Last week’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown was significant for several reasons. And while those discussions have erupted, a more minor detail beneath the surface may have gone unnoticed. NXT super prospect Tiffany Stratton got the call-up to the main roster.
Stratton has been one of NXT’s biggest success stories over the past few years. In 2021, she debuted with no prior wrestling experience. The Minnesota native wasn’t playing around, though, as she sought the advice of pro wrestling legend and Minnesota staple Greg Gagne. While she didn’t “pay her dues” on the independent scene, Stratton quickly adjusted at WWE NXT, the company’s developmental proving ground brand.
Stratton’s introduction to the WWE Universe was, in the simplest terms, as a spoiled brat. Her character came off like Paris Hilton but with an attitude. “Buff Barbie” became one of Stratton’s first nicknames, and one glance at any of her first matches would show you why.
She grasped many things well at first, but rising wouldn’t be easy. One of the biggest reasons for NXT’s success has been its women. Dating back to the early days, NXT women have tended to be the show’s stars. There are also quite a lot of them, and nearly all of them are already talented. Stratton was part of an NXT group that included Roxanne Perez, Lyra Valkyria, Cora Jade, and several other talented young women who wanted to break out.
At Battleground, Stratton won a tournament to crown a new NXT Women’s Champion. Several expected her to take the summit and run with it. Tiffany was in a new position of power, but funnily enough, her most significant success in 2023 came on a happy accident. While Stratton named some of NXT’s greats, she included “The Man” Becky Lynch… but the only problem was that Lynch was included in a group of past NXT Women’s Champions. Lynch, though, never captured that championship before her call-up in the Summer of 2015.
And so, Stratton found herself opposite the mega-star Lynch. The two partook in two of the best matches of 2023, and in their first battle, Lynch bested the upstart to win that elusive title. Then they wrestled in an epic Extreme Rules Match at the NXT No Mercy premium live event. Stratton didn’t win the championship back from Lynch that night, but she got plenty more elsewhere.
All this has now led to a rare WrestleMania season call-up. While Bron Breakker, the son of wrestling legend Rick Steiner, looks like he’ll be the subject of a bidding war, Stratton’s spot is solidified now. She debuted in a segment initially focused on the returning Naomi last Friday night. Naomi got a contract to Smackdown, but so did Stratton. Tiff then became entangled in an argument with Mia Yim, which led to a ripping slap across the face before they collided in the ring. In what was technically the main event, Stratton got the upper hand over the veteran Yim and earned her first win.
So, what’s next? Not to get ahead of ourselves, but there is one big player on Smackdown without a dance partner right now: Bianca Belair. While it might be outrageous to suggest that Stratton could face the great Belair, who’s undefeated at WrestleMania, consider how wild it would be to say she should wrestle Becky Lynch. Twice.
‘Mania season call-ups are pretty rare. The last time they happened, it was a mish-mosh for a few months… and then never really settled in. But with Stratton, there appears to be a clear focus, and it’s bettering her and her path on another rare occasion. She did all that she needed to do in NXT. There wasn’t much left for her to do or many others to face. Now, she enters a new frontier on a stacked roster filled with veterans who’ll likely help her grow.
Friday nights are now known as “Tiffy Time.”
