Rey Mysterio’s daughter Aalyah could be the next Mysterio to enter the squared circle.
Mysterio was a guest on the Club 520 podcast while in Las Vegas this weekend. During the interview, he spoke about Aalyah having recently trained at the WWE Performance Center.
Mysterio said:
“My daughter just went out to the Performance Center in Orlando, the WWE Performance Center. I had to go back in the ring trying to get cleared from an injury. My daughter had always had the curiosity to step in the ring. She goes, ‘When are you taking me, When are you taking me?’ for about a year and a half. So I said, ‘Okay, I’m going to Orlando. Let’s go.’ She went up with me, she jumped in the ring and she f—ing loved it.”
“She was hitting the ropes, rolling, and tumbling. She was doing all that, the generic stuff, basic stuff, beginner stuff.”
“When you hit those ropes, she was all bruised from her back and shoulders.”
The 24-year-old younger sister of Dominik Mysterio announced on social media earlier this summer that she recently graduated from the University of California San Diego.
Earlier this month, Natalya posted about Aalyah and Rey visiting The Dungeon 2.0 that she runs with husband TJ Wilson in Florida, noting that WWE legend Tatanka and his two sons were also at their facility that day. Natalya wrote, “An insane night of training in The Dungeon. Nights like this set my soul on fire. So much passion and generations of wrestling in one room. It was such an honor having you tonight as a guest @reymysterio. Lessons upon lessons— @NativeTatanka @TJWilson.”
Mysterio’s full interview with The Club 520 podcast is available below:
An insane night of training in The Dungeon. Nights like this set my soul on fire. So much passion and generations of wrestling in one room. It was such an honor having you tonight as a guest @reymysterio. Lessons upon lessons—@NativeTatanka@TJWilsonpic.twitter.com/5uPTqopqpW
Nhooph Al-Areebi, FKA as Aliyah in WWE, has returned to the ring.
WWE released Aliyah in September 2023 after she hadn’t appeared on television in a year. Her last match was when she and Raquel Rodriguez dropped the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to Damage CTRL’s Dakota Kai and IYO Sky on the September 12, 2022, episode of WWE Raw.
Aliyah got back in the ring on Sunday for Destiny Wrestling at an event in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She won the promotion’s Santino Cup Rumble. She later posted about the experience to Instagram, writing, “What a time to be alive.”
The 29-year-old was mentioned in Ronda Rousey’s book Our Fight released earlier this year. In the book, Rousey describes an incident backstage involving Aliyah being told by Bruce Prichard that nobody wanted to work with her, which Rousey says was not the case.
Rousey wrote:
“I was rehearsing in the ring with some of the other girls before doors opened to the fans, when Liv made a beeline to the ring from Gorilla. “Have you seen Aliyah?” she asked. We shook our heads. Aliyah had come up to SmackDown the year before. She had been partnered with Raquel Rodriguez and they’d briefly held the tag team titles, but then Aliyah was sidelined with a shoulder injury.”
“I just ran into her, almost hysterically crying,” (Morgan) explained. “(Aliyah) was asking if it’s true that none of the talent wants to work with her.” We exchanged confused looks. I didn’t know Aliyah well, but I’d had nothing but great interactions with her. She was one of the sweetest girls in the locker room.”
“’Why would she think that?’ I asked. (Morgan responded) ‘They wanted her to come back from her shoulder injury right away, but she said she needed more time. That’s when Bruce Prichard told her that all the producers were trying to bury her and no one wanted to work with her. She was really upset.”
“I felt my jaw and fists clench at the mere mention of his name. Bruce Prichard was another Vince McMahon crony.”
Aliyah (Nhooph Al-Areebi), Rick Boogs (Eric Bugenhagen), Elias (Jeffrey Sciullo), Riddick Moss (Mike Rallis), Top Dolla (AJ Francis), Shelton Benjamin, and Dolph Ziggler (Nic Nemeth) have also been released by WWE. Aliyah and Benjamin announced their departures on social media, while the other releases were reported by Fightful.
“As of today I am no longer apart of WWE,” Aliyah wrote.
“I have been released from my wwe contract,” Benjamin wrote. “I thank @wwe staff, talent, and of course the fans for Everything. Something ends, something new Begins. Looking forward to my next Chapter”
The releases come nine days after Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE became official.
