: 5 WWE Stars Who Could Challenge Stephanie Vaquer Next

Stephanie Vaquer is the new Women’s World Champion, and her title victory has immediately created several intriguing possibilities for WWE RAW. The Chilean star defeated Liv Morgan at a WWE live event in Chile over the weekend, achieving a major career milestone in her home country.

The championship match was surrounded by controversy. RAW General Manager Adam Pearce appointed Becky Lynch as the special guest referee because of repeated interference from The Judgment Day. Morgan became involved in an argument with Lynch during the contest and slapped The Man, creating tension that directly affected the finish.

Lynch subsequently refused to count a three-count for Morgan. Vaquer capitalized on the situation and captured the Women’s World Championship, bringing an end to Morgan’s 147-day reign.

Vaquer then arrived on RAW in Mexico City as the champion and immediately found herself surrounded by more problems. She teamed with El Grande Americano against Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio, but The Judgment Day interfered and caused a disqualification. The chaotic ending left Vaquer, Americano and Rey Mysterio down in the ring.

Lynch later made her intentions clear by telling Vaquer that the new champion owes her a title opportunity. That confrontation could be the beginning of a major championship program, but Lynch is far from the only WWE superstar who could enter Vaquer’s title picture.

5. Bayley Could Re-Enter the Championship Picture

Bayley is one of the most experienced potential challengers for Stephanie Vaquer. The former Women’s World Champion returned to WWE television recently and immediately involved herself in Lyra Valkyria’s storyline.

Bayley cost Valkyria an opportunity to qualify for Money in the Bank and later explained her actions through a pre-taped message on RAW. Their personal issues are likely to remain important in the short term, but WWE could eventually move Bayley toward the Women’s World Championship.

Her résumé alone makes her a credible opponent. Bayley has held multiple women’s championships in WWE and has consistently been positioned as one of the company’s most reliable performers. A program against Vaquer would also give the champion a different type of opponent from the stars she has recently faced.

The potential story could become even more interesting if Valkyria remains involved. Bayley could defeat her rival and then turn her attention toward Vaquer, only for Valkyria to interfere during a championship match. That would create another layer to the rivalry while keeping multiple women relevant on RAW.

Bayley and Vaquer also have the potential to deliver a technically strong championship match. Vaquer’s rise has been built around her in-ring ability and confidence, while Bayley’s experience could provide the champion with one of her toughest tests yet.

4. Liv Morgan Is Unlikely to Leave the Title Scene

Liv Morgan remains one of the most obvious threats to Stephanie Vaquer’s reign. losing the championship does not necessarily mean Morgan’s involvement in the title picture is finished, especially considering how controversial the title change was.

Morgan and Vaquer have already exchanged major victories during 2026. Morgan won the championship from Vaquer at WrestleMania after entering the event as the Royal Rumble winner. Vaquer eventually got her revenge by defeating Morgan in Chile and winning the title in front of her home fans.

That history gives WWE an easy reason to revisit the rivalry. Morgan can argue that she never received a completely fair opportunity to retain the championship because of Lynch’s involvement. At the same time, Vaquer can point to the fact that she ultimately defeated the former champion and became the rightful titleholder.

The situation becomes even more complicated because Morgan also has unfinished business with Becky Lynch. Lynch’s refusal to count Morgan’s pinfall helped shape the championship finish, meaning Morgan has legitimate storyline reasons to pursue both women.

A future singles rematch between Morgan and Vaquer is possible, but WWE could also turn the situation into a triple-threat match involving Lynch. Such a match would allow the company to continue all three women’s stories without immediately ending any of them.

Morgan’s position as one of WWE’s prominent female stars also makes it difficult to keep her away from the championship for long. If she fails to regain the title, her rivalry with Lynch could provide another major direction.

3. AJ Lee Could Bring a Fresh Matchup

AJ Lee would give Stephanie Vaquer a completely different challenger. Lee has not been prominently featured since WrestleMania 42, but her previous return demonstrated that WWE can use her selectively for major programs.

During her recent run, Lee became involved in a feud with Becky Lynch and even captured the Women’s Intercontinental Championship from The Man. Lynch eventually reclaimed the championship at WrestleMania in April, bringing that chapter to a close.

That history could make Lee an interesting addition to Vaquer’s growing title scene. WWE does not necessarily need to build a long-term feud immediately. A one-off championship match at Money in the Bank or on a major episode of RAW could give Vaquer a fresh opponent while reintroducing Lee to the wider storyline.

