During the April 4th, 2025 edition of WWE SmackDown, fans witnessed a fiery in-ring promo battle between WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and multi-time world champion Charlotte Flair — a segment that immediately drew attention for its raw intensity and personal jabs.
According to insider source @WrestleVotes, the two Superstars deviated significantly from the scripted material provided to them. Reports claim they said “very little of what was in the rundown” and instead went off-script quite a bit, delivering a promo that blurred the lines between reality and performance.
Now, in a powerful and vulnerable piece published on The Players’ Tribune, Charlotte Flair — real name Ashley Fliehr — opened up about the emotional aftermath of the segment, particularly one line that cut deeper than fans may have realized.
“I think in those times when people have seen me appear rattled by the booing, those are just the times when I’ve felt like — at least for a moment — the boos aren’t for Charlotte. They’re for Ashley. They’re for me,” Flair wrote. “They’re because of the way I look. Or because of the energy I’m giving off as a woman. Or because of real trauma I’ve gone through in real life.”
Flair specifically addressed Stratton’s unscripted remark referencing her personal life:
“So when it got mentioned in Chicago that I have an ‘0–3 record at marriages’… yeah, it rocked me legit. I’m not too proud to tell you that. I don’t need everyone thinking I’m playing 5-D chess all of the time. My reaction to that line was as genuine as it gets. Because — and maybe this makes me naive — in my head?? Charlotte hasn’t been divorced. So I wasn’t expecting it to come up in that promo… and then all of a sudden I had an entire arena cheering as I got mocked for something that was (and frankly still is) devastating to me.”
The moment was a rare glimpse into the emotional tightrope WWE Superstars often walk — especially women — when real-life pain intersects with live storytelling. Flair’s honesty in the article has resonated across social media, with many fans and peers applauding her for opening up about the toll personal barbs can take, even in a scripted setting.
Whether intended or improvised, the segment added a new layer of intensity to the Flair–Stratton feud, one that now carries genuine emotional stakes beyond championships and spotlight.
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for more exclusive WWE backstage reports, emotional player profiles, and the latest updates on Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton, and the SmackDown women’s division.