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Less than a year after returning to the company, Emma has been released by WWE.
Emma (real name Tenille Dashwood) announced on Thursday that she’s no longer with WWE. She was previously released by WWE in 2017 but returned last October after five years away.
Earlier this morning, Emma called it a “dream” that WWE is holding Elimination Chamber in her home country of Australia next February. She then posted an update announcing her release.
“Oops nevermind,” Emma wrote. “I just got released… I am no longer with WWE.”
Emma made her return to WWE by answering a SmackDown Women’s Championship open challenge from Ronda Rousey in October 2022.
In 2023, Emma only wrestled nine matches. Her most recent match was a loss to Shayna Baszler on the July 10 episode of Raw.
Emma and Riddick Moss are engaged to be married. The couple revealed their engagement this June. They had been paired together on-screen for a period of time in WWE and worked a program against Karrion Kross and Scarlett.
Before her return to WWE last year, Emma worked for Impact Wrestling.
A unique Women’s Tag Team title match is set for next week’s WWE NXT.
It was announced on Tuesday that Katana Chance and Kayden Carter will defend the titles against Alba Fyre in a 2-on-1 match. After Isla Dawn cost Fyre a match against Sol Ruca, she was about to attack the referee with a baseball bat backstage when the champions came in to stop her. Instead of calming her down, however, the champions ended up getting challenged to a match by Fyre. The announcers later explained that Fyre had refused to find a tag team partner for the match.
Elsewhere, Tiffany Stratton will face Indi Hartwell after a vignette was shown of Hartwell taking over Stratton’s dressing room. Elektra Lopez will also be in action, taking on Wendy Choo.
Segments announced for next week include a Thea Hail award ceremony after she picked up a win over Valentina Feroz on Tuesday’s show. Lopez had come out prior to the finish of the match and handed Feroz a pair of brass knuckles. Feroz refused to use the weapon, but the distraction ultimately cost her the match.
A Vengeance Day summit between new Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, Gigi Dolin, and Jacy Jayne will also take place. Perez, along with Lyra Valkaria, defeated Toxic Attraction on Tuesday’s show.
The new lineup for next week’s NXT:
NXT Women’s Tag Team titles: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter (c) vs. Alba Fyre
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Aliyah has confirmed that she suffered rib and shoulder injuries last month.
In an update posted to her Instagram account on Tuesday, Aliyah stated that she suffered an elevated first rib and AC sprain on the September 12 episode of Raw. Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles to Damage CTRL’s Dakota Kai & IYO SKY on that show.
Aliyah wrote that she doesn’t know when she will return to action, but she can’t wait to get back in the ring. Her full Instagram post is available below:
It’s been a month so here I go straight from the horses mouth:
I have to say my last match was probably one of my most favorite. And I would like to thank my tag partner Raquel and Damage CTRL And everyone involved. Yes I got injured mid match, however I have this overwhelming gratitude towards the incident because I felt like it pulled out a version of me that I never even knew existed. ‘Keep going!’ I remember thinking. ‘I never get opportunities like this one’ another voice in my head screamed. So idc I’m going to keep going and keep showing out. The emotions and energy I was feeling in the moment truly lit me up inside and I felt INDESTRUCTIBLE in that moment (yes, with an elevated first rib and ac sprain and all.)
I am very grateful to get to do what I do and I hope my passion and efforts transcended thru your television screen.
I don’t know what the future holds or when I’ll be back. But I just want to say thank you for everyone that has reached out. I really can’t wait to get back in the ring.
Aliyah & Rodriguez were crowned the winners of WWE’s Women’s Tag Team title tournament this August. They were the first team to hold the titles since Sasha Banks & Naomi walked out of WWE.
Aliyah & Rodriguez held the titles for 14 days before losing to Damage CTRL.
In addition to serving as the go-home show for Clash at the Castle, last night’s Raw featured the crowning of new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
WWE’s Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament concluded with Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah defeating Dakota Kai & IYO SKY to win the titles. Rodriguez & Aliyah are the first team to hold the titles since Sasha Banks & Naomi walked out of Raw this May.
After making a tag that Kai & SKY didn’t see, Aliyah snuck back into the ring and rolled up Kai to win the match.
