Jade Cargill has made a dominant impact in WWE since arriving in late 2023, quickly capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships twice alongside Bianca Belair. However, it appears her run hasn’t been without some backstage controversy.
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Cargill and Shayna Baszler were involved in a backstage confrontation a few months ago, prior to Cargill’s recent injury. The report states that Baszler was ready to fight Cargill after the former AEW TBS Champion allegedly rubbed some of the Raw women’s locker room the wrong way. However, WWE management stepped in before things escalated further.
What Led to the Conflict?
While details remain scarce, sources suggest the tension wasn’t due to just one incident but rather a series of issues that had built up over time. Some of it reportedly stemmed from their in-ring interactions during the feud between Cargill & Belair vs. Baszler & Zoey Stark, while other factors were unrelated to their matches.
Interestingly, one source claimed that while Cargill’s issues on Raw were notable, the locker room tensions on the SmackDown side were reportedly even worse—though no further details were given.
What’s Next for Cargill?
Despite the reported backstage friction, Cargill remains a major star in WWE’s women’s division, and her team with Bianca Belair has been a focal point of Raw’s tag scene. With Cargill currently sidelined due to injury, it will be interesting to see how things unfold when she returns to action.
Backstage tension isn’t uncommon in WWE, but will this reported clash with Baszler have any long-term effects on Cargill’s position in the company?
Cargill will appear on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown to address her attack on Naomi.
Men’s Elimination Chamber: John Cena def. CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, Damian Priest, and Seth Rollins
Cody Rhodes refuses to sell his soul to the Rock… but John Cena is more than happy to.
WWE’s Road to WrestleMania took a jaw-dropping turn at Elimination Chamber 2025, delivering brutal showdowns, a monstrous return, and one of the most shocking betrayals in recent memory. With two Chamber matches determining title challengers for The Grandest Stage of Them All, the night was already destined for fireworks—but nobody could’ve predicted the chaos that unfolded.
The Women’s Elimination Chamber match kicked off the night with six superstars vying for a chance to challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania. However, the match took a shocking turn before it could even get going.
Just as Liv Morgan and Naomi were set to start the match, Jade Cargill made her stunning return—and wasted no time making an impact. Instead of going after Morgan, Cargill viciously attacked Naomi, slamming her into the Lexan pod wall and leaving her unable to continue. As a result, Naomi was eliminated by forfeit before the action truly began.
From there, chaos reigned. Bianca Belair, furious over the attack on Naomi, tried to regain her focus while battling Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, Bayley, and Alexa Bliss. In a brutal series of eliminations, Bayley was taken out by Morgan, Perez fell to Bliss, and Morgan capitalized on an opening to eliminate Bliss.
The final two came down to Belair and Morgan, and despite Liv’s relentless offense, the EST of WWE proved why she’s one of the most dominant forces in the division. Belair planted Morgan with the KOD for the win, securing her spot at WrestleMania.
But the night wasn’t over for Belair. As she celebrated, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY emerged on the stage, staring down the new No. 1 contender in an intense moment that signaled the battle ahead.
Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus Score a Huge Win Over Nia Jax & Candice LeRae
The unexpected pairing of Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus proved to be a force to be reckoned with as they took on Nia Jax and Candice LeRae in tag team action.
Jax dominated early, but Stratton and Stratus worked seamlessly together to wear down their opponents. After an intense back-and-forth, Stratton sealed the victory by hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Nia Jax for the pin. With this win, Stratton continues to prove she belongs among WWE’s elite.
Kevin Owens Survives a War with Sami Zayn, Only to Face the Viper’s Wrath
In what was nothing short of an all-out war, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn tore each other apart in an Unsanctioned Match that saw steel chairs, tables, and even barbed wire come into play.
Owens ultimately secured the win after a brutal apron powerbomb, but the violence didn’t stop there. KO continued his assault on Zayn post-match, ripping the protective mats off the floor—only to be interrupted by Randy Orton!
