Browsing: LaShaunn

WWE referee Daphanie LaShaunn addressed her decision to stop the count when Tiffany Stratton had Nia Jax pinned in the triple-threat match that also involved Jade Cargill on Friday Night SmackDown.

In a post on her Instagram Story, LaShaunn thanked everyone who has been supportive of her and vowed to continue getting better going forward.

“I see all the love,” she wrote. “I’m just human, but I can promise that I strive to always be better. Which will forever be my goal as long as I’m on this journey. I love this just like y’all. That I can swear to you.”

The botch came when Cargill hit Jax with the eye of the storm and went for a cover, but Stratton broke it up and went to steal the pin. LaShaunn’s count got to two and she held up hitting the mat for three, even though Jax never raised her shoulder off the mat.

There was a time when WWE instructed officials to treat pinfalls as a “shoot” and not to hold up the count unless the wrestler actually kicks out, but that reportedly hasn’t been the case for awhile now.

After everyone gathered themselves following the both, Stratton hit Jax with the prettiest moonsault ever for the pin to retain the WWE women’s championship.

It was revealed after the match that Stratton will challenge women’s world champion Stephanie Vaquer for the WWE women’s crown jewel championship at Crown Jewel on Oct. 11.

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WWE referee Daphanie LaShaunn has broken her silence following the backlash she received for botching the main event finish during SmackDown. The incident occurred during a high-stakes triple threat match between Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax—and it didnâ€t take long for fans to notice something went wrong.

The moment unfolded when Jade Cargill planted Nia Jax with her Eye of the Storm slam and went for the pin. LaShaunn began the three-count, but abruptly stopped before the third slap despite Jax not kicking out. Tiffany Stratton was late delivering a dropkick to break the pin, leaving an awkward pause that drew immediate boos from the crowd. Jax then lifted her shoulder a few seconds later, and the match continued—but the damage was already done.

The spot was so jarring that WWE quietly edited it out of the official replay uploaded to YouTube. Social media, however, didnâ€t let it go so easily, with fans flooding LaShaunnâ€s mentions and criticizing the botch. After several days of silence, LaShaunn responded with class.

She took to her Instagram story to share a heartfelt message, making it clear sheâ€s taking the criticism in stride and remains focused on improving.

“I see all the love. Iâ€m just human, but I can promise that I strive to always be better. Which will forever be my goal as long as Iâ€m on this journey. I love this just like yâ€all. That I can swear to you.â€

Botches are part of the game, and how someone handles them says a lot more than the mistake itself. Mistakes happen in live performance, and LaShaunnâ€s willingness to own it shows a level of professionalism that fans should respect.

Do you think WWE should lean into referee mistakes in storylines—or keep editing them out? Drop your thoughts below and tell us how you feel about LaShaunnâ€s response.

September 28, 2025 10:56 am

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