“The culmination of a tournament featuring some of the brightest stars from the @WWE and @WWENXT Women’s Divisions,” Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted. “Congratulations to @RaquelWWE and @WWE_Aliyah on their #WWERaw MAIN EVENT win and becoming the NEW Women’s Tag Team Champions!!! #JustTheBeginning”
Also on last night’s show, Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins got into a heated war of words ahead of their match at Clash at the Castle, Kurt Angle made an appearance in his hometown of Pittsburgh, and more.
Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah are the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Rodriguez and Aliyah defeated IYO SKY and Dakota Kai in the finals of the WWE Women’s Tag Team tournament in the main event of Monday’s Raw. The finish saw Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka come out, distracting SKY and Kai. Aliyah used the distraction to tag herself in without SKY or Kai seeing. Aliyah then rolled up Kai and pinned her to win the titles for her team.
After the match, Bliss, Asuka, and Belair celebrated with Aliyah and Rodriguez as the show went off the air.
A tournament for the vacant titles began on the August 8 edition of Raw. SKY and Kai defeated Tamina & Dana Brooke and Alexa Bliss & Asuka to advance to the finals. Rodriguez and Aliyah, meanwhile, defeated Natalya and Sonya Deville twice to advance.
The titles were declared vacant back in May when then-champions Sasha Banks and Naomi were stripped of the titles and suspended from the company indefinitely after walking out prior to an episode of Raw.
Date: August 29, 2022 Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA
Show Recap —
AJ Styles entered as the announcers previewed tonight’s show and Dolph Ziggler entered as they played a replay of the Edge/Beth Phoenix/Judgment Day stuff from last week. They really focused heavily on Rhea Ripley during Judgment Day’s entrance and said she might be the most dangerous member of the group.
Finn Bálor & Damian Priest (w/Rhea Ripley) defeated AJ Styles & Dolph Ziggler (8:34)
Styles hit Priest with a diving forearm outside the ring which led to break a minute into the match. Bálor was in control over Ziggler following the break. (They’ve been better lately at showing you what happened during the break but they didn’t do that here.) It seemed like Bálor wanted to try a Styles Clash but Ziggler countered into a fameasser.
There was a weird spot where Priest ducked a forearm and Styles held up so that he wouldn’t hit Bálor (who was on the apron) by accident. Priest shoved Styles who bumped into Bálor anyway and tried a rollup but only got two. Styles followed later with a Calf Crusher but Bálor helped Priest get to the rope.
Ziggler had Priest pinned with a rollup but the ref was distracted by Styles for no reason in particular. Ziggler fended off Bálor with a superkick but Priest dropped him with a South of Heaven chokeslam for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Edge was shown arriving at the arena in a Mercedes SUV.
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Judgment Day paced around the ring after a break. Ripley invited Edge to the ring so she could take what was left of his manhood. Bálor thought it was ridiculous that Rey Mysterio and Edge got their own documentaries but he didn’t. Priest said they weren’t in Toronto where he had Pheonix — the pants wearer of the family — to save him.
Edge entered to a big reaction. Edge informed Priest that both he and Beth wore the pants in their family. He said it was 2022 and told Priest to stop being a caveman or he’ll be single for the rest of his life. The crowd laughed when Edge told them that looked angry and emo, mad that they couldn’t get tickets to My Chemical Romance.
Edge said Judgment Day haven’t learned their lesson because he did not come alone. Dominik and Rey Mysterio attacked them from behind with kendo sticks. A brawl broke out which left Dominik alone in the ring with Ripley.
The crowd encouraged Dominik to attack Ripley. Not only did he not hit her, she calmed him down and convinced him to hand over the stick. Edge and Rey popped back in the ring but Bálor and Priest pulled Ripley away.
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Kevin Patrick asked Miz and Ciampa about what happened with Dexter Lumis last week. Miz didn’t want to talk about Lumis because he doesn’t even work here. Patrick brought up Lumis being arrested on NXT but Miz blew him off.
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Six-woman tag team match: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, Asuka & Alexa Bliss defeated Kayla Sparks, Dani Mo & Katie Arquette (3:19)
Belair gave Sparks a KOD before Asuka tapped out Dani Mo.
