Unscripted exchange leads to WWE editing and backstage heat
Summary
– Flair and Stratton’s April 4 promo went off script, referencing personal lives
– WWE reportedly upset with both women over the segment
– Edited version removes marriage and Ludwig Kaiser comments
Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton lit up WWE SmackDown on April 4, but not in the way the company had planned. According to Fightful Select, the two women went off script during their promo, triggering a wave of backstage reaction and even changes to how the segment is now presented online.
Stratton’s cutting remark about Flair’s past marriages—saying she was “0-3”—reportedly responded to Flair’s veering off-script first. Stratton rolled out of the ring immediately afterward, perhaps recognizing that the confrontation had gone too far. Flair returned with a claim about Ludwig Kaiser, Stratton’s boyfriend, allegedly being in her DMs. The Chicago crowd reacted with audible gasps.
Backstage, the reaction was immediate. Some WWE talent believe Stratton was pushed into a corner and had to defend herself verbally. Flair is known for improvising mid-promo, and many wrestlers feel that failing to match her energy can lead to being overshadowed. Management, however, was reportedly unhappy with both talents for the unsanctioned direction of the segment.
Digital promo versions have since been edited to remove references to marriages and Kaiser. This decision reportedly came down as a “specific directive” from higher-ups in WWE.
Flair will challenge Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. It will be Flair’s eighth WrestleMania match and Stratton’s first. Flair earned the shot by winning the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble, making a return 14 months after undergoing knee surgery.
