WWE has already crowned Tiffany Stratton as the female champion in SmackDown. Did the company rush?
The Barbie Buff connected with the audience from the beginning after her arrival at the main roster in 2024. This could be why WWE decided to reserve it as a champion for the shows show this year against Charlotte Flair. Bully Ray feels that Stratton has not lived up to her expected standard. However, Ray showed empathy towards the female champion.
In the podcast Busted OpenBully Ray said that while Charlotte Flair is doing a great job as a villain, Tiffany Stratton has not found her place like babyface in the equation. He defended the champion, saying that the new fighters do not have the luxury of perfecting their trade facing each other in frequent live events.
“Unfortunately, in the wrestling industry today, live events are staying in the past. There are not as many as to someone becoming really good. In my time, when we worked 300 nights a year, and we made live events 3-4 nights a week, you perfected your trade. You became really good in what you did. Tiffany doesn't have that luxury,” said Bully Ray. (From 14:29 to 14:52)
With just weeks before the shows shows, can Stratton grow in his role and face the veteran skills of the queen? Only time will say it.
How did Charlotte Flair forced WWE to turn Tiffany Stratton into Babyface?
In 2024, Tiffany Stratton became a favorite of fans despite working only as Heel. However, he was forced to officially become Babyface on the way to Wrestlemania because WWE fans rejected the winner of the Women's Rumble Rumble 2025, Charlotte Flair.
The queen could have been the largest superstar of the division, but the company always pushing it to high profile situations led to fans to get tired of it. They have expressed their discontent openly.
In addition to the fact that the 14 -time world champion was absent a whole year before being launched again to the main event of Wrestlemania this year, WWE had the best heel superstar with which to work. This inadvertently forced Tiffany Stratton, who had a good connection with fans, to become Babyface.
