The off-script segment between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair on Friday’s WWE SmackDown has become a major talking point among WWE fans. The two wrestlers reportedly veered from the planned script and delivered personal insults. Notably, WWE has edited out specific lines from its digital video recaps, suggesting an attempt to mitigate the fallout.
Stratton’s remarks about Charlotte living in her father’s shadow and ending up “alone,” coupled with a pointed reference to a “0-3” record and a mention of “Kaiser” in Charlotte’s DMs, were deemed too personal for online distribution. Further editing on WWE’s YouTube channel removed Stratton’s comparison of their respective lives at age 25, where she claimed to be “walking into WrestleMania as a champion” while Flair was “drinking in her daddy’s basement.”
Here are three other times that segments involving Flair went off the rails.
Paige Mentioning Reid Flair
Charlotte Flair’s storylines have often pushed boundaries, even early in her main roster career. After winning her first title at Night of Champions 2015, her alliance with Paige quickly deteriorated, leading to a heated rivalry. In the lead-up to their Survivor Series match, Paige crossed a line by mocking Charlotte’s deceased brother, Reid Flair, who had died of a drug overdose. Paige’s comments, claiming Reid “did not have much fight in him,” elicited a visibly emotional reaction from Charlotte and generated significant controversy.
This segment was a stark departure from WWE’s typically sanitized storylines, creating a highly talked-about moment. Although cleared by both performers beforehand, the company’s decision to incorporate such a sensitive topic into a routine women’s title feud was a risky move, highlighting the potential for real-life emotions to intensify on-screen rivalries.
Match With Nia Jax
Charlotte Flair is renowned for her in-ring prowess, but her television matches have sometimes failed to live up to her high standards. While she’s criticized for inconsistent TV performances, she’s rarely been accused of unprofessional conduct. However, a 2021 match against Nia Jax on Raw became an exception. The match appeared to break down, with both wrestlers throwing real strikes, suggesting a breakdown in communication or a genuine disagreement.
Nia Jax later clarified that the incident was a misunderstanding, attributing the tension to a communication breakdown. Despite her explanation, the incident remains a notable moment where on-screen action blurs the lines with real-life conflict.
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Belt Exchange With Becky Lynch
Flair’s unpredictable nature reached its peak during a 2021 title exchange segment with Becky Lynch. The awkward segment, designed to swap their Raw and SmackDown titles following the WWE Draft, exposed their real-life animosity. Flair’s decision to drop the title instead of handing it to Lynch led to unscripted frustrations from both Lynch and Sonya Deville, all unfolding in front of the live audience.
This incident laid bare the real tensions between Flair and Lynch, causing a scripted segment into a moment of genuine conflict.
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