Things got real fast between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair on SmackDown, and now WWE is leaning into the heat.
The April 4 episode featured a fiery promo between the two that took a turn many didn’t see coming. According to sources, the segment “reportedly veered off script,” with key lines—like Stratton referencing Flair’s divorces and Flair firing back about Ludwig Kaiser being in her DMs—“neither pre-approved nor planned.”
Sources say the situation forced WWE to heavily edit the digital replay. The version uploaded after the show had multiple cuts and cleaned-up audio, confirming just how off-the-rails the moment got.
Rather than back off, WWE doubled down. Ahead of the April 11 episode, officials scripted a parking lot angle where Flair launched a surprise attack on Stratton. The plan? Reframe the storyline and tighten the screws with full creative control. And it worked. “WWE officials were pleased with how both Stratton and Flair handled the situation,” one source told Fightful Select, noting both Superstars responded professionally to the previous week’s chaos.
During the April 11 broadcast, the two women clashed again in a physical segment that had the crowd on edge. This time, everything went according to plan. The backstage producers and crew were satisfied with how the segment played ou” and no complaints or issues were raised after the scene.
It’s clear WWE is now using the unscripted tension as fuel heading into WrestleMania 41, where Stratton will defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Flair on night one.
Do you think WWE should allow more real moments like this to happen on live TV, or does that cross the line in today’s era of scripted programming? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.