The fallout from a widely criticized WWE Women’s Championship match on SmackDown has moved to social media, where Jade Cargill has seemingly indicated that fellow competitor Tiffany Stratton was responsible for the bout’s botched conclusion.
Following the Triple Threat contest on September 26, Cargill liked a post on X from a fan who claimed Stratton was at fault for the flawed pinfall that ended the match.
The social media activity follows intense criticism of the match, which featured Cargill, Stratton, and Nia Jax. Veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer labeled the bout the “worst WWE match of the year,” citing numerous significant errors from all three performers.
Meltzer specifically critiqued Cargill’s performance, stating, “With Jade, it feels like she’s out there trying to memorize the match. She just moves to the next thing she remembers.” The structure of the match was also reportedly altered on the fly by producer Tyson Kidd after Cargill sustained a legitimate cut above her eyebrow during the action.
The chaotic finish was also a point of contention, with Meltzer observing that the competitors failed to adapt after a planned spot broke down. “They froze. Nobody improvised. It all fell apart,” he said. In the wake of the match, referee Daphanie LaShaunn also addressed the situation on Instagram.
LaShaunn stated, “I’m just human, but I can promise that I strive to always be better. Which will forever be my goal as long as I’m on this journey.”