NXT Title Match Derailed by Diggs Arm Injury
NXT's women's division is in sudden chaos. Layla Diggs, the brand's fastest-rising rookie, is officially out of action with a left arm injury. General Manager Robert Stone confirmed the scratch on Tuesday night, pulling Diggs from her scheduled championship shot against Zaria.
As F4WOnline reported, Diggs posted a photo on X showing her left arm immobilized in a sling. She offered a brief message but omitted details on the recovery timeline or the precise nature of the damage.
“I’ll be back and I’ll be champion. Thank you guys for all the love #wwenxt,” Diggs posted.
The injury halts a rapid rise for the rookie. Diggs only debuted in May, marking her first NXT match against Jaida Parker. Earlier this month, she shocked the locker room by winning a fatal four-way match against Thea Hail, Izzi Dame, and Lizzy Rain. That victory secured her a title shot that has now vanished.
With Diggs sidelined, Stone booked a last-minute triple threat match on July 14, 2026, to determine a new challenger. Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, and Kali Armstrong fought for the vacant slot. Vice took the victory, reshaping the immediate future of the division. Zaria now prepares for Vice while Diggs faces rehab.
This is a booking setback for NXT management. Rushing a rookie like Diggs into a title program after only two months on television was a questionable decision. When the physical toll caught up, it left the champion without a clear opponent and forced a rushed television fix.
IYO SKY Takes a Hard Hit Ahead of SummerSlam
IYO SKY won her match on Raw but paid a physical price. On the July 13 episode, SKY defeated Roxanne Perez in a singles contest. The celebration was cut short when members of Judgment Day initiated a post-match assault.
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez cornered the former champion. While Rodriguez and Perez held SKY down, Morgan struck her forehead with the Women's World Championship belt. The blow connected hard.
According to WrestleTalk, SKY shared an image of a severe forehead hematoma on her Instagram Story. The injury comes at a terrible time for the challenger. She is scheduled to face Morgan for the title at SummerSlam on August 1 & 2.
Sol Ruca attempted to make the save on Raw but was overpowered by Rodriguez. Ruca recently defended her Women's Intercontinental Championship against Rodriguez on the July 6 episode. She remains without an announced partner or match for the SummerSlam card.
The rivalry between SKY and Morgan has a long history. Morgan defeated SKY in December 2024 to retain the title. She repeated the victory in February 2025 during the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches. SKY secured her only televised singles win against Morgan at Night of Champions in the Queen of the Ring final on June 27.
SummerSlam represents a massive spot for both women. Morgan has promised her title defense plans will be iconic. The physical escalation on Raw suggests WWE intends to lean heavily on Judgment Day interference to protect Morgan's run.
Buddy Matthews Cleared After 17 Months on the Shelf
AEW star Buddy Matthews is finally ready to return to the ring. Matthews has been sidelined for over a year due to a severe ankle injury. He has not competed since February 2025.
As detailed by Wrestling Inc., Matthews suffered the injury during his entrance at the Grand Slam: Australia event. He leaped from the top rope to the canvas, landing awkwardly on his ankle. Although he finished his Continental Championship match against Kazuchika Okada, the damage required a long recovery.
On Tuesday, Matthews broke his silence on Instagram.
“The Devil signed the clearance. Hell stamped its approval. No more barriers. Only timing,” Matthews wrote.
The post indicates that medical officials have given him the green light to compete. His absence forced major booking changes in AEW. Matthews was teaming with Brody King as the Hounds of Hell. Their partnership formed after former House of Black leader Malakai Black departed AEW to return to WWE.
Brody King had to find new directions during the 17 months Matthews was away. King formed a tag team with Bandido, winning the AEW World Tag Team Championships. King also worked as a singles wrestler, feuding with Swerve Strickland in the first half of 2026.
Matthews' return gives AEW another heavy hitter for the summer. The promotion's medical staff deserves scrutiny for the original incident. Allowing a performer to perform high-risk entrance stunts before a championship match is a failure of talent safety protocols.
Bliss Double-Jointed Trick and Dakota Kai Pushes Back
On SmackDown, the lines between real and scripted injuries remain thin. Last week, Jade Cargill defeated Alexa Bliss in singles action. After the bell, Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab launched a post-match assault on Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
Cargill used a steel chair to crush Bliss' arm. The arm appeared to snap at a horrific angle. However, Bliss used her double-jointed elbows to create the visual illusion of a break, a trick she previously utilized against Ronda Rousey in 2018.
Bliss has since posted Instagram updates wearing an arm brace to sell the attack. Bliss returned at the Royal Rumble in 2025 after a two-year maternity leave. She has been teaming with Flair and Tiffany Stratton to counter Cargill's group while Rhea Ripley recovers from a knee injury.
Meanwhile, former WWE star Dakota Kai, now working as Charlie, is fighting back against labels. Kai has struggled with the perception that she is fragile. Fans and critics have pointed to her history of physical setbacks.
Kai underwent ACL surgery in 2023 and suffered a torn meniscus in 2024. A concussion toward the end of her WWE run led to her release in 2025. After a brief hiatus, she returned to the ring in early 2026.
Kai faced Kris Statlander at EVE's Wrestle Queendom VIII in March and Shotzi Blackheart in April. In an interview with Wrestling Inc., Kai pushed back on the injury-prone tag. She noted that serious joint injuries can happen to anyone in a high-impact sport.
Outside the ring, Kai recently announced her engagement to NXT's Eddy Thorpe, also known as Karl Fredericks. She detailed the proposal on the Zelvx and Charlie Girl podcast with Zelina Vega. Thorpe proposed during an anniversary date after their initial plans fell through.
This shows the high physical cost of modern professional wrestling. Performers manage real concussions, torn ligaments, and theatrical breaks weekly. Navigating the medical clearance process remains the most difficult part of the job.
