Stephanie Vaquer, the recently crowned WWE Women’s World Champion, revealed that her historic victory at Wrestlepalooza was nearly derailed by a serious health issue. Weeks before the event, Vaquer struggled with an illness that almost caused WWE to cancel her title match against IYO SKY, putting her championship chances at risk.
A Medical Setback Threatened Vaquer’s Participation
Vaquer shared in a candid vlog on WWE’s Spanish-language YouTube channel that she felt sick for about two weeks leading up to Wrestlepalooza. The WWE medical team advised her to sit out the Monday episode of Raw due to her physical condition.
“What happened was, unfortunately, I had not been feeling well for the past two weeks. I was sick, so I did not feel good physically and, on Sunday, the medical team told me not to participate on Raw on Monday,”
Vaquer explained.
“They spoke with the executives, and I was removed from Raw. They also told me that if I could not make it to Raw, I would no longer be part of Wrestlepalooza, which I completely understood, but I still felt healthy enough to wrestle, so I did everything possible.”
Last-Minute Clearance Allowed Vaquer to Compete
Despite the warning and removal from Raw, Vaquer was determined to compete on Wrestlepalooza. She took swift action by visiting her doctor early Monday morning and by midday was unexpectedly cleared to perform.
“On Monday morning, I went to the doctor, and by noon, I was cleared to compete. Around 12 pm and 2 pm, I was already on the airport to head to Raw. Everything was very last-minute, and they were even preparing to announce that I was not cleared for Wrestlepalooza on Saturday,”
she revealed.
Fighting Through Physical Challenges With Heart
Though not at her physical best, Vaquer’s resolve pushed her forward. She underwent extensive medical tests that confirmed her fitness to wrestle.
“They ran every kind of test on me, and thankfully, I am cleared to compete. Maybe I am not in my absolute best condition after being sick for almost three weeks, but I have the clearance to compete,”
Vaquer said. She added,
“Sometimes, you don’t always wrestle with your body, but with your heart, and I have that very present. My body may not be at 100% but my heart always is at 100%.”
Triumph Despite Adversity Secures Championship
Vaquer overcame the health challenges and went on to defeat IYO SKY, capturing the vacant WWE Women’s World Championship and earning her first major title on the main roster. Her emotional win highlighted her grit and unwavering determination amidst difficult circumstances. The weeks leading up to Wrestlepalooza showcased her resilience, proving that her strength extended beyond the ring to battles behind the scenes.
