A disputed referee decision marred the finish of a Women’s World Championship bout on this week’s WWE RAW.
During the Labor Day edition of RAW in Birmingham, Alabama, Liv Morgan put her Women’s World Championship on the line against Stephanie Vaquer in a long-awaited rematch from WrestleMania 42. Vaquer came in seeking to end Morgan’s 142-day reign and recapture the title.
The contest was a hard-hitting, back-and-forth affair that eventually moved outside the ring. Vaquer hit her signature Devil’s Kiss, but Morgan absorbed the damage and kept fighting.
Chaos erupted when Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez arrived at ringside to support Morgan. Becky Lynch then stepped in to even the odds for Vaquer, immediately targeting Rodriguez and prompting referee Eddie Orengo to remove her from ringside.
The distraction gave Perez the chance to quietly slip the championship belt to Morgan.
In the closing moments, Morgan struck Vaquer in the head with the title while Orengo was focused on Perez. Lynch intercepted Perez and escorted her out of Legacy Arena, removing her from the situation.
Orengo never spotted Morgan using the belt as a weapon. Morgan then hit Vaquer with Oblivion and pinned her for the win.
Replays later revealed that Vaquer’s left shoulder appeared to be up before the referee completed the three-count. Because Orengo lacked a clear view of the shoulder, he upheld the finish and allowed the controversial result to stand.
