Stephanie Vaquer, WWE Women’s World Champion, is currently coping with a real injury to her ankle that became part of the storyline during RAW this past Monday. During the episode, Vaquer was ambushed by Raquel Rodriguez, who deliberately targeted her already injured ankle, which was protected by a walking boot.
Confirmation and Fan Concerns Following Social Media Update
Vaquer later confirmed her injury by posting a photo on her Instagram account, revealing her ankle covered in severe bruising. In the caption that accompanied her post, she simply wrote, “Recovering.” The image quickly circulated among wrestling fans and drew concern and support for her recovery. The following message from a fan captured the mood:
“Stephanie’s ankle is bruised up
Ouch 🤕, please take your time to recover goat ❤️ pic.twitter.com/m7htwiAdZC
— VaquerNation☝️♈️ (@NationVaquer) January 9, 2026”
Status of Upcoming Title Defense Remains Uncertain
The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter suggests that Vaquer’s title defense against Raquel Rodriguez is still slated to happen before the upcoming Royal Rumble, scheduled for January 31. However, it is not yet certain whether this championship match will be featured during a regular episode of RAW or during Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24. Her injury places some uncertainty over the timing and possible outcome of the bout.
Recent Matches and Rivalries Add to Injured Champion’s Burden
In the weeks leading up to the injury update, Vaquer faced Rodriguez in two intense title matches. Their first contest ended in a disqualification after Nikki Bella interfered, impacting the match outcome. The next encounter saw all three—the champion, Rodriguez, and Bella—compete in a Triple Threat Match, where Vaquer managed to pin Bella and retain her WWE Women’s World Championship, despite facing tough odds.
Uncertain Road Ahead for Stephanie Vaquer
The current state of Stephanie Vaquer’s ankle and her recovery process casts doubts on her capacity to compete at peak form in the near future. Wrestling fans and the WWE universe remain anxious about whether she can successfully defend her title against Raquel Rodriguez before the Royal Rumble, especially with her recent track record of grueling matches and now a visible injury. The wrestling community continues to watch closely, awaiting updates as her comeback timeline remains unclear.
Stephanie’s ankle is bruised up
Ouch 🤕, please take your time to recover goat ❤️ pic.twitter.com/m7htwiAdZC
— VaquerNation☝️♈️ (@NationVaquer) January 9, 2026
