A decade of badassery

Do you remember what you were doing on October 31st 2003? My 12 year old self was trick or treating in my neighborhood dressed as the infamous Jason Voorhees. I remember I used my brothers Friday the 13th mask covered in blood, my ensemble included a gray long sleeve thermal, with a jean jacket over it, topped off with some ripped up jeans splattered in blood. (Fake of corse) it wasn’t the best but my mom made do and honestly it’s a moment I treasure especially because my mom is no longer with me.

I’m sure some of you where trick or treating as well. Or maybe you were taking your kids out for candy? Maybe you were at a party or watching scary movies?

That is unless you were Shayna Baszler. October 31st 2003 is when Shayna Baszler made her pro mma debut at the age of 23, in a barn in the middle of nowhere for a local MMA show then known as NHB (no holds bard) for an organization called RCF (Reality Cage Fighting). Her opponent? Tina Johnson a girl that had been running her mouth because no one had beaten her. Shayna coming from a family of wrestlers wanted nothing more then to put an end to the trash talk. Little did she know it would become something she loved and through that love become the “queen of spades.

Of corse Baszler went on to defeat Johnson that night and has been proving since then that she is one of the best time and time again. Defeating the likes of Alexis Davis, Sarah D’alellio, Julie Kedzie, Roxanne Modaferri, Megumi Yabyushita and so much more. I mean some people even say she should’ve got the decision win over Sara Mcmann. Nonetheless her 15-9 record speaks for itself.Sure it’s been a battle of highs and lows even a few injuries but that doesn’t take away all Baszler has accomplished in the sport and done for the sport as a whole. Today she is regarded as one of the pioneers who paved the way for WMMA

Sure I may have not been there since Baszler’s humble beginnings but I have been there for 416 days and those are days that I am proud of. After all I’ve gotten the nickname “the general of the queens army” on social media.

A lot can change in 11 years but one thing that hasn’t changed is Shayna’s passion and drive for what she does, so here’s to a bright future of epic battles, awesome promos, twitter wars and just straight up badassery.

-Vanessa (@GreatLove91)