Brie Bella And Paige Make Their First Titles Defense, More SmackDown News
Women’s Wrestling notes from WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Tulsa, OK live on USA Network tonight:
Jacy Jayne (with Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) pinned Charlotte Flair (with Alexa Bliss) after the Rolling Encore in 10:02. Henley interfered when Flair had Jayne in the Figure Eight by pulling Flair’s hands out from under her to collapse her as Reid and Jayne distracted the referee. Bliss decked Henley for it but then Reid knocked Bliss down. Flair and Reid tried to fight the heels off after the match but they were outnumbered. Rhea Ripley made the save. Both Flair and Bliss and Jayne’s Fatal Influence stable want a WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles shot. Flair shook Ripley’s hand for helping her and Bliss out. Earlier in the night, Ripley approached Bliss and Flair backstage to offer her assistance against Fatal Influence. Bliss was eager to take the offer but Flair politely turned Ripley down at the time.
Byron Saxton interviewed the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige backstage to talk about their problems with Fatal Influence and what they just saw on the TV monitors. Bella said Fatal Influence’s actions will eventually catch up to them and bite them in the end. Paige agreed and said karma is real. They then talked about having to get by Nia Jax and Lash Legend tonight before they can deal with Fatal Influence or anyone else. Saxton and Bella once again welcomed Paige back to WWE.
The new WWE Women’s United State Champion Tiffany Stratton was interviewed backstage by Cathy Kelley. Stratton said she will start doing an Open Challenge beginning next week. She also made sure to mention that it’s her birthday today. Chelsea Green rolled up in the wheelchair and said she had a present for Stratton. She popped out of the wheelchair and said the gift was her finally being able to walk again after the injury. She said she wanted to go out for drinks with Stratton to celebrate her birthday. Stratton was annoyed and said she couldn’t think of a worse idea. Green bragged and reminded Stratton that she was the first WWE Women’s U.S. Champion. Giulia and Kiana James interrupted them. James said Giulia wants a rematch and she will take Stratton up on the Open Challenge. Stratton picked James to defend against for next week instead. Stratton walked away and Green acted all excited and followed behind her as she seems to be trying to force an alliance with her.
Byron Saxton interviewed Nia Jax and Brie Bella backstage. They said they didn’t get pinned to lose the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania (Night 1) because Paige and Bella pinned Alexa Bliss to win the titles in the 4-Way Titles Match that also included Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. That’s why they’re getting a rematch tonight. They said they will end “the nostalgia act” of Paige and Bella and put them back on the couch next to Nikki Bella.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige defeated Nia Jax and Lash Legend when Bella pinned Jax in 7:47. Jax was trying to give Bella an Annihilator Splash but Paige kicked Jax’s leg out from under her to allow Bella to get the pin after Legend accidentally distracted the referee.
They announced Ripley, Flair, and Bliss vs. Fatal Influence in a 6-Man Tag Team Match for next week.
They announced the first hour of WWE Backlash will be live on ESPN 2 on May 9.
