Shayna Baszler sparked plenty of chatter earlier this week after being listed as a producer for the Kelani Jordan vs. Lainey Reid match on WWE NXT. While rumors suggested the Queen of Spades might be transitioning into a backstage role, Baszler took to Twitch to clear the air—and tease what could lie ahead.

During a recent livestream, Baszler confirmed that she was indeed at the WWE Performance Center, but insisted her presence was more about learning than producing. “I happened to be at the PC working with people,” she explained. “I’m not gonna out the people that requested I work with them. So please, the dirt sheets are usually wrong, so do not believe stuff.”

Baszler shed more light on her visit, revealing that she was taking inspiration from a piece of advice given to her by Bryan Danielson (formerly Daniel Bryan in WWE). “He always told me he learned the most just sitting on the headset backstage,” she said. “Learning what the cameras look for, timing, cues—it helped him as a performer. So I figured, while I was home, I’d go to NXT and sit on the headset.”

According to Baszler, the unique atmosphere at NXT allowed her to take advantage of that opportunity. “On RAW or SmackDown, you’re not usually allowed in Gorilla unless you’re in the segment, unless you’re a top guy,” she noted. “But at NXT, because I was a top talent there, I could do it. I was there to learn.”

She also took part in some in-ring work, noting that she’s still technically under WWE contract during her 90-day no-compete window. “A couple of my friends got the okay for me to help out in the ring. It just happened to be on a Tuesday. I sat on a headset, that’s it,” she said, downplaying any official producer role. “Could the possibility be there? Sure. But I’d have to decide if I’m ready to be done [with wrestling]. I still think I have some stories to tell.”

That said, Baszler didn’t close the door on working behind the scenes one day. “A part of me hopes the powers that be at WWE see all the talk online and think about it,” she admitted. “That would be great, right? I can’t throw myself on the floor until I’m 60.”

As for what’s next, Baszler hinted that her in-ring journey might still have a few detours—possibly overseas. “Honestly, I really kind of want to go back to Japan,” she said. “I’ve wrestled most of the Joshi talent I’ve wanted to—except for a couple.”

Whether it’s one more run inside the ring or a future behind the curtain, it’s clear Baszler isn’t done with pro wrestling—she’s just evolving. And for fans of the former NXT Women’s Champion, that’s a storyline worth following.

WWE NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler recently spoke with Muscle & Fitness and said the NXT USA Network premiere on September 18 will be the most important day in the history of the brand. She was asked what changes she has noticed since first walking through the NXT doors in 2017.

“There’s a lot of things,” Baszler responded. “I think I got into NXT at a very historic time. And I don’t mean just the USA [Network] stuff. NXT on USA is probably the most important day in our history. We’ll look back on it as the key day, but even going back to the first ever Mae Young Classic, I’ve been such a huge part of these historic moments with NXT and WWE that I’m so excited to see what’s next.

“I was sitting [backstage] at the Mae Young Classic and was thinking to myself wow, this is a pretty historic moment, and not thinking ahead to the next historic moment. But then you know, here we are with NXT on USA and I can’t wait to see what’s next!”

Baszler also talked about previously living with fellow MMA Horsewoman Ronda Rousey, and how they helped each other out. Baszler was asked if they provided each other with support or advice when they were both active in WWE at the same time.

“Yeah, a little bit,” she responded. “Rather than giving advice, it was just nice to have someone to talk about it [being in WWE] with. So, it was like sharing in the uniqueness of what we were both going through. Then, of course, Ronda getting to the position where she was in WWE, mirrored what I was going through in NXT, where we were both kind of at the top of the division. We would get together and train, of course, and we always did that in MMA too, so it was more like getting together and just sharing in the process of it, rather than tips and tricks.”

Baszler made her WWE debut in the 2017 Mae Young Classic, losing to Kairi Sane in the finals that September. Her official NXT debut came in August, before the finals, but on October 3 it was officially announced that she had signed and reported to the WWE Performance Center. Baszler would get her first taste of gold just 6 months later by defeating Ember Moon for the NXT Women’s Title at NXT “Takeover: New Orleans” during WrestleMania 34 weekend. She held the title for 132 days and then lost it to Sane at “Takeover: Brooklyn IV” in August of last year. The Queen of Spades would go on to make history by becoming the first-ever two-time NXT Women’s Champion by regaining the title from Sane at WWE Evolution in October 2018. She has held the title ever since, for 315+ days and counting. Baszler was asked how proud she is to be the first Superstar to hold the NXT Women’s Title on two occasions.

“In my opinion, the NXT Women’s title is a very prestigious title to have,” Baszler said. “So, the fact that I’m the only person to have ever held it twice is a huge thing that I definitely add to my list of accomplishments and I am very, very proud of it.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.