WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is dealing with a legitimate injury, although backstage reports suggest the real situation is far less serious than WWE television has implied.
Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Stephanie Vaquer is nursing a real knock, but confirmed it is considered minor and has been exaggerated for storyline effect. Meltzer added that WWE already expects her back as soon as she clears medical checks.
“Yeah, they were supposed to have a match in a week or two. I do not know if she is going to be ready by then, so we will see. I mean, obviously, they are having a match as soon as she is ready,” Meltzer explained.
He clarified that while Vaquer is genuinely hurt, the dramatics on screen are embellishing the issue.
“She has a legitimate injury, but it is a minor injury, it is not as big an injury as they are playing up,” Meltzer said.
The injury revelation puts fresh context on Vaquer’s escalating rivalry with Raquel Rodriguez, who has twice targeted Vaquer’s leg on Raw. Rodriguez blindsided Vaquer during her entrance on this week’s episode from Düsseldorf, Germany, smashing the champion’s booted leg before attacking her with the WWE Women’s World Championship belt.
Meltzer noted that the match between Vaquer and Rodriguez was pencilled in for television in the next fortnight, but the timing could shift slightly depending on clearance.
“I know that they were supposed to do a match on TV in the next two weeks. I did not get the date, but I do not know if it is going to be quite as soon,” he said. “But I heard she was going to be cleared pretty quick, so it is a minor injury, but it is a real injury.”
Vaquer successfully retained her title in a Triple Threat on the December 29 Raw against Rodriguez and Nikki Bella, sparking Rodriguez’s increasingly aggressive pursuit of a singles title opportunity. While Vaquer may sit out briefly, all signs point to her return coming sooner than later, with WWE using the time to stoke the storyline before the inevitable showdown.
When Did Stephanie Vaquer Sign With WWE?
Stephanie Vaquer signed her WWE contract in July 2024, with Shawn Michaels announcing her signing on July 10, and that she would be assigned to the NXT brand. Vaquer quickly rose through the ranks in WWE’s developmental brand, capturing the NXT Women’s North American and NXT Women’s Championships during her one year spell in NXT.
Vaquer joined the main roster on May 30, 2025, with Raw GM Adam Pearce announcing that Vaquer would be joining the red brand. Vaquer won the vacant WWE Women’s World Title on September 20, 2025, at Wrestlepalooza, defeating Iyo Sky in a match to declare a new champion after Naomi vacated the title due to her falling pregnant.
