New Women's Tag-Team Champs Crowned On SmackDown (WWE News)
Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY lost the WWE Women's Tag Titles on this week's SmackDown.
Lash Legend pinned Rhea Ripley on this past Friday's episode of SmackDown to bag the WWE Women's Tag-Team Titles for herself and partner Nia Jax. This is a huge show of faith in Lash, in particular. Pinning a worker with the star power of Ripley is massive for her, but the creative decision does maybe give the game away on where plans are headed come Elimination Chamber on Saturday in Chicago.
Rhea is involved in the women's Chamber bout to determine who faces Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42. Now, it looks fairly clear that 'Mami' will win that match (Tiffany Stratton is another favourite to take the 'W') then target Jade's Women's Title on the grandest stage in Las Vegas this April.
Cargill did confront Ripley during a short backstage segment on SmackDown. However, it's worth saying that Jade also has beef with everyone from Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss to Michin and B-FAB. Yes, that latter mini-story is still ongoing as part of weekly TV.
RHIYO beat Kabuki Warriors duo Asuka and Kairi Sane to win the titles on the 5 January edition of Raw. In total, their tag title reign lasted 53 days before the loss to Jax and Legend. Collectively, the latter pairing are known as The Irresistible Forces, and it's pretty obvious that the writing team are serious about them.
If Rhea is heading for 'Mania and a showdown with Jade, then it'll be interesting to find out what WWE has in mind for IYO. She's been a major player in the women's division for years now, so it'd be somewhat strange if she didn't have much to do across both nights in April.