An Unexpected Roadblock for WWE's Rising Star
Jade Cargill's arrival in WWE had fans buzzing, and backstage it was clear the company had big things lined up for her. The plan was simple but bold: she’d win a major singles championship and even walk into WrestleMania 41 with the title around her waist. Wrestling insiders like Dave Meltzer talked about how Cargill's story was set for a massive payoff—until it all screeched to a halt in late 2024.
It happened during a November episode of SmackDown. Cargill, gearing up for a major angle, was suddenly written off TV after a mysterious and brutal backstage attack. WWE’s official word? She suffered deep lumbar muscle contusions, a bruised kidney, a sprained MCL, facial cuts, and a tibial plateau bone bruise in her knee. The list read almost like a warning to anyone watching—Cargill was down for the count.
But WWE being WWE, the line between what’s real and what’s not got blurry. Some backstage sources said she really was injured, others said the whole thing was an elaborate setup. The conflicting takes only fueled speculation and kept Cargill’s name in conversation, even while she was off TV.
The Championship Plan, Delayed but Not Derailed
With her star rising fast, WWE didn’t want to waste time. Before her injury, they’d mapped out a push that would see her crowned a singles champion well before WrestleMania 41. She was set to go into the biggest event of the year as the defending champ, becoming a cornerstone of the women's division almost overnight. But with her sidelined, those plans had to be shelved.
When Cargill came back in early 2025, she wasn’t just making up the numbers—she jumped straight into the Queen of the Ring tournament, booking her spot as one of the semi-finalists. Meltzer now says the belief backstage is that she could steamroll both Roxanne Perez and Asuka, hitting the finals with real momentum. If she pulls it off, she’d be perfectly positioned for the title run WWE always wanted for her, just on a slightly different schedule.
The intrigue doesn’t stop there. Naomi, another top name in the women’s division, holds the Money in the Bank briefcase. What’s more, she and Cargill have a tense history—they went from tag partners to heated rivals in record time. People close to the creative team say the plan has always been for Naomi to cash in on Cargill, cranking up the stakes and personal drama. A scenario where Cargill finally wins that championship, only for Naomi to blindside her with a cash-in, is exactly the kind of storyline WWE loves for big summer shows.
Injuries have a way of throwing plans in the air, especially in pro wrestling. But Cargill’s push hasn’t died—it’s just gotten a more dramatic twist. And with the Queen of the Ring semis on deck and Naomi lurking with her contract, the WWE Universe is in for a wild ride, just maybe not the one everyone was expecting last fall.