Shayna Baszler is working Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, in a major development.
Fightful Select revealed Friday, March 15 that multiple WWE talent were scheduled to compete at Bloodsport, which is technically promoted by GCW. This came to the shock of many, as AEW talent is also featured on Bloodsport, and WWE has rarely permitted talent to work independent shows.
We’ve learned much more behind this, GCW/WWE, and efforts that were made in the past. Not only was Baszler not the only main roster talent who were asked, but it wasn’t the first time Barnett made the effort.
Fightful Select learned that years ago, Barnett inquired about the possibility of Jessamyn Duke working Bloodsport while she was under WWE contract. While she was open to the idea, WWE were not at the time. Duke had trained with Barnett, and had experience in the UFC and on The Ultimate Fighter, but hasn’t returned to MMA or wrestling since her 2021 release. Instead, she’s worked on her Okay Gamer streaming platform.
WWE sources tell Fightful that Josh Barnett and Triple H have known each other for years, and that Barnett made a call and personally requested that Baszler appear on the show.
We’ve heard several people say WWE and GCW were working together “again,” but Fightful had reported two years ago, that wasn’t what happened.
A photo of GCW Owner Brett Lauderdale and Stephanie McMahon surfaced, with several GCW talent and staff in a suite at WrestleMania. This led to the perpetuating of the rumor of GCW working with WWE, which was actually a rib. At one point, WWE reps wouldn't shoot down the rumor, but later definitively denied that connection. They did note that there is nothing contentious between the two companies, however. Sources Fightful spoke to at the time said that both companies got a good laugh out of it and said it was pretty harmless.
Fightful was told that the suite actually belonged to Orange Crush, a co-owner of Jersey Championship Wrestling. Several GCW talent and staff were in the suite, and Stephanie McMahon was simply going by to greet everyone who invested in one, regardless of their affiliation of GCW.
