Andrew Ravens is a Newsweek reporter. He is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His focus is reporting on wrestling news. He has in-depth knowledge of pro wrestling and has covered the industry extensively. Andrew joined Newsweek in 2025 from WrestlingNews.co and had previously worked at GiveMe Sport. You can get in touch with Andrew by emailing a.ravens@newsweek.com. You can find him on X @andrew_ravens.
Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Just four months after being released from her WWE contract, Shayna Baszler has made her on-screen return to the NXT brand. “The Queen of Spades” appeared in a backstage segment at the “NXT Homecoming” special on Tuesday, September 16.
The return comes after Baszler was reportedly working in a backstage producer role for the brand in July. Her on-screen appearance now opens the door for a potential in-ring comeback.
A Backstage Confrontation
During the “Homecoming” show, which took place at NXT’s original home of Full Sail University, Baszler appeared in a backstage segment with two of the brand’s rising stars, Sol Ruca and Zaria. After a recent miscommunication in a tag team match, the two were arguing when Baszler stepped in to confront them.
“The Queen of Spades” reminded them of her own decorated past as a two-time NXT Women’s Champion and a WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, telling them to get their act together. The segment positioned Baszler as a veteran leader and a potential mentor or antagonist for the younger talent.
A Dominant But Abrupt WWE Run
Shayna Baszler’s release from WWE in May was a surprise to many, especially after she revealed in a recent interview that she had three years remaining on her contract at the time. A pioneer of women’s mixed martial arts, she brought a unique level of legitimate credibility to the WWE women’s division.
The WWE logo is seen on the front of the WWE wrestling world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as… The WWE logo is seen on the front of the WWE wrestling world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as executive chairman and its board of directors following allegations of sexual assault made public in a lawsuit in Connecticut. A former employee Janel Grant accused McMahon, 78, of sexual assault and sexually trafficking her.
John Moore/Getty Images
Her run in NXT was one of the most dominant in the brand’s history. As a two-time NXT Women’s Champion, she held the title for a combined 549 days, establishing herself as a feared and respected final boss.
While she went on to become a multi-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion on the main roster, many fans felt her intimidating aura was never fully utilized on “Raw” or “SmackDown.” Her return to the brand where she had her greatest success is a noteworthy development.
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