Stephanie Vaquer Reveals Illness She Had Before WWE Wrestlepalooza Title Win

Stephanie Vaquer nearly missed out on the biggest match of her WWE career—and now we know why.

Speaking to PWInsider, the WWE Women’s World Champion revealed that in the weeks leading up to her Wrestlepalooza match against IYO SKY, she was battling a bacterial infection in her throat. The illness was so severe, she couldn’t eat or drink for days and was unsure if she’d even make it to the event.

“I was sick for three weeks before my match, but really sick. I had a bacteria in my throat. Something really weird. I couldn’t eat or drink anything for three days. I felt so weak, so bad, but all the WWE medical team helped me and supported me a lot.”

Despite the health scare, Vaquer pushed through and captured the vacant WWE Women’s World Title, making history in the process. She also addressed what it means to be the first Latina to ever hold that championship.

“Yeah, I’m the first Latina and WWE Women’s World Champion, and I’m so proud. Many people told me, ‘You can’t because you’re a woman. You can’t because you don’t speak English. You can’t because you don’t know WWE.’ Many reasons. But now I say: Nothing is impossible. Nothing. Nothing.”

Vaquer’s journey isn’t slowing down either. She’s now set to face WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton at WWE Crown Jewel: Perth in a match to determine the first-ever Women’s Crown Jewel Champion.

Stephanie Vaquer’s rise to the top hasn’t come easy, but she’s proving every step of the way that no obstacle—including illness—is going to stop her momentum.