- 6 weeks ago
- #wwe
- #espn
- #wrestlepalooza
- #dark
- #stephanie
- #iyo
#wwe, #wwe espn, #espn, #wrestlepalooza, #wwe wrestlepalooza, #wwe Women's world championship, #dark angel, #stephanie vaquer, #iyo sky, #stephanie vaquer vs iyo sky,
Wrestlepalooza _Sep 20, 2025 - Stephanie Vaquer Vs Iyo Sky _ WWE Women's World Championship Match
Wrestlepalooza _Sep 20, 2025 - Stephanie Vaquer Vs Iyo Sky _ WWE Women's World Championship Match
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00The
00:29The reaction to La Primera says it all.
00:36Stephanie Bacur has taken WWE by storm.
00:39Pat, she debuted in WWE July of 2024, just over a year ago.
00:45Tonight, an opportunity to win the Women's World Championship.
00:49A lot of humans on Earth knew her before she got here.
00:52Everybody on Earth knew her immediately upon arrival.
00:55All she does is win, and she captivates the entire WWE Universe from the jump.
01:04Absolutely stunning, first 12 months under the WWE umbrella.
01:09Winning two titles in NXT, rapidly graduating out of there and
01:14forcing her way into the world title bracket.
01:18Within months of being acquired by Raw, this woman is the real deal.
01:24Tonight could be her biggest moment so far.
01:28She won the Battle Royal back in July at Evolution to earn this opportunity for
01:32the Women's World title tonight.
01:34Ladies and gentlemen, again, it is just an honor and
01:36a privilege to be here tonight on ESPN.
01:39Michael Cole, Wade Barrett, and of course, welcome back, Pat McAfee.
01:43Great to be here.
01:44You tonight, historic night, WWE, ESPN, WrestleBalooza, lucky to be here.
01:47Hey, our Spanish colleagues are here as well, Marcelo Rodriguez and Jerry Soto.
01:51Hey, friends, thank you, family, we're here again in this
01:53meeting in Spanish that belongs to all of you to make a little bit more of history.
01:57Of course, if we make history together with you, WrestleBalooza.
02:01Oh, that's something better than what we say, for sure.
02:03Try it, try that.
02:04Capacito time, WrestleBalooza.
02:07Not bad.
02:09Yes.
02:10Thank you, friends.
02:12All right.
02:14Try to learn more Spanish.
02:29This is Tyrese Halliburton's favorite wrestler.
02:31Well, she's mine too, because I said it on the countdown show and Tyrese agreed earlier today.
02:36I believe that you are looking at the greatest women's wrestler on the planet today.
02:42Io Sky looking to win back the Women's World Championship.
02:46Now, again, we arrived here tonight because Naomi and her husband Jimmy Uso,
02:50well, they're having a baby and Naomi had to relinquish the Women's World Championship.
02:55Vacated it, but she's reminding the world that she's coming back for it sooner rather than later.
02:59So one of these women will become the brand new Women's World Champion.
03:07Yeah, I'm fascinated that you said that Io Sky is the greatest wrestler on planet Earth.
03:12I actually agree with you straight up there with the very best.
03:16So much harder for international superstars to connect without the English language,
03:22but pure talent is universally understood as Io Sky has proven for years.
03:27Well, this match at Wrestle Palooza is presented by Old Spice.
03:32Experience 24-7 legendary freshness with Old Spice deodorant and body wash.
03:40Let's head up to the ring.
03:45And our great Alicia Taylor.
03:57The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
04:02One fall.
04:04And is for the Women's World Championship.
04:16Introducing first, from San Fernando, Chile, Stephanie.
04:26And her opponent, from Tokyo, Japan, Io Sky.
04:35And her opponent, from Tokyo, Japan, Io Sky.
04:50Both of these women so accomplished on the international stage before coming to WWE.
05:02But they never met inside a wrestling ring.
05:05And until they came to this company, they've had a couple of matches over this year.
05:11But none more important, none more prestigious than this one for the vacant Women's World Championship.
05:18Let's tell it as it is right from the back.
05:19Io Sky is a heavy favorite in this one.
05:22Why?
05:23Because she is a proven commodity at this level.
