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Melissa Anderson Welcomes Former UFC Fighter Shayna Baszler To Professional Wrestling In Debut Match

By Jan Omega
Published on: 10:52 PST, Sep 27, 2015

If there is one business that has had a very unique and beneficial relationship with MMA in general over the years, it is easily professional wrestling. beginning back in 1998 when Ken Shamrock signed on to perform in WWE (known as WWF back then), the relationship between wrestling and MMA has since improved. One one hand, many MMA fighters start wrestling for a many number of reasons. Elias Theodorou does it to improve his ability to entertain, while others like Dan Severn and Tank Abbott find it a viable source of income. On the other hand, MMA got some of their most memorable MMA fighters from wrestling such as Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, and presumably even CM Punk.

Now the latest news associated to that unique and beneficial relationship between MMA and wrestling pertains to Shayna Baszler. Just recently, the “Queen of Spades” made her in-ring debut in professional wrestling and she was welcomed by none other than “The Future Legend” Melissa Anderson.

For those who are unfamiliar with who Melissa Anderson is (probably because most wrestling fans these days stick to WWE and/or TNA), she is better known as Cheerleader Melissa, or as Alissa Flash and Raisha Saeed in TNA. Anyways, Anderson would be the one to test Shayna Baszler at her debut at Renowned by All Pro Wrestling Nevada (APWNV) on September 26, 2015, in Reno, Nevada, as reported by MMA Weekly. Reportedly, Anderson was happy to take on Baszler.

“I was told first that Shayna was offered the match, and I agreed next to sign on. I find this event to be a huge honor to be the first pro match with Shayna.”

It should also be noted that having Shayna Baszler make her debut against Melissa Anderson was a smart move. Though Baszler has plenty of experience in an MMA cage and at times wrestles in the gym alongside her friends Ronda Rousey, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir, she has never really partook in a true professional wrestling match with another professional wrestler. Because of this, she will have some flaws and issues that someone like Anderson, who’s been in the business for over 15 years, can handle on the fly.

From what has been said by those in attendance, Melissa Anderson and Shayna Baszler put on a nice match. Numerous pictures were posted on Twitter. Unfortunately, it is unreported at this moment if Baszler won or lost her debut wrestling match.

Does this mean Shayna Baszler is done with MMA? That is a question in which the answer is unknown for now. But it can be assumed Baszler is truly pursuing a career in professional wrestling given the fact this is technically the second time she’s been a part of it. Though not considered her debut, she escorted Kenny Lush in his match at ECCW’s Ballroom Brawl 4.

[Image via Melissa Anderson’s Official Facebook Page]

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