(Kayla Sparks, Dani Mo and Katie Arquette didn’t get an official graphic with their names. The announcers seemed to refer to Sparks as “Kay Sparks” and Arquette as “Katie Arq”.)
Belair, Asuka and Bliss cut a promo on Bayley’s crew after the match.
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Adam Pearce told Miz that Lumis was released from police custody because Miz won’t press charges or speak to the authorities. Miz still refused to talk about and told Pearce he wasn’t happy about having to face Bobby Lashley tonight.
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Kurt Angle segment
Angle entered to a big reaction and “you suck” chants during his entrance. He said he was glad to be home before he plugged Clash at the Castle.
Chad Gable and Otis interrupted. Commercial break.
Gable called Angle a personal hero of his. Angle’s story motivated him when he went to the Olympics. Angle reminded him that he won his gold medal with a broken freakin’ neck.
Gable said Alpha Academy was looking for a new member but there wasn’t a shred of talent in Pittsburgh. The crowd booed. Gable said, “There’s an Olympic hero in this ring, not to mention Kurt Angle, so show some respect.” (Angle couldn’t help but laugh.)
Gable offered Angle a membership into Alpha Academy for one night only. Otis gave him an Alpha Academy jacket. Angle tossed it away and turned them down.
Gable couldn’t believe it. Angle said, “it’s true, it’s damn true” but Gable shooshed him. Angle told Gable to shoosh. They yelled “shoosh” at each other.
Gable was pissed and told Otis to go after him. The Street Profits ran out (wearing black and yellow).
Montez Ford challenged them to a match. Gable accepted under one condition: when his team wins, Angle must join Alpha Academy so Gable can coach him to the next level. Angle and the Street Profits accepted.
[SECOND HOUR]
Announced for Clash at the Castle: Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Bálor and Damian Priest.
The Street Profits defeated Alpha Academy (16:04)
This was a really good match where everyone had moments to shine.
They went to break after Gable gave Ford an overhead suplex off the top. Angelo Dawkins made a comeback after the break and gave Gable a Silencer for two. Gable gave him a German suplex and reversed a Ford high cross into a pin for two. Gable followed that with a Northern Lights suplex for two.
Otis slammed Ford before Gable followed with a diving headbutt but Dawkins broke up the cover. Dawkins and Otis took each other out with double clotheslines.
Gable dropped his shoulder straps and applied the ankle lock as he stared at Angle (who was watching from ringside). Ford fought out and applied the ankle lock himself. Ford grapevined the leg and the crowd thought we’d get a finish but Otis broke it up.
Otis confronted Angle so Dawkins wiped him out with an impressive pounce sending him over the announce table.
Dawkins launched Gable into a Ford suplex and Ford finished him off with a frog splash for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Dawkins and Ford gave Angle a red solo cup. Angle took a sip but immediately spat it out. Angle grabbed three bottles of milk for them to drink instead. Angle handed out bottles to the crowd too.
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Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers were shown at ringside.
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Jimmy Smith acknowledged that they had advertised a face-to-face segment between Riddle and Seth Rollins but because of everything that has happened, that wasn’t possible so they’d be interviewed in separate rooms.
They aired “fan footage” of Riddle and Rollins getting into a fight earlier today on top of a parking garage. It was broken up by officials and referees who I guess were parking their cars at the same time.
Riddle/Seth Rollins sit-down interview
Corey Graves hosted the interview and asked them what happened earlier today. Rollins claimed that Riddle was creeping his bus but Riddle denied that and they talked over each other before Graves got them to stop.
Riddle said Rollins was worried that he would embarrass him just like Roman Reigns did and just like Cody Rhodes did. Rollins said nobody liked him and when he ended Riddle on Saturday it would be for everyone. Rollins was happy to put Riddle on the shelf next to Rhodes.
Riddle said he would prove there was only one man in Rollins’ marriage, “and that’s Becky, bro.”
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After a break, they showed more footage of Riddle and Rollins (after they thought the interview was over). Rollins said Riddle didn’t have a wife because she divorced his bitch-ass. Riddle demanded to know where Rollins was and Riddle repeatedly said he would “f*ck” him up.
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They congratulated Bad Bunny on winning an MTV VMA.
