14 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown Superstar Shake-Up

6. 8-Woman Madness

Kairi Sane Elbow Drop Peyton Royce
WWE.com

An eight-woman tag unfolded soon after the clusterf*ck segment. These matches are often pointless, but this one worked, with the babyface side looking particularly strong in victory.

Highlighting Kairi Sane and Asuka was a clear priority. The Japanese stars showed great cohesion as they worked together for the first time on main roster television, battering Mandy Rose with a coordinated double-team assault. Big dives and high spots followed as the bout moved into the next gear. The heels got their heat after that, cutting Bayley off as Mandy, Sonya Deville, and Peyton Royce ground her down, before the signature move shoot-out kicked in during the closing stretch, culminating with Asuka drilling Royce with a DDT followed by Kairi's Insane Elbow and the 1-2-3.

That an IIconic took the pin is problematic, but we've already dived into that. Deville or Rose should have fallen here. Regardless, Sane and Asuka looked strong, and they'll almost certainly be presented as The IIconics' first true title challengers now.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.