The Viper stormed the ring and dropped Owens with an RKO, teasing an even more vicious attack. As Orton geared up for his infamous Punt Kick, a swarm of WWE officials and security rushed in to prevent him from delivering the final blow. A frustrated Orton took out several security guards with RKOs before finally leaving the ring, setting the stage for what could be a heated rivalry in the weeks to come.
John Cena Outlasts the Men’s Elimination Chamber, But His Night Was Far From Over
The Men’s Elimination Chamber match featured some of WWE’s biggest names battling for a chance to challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania.
The match started with Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins, but as the chambers opened, Damian Priest, Logan Paul, John Cena, and finally CM Punk entered the fray.
Eliminations came fast and furious, with McIntyre and Priest both taken out early, followed by Logan Paul falling to Punk’s Go to Sleep. After an intense exchange, Rollins was eliminated by Punk, leaving Cena and Punk as the final two.
In a shocking turn of events, Cena locked Punk in the STF, forcing a referee stoppage to become the No. 1 contender. But his night wasn’t over yet.
As Cena celebrated, Cody Rhodes made his entrance, setting up a dramatic face-off for the WrestleMania main event. However, what happened next stunned the entire WWE Universe.
John Cena Shocks the World, Aligns with The Rock in Brutal Betrayal of Cody Rhodes
Just as it seemed like WrestleMania’s main event was set in stone, The Rock made his way to the ring, offering Cody Rhodes a chilling ultimatum—either embrace him as his champion, or watch his dreams die again.
Rhodes, showing his signature defiance, responded with a full-throated rejection, telling The Rock to go f* himself.** The crowd erupted, but what followed was pure chaos.
Cena—who had just earned his shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship—blindsided Rhodes with a vicious low blow. The 16-time world champion then went on a rampage, repeatedly assaulting Cody with his own wristwatch, a microphone, and finally, the championship title itself.
With The Rock watching on with a sinister smile, Cena wrapped Cody’s tie around his throat and choked him, bringing back haunting memories of his past brutality.
To add insult to injury, Travis Scott, the WWE Hardcore Champion, got in on the assault, landing stiff shots on Cody. The Rock then took Rhodes’ weight belt—engraved with the date of Dusty Rhodes’ passing—and whipped Cody mercilessly.
As Cena, Rock, and Scott stood tall on the ramp, the camera lingered on Cody—a bloody, broken mess in the ring, staring up at the championship that had just been stolen from him.
The message was clear: John Cena is no longer the hero WWE fans once knew. With WrestleMania 41 on the horizon, the biggest question now is—how will Cody Rhodes respond to this unthinkable betrayal?
Final Thoughts: The Road to WrestleMania Just Got Personal
With Elimination Chamber 2025 in the books, the Road to WrestleMania has taken a dramatic, violent turn. Bianca Belair and John Cena have secured their title shots, but the bigger story is the Cena-Rock alliance and their merciless assault on Cody Rhodes.
Jade Cargill could be gearing up for a major return to WWE, with reports indicating that she is working hard to make it back in time for WrestleMania 41. The dominant superstar has been absent from television since November after being written out of storylines following an attack by an unknown assailant. Since then, speculation has been running wild about when—and how—she might return.
According to SI’s The Takedown, Cargill has recently been spotted at the WWE Performance Center, fueling rumors that she is actively preparing for an in-ring comeback. While details regarding her injury remain undisclosed, sources suggest she is focused on getting cleared as soon as possible, potentially setting the stage for a blockbuster return at The Grandest Stage of Them All this April.
As of now, WWE has not revealed any plans for Cargill’s next feud if she does return in time for WrestleMania. However, given her star power and the intrigue surrounding her absence, a high-profile storyline could be in the works.
In her absence, Naomi has stepped up, aligning with Bianca Belair to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. The duo has been dominating the division, leaving fans wondering whether Cargill could target the champions upon her return or go after singles competition instead.