Non-title match: United States Champion Bobby Lashley defeated The Miz (w/Ciampa) (10:49)
Lashley was firmly in control until a Ciampa distraction allowed Miz to take control. Lashley came back with suplexes and a chokeslam but Ciampa pulled Miz out of the ring before Lashley could go for a spear. Miz distracted the referee as Ciampa attacked Lashley. Miz hit a low DDT for a nearfall.
Miz set up for Skull Crushing Finale but let go upon seeing Dexter Lumis in the crowd (standing about 25 rows up).
Lashley put Miz in the Hurt Lock for the submission win.
— Miz tried to explain to Ciampa that he saw Lumis but Ciampa didn’t believe him.
(Smith mentioned that Lashley was defending his title but I’m pretty sure this was non-title.)
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There was a funny segment with Edge and Angle backstage. They played off the segment from years ago where Edge showed Angle pictures of their past with insulting messages written on the back. After Edge left, Angle showed the Mysterios one of the pictures only to realize what was written on the back.
[THIRD HOUR]
There was a video on Connor “The Crusher” Michalek and Connor’s Cure.
This Friday on Smackdown: Roman Reigns celebrates two years as champion.
The Usos and Sami Zayn segment
Jimmy and Jey Uso boasted about Reigns’ title reign. Zayn announced that Reigns has named him the master of ceremonies for Friday’s celebration. Jey shot him a look so Zayn went on to boast about the Usos being the best team in WWE.
Kevin Owens interrupted. Owens informed them that their boss Roman still owed him one.
Jey asked Zayn if Owens was his boy. Owens was amused when Jey threatened to “get” Owens if Zayn didn’t do it first.
Zayn told Owens that Reigns didn’t owe him, or anyone, anything. Owens said Zayn was making himself look stupid by hanging out with the Bloodline and letting them treat him the way they do. Owens called Zayn one of the best in-ring performers of all time (the crowd cheered) but now he was their clown. Owens called it sad.
Zayn took it a moment before telling Owens that he didn’t know what he was talking about. He said Jimmy liked him and they did their special handshake. Jey didn’t reciprocate but Zayn said they were working on it. Most importantly, Zayn said that Roman liked him.
Jey mentioned what they did to Drew McIntyre and warned Owens to leave. Owens didn’t care about what they did to McIntyre but he did care what Jey did to him, costing him a chance to end Reigns’ title reign 18 months ago. He said they were celebrating two years of Jey having his head shoved up his cousin’s ass.
Zayn warned Owens that he was inviting Jey to kick his ass. Owens said this is where they get a referee to the ring so they could fight. A ref ran down and they went to break.
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Kevin Owens defeated Tag Team Champion Jey Uso (w/Jimmy Uso & Sami Zayn) (12:26)
Owens was about to give Jey an apron powerbomb but Jimmy distracted him and Jey hit a superkick before hitting a Samoan drop onto the steel steps. After a break, a battle on the top led to Owens hitting a fisherman’s buster. Owens followed later with a Swanton for two.
Jey blocked a stunner before Owens blocked a superkick and hit one of his own. Jey slipped out a pop-up powerbomb, hit a superkick and a diving splash for two. Owens handed out superkicks to both Jey and Jimmy before giving Jey a frog splash for two.
Owens again set up for an apron powerbomb but turned his attention to Zayn. Jey used the distraction to hit a suicide dive.
Jey demanded Zayn grab a chair as Jimmy distracted the ref. Jey held down Owens so that Zayn could hit him but Zayn wouldn’t do it.
As Jimmy admonished Zayn, Owens gave Jey a stunner for the pinfall win.
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Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY did a promo about tonight’s match and the match on Saturday. Basically, they planned on getting to the top and staying there.
Miz was shown frantically leaving the arena (a good 40 minutes after his match ended). As Miz drove off in his SUV, Lumis could be seen sitting in the back.
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Johnny Gargano/Theory segment
This started as an interview with Gargano. He said that “Johnny Wrestling” wasn’t just a nickname — wrestling meant everything to him. The interviewer asked if Theory ruined his return but Gargano said no, he was actually happy to see him.
Gargano spoke about Theory’s talent, which is why he was with him in NXT. Theory had every genetic gift that he didn’t have so didn’t have to start at the bottom. Gargano said he didn’t hear from Theory for nine months, not even after his baby was born.
