenged Nicole Savoy for the Heart Of Shimmer Championship. She once again defeated Mia Yim at volume 85. She returned in November, teaming with Mercedes Martinez in a loss to The Aussie Squad (Kellie Skater and Shazza McKenzie) at volume 86. At volume 87, she faced Kay Lee Ray, Heidi Lovelace and Vanessa Kraven in a fatal four way match, won by Kraven. At volume 88, she lost to Shazza McKenzie by disqualification. At volume 89, she once again lost to McKenzie in a no disqualification match. At Volume 90, she once again defeated Heidi Lovelace.

World Wonder Ring Stardom (2015, 2017-present)

In October 2015, Baszler worked two events for Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom, during their American tour in Covina, California, first teaming with Brittany Wonder and Datura in a loss to Oedo Tai (Act Yasukawa, Kris Wolf and Kyoko Kimura), and unsuccessfully challenging Cheerleader Melissa for the GRPW Lady Luck Championship two days later. She returned to the promotion in January 2017, this time touring Japan. She made her debut on January 3, teaming with Mayu Iwatani and Jungle Kyona to defeat Sumie Sakai, Kagetsu and Kyoko Kimura. The following day, she teamed with Nixon Newell and Kay Lee Ray to defeat Iwatani, Kairi Hojo and Konami. The following day, she faced Himomi Mimura and Viper in a triple threat match won by Viper. On January 15, she took part in another triple threat match, this time defeating Momo Watanabe and Jungle Kyona. On January 29, she teamed with Deonna Purrazzo and Christi Jaynes to defeat Kris Wolf, Viper and Kagetsu. On February 23, Baszler unsuccessfully challenged Io Shirai for the World of Stardom Championship.

WWE (2016, 2017-present)

In September 2016, it was reported that Bazler was one of many independent wrestlers taking part in a WWE tryout. Former WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella recruited Baszler to train her in submission wrestling while she was recovering from neck surgery, and credits Baszler with teaching her her new finishing move, the Fearless Lock (a modified inverted STF).

On July 13, 2017, Baszler entered WWE's Mae Young Classic, defeating Zeda in the first round. The following day, Baszler first defeated Mia Yim in the second round, then Candice LeRae in the quarterfinals and finally Mercedes Martinez in the semifinals to advance to the finals of the tournament.. After defeating Candice LeRae in the quaterfinals, Baszler turned heel after not releasing the submission hold she used to beat Candice after the bell rang multiple times. She also kicked Candice as she was attended by doctors and her husband Johnny Gargano while also berating the fans, therefore cementing her heel turn. On September 12, Baszler was defeated in the finals of the tournament by Kairi Sane.

Personal life

Baszler was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the daughter of Skip and Margaret Baszler. Her father is of German descent, while her mother is of Chinese descent. Baszler majored in religion at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas before beginning her mixed martial arts training.

Baszler was a key spokesperson in the movement to create a South Dakota athletic commission for combat sports. She once delivered a speech that touched opposing Rep. Steve Hickey, who once labeled MMA as the "child porn" of sports. After visiting Baszler at the Next Edge Academy of Martial Arts, the training place of Baszler, as well as other mixed martial arts fighters and practitioners, Hickey stated he regretted his analogy as it detracted from his point which, for him, remained true.

Baszler is also a coach for the South Dakota-based roller derby team, the Sioux Falls Roller Dollz. She is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

In wrestling

Finishing moves
- Kirifuda Driver (Rear naked choke, sometimes transitioned from a vertical suplex)
Signature moves
- Armbar
- Guillotine choke
- Gutwrench suplex
- Vertical suplex
Nicknames
- The Queen of Spades
- The Submission Magician

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Freestyle Cage Fighting
- FCF Women's Bantamweight Grand Prix Championship (1 time)
Invicta FC
- Fight of the Night (2 times) vs. Sara McMann, Alexis Davis
The Cage Inc.
- TCI Women's 140 lbs Championship (1 time, first)

Professional wrestling

Absolute Intense Wrestling
- AIW Women's Championship (1 time, current)
DDT Pro-Wrestling
- Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
New Horizon Pro Wrestling
- IndyGurlz Australian Championship (1 time, current)
- Global Conflict Shield Tournament (2017)
Premier Wrestling
- Premier Women's Championship (1 time, current)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 40 of the top 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2016
Quintessential Pro Wrestling
- QPW Women's Championship (1 time)

Mixed martial arts record