WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Changes Hands on SmackDown

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship saw a new duo emerge as champions during “Friday Night SmackDown.” Initially, Fatal Influence’s Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid were set to defend their titles against Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley.

However, the match lineup shifted as Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab ambushed Flair backstage, leaving her unable to participate. In Flair’s absence, Alexa Bliss stepped up to join Paxley in the title match.

It seemed Henley and Reid might resort to unsportsmanlike methods to retain their titles. Henley had Paxley pinned, leveraging the ropes with Reid’s help. The referee caught the cheating and halted her count. While Reid’s attention was elsewhere, Bliss attacked her, executing the Sister Abigail maneuver outside the ring.

Distracted, Henley lost focus, allowing Paxley to perform the Cemetery Drive on her. Paxley secured the pin, leading to her and Bliss celebrating victory in the ring as new champions, leaving Henley and Reid in disbelief.

Henley and Reid’s championship reign concluded after 83 days. They originally claimed the titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, overcoming Brie Bella and Paige.

This title marks Paxley’s first main roster championship, highlighting her rise since debuting in August. Her background includes holding the NXT Women’s Championship, NXT Women’s North American Championship, and NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship.

Since her debut on SmackDown, Paxley played a key role alongside Bliss and Flair to counter attacks from Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab. Despite ongoing challenges from that group, Bliss and Paxley now have the championship gold to celebrate.

For Bliss, this victory adds to her record as a five-time tag team champion. Her previous partners included Flair, Asuka, and former WWE star Nikki Cross.