05:26And she's facing off against a woman who we all expect to be at the top of the ladder for at least
05:32the next ten years here in WWE, but you don't get to claim that until you've proven it.
05:37And Stephanie Vaqueira looking for her watershed moment here in WWE.
05:42Looking to win her first major championship.
05:44And she looks to break this waist lock of Io Sky.
05:47Io Sky held the World Championship for
05:50245 days before Naomi cashed in to win the title.
05:56Hey, Io Sky is used to the bright lights, used to the marquee.
05:59Stephanie Vaqueira, we all assume to Wade's point, is gonna get there.
06:02But it doesn't happen till it happens.
06:05There have been many people over the history of WWE who have been projected
06:10to be the top star in the future and did not make it.
06:14I hope that isn't the case with Stephanie Vaqueira, but we're gonna learn a lot tonight
06:18against Io Sky.
06:19Yeah, tonight could be a part of the documentary full time.
06:21First time becoming world champ.
06:22Let's go do this.
06:23But it's a different ball game tonight.
06:25You're under the bright lights.
06:26It's such a historic night here on ESPN as part of Wrestle Palooza.
06:30Io Sky has much more experience than Stephanie does in these big WWE moments.
06:37Does that matter?
06:38The whole world's promoting this match, this event, this evening.
06:44Stephanie's just been waiting for it, maybe they'll win.
06:46It's a match that's been selling itself, belt to belt to the most technical, precise,
06:51and innovative women we've ever seen fighting out for the biggest prize of all.
06:56But I'm gonna be critical of both of them here, especially Vaqueira.
07:00The build to this has all been pleasant and cordial.
07:02Shouldn't have been, if you're the up and comer, you should have rattled the favorite in Io Sky.
07:09You should have taken a cheap shot.
07:10You should have thrown Io Sky off her game.
07:12And I don't think Stephanie Vaqueira took that opportunity when she had the chance.
07:16They shook hands before the match, Wade.
07:18And I don't like that at all.
07:19That's not how it should be.
07:20It's the very top level, Pat.
07:22You know it full well, it's dog-eat-dog.
07:26And Io Sky controlling Stephanie here, feeling out process really in the early going.
07:31Yeah, well the problem is, these two women are both so dangerous and so skilled,
07:35you don't wanna make an early mistake and give your opponent the upper hand off the bat.
07:40Io Sky now with a great reversal.
07:43Look at that.
07:44Great pinning combination by Io.
07:46Stephanie into one of her own.
07:47One, two.
07:48Almost had her, that was close.
07:50Referee Eddie Arango right there.
07:51It's a little technical brilliance.
07:54And Pat, you like this?
07:56You like these smiles?
07:57Yeah, that's- With respect, you enjoy that?
07:59Yeah, they're sparring a little bit right now.
08:01A little bit of one-upmanship going on.
08:03These women can be technical, they can fly high when they need to.
08:08They can be powerful if they need to.
08:10And there's a great example of that.
08:12The Kerr drops Io on the back of her head.
08:15And- Nope.
08:17Io Sky's not gonna allow the Devil's Kiss to happen.
08:19Went into the cover, Stephanie able to take out the legs.
08:27I'll tell you what, good joust right now.
08:30Yeah, very evenly matched, Pat.
08:35Io's- The great athleticism of Sky taking Stephanie out of the knee.
08:41And now Io with that drop kick, that basement drop kick to the Kerr.
08:45Sky just looking a little step ahead of the Kerr.
08:49Perhaps that's the nerves in the less experienced superstar showing early on here.
08:54And all the experience of Io Sky giving her the upper hand.
08:58Well, both of these women cut their teeth and became famous in Japan.
09:09Io Sky form an ace of stardom.
09:12Stephanie Viqueira actually won the strong women's championship
09:16in a victory over the current United States champion over on SmackDown, Julia.
09:20And look at Io Sky now, cover, hook of the leg, kick out by Stephanie.
09:24That balance handstand into the knees.
09:27And this might be Stephanie Viqueira realizing she's hit a ceiling in her career at this point.
09:33This is a very, very different level to what she's used to.
09:37This is the top level, does not get any higher, and she's now being schooled by Io Sky.
09:42So wait, do you think there's nerves?
09:44100%. This is a brand new level.
