Stephanie Vaquers emotional Spanish-language sit-down promo on the May 20 episode of WWE NXT was meant to be a moment of authenticity and representation. But for some fans, it became a reason to lash out with hateand that didnt sit well with Dave LaGreca and Thunder Rosa.
During a Busted Open Radio segment on May 21, both hosts got real, raw, and furious over the online backlash aimed at Vaquer, who was targeted with xenophobic comments for not cutting her promo in English. Some fans tweeted she needs to learn English if she wants to succeed in WWE. That triggered one of the most emotional shoot segments in Busted Open history. LaGreca started calmbut didnt stay that way for long.
He went on to praise Stephanie Vaquer:
Then LaGreca erupted:
When Thunder Rosa didnt jump in immediately, LaGreca doubled down:
Thunder Rosa, who has lived through similar attacks as a Mexican-born wrestler, followed with one of the most heartfelt rants of her career.
Rosa credited Vaquers promo team for understanding how to tell a story without needing perfect English.
She described the emotional exhaustion of constantly being judged for language instead of talent:
Rosa continued, addressing both listeners and haters:
This wasnt just another segmentit was a turning point. One where racism, xenophobia, and outdated gatekeeping in wrestling were put on blast, live and unfiltered.
Do you believe language barriers should limit opportunities in pro wrestling? Or is emotional connection more important than fluency? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let your voice be heard.
Do you think promos need to be in English to connect, or is WWE finally ready to embrace a global voice? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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