Jade Cargill sustains eye injury, stitches after SmackDown

Jade Cargill was cut above the right eye and required stitches after a Triple Threat match on Friday's episode of WWE SmackDown, officials and backstage sources said, but the former AEW star is not expected to need surgery and could be cleared to return to action within weeks. The 33 year old participated in the main event for the WWE Women's Championship against champion Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax in the Stamford based promotion's live television slot, where Stratton ultimately retained the title.

The injury occurred during the closing sequence when Jax slammed Cargill's head into the steel steps at ringside, leaving a visible gash that produced significant bleeding. Cargill later posted a graphic photo of the wound to social media and wrote, "Don't question the love I have for this game," signaling she was lucid and engaged with fans after the incident. Backstage reports say she required stitches but did not undergo plastic surgery, and there has been no indication she has been removed from upcoming travel or programming.

The match's finish drew immediate scrutiny. Accounts of the bout say Stratton was late to break up a pin Cargill had on Jax, a sequence that contributed to...