09:46It's the first time competing one-on-one for the championship of the world against arguably,
09:52and many would argue it, the best on planet Earth, male or female.
09:56Pat, how about the first time in your career that you went to the playoffs?
09:58I mean, were there nerves?
09:59Were you uptight a little bit?
10:01You never know what the big lights are like until you're there.
10:03Some people are built for it, some people are not.
10:05Stephanie Viqueira, I think, is built for the moment.
10:07She's proven that since she has gotten here.
10:09Stephanie Viqueira still has that new car smell about her.
10:13You don't quite know the full capacity of her skills, but-
10:16Has a five count here, and will break, but the damage may have been done on the arm of Io Sky by Stephanie Viqueira.
10:25A brief opportunity to turn the tide of Viqueira has taken it, now to capitalize.
10:30Yeah, the Dark Angel, La Primera.
10:35Super talent.
10:36And the genius of the Sky, look for the sunset flip, and Stephanie-
10:42Breaking the ice.
10:43Great cover, there's that running leg drop, cover now, to try to win the Women's Championship,
10:47and a kick out by Sky.
10:49Some welts forming on the hip of Io Sky.
10:52Pounding earlier in this one, and both women signed her, and this is where the gloves perhaps will come off.
10:59Stephanie was involved in the six women tag team matchup at NXT Homecoming,
11:04victorious along with Rhea Ripley and Lyra Valkyria.
11:08One, two.
11:09You talk about a night like this for Stephanie, your first time in it,
11:12you know, everything up until the bell ringing is different.
11:14It's bigger, it's hyped, everybody's talking about it.
11:16It's ESPN, you got billions of dollars in the building, sitting ringside.
11:20And then once the bell rings- Nice suplex.
11:22And you find the water, and it's level.
11:24That's where Stephanie's at right now.
11:25I think she realizes this is just another match.
11:27I completely agree with you, Pat.
11:29I think the adrenaline is now pumping, it's overtaking the nerves for Viqueira.
11:33And now Viqueira is starting to move through the gears, and we're seeing the best of her.
11:38And the other thing is, we talk a lot about Viqueira, but Io Sky's had a lot on her mind as of late.
11:42The situation between her friend Asuka and Kairi Sane, of course, that's really weighed on her personally.
11:48I had an opportunity to talk to Io earlier today, and she talked about how that's really been in her head
11:52over the past month or so.
11:54I think you're probably right up until the bell rang, and somebody the level of Io Sky has
12:00that ability to compartmentalize those issues.
12:03And at the end of the match, she can go back to him, but leave your baggage at the front door.
12:07If you wanna be the best- Look at this.
12:10It's an useless wound.
12:12But Kairi punishing the genius of the sky.
12:15We're really gonna glimpse into the difference between these two great competitors.
12:18Io Sky, of course, is the air game that's a specialty.
12:22It is the ground game and the submissions of Viqueira that gives her the edge on the mat.
12:28But right now, Io Sky showing all of her range.
12:32That's putting it perfectly weight, the range of Io Sky.
12:37She does everything.
12:38Her ability and the amount of women she's fought over the years,
12:42the varying skill sets of all the women she's defeated.
12:46And a backbreaker, knee right to the spine, and Io Sky collapses as well.
12:52Both women are down.
12:55Critical moment in this matchup.
12:56That's the big durability question, isn't it?
13:00Which woman gets up and which woman starts firing back first?
13:03It's a backbreaker there, but Io Sky perhaps spent herself in the process.
13:09Yeah, capacity crowd tonight at Cambridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
13:14Over 15,000 for Wrestle Palooza.
13:18WWE's debut on ESPN.
13:21The man to my left here tonight, Pat McAfee.
13:24So critical in getting WWE in the forefront on ESPN.
13:30And one of the reasons we are here tonight.
13:31So thank you, Pat.
13:32Lucky, thankful to be here, especially with Io Sky and Stephanie Viqueira battling right now.
13:37And face first goes Stephanie Viqueira.
13:40Again, both these women battling it out for the vacant Women's World Championship.
13:45Talk about that durability.
13:46It really was Io Sky that got back into the firefight quicker than Stephanie Viqueira.
13:52Again, that experience factor of Io Sky coming to the floor.
13:57And now we're going airborne.
13:58Missile dropkick.
