Shayna Baszler, the former two-time NXT Women’s Champion, revealed that she was released by WWE despite having almost three years remaining on her contract. This information came during a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, where Baszler was asked if her departure was due to a contract expiration or an early release. She clarified,
“I had actually not too long ago signed an extension. So yeah… I wish it would have run out, but yeah, I was released,”
confirming that her contract still had significant time left.
Baszler Explains That Her WWE Exit Was Not a Surprise
Though being released is rarely a positive experience, Baszler admitted that her departure was not unexpected. She explained that along with fellow wrestlers Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville, who was not renewed by WWE, she and Zoey gradually stopped appearing on television. Baszler described their attempts to pitch storylines and engage with fans through social media, but noted that creative did not respond to these efforts. As she put it,
“And from that time, me and Zoey just weren’t on TV. So you kind of get this feeling. We were trying to pitch stories and ideas and do our own stuff on social media and that kind of thing. And just nothing was really hitting with creative. So I mean, as much as it’s a bummer in that moment, it’s kind of like, ‘Yeah, I kind of knew this was where we were at.’”
Notification of Release Came Through a Direct Phone Call
Baszler shared that she was informed about her release through a phone call rather than impersonal means such as social media, which she considered fortunate. The conversation was straightforward and professional, without any dramatic explanations. She recalled,
“They called me. I was fortunate to be one of those that did not find out through social media,”
and continued,
“Yeah, it’s kind of just straightforward. They say, ‘We’re doing this, we want to wish you the best,’ all the normal kind of cliché stuff. Nothing dramatic, no real reason why. I’m not a person that’s going to sit in that moment and be like, ‘Well, why?’”
Potential Future Moves Beyond WWE
During the interview, Baszler also touched on the possibility of joining other wrestling promotions, including AEW, though details on her stance remain limited. Her openness to new opportunities suggests she is looking forward to continuing her wrestling career outside WWE.
The revelation that Shayna Baszler WWE contract release happened with nearly three years still remaining highlights tensions between the performers and WWE’s creative direction. Her comments, alongside mentions of peers like Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville, show a pattern of wrestlers feeling sidelined before release. Moving forward, Baszler’s experience may influence how contracts and creative involvement are viewed in professional wrestling. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if she resurfaces in AEW or other promotions, potentially reshaping her career outside of WWE.
