I first remember meeting Tiffany Stratton at the World Wrestling Entertainment Performance Center in 2023. Despite what her villainous “bad girl” character at the time on TV portrayed, Tiffany was the complete opposite in real life: respectful, humble, down to earth and eager to learn. She also looked the part of an athlete who took great care of her body and took a lot of pride in her in-ring presentation. She paid attention to the little details, all the way down to her perfectly pink wrestling gear. I really liked her energy. I thought to myself, she’s so well rounded, she’s one to watch for.
Fast forward to the present and Tiffany embarks on her journey to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. Her story embodies resilience, ambition and making sure we all run on “Tiffy Time.” (If you know, you know … I’m tapping my pretend watch on my hand right now!)
Reflecting on her breakout year with SmackDown, Stratton expresses so much gratitude for the opportunities that have come her way, particularly as she prepares to face one of her greatest inspirations — Charlotte Flair.
“I really had no idea I would have such a breakout year,” she said in an interview for this column, highlighting the unpredictability of her journey. From her impressive performance in the Royal Rumble to her surprising victory at Money in the Bank, each milestone has paved the way for her current standing as champion heading into WrestleMania 41.
Tiffany says, “I would not have changed anything. I feel like Elimination Chamber was my breakout performance last year. I’m super excited to be going into Elimination Chamber with Trish Stratus as my tag team partner and hopefully we will beat Nia Jax and Candice LeRae at this year’s event in Toronto on March 1st.”
For Stratton, it’s not just about the accolades but realizing a dream. Cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase successfully against Nia Jax, in one of the most fun women’s cash-ins ever, marked a surreal moment in her career.
“I never thought that I would win The Money in the Bank match and get my own customized briefcase, let alone have a successful cash-in. It was always in the back of my head that no woman has ever failed a cash-in and maybe it could be me just because I am so new. When I cashed in successfully on January 3rd, it was just so surreal. It was such a dream come true and afterward, I realized I’m going into WrestleMania as the women’s champion. If you would’ve told me this a year ago, I would not have believed that I would be going into Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas as THE CHAMPION.”
A driving force behind Stratton’s journey is her admiration for her WrestleMania opponent, Charlotte Flair. This I can relate to, because of having an amazing history in the ring with Charlotte myself, so many matches that I will always cherish. From personal experience, I know that Charlotte will push her opponent to be their very best and fight their absolute hardest.
“Charlotte is my inspiration,” Tiffany said. “She’s who I saw on Friday Night SmackDown and was doing all these cool tricks and flips in the ring and immediately I was like, she kinda reminds me of myself.” Charlotte’s athleticism and charisma resonated with Stratton, who was initially pursuing a career in gymnastics. It was Tiffany’s mother’s encouragement that nudged her toward wrestling, and eventually WWE, leading to a pivotal moment that changed her life forever.
I asked Tiffany what drives her as a top female superstar in WWE today. She said: “I just feel like in my career it’s always been sink or swim and I really truly feel like every single performance I’ve ever had, I’ve barely made it through. I literally just clenched my teeth and I prayed, and somehow each performance ends up better than the last and that’s all I really strive for. I want to keep improving and growing. In wrestling, you can never be perfect at it. You can always keep improving your craft and getting better at promos or your character and in the ring. I want to keep getting better and better. When I enter WrestleMania, I am going to beat The Queen, Charlotte Flair. Who knew Tiffy Time would be this exciting?!”
Tiffany Stratton’s road to WrestleMania is not just a personal achievement; it is a story of perseverance and believing in yourself. As she prepares to clash with Charlotte Flair, Tiffany embodies women all over the world who dare to take a chance on their dreams. For Stratton, this is more than a match; it is an opportunity to build her very own legacy.
Wrestlemania 41 takes place on April 19 and 20 from Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium and will stream live on Netflix.