14:00The charisma of Io Sky starting to shine.
14:03And Viqueira wisely rolling out of the ring.
14:08But when you're in there with Io Sky, nowhere is safe.
14:11Io getting this capacity crowd pumped up.
14:15Suicide dive to Viqueira.
14:24It really does go high risk, puts her own body on the line.
14:28Could have broken her left arm with that landing.
14:30But clearly, Viqueira ate the worst of it.
14:34Tyrese and 15,000 people on their feet have shown respect to Io Sky.
14:39You know as well as anyone, Pat McAfee, this is a sports town.
14:43They love their competition, and they are eating this one up.
14:46It's also a wrestling town.
14:48Always has been, always will be.
14:50What a year it's been for Indianapolis on the Royal Rumble here back in February.
14:54The first ever ESPN premium live event here tonight.
14:59On the way of SummerSlam, and I do believe many more.
15:02We're thankful that the WWE comes here to Indianapolis.
15:05We're lucky to see this match.
15:07Stephanie and Io Sky with a well placed kick.
15:11And it seems like Stephanie's off just a bit here tonight.
15:13Yeah, it looks like she's running off.
15:14Uh-oh.
15:15Oh my God, clinging off for dear life.
15:17Now this could be incredibly ugly for the Chilean.
15:20Hold your tongue.
15:21Yeah, but a great counter by Stephanie as Io went for the sunset flip powerbomb and
15:25a knee right to Sky.
15:28That wasn't just a counter, it was a devastating offensive move in return.
15:33But perhaps swings the balance once again in this.
15:36And now leaping off the top rope and a cross body to take out Io Sky.
15:40And what we're seeing out of Stephanie Bacare now is one of the reasons she's called
15:44the Dark Angel.
15:45She's got an aggressive side.
15:46She can get very, very vicious when she needs to and she's turning it up a notch.
15:51Io Sky a taste of her own medicine that pack.
15:54I think Stephanie's realizing what it's gonna take to become world champion.
15:57And Indianapolis is describing this perfectly.
16:00Again, off the top rope, another cross body.
16:04And that collision really took something out of Sky.
16:07Talked about the range of Io Sky earlier.
16:09Now you're seeing the range of Stephanie Bacare.
16:12This woman can do it all.
16:14Yeah, great snap suplex.
16:17Of the technical wizard, Stephanie Bacare.
16:22Absolute assassin in there right now.
16:24Now into the corner, nobody home.
16:26Knee first, bottom turnbuckle.
16:28And Io Sky now with a German suplex and releases.
16:32Again for the Women's World Championship.
16:35Now vacant, but it won't be after tonight.
16:38Stephanie Bacare, how quick.
16:41The German suplex of her own.
16:45In the ground game, the submission, the technical skills, airborne and the power moves.
16:51Both women throwing everything at this.
16:54That evenly matched.
16:56Absolutely.
16:57Both of these women worthy of becoming a world champion with how they fought tonight.
17:01Both of them take it to the sky.
17:05An incredibly dangerous game of chess.
17:07Both women going move for move.
17:10And both women now laid out, gasping for oxygen.
17:16And what a scene here tonight, in Indianapolis.
17:23Stephanie Bacare, Io Sky battling it out for the women's world title.
17:30Is this the pace wave you expected?
17:32At this point in the match, given the amount of offense that both women have absorbed,
17:36I think there's no choice but to be operating at this kind of pace.
17:41But who gets their second win?
17:43The answer, perhaps, Stephanie Bacare.
17:46Maybe not, Io Sky tucks underneath, uppercut by Sky.
17:50It's 15th round right now in the World Championship fight.
17:53All about how bad you want.
17:54Io Sky meeting her at the ropes with a huge right.
18:00Now Stephanie with a back suplex.
18:07Who's gonna survive?
18:09Standing ovation capacity crowd.
18:11And again, looking for the devil's kiss, but she got caught.
18:14Io Sky with a stop to the midsection.
18:16Stephanie playing to the crowd just a little bit too much there.
18:19And Sky looking to take advantage and win the title.
18:22Again, there's levels to this, and what a transition there.
18:25Into a crossface by Io Sky.
18:27Stephanie's center of the ring, is she gonna tap?
18:29Stephanie Bacare just not used to this level of competitor.