With WrestleMania 41 fast approaching, all eyes will be on Cargill’s next move. Will she make a surprise comeback on the biggest stage of them all? Stay tuned to Wrestling News Blog for the latest updates on her potential return!
The status of WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill has become one of the most confusing stories in wrestling right now. Ever since her abrupt backstage attack on the November 22 episode of WWE SmackDown, fans and insiders alike have been left scratching their heads about Cargill’s condition, her absence, and WWE’s overall direction for the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
A Timeline of Confusion
It all started when Cargill was written off TV after being ambushed and left sprawled on the hood of a car in a backstage segment. While the angle looked like classic WWE storytelling, it quickly fueled speculation that something else was at play. Was it an injury? A creative reset? Or simply time off for personal reasons?
However, the waters were muddied once again after Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live delivered a much more ominous update. Alvarez stated bluntly:
“Jade Cargill, by the way, I don’t care what you read online, okay? Jade Cargill is injured, and it’s serious, and I don’t know when she’s going to be back.”
This report paints a far less optimistic picture and leaves fans wondering just how serious Cargill’s situation really is.
What Does This Mean for the Women’s Tag Team Titles?
Despite rumors of a significant injury, WWE has yet to strip Cargill and her partner Bianca Belair of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Instead, WWE is temporarily filling the void by having Naomi step in as Belair’s partner for an upcoming title defense.
This move isn’t unprecedented. WWE has a history of creatively adjusting title situations when one half of a tag team is injured. Most recently, Piper Niven replaced Sonya Deville as Chelsea Green‘s partner when Deville suffered an ACL injury in 2023.
That said, the uncertainty surrounding Cargill’s health has sparked growing frustration among fans, especially given how her absence affected major events. Cargill was notably removed from the women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series and was replaced in the ongoing WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament by Lash Legend.
WWE’s Silence Raises Questions
What’s most intriguing—or perhaps frustrating—is WWE’s silence on the matter. The company hasn’t provided any official update on Cargill’s injury status, nor have they addressed whether she and Belair will be able to continue as champions. If the injury is as serious as Alvarez claims, WWE will eventually need to make a decision about the titles, especially with Naomi temporarily filling in.
What’s Next for Cargill?
Jade Cargill’s WWE run has been highly anticipated since her signing earlier this year. After an impressive stint in AEW, she arrived in WWE with enormous buzz and has been positioned as a major star. However, her current absence—combined with the conflicting reports—has left her momentum in limbo.
For now, fans will have to wait for official word from WWE, though the uncertainty surrounding Cargill’s injury doesn’t appear to be clearing up anytime soon. Whether it’s a storyline, a minor setback, or something more severe, one thing’s for sure: the Women’s Tag Team Championship picture is as cloudy as ever.
Stay tuned for updates as this story continues to unfold.
There’s been plenty of buzz in the WWE Universe surrounding Jade Cargill’s mysterious absence after a backstage attack on WWE SmackDown a few weeks ago. Fans will remember Cargill being laid out on the hood of a car, and since then, she hasn’t been seen on television. That segment left fans speculating: Was it storyline? Was Cargill dealing with an injury? Or was there something else going on entirely?
Now, a fresh report from PWInsider sheds a bit of light on the situation. According to their sources within WWE, the answer seems to be much less dramatic than some fans anticipated. High-profile figures in the company revealed that Cargill has been busy working on non-wrestling projects during her time away from the ring. On top of that, WWE sources confirmed that the Women’s Tag Team Champion is currently enjoying a well-earned vacation in the Bahamas.
As for whether she’s dealing with an injury, the update remains unclear. PWInsider’s report didn’t include any confirmation or denial of physical issues, leaving that part of the story a mystery for now. However, considering she’s actively pursuing other ventures and relaxing on vacation, there’s a good chance Cargill is healthy and cleared to return when the time comes.
