WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has been pulled from tonight’s NXT Homecoming special, forcing a late change to the advertised six-woman tag team match. Lyra Valkyria was announced as her replacement on Raw, but the reason for Stratton’s absence had remained unclear—until now.
On Tuesday’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez reported that Stratton suffered a concussion during her title defense against Jade Cargill on last week’s SmackDown. Alvarez pointed to a moonsault from the ring post to the outside as the likely cause, describing it as a spot where Stratton “smashed her head on the ground.” The landing occurred just before the match ended in a double count-out.
The aftermath suggested immediate concern. Following the moonsault, the referee was seen checking on Stratton at ringside, and that caution extended into the post-match segment. When Nia Jax made her scheduled appearance, she delivered what Alvarez called “the lightest Annihilator of her career” to protect the champion from further harm.
While neither Stratton nor WWE has issued an official update, NXT General Manager Ava confirmed via social media that Stratton was not medically cleared to compete at Homecoming. With the concussion diagnosis, there is currently no timetable for the champion’s return.
ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING LANDING BY TIFFANY STRATTON HERE
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) September 13, 2025
OH MY GOD#Smackdown
pic.twitter.com/1doBu9N7TF