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Tiffany Stratton Defends Her Viral First Pitch at New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals Game
Tiffany Stratton Defends Her Viral First Pitch at New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals Game 9 Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax on SmackDown [via- WWE]

Tiffany Stratton recently attended an MLB game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals, where she had the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch. However, the moment didn’t go as planned. The pitch sailed over the catcher’s head, missing the mark entirely and turning into an embarrassing moment for the WWE Women’s Champion.

During the SummerSlam Kickoff event, ‘The Buff Barbie’ addressed the incident, claiming her goal was to create a viral moment. She explained that the fumbled pitch was intentional, designed to stand out and be remembered. According to Stratton, if the throw had been ordinary, it wouldn’t have made nearly the same impact as it did by going off-script.

Hey I was going for a viral moment, how many of you guys saw that pitch? I think me and 50 Cent should team up now.

Tiffany Stratton via SummerSlam Kickoff Event

Naturally, Stratton’s explanation was seen by many as a clever cover-up for her viral misfire, which quickly became a major talking point among the WWE Universe. Her reference of rapper 50 Cent dates back to May 2014, when the famed rapper threw a wild first pitch for the Mets.

However, if the 26-year-old is to be believed, she achieved exactly what she set out to do—create an iconic and unforgettable moment in MLB history. That said, ‘The Center of the Universe’ also faced a wave of trolling online for the botched pitch, adding to the buzz surrounding the incident.

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Moreover, ‘The Buff Barbie’ has quickly become a fan favorite in recent months. Her babyface turn during the feud with Charlotte Flair on the road to WrestleMania 41 marked a breakout moment in her career, solidifying her status as the top female star in the division. Now, with her playful interviews and engaging fan interactions, Tiffany Stratton is emerging as a cornerstone of WWE’s future.

Tiffany Stratton to face Nia Jax next week on SmackDown

Tiffany Stratton has been enjoying her reign as WWE Women’s Champion on SmackDown in recent weeks. However, her momentum was interrupted by the return of Nia Jax, who came back with a score to settle. For the past two weeks, Jax has unleashed a series of brutal beatdowns on Stratton, delivering multiple Annihilators on live TV.

In response to the escalating tension, The Buff Barbie has officially challenged The Irresistible Force to a high-stakes showdown on next week’s episode of SmackDown. Stratton laid down the gauntlet for a Last Woman Standing match against the former Women’s Champion, with the WWE Women’s Title on the line. The match is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and promises to be a fierce showdown between two of SmackDown’s most dominant forces.

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Jax and Stratton have clashed multiple times in the past, with each encounter delivering high-impact drama that fans have thoroughly enjoyed. Their intense rivalry has quickly become one of the most compelling storylines of the year. With former friends now turned bitter enemies, it will be interesting to see what WWE has in store for their next explosive showdown on the blue brand.

Mark Henry thinks Tiffany Stratton is losing momentum as champion

Tiffany Stratton has held the WWE Women’s Championship since the first episode of SmackDown in 2025, and fans have been enjoying her rise as one of the top stars in the division. However, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry recently shared a different perspective, suggesting that if things continue as they are, ‘The Buff Barbie’ could soon lose her momentum.


Tiffany Stratton (via WWE)

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry acknowledged that while Tiffany Stratton has had a strong reign as WWE Women’s Champion, her run has lacked truly memorable moments. He pointed out that her only standout highlight so far was defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 41.

Tiffany is not having moments where she wins and loses by exciting things happening. Things that further along her greatness and her abilities, and that’s gotta change, otherwise she’s going to be one of those characters that become forgotten.

Mark Henry via Busted Open

Since then, according to Henry, Stratton’s reign has felt somewhat lackluster and hasn’t lived up to the expectations of a top-tier champion. The former World Heavyweight Champion warned that if things don’t change soon, her run could ultimately be remembered as one of the more forgettable title reigns in WWE history.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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