Ahead of her showdown at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans during WrestleMania 34 weekend next month, where she is scheduled to once again challenge Ember Moon for the NXT Women’s Championship, Shayna Baszler spoke with WWE.com for an interview. Featured below are some of the highlights.

On the difference in her pre-match preparations for MMA and sports entertainment: “It isn’t that much different. Some things have changed. The round times and limits aren’t there to worry about, so pacing benefits me in that I can take the time to enjoy the damage I cause. But the goal is still the same. It’s the same bloodthirst. In MMA, there isn’t time to admire your work until it’s all over with. In sports-entertainment, I can admire what I’m doing while it’s happening. So pre-match, I guess you could say my mindset is more like a lion about to play with its food, rather than a lion trying to hunt out of necessity. But ultimately, I’m out to hunt my target.”

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On how she developed her aggressive competitive spirit: “I have always had a desire to prove people that looked past me wrong. Whether it was because I was a female trying to wrestle or fight in MMA, or because I grew up on the wrong side of town. Everything I’ve gotten I’ve had to work twice as hard to earn.”

On what the NXT Universe and Ember Moon should prepare for at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans: “All the keyboard warriors better gather together and bring tissues, because at TakeOver, the hero, Ember Moon, loses her title. And The Queen of Spades will be the new champ, while everyone else will still be crying. This isn’t a bandwagon; it’s a war wagon. You won’t be able to hop on because you’re going to get run over.”

Check out the complete Shayna Baszler interview at WWE.com.

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