In the meantime, Jade Cargill’s tag team partner, Bianca Belair, has been carrying the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships on her own. Belair has had her hands full, recently dealing with challengers like Piper Niven and WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green. Next week on SmackDown, Belair won’t have to go it alone—Naomi has stepped up to team with her, keeping the titles active and the division moving forward.
If Naomi does end up as a temporary fill-in for Cargill, it wouldn’t be unprecedented. Last year, Chelsea Green found herself in a similar situation when Sonya Deville suffered a serious knee injury. Green went on to defend the titles alongside Piper Niven, proving that the Women’s Tag Team Championships don’t lose steam, even when one champion is sidelined.
With Cargill’s future still unclear, the WWE Universe will have to keep an eye on SmackDown for any updates. Whether it’s a vacation, a return, or the next big storyline twist, it’s safe to say that Jade Cargill will make a major impact the moment she steps back into the ring.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill has been forced to step away from the ring due to a legitimate injury, leaving her off the highly anticipated Survivor Series card. Cargill was initially set to compete in the Women’s War Games match and the ongoing tournament to crown the first-ever WWE United States Women’s Champion. However, her absence has led to significant lineup changes, with Bayley stepping into War Games and Lash Legend taking her spot in the tournament.
Injury Written into Storyline
The injury was addressed on-screen with a dramatic angle during which Cargill was thrown off a platform and crashed through a car windshield. According to Fightful Select, this spot was designed to provide an in-universe explanation for her temporary absence. While the exact nature and severity of the injury remain undisclosed, early reports suggest Cargill could be out of action for at least three months or possibly longer.
Cargill’s injury marks a significant blow to WWE’s plans, as this year has been pivotal for her career. In addition to being in her second reign as Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Bianca Belair, she had standout moments in 2023, including her first Royal Rumble appearance. Cargill and Belair regained the Women’s Tag Titles from Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn at WWE Bash in Berlin in late August.
Changes to Survivor Series
Survivor Series, set for November 30 in Vancouver, will now feature Bayley joining Team Rhea Ripley in the War Games match. Ripley’s team includes Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair, Naomi, and now Bayley, as they prepare to face WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and WWE Speed Women’s Champion Candice LeRae.
Originally slated to be Cargill’s War Games debut, the match will still be a spectacle, albeit without one of WWE’s rising stars.
Lash Legend’s Opportunity
In the tournament for the inaugural WWE United States Women’s Championship, Lash Legend steps in for Cargill. Legend is scheduled to face Michin and Piper Niven on the upcoming SmackDown, which was taped this past Friday. Fans eager to see how Legend capitalizes on this opportunity.
Cargill’s injury is a reminder of the physical toll of WWE’s grueling schedule. While her absence will undoubtedly be felt, fans can look forward to her return once she’s fully recovered. In the meantime, her replacement Bayley and rising star Lash Legend have big shoes to fill as the Women’s War Games match and the U.S. Women’s Title tournament heat up.
Stay tuned for updates on Cargill’s recovery and how the reshuffled Survivor Series lineup plays out!
Fresh off a riveting debut in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble, former AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill is now the face of one of WWE’s sponsorships.
Cargill was in the latest Mountain Dew ad, featuring “Emily The Criminal” star Aubrey Plaza. Plaza is shown taking in a multitude of jobs while drinking the beverage, one of which is pro wrestler, which sees Cargill leap off the top rope, attempting a Frog Splash on Plaza, though viewers don’t see her land.
As it stands, Cargill has only wrestled one match for WWE, the Royal Rumble, since signing with the company in September after her AEW contract expired earlier that year. Cargill was paraded around WWE television, especially “WWE NXT,” following her signing but didn’t debut in the ring until the Rumble, and also made appearances on “WWE Raw” and “WWE SmackDown.”
