WWE News: Shayna Baszler gives insider's take on distinction between MMA and pro-wrestling
What’s the story?
In a recent interview with Argus Leader of The USA Today Network, Shayna Baszler revealed what she finds to be the biggest difference between MMA and pro-wrestling.
Baszler said that while in MMA competitors are taught to tune out the audience, in professional wrestling the performers are tutored to pay attention to the crowd and play to the gallery.
In case you didn’t know…
Shayna Baszler is widely regarded as one of the early pioneers of Women’s MMA.
Ronda Rousey’s close friend and one of MMA’s Four Horsewomen, Baszler, has retired from the sport, and transitioned to pro-wrestling full-time.
The heart of the matter
Shayna Baszler was recently signed by the WWE and is one of the rare competitors in the sports-entertainment company who have competed at the highest levels of both MMA and pro-wrestling. Speaking of which, she elucidated on the distinction between the two sports, stating—
"In MMA, you're trained to tune the audience out. In sports entertainment, you're trained to feed off what the audience is thinking and feeling.”
“There's a lot more emphasis about making the crowd feel certain emotions about certain things. In sports entertainment, you can take your time and digest what's going on along with the audience—it's really learning that you don't have to be in this panic mode."
What’s next?
Shayna Baszler is likely to be involved in a prominent program in the lead-up to Wrestlemania 34, that’ll have WWE’s Four Horsewomen take on their MMA counterparts.
Author’s take
Shayna Baszler is a WMMA legend and I truly want her to make it big in professional wrestling as well.
Baszler’s experience could really benefit the up-and-comers in the WWE, especially given the fact that she does a brilliant job selling her opponent’s moves inside the squared circle.