During last night's episode of SmackDown, WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton squared off with Kiana James. Tiffy picked up the win, but was immediately attacked by Women's United States Champion, Giulia.
Jade Cargill hit the ring to make the save and held Stratton's hand high in a supporting exchange that ended with a storm not just coming, but arriving in full force.
The former AEW star brutally attacked Stratton, going so far as to bounce the babyface's knee off the steel steps. With that, Cargil has officially turned heel in a moment that could define her career. When WWE brought her into the fold, it was as a tag team wrestler alongside Bianca Belair.
That partnership never really gave Cargill a chance to shine, and while her feud with Naomi was entertaining, this is a turning point that should allow her to show off new sides of this character. Cargill is arguably better suited to being a heel, though this may not bode well for Stratton.
In a backstage interview, Cargill said that she's run out of patience in her quest for the WWE Women's Championship, and she now has a title match with Stratton at the upcoming Saturday Night's Main Event show.
It appears that WWE will use Stratton's storyline injury to end her 2025 undefeated streak and pull the trigger on a title run for Cargill. This shouldn't weaken Stratton's standing in the company, and likely ensures her place in WWE's main event scene.
"[Tiffany Stratton] is getting her knee evaluated," reads an update from WWE, "but reports are that Tiffany Stratton is adamant about going through with the match on [Saturday Night's Main Event]. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available."
You can check out some highlights from SmackDown in the X posts below.