WWE: Shayna Baszler Confirms She Was at WWE NXT & Clarifies Her Producer Work Role, Drew McIntyre on Recent Time Off From WWE Being “I Honestly Feel Better Than I Felt In About, Minimum, Six Or Seven Years”, More News

Shayna Baszler Confirms She Was at WWE NXT & Clarifies Her Producer Work Role

As noted before, Shayna Baszler recently has been working as a producer for WWE in a tryout role following her release from the company this past May.

In a recent Twitch stream, Baszler confirmed that she has been working with people at WWE’s Performance Center.

“I happened to be at the (WWE) P.C. working with people and 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 also clarified her current producer work for WWE’s NXT brand and how she’s still technically under contract with WWE due to her 90-days non-compete clause has not expired yet.

“Okay, about the producing thing, that’s something that I’ve — okay, I don’t know if you guys — no, why would you know this? So, one time when Daniel Bryan was backstage when he was with WWE, he would always sit on the headset when he wasn’t wrestling and he always told me, you know, that’s when he learned the most was when he was on a headset. He learned a lot. He learned about what camera is actually looking for, what the calls are, what the timing is of the camera switches. Like, it helped him as a performer so, I figured during the times when I was home, I would go to NXT and I would sit on the headset just because on Raw and SmackDown, at the time, I don’t know if it’s still this way. I guess I haven’t been gone that long but only top guys were allowed to sit back in Gorilla for the rest of the show that wasn’t theirs — that matches weren’t theirs. Well, I knew at NXT, I could get on the headset because I was a top guy there. So, I would do it just to learn to be a better… I knew I could get on a headset so I started sitting on a headset just to listen to the calls to learn, again, about being a performer… It helps you understand the TV part of wrestling, which is what WWE is, and so I was doing that. A couple of my friends got the okay because technically, I’m still under contract with them. To help out with some stuff in the ring, it happened to be on a Tuesday, I happened to sit on a headset, that’s it. That’s literally all that happened, guys…”

Baszler also gave her thoughts about the future of her in-ring career and the potential of her becoming producer for WWE on a more full-time basis in the future.

“But yeah, could the possibility be there? Sure. I would have to decide if I’m ready to be done. But that’s a whole other thing, you know what I mean? I still think I have some stories to tell, maybe? But, I don’t know… All I can tell you is, is it a possibility? Sure, always, especially because I’ve kept such a good relationship at NXT and like I said, that was a place I’d always hung around. Just didn’t really feel the need to tell anyone but, who knows? Who knows? Maybe they’ll see everyone talking about it and want to do it now. I don’t know.

Like I said, that would be great, right? I can’t throw myself on the floor till I’m 60. But, as of right now, I have no job. Well, I shouldn’t say that. As of right now, I’m still under my 90 days left. But, as for anything else, who knows? A side of me kind of hopes they see everyone talking about it and then they think about it because what leverage that would have for me…”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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Drew McIntyre Comments on His Recent Time Off From WWE Being “I Honestly Feel Better Than I Felt In About, Minimum, Six Or Seven Years”

As noted before, Drew McIntyre made his surprise return from his break from WWE to heal up from his injuries at the July 4th episode of WWE SmackDown.

FOX News held a recent interview with McIntyre. One of the topics discussed included McIntyre’s thoughts about his recent time off from WWE and currently feeling better than he has in the past six or seven years.

“I honestly feel better than I felt in about, minimum, six or seven years. During this time off, I’ve had a chance to step back and look at everything from an outside perspective – the product itself and more specifically me because I’m only competing against myself as far as I’m concerned, and I’ve realized, wow, OK, I’ve got some areas I really need to improve upon even though, from a fan’s perspective they might say, ‘Well, look at your 2024 going into 2025 on the microphone, in the ring, physique-wise compared to everybody else.’ I said no, no, no. I might look good compared to everybody else but I was not giving it … I’d say I was giving it 65%.”

McIntyre also gave his thoughts about how he has acquired the services of someone to assist him with training and dieting to help him feel better physically.

