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Stephanie Vaquer Lands WWE Contract; Shawn Michaels Teases NXT Future After Rumors

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJuly 10, 2024

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 10: Stephanie Vaquer celebrates the victory during the Women's Pro-Wrestling "Stardom" at Korakuen Hall on March 10, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan.  (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

Former New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre star Stephanie Vaquer is headed to WWE NXT.

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, who oversees NXT creative in his capacity as WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, confirmed that Vaquer is headed to Orlando, where NXT primarily holds its events.

Shawn Michaels @ShawnMichaels

Welcome to the WWE Family, <a href="https://twitter.com/Steph_Vaquer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Steph_Vaquer</a>. See you in Orlando! <a href="https://t.co/cV9fBY1cSw">pic.twitter.com/cV9fBY1cSw</a>

Vaquer has been the CMLL World Women's champion and NJPW's Strong Women's champion. She most recently made headlines for a strong performance against Mercedes Moné at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door in a winner-take-all match for the AEW TBS Championship and NJPW's Strong Women's title.

Vaquer will be going to NXT with a wave of momentum after the Forbidden Door performance.

Chris Mueller of Bleacher Report wrote that "Vaquer impressed here and had the fans in Long Island on her side." Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Alex Hunt of Inside the Ropes) gave her Forbidden Door match four stars.

And Manik Aftab of WrestleZone had this to say: "Stephanie's performance was spectacular. She is truly one of the best in the world. Every move she does comes with precision."

Naturally, there was interest from AEW and WWE (h/t Eric Mutter of Wrestling Inc.): "Mexican outlet Record is reporting that both AEW and WWE are potentially interested in signing the Chilean star, and that both companies have offered her multi-year deals."

CMLL and NJPW released a joint statement Wednesday that Vaquer left both companies for personal reasons, and now it appears Vaquer is headed to NXT.


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