Stephanie Vaquer stands tall on WWE NXT. Mina Shirakawa is set to join All Elite Wrestling in an official capacity. Ray Lyn chats with WrestleZone and more.
Stephanie Vaquer Overcomes Back-To-Back Title Defenses
With a double-champion status, comes double the responsibilities for Stephanie Vaquer. So far, though, she seems to be adjusting just fine.
On this week’s episode of WWE NXT, Vaquer first defended her NXT Women’s Championship against Jaida Parker. After a dominant display, Parker seemed to be on the verge of victory when she planted Vaquer with a seated senton in the corner. When she turned around, however, Jordynne Grace stood up on the apron, presumably still upset about Parker’s attack on her the week prior. This distraction proved pivotal, as Vaquer recovered enough to roll up Parker for the pinfall to retain her NXT Women’s Championship.
In the moments following the bell, Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Jazmyn Nyx (together known as Fatal Influence) attacked Vaquer from behind with the aim of putting her at a further disadvantage heading into NXT Women’s North American Championship defense against Henley in the show’s main event. While still clearly bruised, Vaquer managed to defeat Henley in the respective title match, courtesy of a package backbreaker.
When Fatal Influence attempted a repeat beatdown after the bout, Grace rushed down to save Vaquer and neutralize the stable. As Grace handed Vaquer both her titles, Parker shoved her into the champion. Grace quickly fought back, sending Parker flying off the apron with a hip check before staring down Vaquer.
Last week, Grace expressed interest in challenging Stephanie Vaquer for a title. Before anything could be made official, though, Parker struck her from behind, effectively taking the opportunity from her. Given her stare down with Vaquer this week, it seems that Grace may have the next opportunity to challenge Vaquer.
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Mina Shirakawa Set To Join All Elite Wrestling
Earlier this week, reports indicated Mina Shirakawa was due to leave STARDOM when her contract expires this month. Following that, Shirakawa would head to the United States to officially join All Elite Wrestling.
Shirakawa herself later confirmed this to be the case in a video released by STARDOM. According to Shirakawa, she wants to show the world the skills she learned through working in STARDOM. Additionally, she aims to continue pursuing her dreams, with the next destination being the United States, specifically AEW.
Shirakawa has already made a handful of appearances for AEW. This includes an AEW Women’s championship match against Toni Storm at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. In December, she unsuccessfully challenged Mariah May for the same title at AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming.
Shirakawa’s arrival in AEW comes on the heels of the exit of Saraya, a former AEW Women’s Champion who signed with the company in 2022.
READ MORE: Saraya Announces Her Departure From AEW
Natalya To Face Miyu Yamashita At Bloodsport
Despite training together at The Dungeon 2.0, Natalya and Miyu Yamashita have never locked up in an official match…until now.
Josh Barnett broke the news on Wednesday night via X, writing, “When wrestlers of this caliber ask for a fight with one another, then a fight we will have. ‘Queen of Harts’ Nattie Neidhart is taking on the karate fighter, Miyu Yamashita, at Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport XIII. Don’t miss your chance to see these two go head to head live!”
Bloodsport XIII will emanate from Las Vegas, Nevada on April 17, just two days before WWE WrestleMania 41. Along with Natalya, WWE stars Pete Dunne, Karrion Kross, Karmen Petrovic, and Charlie Dempsey will be in action at the event.
For Natalya, also known as Nattie Neidhart, Bloodsport XIII signals her debut in the Bloodsport series and a notable stop along her world tour. In the case of Yamashita, a name known to TJPW, it will mark her return, as she previously fell to WWE’s Shayna Baszler last year via TKO.
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INTERVIEWS
Two-time IWC Women’s Champion Ray Lyn spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about her decision to move to Texas, her upcoming appearance WrestleRave’s Food Fight series, if she’s ever gotten into an actual food fight, teaming with Holidead in WOW, thoughts on the WWE ID program, who she’s rooting to be the first ever Women’s WWE ID Champion, women that inspire her, and more.
New TNA Knockout Maggie Lee appeared on the Battleground Podcast to discuss why she chose to sign with TNA over other opportunities, what fans can expect from her, her goals in the company, what’s next in TNA Wrestling, and more.
Former AEW Women’s Champion Saraya joined the Lightweights Podcast to discuss her future in wrestling, her career-ending neck injury and road to recovery, her new book Hell In Boots, Fighting With My Family, adjusting to stardom in the WWE, her epic return to wrestling in AEW, and more.
WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia sat down with Chris Van Vliet to talk being back in WWE, how her moment with Samantha Irvin on Raw led to her return to announcing, her 2016 departure, how the current era compares to The Attitude Era, memorable interview segments with The Rock, taking a Samoan drop from Jamal (Umaga), and more.
Former AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose chatted with Flickering Myth to talk about her dream opponent in AEW, playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and One Piece, love for horror movies, dipping her toe into acting, and more.
Former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya spoke with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful about the dynamic of her husband TJ Wilson producing some of her matches, who should be the lowest rated character in WWE 2K25, her new cat that peed on Wilson’s pants, her goal of turning Stephanie McMahon into a cat person and more.
