 |
| Image credit: WWE |
Tiffany Stratton stood tall as the only champion to successfully defend her title on Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, defeating the decorated Charlotte Flair in a high-octane grudge match at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The bout marked Stratton’s official WrestleMania debut, and she made it count, scoring a hard-fought victory with her signature Prettiest Moonsault Ever.
Weeks of tension and escalating personal attacks between Stratton and Flair set the stage for an intense showdown — and they didn’t waste a second. From the opening bell, Flair launched into an aggressive assault, immediately taking down Stratton and igniting a fierce exchange that spilled outside the ring. The animosity between the two was palpable, with both women bringing emotional intensity to every blow.
Stratton showcased her expanding arsenal early, landing a stomp off the ropes onto an inverted Flair, impressing the crowd with her athleticism and growing ring IQ. However, the momentum soon shifted as Flair slowed the pace and methodically began to take control.
In a surprising nod to NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer, Flair delivered a devastating head-scissors stomp, slamming Stratton to the mat with a move she originally innovated in WWE — a moment that left fans buzzing. Flair followed with a brutal sit-out powerbomb, nearly securing a three-count. She looked to end things with a top-rope moonsault, but Stratton had other plans, knocking Flair off and countering with a thunderous spinebuster.
The intensity reached another level when Stratton was busted open mid-match, blood seeping from her mouth as she targeted Flair’s previously injured knee. But Flair retaliated in kind, viciously slamming Stratton’s leg into the ring post to set up her signature Figure-Four Leglock. Stratton, showing resilience and grit, fought out of the hold with a barrage of punches.
After surviving a punishing exchange and a top-rope Natural Selection from Flair, Stratton kicked out at two, refusing to stay down. Flair attempted one more figure-four, but Stratton countered, hitting a rolling senton to set up a picture-perfect Prettiest Moonsault Ever — this time connecting clean for the pinfall victory.
With the win, Tiffany Stratton not only retained her championship but also made a definitive statement on the grandest stage of them all, improving to 1-0 in WrestleMania competition. Her star continues to rise as she cements her place among WWE’s elite.