00:06And her opponent, from Prior Lake, Minnesota, Tiffany Stratton!
00:15So, Tiffany beat the official representative of the United States Champion, Julia, Keanu James,
00:22a couple of weeks ago, and has subsequently been making a ton of noise
00:26about taking the U.S. title from Julia.
00:30She's not gonna get that opportunity tonight, title not up for grabs.
00:34However, a victory here for Tiffany Stratton.
00:37And it will be hard to argue against her getting a title opportunity in the not-too-distant future.
00:44So this is a big, big chance for Tiffany Stratton.
00:47No doubt about it. That match that you mentioned from a couple of weeks ago,
00:51Julia attempted to interfere with Tiffany Stratton in that match with Keanu James.
00:57And look, Julia may play it down, but anybody who has been watching WWE for the past couple of years
01:04knows full well that Tiffany Stratton is more than capable of taking a championship
01:09from anyone on the roster on any given night.
01:12So, I don't blame Julia for not really wanting to have any part of a potential title defense against Tiffany
01:20Stratton.
01:21Of course, over 300 days as the WWE Women's Champion.
01:25The current champion, Jade Cargill, was able to climb that mountaintop in November of 2025.
01:31Earlier tonight, we saw Jade Cargill and Maria Ripley as that is heating up on the way to WrestleMania.
01:38So let's talk about Tiffany Stratton.
01:40Arguably, woman of the year in WWE in 2025.
01:44Incredible year as the champ.
01:46Lost it towards the end of the year, as you mentioned, to Jade Cargill.
01:51And then think about this year.
01:53Runner-up in the Royal Rumble, which would have guaranteed her a main event at WrestleMania.
01:58Followed that up with a runner-up spot in the Elimination Chamber,
02:02which again would have guaranteed her a main event spot at WrestleMania.
02:06Now, three weeks away from WrestleMania.
02:08No guarantee at all that Stratton is even going to be on the card.
02:13They are the fine margins at the very top end of this industry.
02:17Which we've seen with superstars at the very top of the industry.
02:21I mean, Cody Rhodes was in a similar position up until a few weeks ago.
02:25Sami Zayn was in a similar position up until a few minutes ago.
02:29Yeah, and Stratton might be playing it cool.
02:31But these are really panic stations for a woman of her caliber.
02:35A competitor who expects to be at the very top.
02:38And she can prove how much she deserves a spot at WrestleMania with a victory here.
02:44And tried a drop kick there.
02:47I don't think it caught Julia.
02:48Julia trying to duck out of the way.
02:50But Julia has taken a real beating in the early goings in this one.
02:53Yeah, getting ragdolled into each corner.
02:59Around the horn goes Tiffany Stratton.
03:02And from the outside, Keanu James, the official rep,
03:04trying to give some advice to Julia,
03:06but it's falling on deaf ears for the time being.
03:10A unique move there from Tiffany Stratton,
03:13driving the nose of Julia into her knee.
03:18And had the intended results.
03:37The beautiful madness, Julia.
03:40And Keanu James trying to gather herself a bit here.
03:44As Tiffany Stratton is off to a good start.
03:47Well, Keanu James is razor sharp mentally.
03:49Knows full well that Plan A was not working here.
03:52So Keanu James pulls her woman out to the outside.
03:55A little pep talk.
03:56Hey, try this.
03:57And this, apparently, was draping the throat of Tiffany Stratton across the top rope.
04:04And guess what?
04:05It appears it has worked.
04:06Yeah, it goes better than a pep talk.
04:15And now things have turned around for Julia.
04:19Well, Julia suddenly looks like a completely different human being.
04:22Has that confidence back.
04:24And Tiffany Stratton now in the jaws of danger.
04:28Oh, and that basement drop kick right to the back.
04:31And you can see the effect it has on Tiffany.
04:39The army James on the outside must be pretty damn proud of her handiwork here.
04:45Instrumental in getting Julia back on top in this one.
04:49Although staying on top against Tiffany Stratton will always be a struggle.
04:55Massive right hand from Julia.
04:57Maybe not with moves like that.
05:05Good matchup of offensive arsenals between these two.
05:13Oh, it's your favorite face, Joe.
05:16Oh boy.
05:18The stuff that nightmares are made of from Julia.
05:22Especially if you're in the ring with her like Tiffany Stratton unfortunately is.
05:27It's not the makeover she's looking for.
05:30And we'll get that right shoulder up.
05:33Tank of Tiffany Stratton looks to have run dry already in this one.
05:38And now completely at will Julia gets to do whatever she wants with the body of the former WWE Women's
05:47Champ.
06:08And what a rough evening it has been thus far for Tiffany Stratton who simply cannot get a foothold in
06:16this matchup at this point.
06:20And this has always been the problem with Julia.
06:23If she gets the upper hand she usually is relentless as is the case tonight.
06:40Julia, the Women's United States Champion, has been in control here against Tiffany Stratton as Tiffany looks to rally back
06:48in front of this massive crowd in Pittsburgh for SmackDown.
06:52Yeah, it's been about three or four minutes of overwhelming offense going the direction of Tiffany Stratton.
06:58And just when she gets a window to break out, straight back in control is Julia.
07:04But that may change things.
07:07Spinebuster from Stratton as both competitors are down.
07:11Stratton has put a target on Julia in that US Championship.
07:15Julia's responded a week ago saying she thinks she can disrespect me.
07:18She'll put her in her place.
07:20This is part of the greatness of Tiffany Stratton and that power that she packs.
07:24Of course we know about the high flying abilities.
07:28Often underrated in the power states as a former United States Olympic team member.
07:35And a great gymnast.
07:36Great athleticism as you see it here.
07:41Perhaps the greatest athlete of them all in WWE.
07:45But showing it all now.
07:47Looking for that range.
07:49Cartwheel Alabama slam.
07:51Could this be for Tiffany?
07:54And now it is Julia who is clinging on for dear life as the official rep on the outside.
08:00Kiana James again barking instructions as things are starting to go haywire here for Julia.
08:07Julia!
08:09Julia!
08:11Julia!
08:14Julia!
08:14Julia!
08:15Julia!
08:15Julia!
08:16Julia!
08:18Julia!
08:23Julia!
08:27Julia!
08:28great counter by julia you see the skill coming through just when she needs it most
08:33yeah there's some real speed and some real bite to the offense of julia right now
08:40beautiful madness lined up arriva dirty knee trying to put it away
08:49and tiffany stratton starting to look completely fried at this point taking a ton of abuse
08:56absorbed it but now looks out of answers
09:03tiffany stratton trying to dig deep and recover after the recent attack from julia
09:08this aggression from julia is what you need to see more of from the united states
09:13champion especially against competitors the caliber of tiffany stratton
09:25trying to climb her way into position and i'll tell you right now i would back stratton on the
09:31ropes every single time and once again that would prove correct in this instance just tossing julia
09:38away targets on swanton hook in the leg to put it away well extra something on that swanton from
09:49tiffany stratton full body weight crushing the sternum of the united states champ watches as heavy as it gets
09:58for the united states champs somehow managing to kick out buff smelling victory now as stratton
10:06she got every pin in it what a smart move by julia
10:11that was crafty well scouted by the united states champ
10:20good counter
10:23and that rolling senton and that often set and kiana james is there
10:30to meet her smart move for a curveball at the right time pretty oh knees up went for the prettiest
10:37moonsault ever but instead comes up with the win
10:43there is your winner the women's united states champion julia
10:50the knees up a little bit of a delay caused by kiana james may have helped julia there and that
10:56is
10:56exactly why you get a kiana james on your side major victory for julia major a six from kiana james
11:03…
11:03you
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