Former WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler has spoken out for the first time since her release from the company in July, confirming that she was let go despite having recently signed a contract extension.
Shayna Baszler On Her WWE Release
Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former NXT Women’s Champion clarified the circumstances of her departure. She confirmed that it was a release, not a contract expiration, and that she had a significant amount of time left on her deal.
“I was released. I had, not too long ago, signed an extension. I wish it would have ran out, but I was released,” she confirmed, adding that she had “like three more years” remaining on her contract.
Baszler’s Release Was ‘Not Unexpected’
Despite the shock of being let go mid-contract, Baszler explained that the release was “not unexpected.” She cited the company’s handling of her faction, the Pure Fusion Collective, with Sonya Deville and Zoey Stark, as a sign that the writing was on the wall. Deville’s contract was not renewed in February, and the group had not been featured on television since.
“From that time, Zoey and I just weren’t on TV. You kind of get this feeling…we were trying to pitch stories and ideas and doing our own stuff on social media and that sort of thing. Nothing was hitting with creative,” Baszler said. “It’s a bummer in that moment, but I kind of knew where we were at.”
Baszler’s release in July ended her eight-year tenure with the company, where she was a dominant two-time NXT Women’s Champion and a three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. The full interview with Shayna Baszler can be seen on The Ariel Helwani Show.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
