25 Worst Wrestling Moments Of 2025

23. The Worst Botch Of The Year

The Rock WWE WrestleMania 42 Announcement
WWE

There are botches and flubs, and then there are botches and flubs that result in even more botches and flubs, talent getting hurt, and collapses of live televised main events that are so visibly apparent that the audience turns on all involved.

This was the case on September 26th when, during a WWE Women's Title triple threat match between Champion Tiffany Stratton and challengers Nia Jax and Jade Cargill, an accidental injury resulted in a chain of events that made a laughing stock of all three and referee Daphanie LaShaunn.

A solid brawl completely fell apart at the finish when Champion Stratton was late to a kick-out save while Cargil had Jax pinned. Jax had no choice but to kickout, but then Stratton attacked anyway, rolling onto Jax for another two-count even though the 'Irresistible Force' had already ostensibly recovered. LaShaunn realised that as she was counting, and held her three, presumably in some telepathic hope that Jax would roll her shoulder again. She did, but not for what felt like an ice age on TV and in the building. 

Of note, this all took place minutes after Cargill had been bloodied hardway. She was launched into the steel steps by Jax and - based on the size of the gash that opened up on her head - was lucky to escape the ordeal without a more serious injury. 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett