"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler made a surprise return to WWE’s black and gold brand during the NXT Homecoming special. Appearing months after her release from the company, the two-time NXT Women's Champion resurfaced in a non-wrestling capacity, offering cryptic advice that immediately established her as a looming presence in the women’s division.
The highly anticipated NXT Homecoming event, held at the brand's original home of Full Sail University, was already filled with big names, but it was Baszler’s cameo that proved to be one of the night’s most talked-about moments.
Baszler's appearance came during a backstage segment involving the team of Sol Ruca and Zaria, who have recently been struggling with miscommunication and arguments. After a tense exchange between the young stars—interrupted by rivals Lainey Reid and Candice LeRae—Baszler stepped into the frame, immediately silencing the room and chasing off the interlopers.
With a stare that could bore a hole through a steel cage, Baszler delivered a short but impactful message, drawing on her own decorated past in NXT: “Apologize, fix it, and you'll get everything you want.”
The chilling, veteran advice positioned Baszler as a potential mentor, or perhaps a sharp-tongued antagonist, to the brand's new generation of talent. Her unexpected return immediately casts a shadow over the women's locker room, reminding the current roster of one of NXT’s most dominant champions.
Shayna Baszler was released from her WWE contract earlier this year, a move that surprised many given her strong record and veteran status. However, reports in the lead-up to Homecoming had suggested she was already back in the company, taking on a backstage producer role on a probationary basis.
Her on-screen appearance at NXT Homecoming, however, opens the door to much more. While the nature of her return—whether it is a one-off cameo or the beginning of a new, full-time on-screen role—remains to be seen, the wrestling world is buzzing. Will Baszler transition into a full-time managerial or authority figure role? Or is this just the first step toward "The Queen of Spades" lacing up her boots for an in-ring comeback on the brand she once ruled?
For now, the young stars of NXT will have to wrestle with the thought that the 'baddest woman on the planet's' close ally has her eyes on their actions. Shayna Baszler has returned, and for Sol Ruca and Zaria—and the entire women's division—the pressure is officially on to "fix it."
