Tiffany Stratton is reigning as the WWE Women’s Champion on SmackDown. Meanwhile, the second edition of Evolution is just a week away. Considering it is WWE’s all-women’s PLE offering, the company needs to feature the 26-year-old in a prominent outing. Therefore, there is a high possibility that Triple H could book a 7-time Women’s Champion as her opponent at next week’s offering in Atlanta.
The star in question is none other than the legendary Trish Stratus, who is set to make her highly anticipated return on SmackDown this week. A vital figure in the women’s division, her comeback comes at a pivotal time, with WWE possibly planning a major spotlight for her at the upcoming Evolution event. Adding to the excitement, the promotion has announced that ‘The Buff Barbie’ will choose her opponent for the all-women’s PLE during this week’s SmackDown.
Tomorrow on #SmackDown Tiffany Stratton will choose her challenger for the Women’s Title at ‘EVOLUTION 2.’ pic.twitter.com/pkJdePxwTn
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) July 3, 2025
According to Fightful Select, the WWE creative team had pitched for the duo to work at Evolution. “We’re told WWE creative had pitched a potential program with she and Tiffany Stratton, but the claim internally was that things weren’t finalized as of this weekend.”
The Canadian legend could be a strong challenger for Tiffany Stratton at Evolution. A match against Trish Stratus would not only shine a major spotlight on ‘The Center of the Universe’ but also elevate the Women’s Championship scene heading into the event. Moreover, the duo had previously competed alongside each other in a tag team match against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae at Elimination Chamber 2025.
Furthermore, since WrestleMania 41, Stratton has been involved in scattered feuds on SmackDown, lacking a consistent, high-profile storyline. She needs a marquee rivalry to solidify her image as a strong champion. A title defense against an all-time great like Stratus could do just that—elevating her status and adding credibility to her reign. Additionally, it has the potential to be a memorable “passing of the torch” moment for the 26-year-old.
Tiffany Stratton has been using the ‘Prettiest Moonsault Ever’ as her finishing move since her days in NXT. While the moonsault itself has been a staple among many wrestlers over the years, the name is a nod to former professional wrestler Christopher Daniels‘ iconic ‘Best Moonsault Ever’. Recently, Daniels shared his thoughts on Stratton’s version of the move during an interview.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former AEW and TNA star revealed that he has never met ‘The Buff Barbie’. However, he praised her as one of the future greats of professional wrestling. Daniels expressed his happiness that a rising talent like Stratton was inspired by his signature maneuver, calling it an honor that the WWE Women’s Champion chose to pay homage by using a similar name for her finisher.
I’ve never met her. But the fact that she didn’t just copy it, she sort of adjusted it, which is what the greats do. I feel like they don’t just steal. If we are inspired by something, we try to put our own little spin on it. And so the fact that she goes from the bottom all the way up and then to sort of like, pay homage, call it in that same vein, PME, I was like, that’s pretty cool. I can’t be mad at that.
Christopher Daniels via Insight
Christopher Daniels had a unique version of the moonsault, famously leaping from the mat to the middle turnbuckle before springing onto the top rope to execute the move. Stratton, meanwhile, added her twist—starting from the bottom turnbuckle, then stepping up to the middle, and finally launching from the top. Her variation is a clear homage to Daniels, who helped popularize the maneuver.
Tiffany Stratton has held the WWE Women’s Championship since the first SmackDown of the year. While her title victory initially generated a lot of excitement, her reign has felt underwhelming since WrestleMania 41. As a result, many fans are beginning to speculate whether WWE might have her drop the title at Evolution in an effort to reinvigorate the SmackDown women’s division.
While the possibility is intriguing, the chances of it actually happening are quite slim. WWE is set to host its first-ever two-night SummerSlam, making it the biggest edition of ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer’ to date. With such a historic event on the horizon, the company will likely aim to showcase its top stars in major title matches.
As a result, given that Stratton is seen as a future face of WWE, she’s likely to be featured in a high-profile match at Evolution. Therefore, the chances of her heading into SummerSlam as the WWE Women’s Champion remain quite strong.
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