Report: Zelina Vega Originally Scheduled To Be Squashed At WWE Backlash

Zelina Vega has won plaudits for her in-ring performances in 2023, with the LWO member putting on spirited displays at Money in the Bank on July 1, and at Backlash in May.

At Backlash, Vega fought tooth and nail against then-WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, with Ripley getting the win over Vega in seven minutes. However, a new report from Fightful Select says the match was originally meant to go much differently, with Ripley originally set to squash Vega to further her reputation as a dominant champion.

Such a result would have gained Ripley immense heat, especially as Backlash took place in front of a partisan crowd in Puerto Rico. Plans were ultimately changed, with Ripley reported to have been fully behind the decision.

It is believed that the eventual match, and Vega’s performance, led to her recent push on WWE TV, with WWE backstage figures indicating to Fightful the change was ‘a very good one for all involved’, with WWE, Vega, and Ripley all coming out of the event looking better.

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