Shayna Baszler may already be back with WWE — just two months after her release — though not in an in-ring capacity. According to a new report, the former NXT Women’s Champion was backstage at this week’s episode of WWE NXT working as a producer.

Cory Hays of BodySlam.net reports that Baszler was internally listed as a producer for the match between Kelani Jordan and Lainey Reid on the Tuesday, July 8 edition of NXT. She was reportedly paired with veteran producer Oney Lorcan, a former NXT wrestler who has transitioned full-time to a backstage role.

The report adds that this may have been a tryout for a permanent position. WWE is known to test potential producers by having them shadow experienced staff before deciding on full-time contracts. Baszler’s pairing with Lorcan fits that established pattern, and it remains to be seen if the company will officially bring her back in a behind-the-scenes role.

The timing is also significant, as Baszler is still believed to be within her 90-day non-compete clause following her release in May 2025. She was one of several talents released in a cost-cutting move that also included Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, and Cora Jade.

Baszler, a longtime favorite among fans of hard-hitting, MMA-influenced wrestling, signed with WWE in 2017 after making a name for herself in the UFC and on the independent scene. During her run in the company, she became a two-time NXT Women’s Champion, a three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, and had notable feuds across both RAW and SmackDown.

If she transitions into a full-time producer role, Baszler would be following the path of other former talents who moved into backstage positions after their in-ring careers slowed down, such as Jason Jordan, Petey Williams, and the aforementioned Lorcan.

While WWE has not officially confirmed Baszler’s backstage involvement, her name showing up internally on production documents could point to her next chapter with the company — this time behind the curtain.

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