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Shawn Michaels Confirms New WWE Signing

By John Canton • Published 10th July 2024
Shawn Michaels WWE Hat

The WWE NXT boss man Shawn Michaels has welcomed a new wrestler to the company in a post on social media.

It was reported earlier on Wednesday that former CMLL wrestler Stephanie Vaquer, who held the NJPW Strong Women’s Title recently, was departing the company while also reportedly closing in on a deal with WWE.

This also led to Vaquer releasing a statement on her own thanking CMLL, NJPW and wrestling fans for supporting her. In her statement, Vaquer announced that she was immediately vacating the CMLL World Women’s Championship as well as the CMLL World Women’s Couples Championship.

While the reports were swirling about where Vaquer was going, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels went on Twitter/X to welcome Vaquer while saying he would see her in Orlando, which is where the WWE Performance Center is and also home to the NXT brand, which Michaels runs.

Welcome to the WWE Family, @Steph_Vaquer. See you in Orlando!

The Chilean-born Vaquer has received a lot of attention in pro wrestling circles lately since having an incredible match with AEW’s Mercedes Mone at the AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door PPV. While Mone won the match that saw her leave with the TBS Championship and Vaquer’s NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, many people believe that Vaquer was the better performer in that match.

It has been reported by PWInsider that WWE signing Vaquer happened over the last week.

Shawn Michaels Not Interested In NXT Going On The Road For TV Show

The WWE NXT brand will be moving from USA Network to The CW in the fall, but if it’s up to NXT’s boss Shawn Michaels, the show will continue to take place at the WWE PC in Orlando. According to recent comments from Michaels, he believes that the best thing for NXT is to remain in Orlando.

“I think you always would love to kind of be out there all the time, but honestly, what is best -– what I believe for the product –- and I don’t know, at least for us right now, being in our home here in Orlando is, I think, fantastic.”

“I can’t say that there’s anything that I see in the foreseeable future that would, you know, where you could make sense doing that and justify doing it when it comes to a certainly from an income standpoint, I think.”

In the main event of NXT on July 9th, TNA’s Joe Hendry made a surprise appearance to team up with Trick Williams as the duo defeated NXT Champion Ethan Page & Shawn Spears in tag team action. Hendry got the win for his team and will likely be back on the NXT brand soon.