WWE and Mountain Dew have been promotional partners for some time now, with the two companies famously holding a Mountain Dew Pitch Black match between LA Knight and the late Bray Wyatt at last year’s Royal Rumble.
Knight went on to be the face of WWE’s sponsorship deal with Slim Jim. The Slim Jim sponsorship was nearly in jeopardy after allegations of sex trafficking were leveled at WWE and Vince McMahon by former employee Janel Grant. Slim Jim seemingly returned after Vince McMahon resigned from all of his duties at WWE and TKO Group Holdings, sponsoring the fatal 4-way match between AJ Styles, LA Knight, Randy Orton and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.
According to PWInsider, WWE are looking to place Cargill on the “Smackdown” brand in the lead-up to WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. Whether this means she will remain on the brand post-WrestleMania remains to be seen, as the company usually holds its annual draft a few weeks after. However, the recent publicity Cargill has gotten from appearing in the commercial has led WWE to believe she would attract more eyes to the product if she were on “Smackdown.” PWInsider also reported that WWE were very happy with Cargill’s performance in the commercial, claiming it has added prestige to both Cargill and WWE itself.
WWE has today announced the signing of Jade Cargill. According to the Stamford, Connecticut-based promotion, the former All Elite Wrestling star has inked a multi-year deal. Cargill will begin training today at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
ESPN, the outlet that initially broke the news of Cargill’s signing, said that it remains unclear if the 31-year-old will be heading straight to the main roster or if she will begin her WWE journey on the “WWE NXT” brand.
It was recently reported that Cargill was WWE-bound after departing AEW. Cargill’s final match with Tony Khan’s promotion was broadcast on the September 15 episode of “AEW Rampage,” where she unsuccessfully challenged Kris Statlander for the AEW TBS Championship. Cargill, who first appeared for AEW in November 2020, is the longest-reigning AEW TBS Champion in history after holding the gold for 508 days.
Jade Cargill is expected to begin training at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, following reports that she is joining the promotion.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the former TBS Champion was ‘finishing up’ her time with AEW with sources in both promotions believing that she is WWE-bound.
Pwinsider is reporting that it is believed that Cargill’s AEW contract has now expired and she is expected to head to WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida this week.
Cargill competed on this week’s episode of AEW Rampage, where she lost to current TBS Champion Kris Statlander and the pair shared a sign of respect after the match.
Sources in WWE believe that Cargill will go straight to the main roster rather than spend time in WWE’s developmental program, NXT.
Cargill is the third AEW name to make the move to WWE, following Cody Rhodes & Brian Pillman Jr., though the latter has yet to appear on WWE programming.
As previously reported, former AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill is expected to be joining WWE.
Dave Meltzer provided more details in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, reporting that Cargill and AEW didn’t come to terms on a new deal.
Meltzer wrote,
“Those in WWE believed she was coming and that it would be on the main roster rather than developmental, but I could see that going either way. Another person in WWE described it to us as that her name was being talked about a lot, but the deal was not completed at press time. The money it would take to get her would have been far more than they pay those in developmental, but while she has a star look and is a great athlete, her skill set and experience level is not at WWE main roster woman levels. But good workers are there to make the less experienced and more marketable workers look better than they are.”
The Observer also reported that former major league baseball star Aaron Phillips, Cargill’s husband, was in attendance in Cincinnati for her possible final AEW match and that there were reports that it was the best match of her career.
Meltzer continued,
“One person in WWE described this as coming out of the blue, but that they do expect her to be coming in. There are several factors involved here including money. Cargill was probably protected more in AEW than she would be in WWE, but that’s not to be sure. She probably can have better matches in WWE because on the main roster the level of the women is higher. From a travel schedule, for someone with outside interests and a daughter, WWE would have her do more matches, which is probably a good thing for her long-run, but travel far more extensive unless she got a sweetheart deal on the schedule. If she has goals outside of wrestling, such as acting since she’s got a superhero look, the WWE main roster exposure would help her more.”
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