WWE’s Shayna Baszler to Face Miyu Yamashita at Bloodsport XI

One big thing: WWE star Shayna Baszler will compete outside the company at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI event on July 28.

The details:

• Baszler will face Tokyo Joshi Pro star Miyu Yamashita in Brooklyn, New York.
• This marks a rare cross-promotional match for a contracted WWE talent.
• Josh Barnett announced the match on social media on July 9.

Why it matters:

This match represents a significant crossover between WWE and the independent wrestling scene, potentially opening doors for more such collaborations in the future.

By the numbers:

• This will be Baszler’s second cross-promotional match in 2024, following her bout against TNA’s Masha Slamovich during WrestleMania 40 weekend.
• Bloodsport XI will be the 11th installment of Josh Barnett’s shoot-style wrestling event.

What they’re saying:

Josh Barnett described the match as “Two fierce warriors of the ring. Two battle hardened women through martial arts and pro wrestling training. Two meeting for the first time in the hardest hitting event in all of Professional Wrestling.”

The big picture:

Baszler’s participation in Bloodsport XI comes amid her involvement in a new faction on WWE Raw with Sonya Deville and Zoey Stark. This outside appearance could signal WWE’s increased openness to allowing its talent to work select independent dates.

What do you think about WWE allowing Shayna Baszler to compete at Bloodsport XI? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.