WWE: WWE’s Original Plans for Tiffany Stratton at SummerSlam 2026, Bayley Removed From WWE SummerSlam Tryout Package Advertisement, WWE Decision Makers Reportedly Were Not “Exactly Enthusiastic” Over Amount of N.Y. Knicks Integration For 7/18 WWE SNME Show

Backstage Update on WWE’s Original Plans for Tiffany Stratton at SummerSlam 2026

As noted before, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley has been out of action for WWE since this past May’s Clash In Italy event due to a knee injury that was later revealed to be a meniscus tear. WWE changed several of their original plans for this August’s SummerSlam 2026 event following Ripley’s injury including plans involving Tiffany Stratton and her WWE Women’s United States Championship for the event.

False Finish’s Cory Hays reported that his sources stated that WWE officials original plans for Stratton were for her to defend her WWE Women’s United States title against Blake Monroe at SummerSlam.

Those plans were later changed to Stratton qualifying and being scheduled to compete in the Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder match at SummerSlam instead.

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Bayley Removed From WWE SummerSlam 2026 Tryout Package Advertisement

This past Saturday’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York featured Lyra Valkyria defeating Bayley in a singles match and attacked her after the match. This past Monday’s WWE RAW show featured Valkyria announcing in a Netflix exclusive ad break interview segment that she had dropped the dead weight and claimed to have ran Bayley out of WWE. Bayley’s contract with WWE is currently set to expire at the end of this year.

WWE recently made a change to the advertisement for their upcoming new talent tryouts at this August’s SummerSlam 2026 weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In a tweet sent by NXT General Manager Robert Stone, Bayley initially was among those shown in a graphic advertising the upcoming tryouts.

One week away from the opportunity for athletes and independent wrestlers to change their lives.

Whether becoming a WWE Superstar has been your dream your entire life or something you’re just discovering, I can promise you this…

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Bring… pic.twitter.com/ht5AlQe2i1

— Robert Stone (@MrStoneWWE) July 23, 2026

WWE’s SummerSlam Prospect Tryout VIP Experience on Onlocation website now currently features Bayley being replaced by Ivy Niles instead.

“Access a private meet & greet with Je’Von Evans, Ivy Nile and Nattie as they stop by to check in on the new wave of prospects!”

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WWE Decision Makers Reportedly Were Not “Exactly Enthusiastic” Over Amount of N.Y. Knicks Integration For 7/18 WWE SNME Show

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials in charge of the day-to-day decision making were not “exactly enthusiastic” about the amount of New York Knicks integration throughout the July 18th WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event show in New York City, New York.

Those spoken to reportedly stated that they understood the atmosphere surrounding the event at Madison Square Garden and the Knicks’ 2026 NBA Championship victory but there was a feeling internally that the presentation went further than many would have preferred within WWE.

It was also reported that some within WWE are not sports fans for the reason for their feeling about the situation.