Former WWE Star Reveals Unplanned Secrets for Rhea Ripley Match

Shayna Baszler discusses the organic crowd reaction that made her NXT title loss to Ripley one of her favorite moments.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Former WWE champion Shayna Baszler has discussed the unscripted aspects of a past championship match featuring Rhea Ripley. Baszler revealed that during her NXT Women's Championship loss to Ripley in 2019, the crowd's reaction was completely unplanned, with fans jumping the rail to celebrate Ripley's title win. Baszler said this organic crowd moment was one of her favorite wrestling memories, despite having to sell her character's anger and disappointment at the time.

Why it matters

Baszler's comments provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at how unplanned crowd reactions can sometimes dictate the production of a live wrestling event. Her perspective as a veteran wrestler highlights the importance of maintaining the illusion of a real contest, even when the audience's emotional investment threatens to break kayfabe.

The details

In a video shared on her Instagram account, Baszler discussed the advice she received from veteran wrestlers Billy Robinson and Josh Barnett about the value of learning legitimate grappling skills. She acknowledged that her initial reaction was dismissive, but she has since come to appreciate how understanding the mechanics of real combat can enhance one's work in the squared circle. Baszler reflected on her matches with Rhea Ripley, stating that their physical encounters were among her favorites due to the intensity they brought to the ring.

  • The match in question took place on the December 18 episode of WWE NXT in 2019.
  • Ripley's title win over Baszler cemented her status as a top star on the NXT brand.

The players

Shayna Baszler

A former WWE champion and pioneer in women's mixed martial arts, who brings a unique perspective to professional wrestling by prioritizing realism over choreographed sequences.

Rhea Ripley

A rising star in WWE who captured the NXT Women's Championship from Baszler in 2019, a moment that Baszler considers one of her favorite wrestling memories.

Billy Robinson

A veteran wrestler who advised Baszler on the importance of learning legitimate grappling skills for professional wrestling.

Josh Barnett

A veteran wrestler who, along with Billy Robinson, advised Baszler on the importance of learning legitimate grappling skills for professional wrestling.

Triple H

The head of WWE's NXT brand, who made the call to have the locker room come out to celebrate Ripley's title win after the unplanned crowd reaction.

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What they’re saying

“Everything we do has a real purpose; we have just lost it because we plan everything now.”

— Shayna Baszler, Former WWE Champion (Instagram)

“If I can leave anything as, like, my fingerprints on professional wrestling, it's that we understand what exactly it is the f**k that we're doing.”

— Shayna Baszler, Former WWE Champion (Instagram)

“I used to roll my eyes, man, at Billy (Robinson) and Josh (Barnett), because they were so old school. They were like, 'Every professional wrestler should learn to shoot.'”

— Shayna Baszler, Former WWE Champion (Instagram)

“I'm just like, pssshhhh, these guys don't know how wrestling is today. Like, it's just not like that anymore. Nobody thinks it's a shoot. Everybody knows what it is. But, like, I get it now, because if you know how to shoot, you can work with anyone.”

— Shayna Baszler, Former WWE Champion (Instagram)

“Yes, as a match, but that whole thing with the fans jumping the rail and then them sending the locker room out was not planned.”

— Shayna Baszler, Former WWE Champion (Instagram)

What’s next

Baszler's transition to the main WWE roster occurred shortly after this defining NXT storyline with Rhea Ripley.

The takeaway

Baszler's comments highlight the importance of maintaining the illusion of a real contest in professional wrestling, even when organic crowd reactions threaten to break kayfabe. Her perspective as a veteran wrestler emphasizes the value of blending legitimate grappling skills with the art of storytelling to create truly memorable moments in the squared circle.