Theory showed up and asked why Gargano didn’t call him when he was the US title. Theory said Gargano was jealous and he expected more from him. Theory pointed at his MITB briefcase and said it was lonely at the top. He warned Gargano that he was swimming with the sharks now.
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The announcers ran down the Clash of the Castle card. There was also a video package highlighting the two teams fighting for the Women’s tag team titles.
Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah defeated Dakota Kai & IYO SKY (w/Bayley) (11:17)
Kai and SKY drove Aliyah into the steel steps and Kai hit Rodriguez with a PK which led to break. Kai and SKY used a combination of strikes on Rodriguez to remain in control. Rodriguez launched SKY into Kai but couldn’t tag out because Aliyah was down from being knocked into the steps again.
Rodriguez made a comeback anyway and gave SKY an elbow drop for two. SKY responded with a Code Red for two. Rodriguez turned SKY inside out with a clothesline but SKY got an assist from Bayley as Kai distracted the referee. Kai hit a running boot and SKY followed with the moonsault but Rodriguez kicked out.
Belair, Bliss and Asuka marched out to chase away Bayley.
As SKY and Kai were distracted, Aliyah tagged herself in and hid. SKY and Kai double-teamed Rodriguez but Aliyah slipped in the ring and rolled up Kai to score the pinfall win.
Belair, Asuka and Bliss congratulated Rodriguez and Aliyah who posed with their new belts as fireworks went off.
(This was an odd way to end the tournament and crown new champions. Aliyah was absent for most of the match and they didn’t exactly come across like the better team.)
The finals for the Women’s Tag Team title tournament has been set.
Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah will face Dakota Kai and IYO SKY on this coming Monday’s Raw to determine the new Women’s Tag Team Champions. Rodriguez & Aliyah defeated Sonya Deville & Natalya to advance, with Rodriguez pinning Deville with the Tejana bomb.
Earlier in the show, Deville and Natalya won a four-way last chance match to advance to the semifinals. Although they were eliminated in the first round of the tournament by Toxic Attraction, the last chance match was made after Gigi Dolin suffered a concussion, taking the team out of the tournament.
The winners of the match on Raw will win the vacated championships. Sasha Banks and Naomi, the former champions, were stripped of the titles and suspended indefinitely by WWE back in May after walking out of an episode of Raw.
Here is what has been announced for Raw:
WWE Women’s Tag Team titles: IYO SKY & Dakota Kai vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah
Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah have made it to the next round of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament.
Rodriguez and Aliyah defeated Shotzi and Xia Li to open Friday’s SmackDown. Rodriguez scored the win for her team after hitting the Tejana bomb on Li after Shotzi was speared by Aliyah.
During the match, Natalya and Sonya Deville came out to watch the goings-on in the ring. They were eventually driven out after being attacked by both teams. They will face the NXT team of Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark on next week’s SmackDown.
Raw on Monday saw the start of the tournament, which had IYO SKY and Dakota Kai defeat Tamina and Dana Brooke to advance. Next week’s Raw will see Asuka and Alexa Bliss take on Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team titles were declared vacant back in May after Sasha Banks and Naomi were stripped of the titles for walking out prior to an episode of Raw. On last week’s Raw, it was announced the tournament would begin the following Monday.
A Women’s Tag Team title tournament match is set for this week’s episode of SmackDown.
WWE has announced that Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah will take on Shotzi & Xia Li in a Women’s Tag Team title tournament first-round match on SmackDown this Friday night. The winning team will advance to face either Natalya & Sonya Deville or Nikkita Lyons & Zoey Stark in the semifinals.
The Women’s Tag Team title tournament began with Dakota Kai & IYO SKY defeating Dana Brooke & Tamina on Raw this Monday. Kai & SKY’s semifinal opponents will be either Asuka & Alexa Bliss or Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team titles were declared vacant after Sasha Banks & Naomi walked out of Raw this May.
It’s also been announced that a contract signing for Liv Morgan and Shayna Baszler’s SmackDown Women’s Championship match at Clash at the Castle will take place on SmackDown this Friday. Baszler won a gauntlet match last week to become the number one contender to Morgan’s title.
