WWE Referee Daphanie LaShaunn Responds to Backlash Over Botched Pin on WWE SmackDown

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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