February 25, 2026

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Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Bayley, and more donate to help WWE star after tragic accident

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WWE official Daphanie LaShaunn (aka AJ Smith) recently met with a heartbreaking personal tragedy. Several people, including RAW stars Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, and Bayley, donated to help the referee.

This Thursday, the 31-year-old disclosed that she lost her grandma, grandpa, uncle, and cousin in a house fire incident. LaShaunn added that her cousin’s family of seven was displaced, and she started a fundraiser to help them.

As of this writing, a total of 611 donations had come in, raising over $78.6K out of the $90K goal. Many stars from the world of professional wrestling have donated to the cause. Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, and Bayley donated $5K each.

Below is a screenshot of the top donators, including Rhea Ripley (Demiti Bennett), Liv Morgan (Gionna Daddio), and Bayley (Pamela Martinez):

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List of top donors to Daphanie LaShaunn's fundraiser (Image via Smith's GoFundMe page)
List of top donors to Daphanie LaShaunn’s fundraiser (Image via Smith’s GoFundMe page)

Daphanie LaShaunn attended a tryout at the WWE Performance Center in December 2019. She signed with the Stamford-based wrestling promotion in February 2020 and started out by officiating matches on NXT.

Daphanie LaShaunn and a former WWE Superstar recently met with a car accident

Daphanie LaShaunn and her husband, former WWE NXT star Leon Ruff, were involved in a car crash last month.

Leon Ruff made the revelation with a post on Instagram. The former NXT North American Champion noted that they were “rear-ended” and the car was totaled. He added that they were shaken up by the accident and LaShaunn was more hurt than him.

“Earlier today, my wife and I were rear-ended on the road. We just got home from the hospital and we’re both sore and shaken up. I’m alright, but Aja is hurting more than I am. Unfortunately, the car is totaled. If anyone has any connections to bookers or upcoming shows, I’d truly appreciate the opportunity to pick up some extra bookings. Please drive safe and always wear your seatbelt,” Ruff wrote.

Ruff was released from World Wrestling Entertainment in August 2021. He made several appearances in AEW in 2022 and early 2023. The 29-year-old currently works on the indies.