Stephanie Vaquer was finally back on WWE television this week—but according to a new backstage report, she could’ve returned a lot sooner. Instead, WWE made everyone wait.
Vaquer made her surprise return on the August 3 episode of RAW, storming to the ring just as Liv Morgan and The Judgment Day looked ready to leave after Becky Lynch’s own shocking comeback. The timing caught fans off guard, and that’s exactly how WWE wanted it.
According to PWInsider, Vaquer had actually been medically cleared for quite some time. The company simply didn’t want to bring her back until creative found the perfect moment. Rather than rushing her onto television, WWE reportedly held her off TV because officials didn’t want to “waste” her return.
That wasn’t the only secret the company managed to keep. Despite SummerSlam taking place just days earlier, Vaquer was never part of the event. According to the report, the decision to bring her back wasn’t finalized until the weekend, with WWE scrambling to lock everything in at the last minute.
The report states that her travel wasn’t booked until very late in the process, specifically to reduce the chances of fans spotting her before RAW. Once she arrived, WWE reportedly kept her hidden backstage until it was time for her music to hit.
The strategy worked. Nobody expected Vaquer to walk through the curtain. Instead, fans were focused on Becky Lynch, who had just returned after two months away and immediately confronted Liv Morgan over the Women’s World Championship. Moments later, Vaquer’s music hit, she charged the ring, took out Raquel Rodriguez and sent Morgan scrambling, ending RAW with two major stars standing across from each other while the champion escaped.
Looking back, the surprise wasn’t accidental. WWE had every opportunity to bring Vaquer back earlier but deliberately waited until the company felt it had the right story and the right moment. Judging by the reaction she received, that patience appears to have paid off.
With Becky Lynch back, Stephanie Vaquer back, and Liv Morgan still holding the Women’s World Championship, WWE suddenly has one of its most crowded title pictures in months.
Who do you think should get the first shot at Liv Morgan’s Women’s World Championship—Stephanie Vaquer or Becky Lynch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
