In 2025, one of the most surprising WWE stories was the situation involving R-Truth. After his contract expired in May, fan protests led to WWE quickly rehiring him just a week later. However, that may not be the only unexpected WWE decision. On Wednesday morning, it was revealed by BodySlam.net’s Cory Hays that Shayna Baszler was working as a producer backstage on “NXT.” According to BodySlam’s Patreon, Baszler was shadowing Chris Girard (formerly Oney Lorcan), who produced the match between Kelani Jordan and Lainey Reid. This indicates that WWE is testing Baszler’s abilities in a producer role, essentially as an audition.
Baszler’s producer role opportunity comes about two months after her release from WWE, alongside other former stars like Braun Strowman, Cora Jade, Gigi Dolin, and Dakota Kai. Although Baszler’s non-compete clause was expected to last until early August, it appears to have ended sooner due to this new “NXT” involvement. While AEW star Thunder Rosa had shown interest in Baszler, this move suggests she might not pursue opportunities as a free agent outside WWE.
Fan Take: This development is significant for WWE fans because it shows the company’s willingness to keep talented individuals within its fold in new capacities, not just as performers. Baszler’s transition into a backstage role could pave the way for more former stars to contribute behind the scenes, potentially elevating the quality and storytelling of WWE programming.