The updated lineup for this week’s SmackDown is listed below:
Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE Women’s Tag Team title first-round match: Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah vs. Shotzi & Xia Li
Tamina has replaced Alyiah in tonight’s women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match.
A match between Shotzi and Tamina was announced shortly before tonight’s show started. It has not been announced why Alyiah was removed from tonight’s show, which takes place in Austin, Texas.
The winner between Tamina and Shotzi will move on to the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, which takes place on July 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Participants that have already qualified include Lacey Evans, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Asuka.
Another qualifying match will also take place tonight, with Sami Zayn taking on Shinsuke Nakamura for a spot in the men’s ladder match.
Here is the current card for tonight’s SmackDown:
Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Ricochet
Money in the Bank qualifying match: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Money in the Bank qualifying match: Shotzi vs. Tamina
Drew McIntyre will “explain the path he will take to claim the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship”
Two matches have been announced for tonight’s Hell in a Cell go-home edition of SmackDown.
The Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles will be on the line as The Usos defend against Riddle & Shinsuke Nakamura tonight. Riddle & Nakamura earned the title shot by defeating The Usos by disqualification on Raw this Monday.
The Usos got themselves disqualified in Monday’s non-title match when they attacked Riddle with his own scooter.
The Usos became the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions when they defeated Riddle & Randy Orton in a title unification match on SmackDown two weeks ago. Following that match, there was an angle where Roman Reigns and The Usos attacked Riddle and Orton. Orton hasn’t appeared on WWE television since then.
It’s also been announced that there will be a six-pack challenge on SmackDown tonight. The winner will become the number one contender to Ronda Rousey’s SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya, Shayna Baszler, Xia Li, Shotzi, and Aliyah will be the participants in the six-pack challenge.
WWE’s announcement didn’t confirm when the winner will be getting their title shot against Rousey.
The Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio is hosting tonight’s SmackDown. Here’s the updated lineup for the episode:
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Riddle & Shinsuke Nakamura
Number one contender’s six-pack challenge: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Xia Li vs. Shotzi vs. Aliyah
A SmackDown Women’s Championship match, as well as a match between Natalya and Aliyah, has been announced for next week’s program.
Charlotte will defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Naomi. The match was made tonight after Sonya Deville suggested the match in a backstage segment where Naomi confronted Deville following the events of the Royal Rumble. Naomi didn’t believe Deville, but Adam Pearce confirmed that the match was set.
Aliyah and Natalya have been feuding for the last several weeks after Alyiah pinned Natalya in 3.17 seconds on a recent episode of SmackDown, breaking a WWE record. This has infuriated Natalya, who now holds several Guinness World Records. The two had a match tonight that led to Aliyah winning by count out.
Natalya backstage then proposed a match to Deville where she would face Aliyah in a match next week where the match can only be won by pinfall or submission. Deville agreed to the match. Later, Natalya went to confront Aliyah in the women’s locker room, but Xia Li then walked out, intimidating Natalya.
SmackDown next week will take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
WWE has made a few announcements for tonight’s episode of SmackDown.
Former Shield stablemates Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins will take part in a face-to-face segment tonight. Reigns is defending his Universal Championship against Rollins at the Royal Rumble on Saturday, January 29.
Last Friday, there was an angle where Adam Pearce had to decide Reigns’ Royal Rumble challenger before the end of the show. At the end of the night, Reigns received a knock at his door. It was revealed to be Rollins, who laughed hysterically as Reigns looked befuddled.
Rollins is a member of the Raw roster. He defeated Big E this Monday.
It’s also been announced that WWE Hall of Famer Lita will make her return to SmackDown tonight. It will be her first SmackDown appearance in nearly 20 years.
Aliyah and Natalya are two of the other wrestlers who have been confirmed for the women’s Rumble. They’ll face off in a singles match tonight. It will be Aliyah’s first singles match on SmackDown since being called up from NXT and the first time she’s wrestled since November.
Plus, Sami Zayn will host the premiere of his new stunt show “InZayn” tonight. WWE is hyping that Zayn has promised to “out-‘Jackass'” Johnny Knoxville after the “Jackass” star threw him out of the ring last week. Knoxville will be an entrant in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match.
Tonight’s SmackDown is being held at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.
