At Wrestlepalooza, announcer Michael Cole revealed that the WWE Women’s Champion will face the Women’s World Champion at Crown Jewel on Oct. 11 in Perth, Australia.
After defeating Iyo Sky to capture the vacant Women’s World Title, Stephanie Vaquer has secured her place in the second-ever Champion vs. Champion match, with the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship at stake.
Her opponent will be decided this Friday on SmackDown, when WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends her title in a triple
threat match against Nia Jax and Jade Cargill. Given recent booking trends, this match will likely determine who is chosen to elevate Vaquer as “La Primera” continues her rapid ascent in WWE.
The Rise of Stephanie Vaquer And Strategic Booking
Since joining WWE in 2024, Vaquer has become a fast fan favorite — first in NXT and now on the main roster. In just over a year, she has held both the NXT Women’s and North American Titles at the same time. Just five months after joining Raw, she is already the brand’s top women’s champion.
Vaquer’s meteoric rise suggests WWE sees her as a future face of the brand — and Crown Jewel might be her next milestone. While a dream match against Stratton would be the biggest option, WWE may be saving that for a grander stage.
That’s why Friday’s title match is likely set up for Stratton to lose. Often, triple threat matches protect top stars from taking a direct loss. Usually, one wrestler sneaks in at the end for the win, making the loser appear unlucky rather than weak.
Stratton’s recent absence from NXT due to medical reasons also gives WWE a ready-made excuse that would bolster a surprise finish — one that protects her status in defeat.
The Perfect Opponent For “La Primera”
Right now, the favorite to win SmackDown’s triple threat title match is Nia Jax. At SummerSlam, Jade Cargill lost to Stratton, raising doubts about WWE’s long-term plans for her. Giving her the title now — only to lose to Vaquer shortly after — could damage her momentum even more.
Jax, however, is a perfect opponent for Vaquer. She’s one of the most disliked stars in WWE, which makes her a great villain for a babyface like Vaquer. Her size and strength also make Vaquer look like a true underdog, which could boost fan support for “La Primera” even more.
Despite losing her last four televised title matches — including three to Stratton — Jax is still in the title picture. According to Cagematch.net, Jax is reportedly 0-7 in title matches at live events this year.
Yet, WWE keeps her near the top, showing how much they value her presence as a believable threat. When Jax wins, she usually does it in a dominant fashion with her finisher, the Annihilator. She also has a reputation — fair or not — for being reckless in the ring, which adds to her aura of danger.
Some may say being picked to “put someone over” isn’t a compliment — but it actually is. Pro wrestling needs new stars to drive the industry’s growth. For a win to mean something, it has to come against someone credible.
Right now, Jax is the perfect foil. She’s always ready to step up, and when she does lose, she makes her opponents look even better. That’s likely why WWE paired her with Stratton so often, as Tiffany is another rising star the company sees a bright future for.
Saving The Dream Match
Because of that, WWE probably won’t risk putting either Stratton or Vaquer in a position to lose, as both women are on the come-up.
That said, WWE’s recent deal with ESPN, which charges fans $30 a month for access to premium events, could push the company to book Stratton vs. Vaquer now, hoping fans will buy in. If they do, WWE might feature this match now and address any fallout for Stratton later.
Still, the safe bet is Vaquer going against Jax. With Cody Rhodes set to face Seth Rollins for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship in Perth, WWE may think that’s enough to get fans to spend the $30, allowing them to save Vaquer vs. Stratton for a bigger moment down the line.