“For the first time in my life, I’ve brought in somebody to start the diet the right way. I’ve brought in somebody to kick my a– in the gym. I brought somebody in to start doing rehab at the gym, stretching things I’ve never done in my life and it’s unbelievable what it’s opened in my body and feel exactly the way I did probably like before I won the Royal Rumble in 2020. The way I’m moving about now, in general, I feel unbelievable.”

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WWE News & Notes

WWE announced that they have recently signed a new sponsorship deal with Maybelline New York to become the official cosmetic partner. It was also announced that Maybelline will be a “Presenting Partner” for their Evolution 2 event on July 13th in Atlanta, Georgia.

CryptoManiaks recently released a study focusing which wrestlers current and former in receive the most online abuse. This list was dominated by women, who took 11 out of the 17 wrestlers listed. In regards to WWE, Charlotte Flair was ranked the highest at #1, followed by Nia Jax at #2, Tegan Nox at #5, CM Punk at #6, Cora Jade at #8, Jade Cargill at #10, Alexa Bliss at #12, Natalya at tied for #15, and Nikki Bella at tied for #15.

Roman Reigns has been absent from WWE since this past April’s RAW After Mania show in Las Vegas, Nevada. WrestleVotes reported that their sources stated that WWE officials are currently considering plans for Reigns to be known by a new moniker of “OTC1” or “Tribal Chief One” for his upcoming return to WWE television. Those spoken to reportedly stated that Reigns is still expected to make his return by this August’s SummerSlam 2025 event.

HGTV! recently announced that a new television series called “Junk or Jackpot?” will be premiering on their network in the near future. It was announced that this upcoming new series will be hosted by Bobby Berk and is produced by John Cena. The synopsis for this new series is “Bobby Berk is coming to HGTV! “Junk or Jackpot?” (wt), a new series executive produced by John Cena (yes, that John Cena), sees the former #QueerEye star following collectors as they discover the true monetary value of their extremely unusual trinkets. From rare puppets to dolls and superhero figurines, surprises await at every turn!”

As noted before, TNA President Carlos Silva stated in a recent interview with JohnWallStreet that TNA Wrestling is currently seeking a new media rights deal and mentioned the potential of Anthem selling off their sports division if TNA continues to not be profitable as a company. Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that the JohnWallStreet article mentioning the rumors of TNA being sold to TKO Group is something he originally heard being discussed within WWE when the TNA–WWE talent-sharing relationship began earlier this year. Meltzer reported that WWE had similar “poison pills” in their past partnership deals with PROGRESS, ICW, and wXw that allowed the company to purchase their partner promotions as part of the terms of those deals. Meltzer speculated that while WWE never pulled the trigger on those potential purchases, TNA’s current situation feels like a more viable possibility.

WWE recently released one new video for their on-going Top 25 SummerSlam matches of all-time countdown. The #21 spot was the WWE RAW Women’s Championship match of Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair (c) from SummerSlam 2022.

WWE also recently released one new video to their WCW Vault channel on YouTube. This new video was the full July 4, 2000 episode of WCW Thunder.

WWE also recently released two new videos to their WWE Valut channel on YouTube. The first new video was a tag team match of Trish Stratus & Lita vs. Alicia Fox & Mickie James from WWE Evolution 2018. The second new video was the full WWE Evolution 2018 event.

In a recent interview with The Ringer’s The Masked Man Show podcast, Sol Ruca gave her thoughts about her belief that her current partnership with Zaria was not meant to last as long as it has in NXT. Ruca stated “There’s so many things that happen just because of social media posts. ZARIA and I, I don’t think we’re supposed to be tagging this long. But, we made a post and it kind of went viral and people loved it and now we’ve been stuck together for the past few months.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with SHAK Wrestling, WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg gave his thoughts about how Bron Breakker deserves full ownership of the spear as a move after he himself retires. Goldberg stated “1000%. Let’s just talk about the reason why everybody started doing the spear in WWE, I mean, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Let’s be perfectly honest, they did it to make mine look bad or to downplay mine.” Goldberg also gave his thoughts about a recent conversation he had with Breakker about how he should be the only one who does a spear in WWE. Goldberg stated “I had the conversation last night with Bron and I told him my feelings on it and I think 1000% he’s the only human being in the WWE that should he doing that. I know I’m going to catch a lot of hell from that, but I don’t care because that’s the truth. It is what it is.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)