On the eve of WWE’s Money In The Bank, Zelina Vega was blocked from performing an extreme move during her SmackDown Bakersfield Brawl, as WWE officials decided to limit the risk of injury and preserve excitement for the pay-per-view. The situation highlights a pivotal moment for Vega, who was eager to push creative boundaries, driven by her admiration for Jeff Hardy and her ambition within WWE.
Zelina Vega’s Breakout Year on SmackDown
Since March 2025, Zelina Vega’s career has reached new heights, as she became a central figure on WWE SmackDown after achieving her first singles championship. Defeating Chelsea Green for the Women’s United States Championship marked a historic milestone for Vega, as this was her inaugural singles win both inside and outside of the company. With this victory, she entered into fierce rivalries, particularly with Chelsea Green, Alba Fyre, and Piper Niven.
Her ongoing conflicts culminated in a heated contest against Piper Niven, known as the Bakersfield Brawl, which took place the night before the Money In The Bank event. The match was billed as a hardcore affair, marking Vega’s first foray into such a stipulation after over 17 years in professional wrestling.
Innovative Ambitions and WWE’s Limitations
During the chaotic Bakersfield Brawl, the audience witnessed an array of weapons, standard within hardcore matches, but Vega wanted to incorporate even more sensational stunts into the bout. She discussed her desire to capture the spirit of high-flying legends through daring acts, specifically referencing Jeff Hardy, whose signature leaps inspired her ideas for the event.
Appearing on the Lightweights podcast, Vega recounted her proposals for the match, highlighting her wish to leap from the titantron and make use of barbed wire. WWE leadership, however, expressed immediate resistance, concerned about safety and the need to save spectacle for Money In The Bank.
“My first hardcore match ever. So funny to say cause I’ve been doing this since I was 17, I’m 34 now. Yeah, never did a hardcore match ever.It just wasn’t presented to me like, ‘Oh, this is what we’re doing today’ until like this week. I was like, ‘Oh, can I jump off the tron?’ They’re just like, ‘No, no you can’t. We still need to save some oohs and aahs for Money In The Bank tomorrow and you need to just live, you know?’ I’m like, ‘Eventually, I’m going to do it.’I was a huge Jeff Hardy mark when I was a kid, like ridiculous. So, anything that he’s done, I just want to do that at some point. I don’t care what it takes or what it looks like, I want to do that.I even asked — they set up some of the ladders and I was like, ‘Can I use the ladders? Can I jump off the ladders?’ They were like, ‘No, we need to save some of it for tomorrow, like we can’t just give everything away the day before.’ Which makes sense but I was also like — it was like a playground for me. I was just like, what can I do, what can I do?Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I was just like, ‘No, I want to make this really good and just see how we can make it different.’ They called it a Bakersfield Brawl, so I was like, there’s no specifics so what could we really do here?”
—Zelina Vega, WWE Women’s United States Champion
Despite her pitch to integrate a barbed wire chancla and engage more brutal elements, the request was denied on the grounds of WWE’s no-blood policy and the desire to prioritize performer safety. Vega’s aspirations were met with encouragement to scale back her plans, even as she contemplated ways to make the match distinct from typical encounters.
Behind WWE’s Decision-Making
Vega’s creative ideas signified her intent to set herself apart and captivate fans by echoing the legacy of high-risk stars like Jeff Hardy. WWE bosses, however, had to weigh the priorities of event pacing, audience anticipation, and the welfare of superstars. The company’s officials reportedly emphasized that reserving major surprises for Money In The Bank would prop up the pay-per-view’s appeal, instructing Vega to hold back on headline-grabbing stunts that could overshadow upcoming attractions.
While the match itself included intense weapon-related action, the more dangerous suggestions—such as the titantron leap and barbed wire spots—were carefully shut down by WWE executives overseeing the match. These decisions underscore a growing pattern within the organization to manage risk while meeting the evolving expectations of fans used to the spectacle of modern wrestling.
Throughout this process, Vega’s spirited efforts to innovate in her first hardcore match drew both admiration and caution from her peers and senior leadership, reminding audiences of the constant tension between performer creativity and company guidelines in the sports entertainment industry.
The Broader Impact on Vega and WWE’s Creative Direction
Zelina Vega’s story reflects the wider debate in WWE about balancing dramatic, boundary-pushing performances with safety and storyline management. Her attempt to channel Jeff Hardy’s high-wire legacy into her debut hardcore match provides insight into a new generation of wrestlers—ambitious and inspired, yet limited by the industry’s evolving standards and internal policies.
This situation also highlights the importance of timing and context in wrestling, where even championship contestants like Vega must adapt to company strategies that prioritize certain moments over others. WWE, facing ongoing criticism and praise for its management of talent and event structure, continues to regulate the scope of risk and excitement to maintain viewership and protect its stars.
As for Vega, her determination to embrace hardcore elements and create memorable experiences is likely to shape her legacy and position on WWE SmackDown. The denied spot may only fuel greater anticipation for what she could eventually achieve—especially with her clear aspiration to deliver Jeff Hardy-level moments in the future.
The dynamic between Vega’s ambitions and WWE’s decision-making offers a window into how professional wrestling’s creative boundaries are negotiated in real time. Fans, competitors like Piper Niven, and icons such as Jeff Hardy all shape this ongoing narrative, with each high-profile event serving as a stage for both innovation and restraint in the pursuit of in-ring excellence.
