5 must-see Shayna Baszler moments

The Queen of Spades celebrates her birthday today
The Queen of Spades celebrates her birthday today

Today marks the birthday of former NXT Women's Champion and current member of the RAW roster, Shayna Baszler. The Queen of Spades began as a mixed martial artist and made the move to the wrestling world in 2015, before joining WWE in 2017 and debuting on NXT.

Baszler was dominant from day one on the Black and Gold brand, challenging then-NXT Women's Champion Kairi Sane for her title in 2018. The performer broke records during her time in NXT, becoming the first woman to have two reigns with the belt and enjoying the second-longest title run, after Asuka.

After a powerful run in NXT, Baszler moved to Monday Night RAW's roster, immediately becoming involved in the championship picture. Let's take a look at some of the biggest moments of Shayna Baszler's WWE career so far.


#5 Shayna Baszler versus Io Shirai, steel cage match

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In June 2019, Shayna Baszler was deep into her domineering run as NXT Women's Champion. She and Io Shirai were deeply involved in a feud over the title, and had recently battled for the belt at NXT TakeOver: XXV, where Baszler retained.

A rematch was set for the June 29 edition of NXT. The fans were anticipating something big from the pair, as they had recently delivered a fantastic set of matches, and the upcoming bout between the pair was to be a steel cage match.

The clash between Shirai and Shayna Baszler was the first-ever women's steel cage match in NXT. Tensions boiled over between the pair, and Baszler's allies, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, interfered to help their friend win, preventing Shirai from leaving the cage.

Baszler managed to defeat Shirai, but post-match, the Genius of the Sky attacked her former ally Candice LaRae who had been trying to help her. This signaled a heel turn and a new direction for Shirai.

#4 Shayna Baszler makes her Royal Rumble debut

Baszler and Flair were the final two in the 2020 Women's Royal Rumble
Baszler and Flair were the final two in the 2020 Women's Royal Rumble

At the end of 2019, Shayna Baszler had dropped the NXT Women's Championship to Rhea Ripley, and rumors were circulating that the star was going to debut on RAW. The predictions came true, and Baszler entered 2020 with a bang, making her debut during the Women's Royal Rumble match.

Baszler entered the match in the coveted No. 30 slot, giving her the advantage over her competitors, some who had been in the ring for up to 20 minutes at that point.

Upon entering the rumble, The Queen of Spades struck fear into her competitors, easily eliminating eight other women in quick succession. Baszler tied with Bianca Belair for the record amount of eliminations in a Women's Rumble that night.

The final two remaining in the battle were Baszler, and multiple-time WWE Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. Although Baszler had put up a great fight, she was thrown over the ropes by Flair, shocking the crowd as she was one of the favorites to win the entire rumble.

However, despite not winning, Shayna Baszler put on a strong performance and still managed to earn a WrestleMania title shot later down the line.

#3 Shayna Baszler goes up against Becky Lynch and Bayley at Survivor Series

Baszler dominated against the RAW and SmackDown Women's Champions
Baszler dominated against the RAW and SmackDown Women's Champions

In the buildup to the 2019 edition of Survivor Series, Shayna Baszler was the first member of the NXT roster to invade SmackDown. Baszler launched an attack on Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Nikki Cross, making her dominance known to the women of the Blue brand.

Over the next three weeks between the ambush on SmackDown and the pay-per-view taking place, all three women's champions made appearances across RAW, SmackDown and NXT to physically and verbally assault one another.

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The bout between Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Baszler was the main event of Survivor Series. The trio gave fans a strong showing, with all three getting in a good level of offense. In the end, it was The Queen of Spades who managed to snatch the win by countering Bayley's attempt at a Diving Elbow Drop into her signature Kirifuda Clutch.

Shayna Baszler's victory over Lynch and Bayley meant that the Black and Gold brand was the winner in the battle for brand supremacy, leading with four wins over SmackDown's two and RAW's one.

#2 When Shayna Baszler dominated at Elimination Chamber

Baszler fended off fierce competition to win a title shot
Baszler fended off fierce competition to win a title shot

After a great showing in this year's Royal Rumble, Shayna Baszler made the move from NXT to RAW. On her debut, she made a vicious attack on then-RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch, causing controversy. The Submission Magician was later announced as an entrant in the Elimination Chamber to battle it out for a shot at the RAW Women's Championship.

Baszler was the fourth woman to enter the match that night, and within seconds she was dominating her foes. In the space of three minutes, Baszler was able to eliminate Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott, and Natalya by submission. While she waited for Liv Morgan to make her entrance, she paced the chamber like a predator.

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When Morgan entered, Shayna Baszler immediately resumed her path of destruction, brutalizing the former Riott Squad member and locking in the Kirifuda Clutch until she was out cold. The last Superstar to enter the chamber was Asuka. The Empress of Tomorrow put up a fight but proved no match for Baszler, who was the eventual winner of the match.

#1 Shayna Baszler versus Kairi Sane at Evolution

The Submission Magician and The Pirate Princess squared off at Evolution
The Submission Magician and The Pirate Princess squared off at Evolution

2018 was a huge year in WWE's Women's Revolution and marked the first-ever women's-only pay-per-view, Evolution. Shayna Baszler had already enjoyed a reign as NXT Women's Champion for 113 days until she dropped the title to Kairi Sane at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4.

A rematch between the two was set for Evolution. Both parties managed to get in offense during the bout, but when Sane attempted to perform her signature Insane Elbow on The Queen of Spades, Baszler rolled out of the ring. As the match went on, Baszler's allies Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke began to interfere in the action.

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Shafir and Duke were able to team up to distract Sane, allowing Shayna Baszler to apply the Kirifuda Clutch to The Pirate Princess, causing her to submit and pass the title back to Baszler.

The Submission Magician emerging victoriously from the match meant that she had made history, becoming the first-ever two-time NXT Women's Champion. This began her second and most commanding reign, which lasted 441 days — the second-longest reign with the belt, after Asuka.

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