Top International Star Signing With WWE Following AEW Forbidden Door Showcase
The biggest story on Wednesday has revolved around former CMLL star and AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door show stealer Stephanie Vaquer, after CMLL and New Japan announced the luchadora would be leaving both promotions effectively immediately, relinquishing her CMLL Women's and CMLL Women's Tag Team Championships in the process. Vaquer's departure from CMLL immediately sent off signals that she would be heading elsewhere, and it hasn't taken long for the suspense to officially be quelled.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported Wednesday that Vaquer is expected to sign a deal with WWE to compete for the promotion's "NXT" brand. Furthermore, sources put Vaquer backstage at "NXT"s Heatwave PLE this past weekend, where she and WWE presumably sealed the deal. No further details were revealed as to details of the contract or when Vaquer would begin appearing with the promotion, though it should be noted that WWE will hold two live events in Mexico this weekend, making it an ideal place to roll Vaquer out.
Sources claim to @FightfulSelect that Stephanie Vaquer is WWE and NXT bound and was backstage at NXT Heatwave pic.twitter.com/pdknbV5HZN
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) July 10, 2024
WWE Hall of Famer and "NXT" creative head Shawn Michaels confirmed the news on X (formerly known as Twitter) later in the day, formally welcoming Vaquer to the white-and-gold brand.
Welcome to the WWE Family, @Steph_Vaquer. See you in Orlando! pic.twitter.com/cV9fBY1cSw
— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) July 10, 2024
Vaquer defeated Tessa Blanchard Tuesday night at CMLL's latest Martes de Glamour event; prior to that, her most recent match took place at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, where she lost the NJPW STRONG Women's Championship to AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone. A report over the weekend suggests Vaquer's standout performance in that match, which Mone supposedly went into with the intent of making Vaquer a star, drove interest in signing her from both WWE and AEW, though the suddenness of the move could indicate that talks between Vaquer and WWE were already in the works prior to the June 30 crossover event.