WWE
The rivalry between Raquel Rodriguez and WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer has escalated from a competitive feud into a violent, property-destroying crusade. For the second consecutive week, Rodriguez launched a brutal assault on the champion, but this time, the collateral damage included the most prestigious prize in the women’s division on Monday Night Raw.
During the January 12 episode of Raw from Düsseldorf, Germany, Rodriguez was being interviewed about her actions from the previous week when she was interrupted by Vaquer. The champion, sporting a walking boot to sell the injuries from Rodriguez’s previous attack, courageously hobbled to the ring to confront her challenger. However, the size and strength advantage of “Big Sexy” proved too much for the injured champion. Rodriguez attacked Vaquer, using the Women’s World Championship belt as a weapon to whip the champion. The force of the strikes was so intense that the title belt physically snapped, leaving pieces of the leather strap and gold plating damaged in the ring.
Following the segment, Rodriguez took to social media to gloat about the destruction she caused. Seemingly unbothered by the disrespect shown to the championship, she posted a sarcastic apology on Twitter.
“I don’t want to brag but….. I broke the title tonight 😬😎 oops 🤷🏻♀️😂,” Rodriguez wrote.
The visual of a broken championship belt is a powerful trope in professional wrestling, often symbolizing a complete lack of respect for the current regime or the champion holding the gold. By breaking the title, Rodriguez has signaled that her desire to hurt Vaquer has surpassed her desire to simply win the match. It frames Rodriguez not just as a challenger, but as a force of nature that is dismantling the division—literally and figuratively. This adds a new layer of heat to her character, who feels she was passed over and ignored for too long while “smaller” stars took the spotlight.
The destruction of the belt leaves the status of the physical championship in question heading into next week. Raw is scheduled to broadcast from Belfast, Northern Ireland, on January 19. While no official match between the two has been set for that specific show, the animosity is at a boiling point. It is likely that WWE officials, specifically General Manager Adam Pearce, will have to intervene to address both the destruction of company property and the safety of the injured champion. Vaquer’s walking boot indicates she is not at 100%, and with Rodriguez on a rampage, the champion’s reign is in serious jeopardy.
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