Wrestling star Stephanie Vaquer has officially signed with WWE after quitting rival promotions CMLL and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The 31-year-old Chilean wrestler has penned a deal with the sports entertainment juggernaut after informing NJPW and Mexico-based CMLL – both of whom have working relationships with AEW, who she performed for just 10 days ago – that she was leaving.
NXT boss Shawn Michaels confirmed the news, as he tweeted: ‘Welcome to the WWE Family, @Steph_Vaquer. See you in Orlando!’
A translated statement from CMLL earlier in the day said: ‘We want to inform you that Stephanie Vaquer has abruptly informed us that she will not participate, for personal reasons, in her next fight at FantasticaMania USA.
‘As of today, she also no longer belongs to the CMLL and NJPW.’
The promotion added that Vaquer had cited ‘personal reasons’ for leaving both rosters, and she will no longer compete this weekend at Fantasticamania in San Jose.
CMLL’s statement continued: ‘CMLL hereby announces Vaquer is stripped of both the CMLL World Women’s and World Women’s Tag Team Championships.
‘Both CMLL and NJPW would like to apologise to our fans worldwide for the abrupt announcement.’
Vaquer recently made waves as she represented NJPW in her match against AEW’s Mercedes Mone – formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE – at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
Recent reports suggested both major US companies had made offers, and she has made her decision, with the abrupt nature of her exit being a big clue she was heading to WWE, given the working relationship AEW has with both NJPW and CMLL.
Meanwhile, this weekend WWE is in Mexico with untelevised live events being held in Mexico City (July 13) and Monterrey (July 14), which would be a perfect time to unveil the new signing.
‘Stephanie Vaquer is one of the best in all of pro wrestling she’s such an incredible talent. WWE better not screw this up,’ wrote @canucksedins on X as fans started to react to the news.
Fan @mynameisrome_ hailed it a ‘huge signing for the WWE’, while @ProWFineese added: ‘Stephanie Vaquer would be an excellent signing for WWE. She is one of the best wrestlers in the world.’
And @The_Weidmanator tweeted: ‘Streets saying Stephanie Vaquer is headed to WWE. If so, this is a MASSIVE singing for WWE. She’ll bring fantastic in ring skills and main event talent to the roster.’
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WWE SummerSlam airs Saturday, August 3 at midnight on the WWE Network.
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