18:33Io Sky, who's been to the top many times, and may well imminently be about to get there again.
18:38And you may mention earlier, just that one mistake could cost you, and maybe Stephanie made it there.
18:43Yeah, and it might be a learning experience tonight for Stephanie Bacare.
18:46I cannot take a beat against someone the level of Io Sky.
18:52The blink of an eye will turn the game for Sky.
18:55What a knee.
18:56Huge knee, and now Io Sky is saying, let's take it through the sky.
19:00Yeah, the genius of the sky, up to the top rope, perhaps, was looking over the moon salt,
19:06but Stephanie was able to block.
19:07There's a little showboat in there from Io Sky.
19:10No, my God.
19:11My God.
19:13That dragon screw, that might have popped the kneecap.
19:18That's a ligament shredder.
19:22There's a lot of ligaments in that knee, the ACL, the MCL, the PCL.
19:25I don't know how any of them are still surviving after that.
19:28And now looking for the SVP, the Stephanie Bacare bomb.
19:31But Io Sky able to somehow work her way out of it.
19:35Io Sky's operating on one wheel at the moment.
19:37Headbutt from Stephanie Bacare.
19:39And now Io Sky, what a takedown for the victory in the title and a kick out by Stephanie.
19:45Io with a kick out of the side of the head.
19:48Right to the temple, toe first.
19:52There's no breathing, you can't catch a breather with Io Sky in the ring.
19:56Too quick, too tough.
20:01Take another look at this.
20:03Imagine this happening to your knee.
20:05We know how devastating an injury it is when your knee is taken out.
20:11My goodness.
20:12And it was an attempt there from Bacare has done clearly major damage to Io Sky,
20:17who is battling through the pain now, Pat.
20:19And a bullet train attack to the corner by Sky.
20:24Call for the Women's World Championship.
20:27Io Sky says that's it.
20:29Steps over Bacare, but again, having an issue with that leg.
20:32I don't know how she's still standing, climbing.
20:36How's she gonna hit the over the moon saw?
20:38Up to the top rope.
20:40Boots up by Stephanie, right to the mid six of Io Sky.
20:44And now Bacare has an opportunity.
20:46Well, that knee injury to Io Sky took a beat too long to get to the top rope for
20:50the moon saw, which is allowing the curve back into the match with her boots up.
20:57And now Stephanie goes on offensive.
21:01Floor damage done.
21:02Did you see the way that the body contorted of Io Sky?
21:06And Pat, I've gotta throw it to you.
21:07You know as well as anybody, if you've got a busted limb, you simply cannot operate at
21:12the top level athletically.
21:14Especially with a knee, but it's about to be a lot more than just a knee for Io.
21:18Oh, here we go.
21:19We're going bouncy, bouncy.
21:21The Devil's Kiss.
21:27Where's Booker?
21:30I would love to smooch with the Devil, wouldn't we all?
21:34What?
21:35Never mind, move on.
21:36Well, it's called The Devil's Kiss.
21:38Right, got it.
21:38And a knee right to the spine.
21:41Stephanie Bacare for the Women's World Champion.
21:43And a kick out at two.
21:45What a near fall.
21:47Stephanie can't believe it.
21:48Kick out of the SVB.
21:52Tyrese is thanking the wrestling gods that Io Sky somehow kicked out there.
21:57We'll take another look at this.
21:59This was the feet up at the last second by Stephanie Bacare from the over the moonsault attempt.
22:05And here we go.
22:06This is the second dragon scrap, but the first one did so much damage to Io Sky.
22:11And here we go, the Stephanie Bacare bomb that's beaten everyone in WWE it's connected with.
22:17And the blood just drained out of the face out of Stephanie Bacare because Io kicked out.
22:21Stephanie tried to hit it earlier, Io countered, but not that time around.
22:25But how wise is Io rolling out of harm's way into the bottom rope?
22:28It was total instincts from a woman who's climbed to the top of the mountain so many times.
22:32And Show Tay uppercut to the jaw.
22:35That's a huge right from Io Sky, she needed it.
22:38I don't know how Io is still functioning after suffering the Devil's Kiss in the SVB.
22:43I mean, these women are showing out tonight with the biggest prize of all at stake.
22:54Lighting high above the ring, high risk situation here.
