Shayna Baszler recently spoke with Byron Saxton to promote her match with WWE NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon at the “Takeover: New Orleans” event during WrestleMania 34 weekend. You can read the full interview on WWE’s website at this link. Below are highlights:
Let’s talk about your preparation. What is the difference between your pre-match preparations during your MMA career as compared to sports-entertainment?
It isn’t that much different. Some things have changed. The round times and limits aren’t there to worry about, so pacing benefits me in that I can take the time to enjoy the damage I cause. But the goal is still the same. It’s the same bloodthirst. In MMA, there isn’t time to admire your work until it’s all over with. In sports-entertainment, I can admire what I’m doing while it’s happening. So pre-match, I guess you could say my mindset is more like a lion about to play with its food, rather than a lion trying to hunt out of necessity. But ultimately, I’m out to hunt my target.
How did you develop such an aggressive competitive spirit?
I have always had a desire to prove people that looked past me wrong. Whether it was because I was a female trying to wrestle or fight in MMA, or because I grew up on the wrong side of town. Everything I’ve gotten I’ve had to work twice as hard to earn.
What should Ember Moon and the NXT Universe brace for at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans?
All the keyboard warriors better gather together and bring tissues, because at TakeOver, the hero, Ember Moon, loses her title. And The Queen of Spades will be the new champ, while everyone else will still be crying. This isn’t a bandwagon; it’s a war wagon. You won’t be able to hop on because you’re going to get run over.
Source: WWE
