Stephanie Vaquer recently opened up about what led to the superstar joining WWE, and how she was initially offered more by All Elite Wrestling for her services.
Speaking with Kevin Felgueras of Rock & Pop FM during a recent appearance, Vaquer revealed more of of her decision to sign with WWE. According to Vaquer, WWE initially contacted her about potentially working together on either the main roster or NXT. While in Toronto for a meeting with WWE, Vaquer was contacted by AEW, who told her not to sign yet.
“When I was already in Toronto at the hotel, people from AEW talked to me and said, “We know you are in Toronto, don’t sign,” and then I said, “Now hold on, what are y’all offering?” Vaquer said (translations via Fightful) with a laugh, before noting she told both companies that she would have to think on any decision after speaking with her father.
Vaquer said that both WWE and AEW offered to pay for lodging in Toronto so she could meet with them. However, she ended up paying for her own hotel to stay as neutral as possible. At the time, WWE had planned for Vaquer to appear on an episode of NXT. She declined, though, both due to her contract at the time with CMLL and the ongoing negotiations.
“WWE’s idea was for me to appear in the front row, and I told them that I felt it wasn’t right. I was still with the company (CMLL), and also, out of respect and gratitude, I didn’t feel it was the right thing to do. WWE completely understood,” said Vaquer.
A phone call with Shawn Michaels helped convince Vaquer to sign with WWE
The superstar then says that after speaking with her father, she called WWE one last time. She told them what AEW was offering her, and what could be done. Vaquer said WWE simply told her “we can’t afford that,” and wished her good luck at AEW. After the call, Vaquer said, she began crying over the decision. She then revealed that Shawn Michaels called her, and the two had a conversation about her career. Vaquer said that her dream was to be a WWE superstar at the end of the day.
“I told them what AEW was offering me, and they said ‘we can’t afford that. Thank you very much and good luck at AEW,’ and at that point I cried. Even my dad asked, ‘Why are you crying after being offered all that cash?’ (Giggles),” Vaquer said. “I said I was going to calm down, and then Shawn Michaels called me. He said, ‘Stephanie, I know you understand English, and I want to talk to you personally. I’m Shawn Michaels, and I have this proposal.’ When I talked to him, he asked me if this was about money. I told him it wasn’t the money; this is my life, and I sacrificed my whole life for wrestling, and no money will pay for that.
“Shawn Michaels understood that and told me some words I will keep for the rest of my life. Because they are words from a wise person who made me make the best decision. I was on my way to Mexico and they contacted me from WWE to tell me what they were offering, and then they asked me, ‘What do you say?’ And I answered, ‘Let’s do it,’ and that’s how it went.”
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