22:59It's all about the women's world championship.
23:01Io Sky setting up something special here to end this.
23:07Dangerous Pranekovic, oh!
23:09Spanish fly connecting and the knee of Io Sky hurting in the process.
23:16Yeah, again, that's the leg that's been attacked by Stephanie Bacare.
23:19Beautiful Spanish fly by Io Sky, but she couldn't capitalize.
23:24And now covered by Sky, and a kick out by Stephanie.
23:27Such a game changer when you can't hit top pace because one of your legs simply isn't cooperating.
23:33Pat, imagine you trying to punt with shredded ligaments in your knee.
23:39I had a dislocated kneecap in my right knee in my last season.
23:42I know exactly what this feels like.
23:44Mind over matter at this moment, the world championship is on the line.
23:47Gotta push through, right?
23:48You gotta try and win it for your team.
23:50All eyes are on you.
23:51And again, bullet train attacked in the corner by Io.
23:53We'll deal with that knee tomorrow.
23:54And now Io Sky exposing her knee, taking down her knee pads.
24:00And this obviously is for more impact on the bullet train attack to Stephanie Bacare.
24:06Pulling out all the stops against a great opponent who may now be spent.
24:12Io Sky willing her way for the running knee.
24:17Bair kneecap to the face.
24:22And against Guy now, positioning Bacare as she goes to climb to the top rope and
24:29look for over the moonsault.
24:30The grand finale.
24:33Io off the top rope, nobody home.
24:35And the exposed knees hit hard when she missed with the moonsault.
24:40Man, rolling down the knee pad doesn't sound like high risk, but in this instant it was exactly that.
24:47All the damage absorbed by that knee and went up.
24:50Stephanie going up to the top rope.
24:54And he sees it, there is a version of a spiral tap.
24:58And Io Sky wins the championship.
25:01What?
25:03Here is your winner, a new Women's World Champion, Stephanie.
25:17A standing ovation for the brand new Women's World Champion.
25:27Oh my God.
25:29Just when it looked like all hope was lost for Stephanie Bacare.
25:34She adds a new wrinkle to her playbook.
25:38Something that nobody saw coming.
25:40And hits it perfectly.
25:42As crisp as you like, Pat.
25:44The biggest match of her life.
25:46The biggest night of her life.
25:48While in the deep water.
25:49This was the Spanish fly that really added extra damage to the knee of Io Sky.
25:55But she used the knee there right to the cranium of Stephanie Bacare.
26:00And a lot like she was closing in for the victory.
26:03But it's over the moonsault with a knee exposed corner to maximum damage.
26:07And then this, a version of a spiral tap.
26:12That's absolutely nasty.
26:14God, in the deep waters of the Match 2 could not have been executed any better.
26:21Flush on the genius of the sky.
26:24Wow, Stephanie Bacare.
26:26What a world championship performance.
26:34And what a show of honor and respect.
26:38From the genius of the sky, Io Sky.
26:41Celebrating with a brand new women's world champion.
26:46From humble beginnings as a dark angel.
26:50A teenage wrestler in South America.
26:55To the top of the game on every continent.
27:00This is indeed a first for La Primera.
27:05The brand new women's world champion.
27:17A very emotional Stephanie.
27:19Her father is here tonight from Chile.
27:23Hector in attendance to watch her.
27:26His daughter Stephanie Bacare conquered the world tonight.
27:30Winning the women's world championship.
27:34He's got to be incredibly proud.
27:36And again, tremendous family.
27:39Stephanie will tell you the story about how her dad and mom supported her.
27:43And as a teenager to follow her dream, which she has done tonight.
27:50To become the brand new women's world champion.
27:53And Hector has a hand in that championship.
27:57Congratulations, Liverpool.
27:59A new era has dawned on Monday Night Raw.
28:07La Primera is on top of the world as the brand new women's world champion.
28:14It's been an honor to be here, boys.
28:30Thank you, Pat.
28:32Love you guys.
28:33Congrats, champ.
28:34See you soon.
28:35.
28:36.
28:37.
28:37.
28:38.
28:39.
28:40.
Recommended
28:35
|
Up next
38:29
22:12
30:42
21:30
1:15:33
26:59
12:14
20:02
Be the first to comment