On April 4, during a SmackDown event in Chicago, a promotional segment between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair took an unexpected turn as both wrestlers exchanged comments that were not part of the planned script. The incident became widely discussed following the release of Netflix’s WWE Unreal season 1, which addressed the fallout from the altercation, focusing heavily on Stratton’s remark about Flair’s three divorces.
Backstage Reactions and Apology Demand
According to the documentary, the line made by Stratton referencing Flair’s divorces provoked strong reactions backstage. Ed Koskey, the Senior Vice President of Creative Writing, was seen informing Triple H that the unscripted comment was not approved and had upset Flair. Koskey stated,
“Apparently, it was the divorce line that sent her over the edge. She’s upset. It obviously wasn’t written in the promo,”
illustrating the tension the comment caused behind the scenes.
Triple H then instructed that Stratton needed to apologize directly to Flair. He said,
“I need Tiffany to understand that’s obviously not how we do this. So, she needs to go to Charlotte and apologize and they need to get on the same page.”
This directive underlined the importance of maintaining professionalism, even during heated moments.
Details of the On-Air Exchange
During the live segment, Stratton challenged Flair with a direct insult, stating,
“You might be Queen inside of the ring but outside of the ring, you ain’t the Queen of s–t.”
Following that, Merit Flair hit back referencing her own WrestleMania record, adding,
“When I beat you at WrestleMania, Charlotte, you are going to be just like you are outside of the ring, alone. What is that record? 0-3? Woooo!”
These words pushed the promo beyond the typical scripted rivalry.
Earlier Tensions and Aftermath
Before this incident, Flair had been criticized for overshadowing Stratton during a split-screen interview on the March 21 episode of SmackDown, with some feeling that it diminished Stratton’s presence. The WWE Unreal series sheds light on how these simmering tensions contributed to the charged atmosphere on April 4.
Flair’s Perspective and Future Outlook for Stratton
In a backstage interview following her match with Stratton at WrestleMania 41, Charlotte Flair offered praise despite the earlier conflict, remarking,
“I think she has a super bright future,”
and calling Stratton, “a star.” This acknowledgment highlighted Flair’s professional outlook despite the challenges faced during their promotional segment.
Triple H also commended Flair, telling her,
“That’s how you put someone over,”
signaling approval of how Flair handled the match and the dynamics with Stratton.
Release and Public Reaction
All five episodes of WWE Unreal were released on Netflix on July 29, 2025, reigniting discussion around the incident. The documentary emphasized how the unscripted line disrupts the usual protocols within WWE, drawing attention to the delicate balance of performance and reality in professional wrestling.