There is also an opportunity to involve Liv Morgan. If Morgan continues pursuing Vaquer, Lee could become another important character around the champion. WWE could even use a tag-team storyline involving Lee and Vaquer against members of The Judgment Day before eventually building toward a singles championship match.

From a creative perspective, Lee would also add variety to RAW’s women’s division. The company has repeatedly used several of the same performers in Judgment Day-related programs this year. Introducing Lee into the mix would create a different dynamic and potentially open several new matchups.

Whether Lee wants a full-time return or only occasional appearances remains important. If WWE is looking for a major special attraction for Vaquer’s championship reign, however, AJ Lee would be a compelling option.

2. IYO SKY Deserves Another Opportunity

IYO SKY could have one of the strongest cases for another Women’s World Championship opportunity. The former NXT Women’s Champion has already competed against Liv Morgan for the title and has not been positioned as prominently on RAW recently.

SKY earned her previous opportunity after winning Queen of the Ring, but Morgan’s championship reign proved difficult for several contenders. The title was not defended during the first 100 days of Morgan’s reign, which limited the number of meaningful championship opportunities available to the RAW women’s roster.

Now that Vaquer is champion, WWE has an opportunity to bring SKY back into the title story.

The biggest advantage is the existing chemistry between SKY and Vaquer. The two have already faced each other for the vacant Women’s World Championship, giving WWE a built-in history that can be referenced without creating an entirely new rivalry.

Although another Vaquer-SKY match would technically be a rematch, the length of time since their previous encounter means the company could present it as a fresh chapter. Both wrestlers have continued to evolve, and their different styles could make another championship bout especially attractive.

SKY could also enter the Money in the Bank picture before challenging Vaquer. If she qualifies for the ladder match, winning it could immediately establish her as a future threat to the champion. Alternatively, WWE could move her to SmackDown and explore a completely different storyline.

For RAW, though, keeping SKY around Vaquer would give the new champion another established opponent who can credibly challenge for the title.

1. Becky Lynch Could Be Vaquer’s Biggest Test

Becky Lynch currently looks like the most obvious next challenger for Stephanie Vaquer. Unlike some of the other names on this list, Lynch has already publicly demanded a title opportunity.

Her connection to Vaquer’s championship victory makes the potential feud even more compelling. Lynch was appointed as the special guest referee for the Chile match because WWE wanted to prevent The Judgment Day from repeatedly interfering. However, her personal issues with Morgan eventually affected the contest.

After Vaquer won the championship, Lynch made it clear that she believes the new champion owes her a shot. That gives WWE a straightforward storyline for a future RAW episode, premium live event or championship match.

Lynch and Vaquer have also spent time around each other while dealing with The Judgment Day. Their temporary alliance against Morgan’s faction created an unusual relationship between two major stars who could now become rivals.

A championship match between them would be significant because Lynch remains one of WWE’s biggest women’s wrestling stars, while Vaquer is entering what could become the most important title reign of her career.

WWE could save the singles encounter for a larger event, but the current storyline makes it difficult to keep them apart for too long. A Money in the Bank title match is one possibility, while a triple threat involving Morgan could provide an even bigger confrontation.

What Happens Next for Stephanie Vaquer?

Stephanie Vaquer’s first days as Women’s World Champion are already packed with potential storylines. Lynch has directly demanded a title opportunity, Morgan has a strong argument for a rematch, and SKY has previous history with the new champion.

Bayley represents an experienced former champion who could enter the picture after resolving her issues with Valkyria, while AJ Lee would offer WWE an opportunity to create a fresh and highly anticipated matchup.

The key challenge for WWE will be protecting Vaquer’s momentum. Her title victory in Chile was a major moment, and her first challenger should help establish why she belongs at the top of the women’s division.

Rather than rushing through every possible contender, WWE can build several rivalries simultaneously and allow Vaquer’s championship reign to develop naturally. The Judgment Day storyline also gives the company a convenient connection between Morgan, Lynch and the champion.

Final Verdict

Becky Lynch appears to be the clearest next challenger for Stephanie Vaquer because she has already demanded a title opportunity and played a central role in the championship change. However, Liv Morgan is unlikely to disappear from the title picture, while IYO SKY, Bayley and AJ Lee all offer credible alternatives.

With Vaquer now holding the Women’s World Championship, WWE has several directions available. The immediate Lynch storyline could lead to a major singles match, while Morgan’s unresolved issues could eventually turn the title picture into a triple threat. Whatever direction WWE chooses, Vaquer’s reign has already created plenty of possibilities for RAW’s women’s division.