Tag: fatal influence

Four WWE tag teams that could reinvigorate their divisions | Opinion 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

WWE has reportedly been discussing an overhaul of the tag team division following recent talent cuts, seemingly intensified after the departures of the Motor City Machine Guns and the New Day, two instrumental tag teams in the last decade+.

Their exits, particularly Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, left noticeable gaps in star power in the tag team division. 

WWE already has several potential tag teams in place that could help re-shape both the men’s and women’s tag divisions. Let’s take a look.

Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley

Fatal Influence made a statement debut on the April 24 edition of WWE SmackDown. Led by Jacy Jayne, the stable attacked during Brie Bella and Paige’s Women’s Tag Team Title defense against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. 

Jayne confronted Rhea Ripley later that same night and they squared off in an impromptu singles match. Her extensive time on the NXT roster has familiarized her with fans. Meanwhile, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley’s pairing has the potential to take over the division as their presentation and chemistry as a team could evolve to strengthen themselves as challengers for tag team gold. 

Additionally, it would prove beneficial especially at a time when the division is in need of newer, long-term teams beyond temporary and outdated pairings.

Rey Mysterio & Rey Fenix 

While not an official tag team, Mysterio and Fenix’s union has proven to be entertaining and charismatic in previous matches. The two share and complement each other’s wrestling styles.

Following Mysterio’s injury earlier this year, he participated in the ladder match at WrestleMania for the Intercontinental Title. Despite still showcasing in-ring agility that defined his early years, the new AAA general manager could benefit from a tag team alliance with Fenix.

Fenix recently teased the pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship, currently held by his brother Penta. He remains a fan favorite, but has yet to win a title in the company. WWE could utilize the tag team momentum to give him his first championship win. Simultaneously teaming up with someone of Mysterio’s stature would permit the veteran to take fewer bumps and still continue a prominent on-screen presence.

The Creed Brothers

Brutus and Julian Creed were dominant and athletically impressive on NXT. They joined the Raw roster in 2023 and shortly after, won a tag team turmoil match to contend for the undisputed Tag Team Titles. 

Barely a year later, they joined forces with Chad Gable but ultimately lost their identity as a tag team. Earlier this month, they were introduced as Bruto Credo and Julio Credo (Los Americanos Hermanos), joining the Original El Grande Americano in his battle against Los Americanos. 

If the main roster audience is introduced to their former versions portrayed on NXT, they have potential to establish themselves as one of WWE’s finest tag teams. Their combination of amateur wrestling with intense in-ring athleticism already has sturdy credibility already built in. 

Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

Bayley’s hard fought battle to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles has not been fruitful for more than a year now. Becky Lynch replaced her to team up with Lyra Valkyria at WrestleMania 41 to win the championship. 

This year, Bayley and Valkyria competed in a fatal four-way match for the titles again, but came up short. Despite the losses, the pairing has showcased a balanced chemistry with Bayley’s veteran leadership and Valkyria’s rising star momentum.

Bayley’s influence on women’s wrestling has extended beyond WWE, particularly through the Lodestone Wrestling Seminars. 

WWE has lacked consistent tag teams in the women’s division. Most have stemmed from mutual convenience or short-term storylines, case in point, Paige’s return to replace Nikki Bella.

AJ Styles endorses Fatal Influence’s heel work on WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

AJ Styles gave Fatal Influence the ultimate heel endorsement for their impact within their limited duration on WWE SmackDown. 

On the latest episode of the Phenomenally Retro Podcast Styles commended Fatal Influence’s heel work and reactions from fans despite their appearances on two episodes of SmackDown.

“Well, what I like about that group is, they look like the kind of people that would bully my daughter. Yeah. That makes me mad. And so I was like ‘Oh, I was like, they’re doing so good, you know, it’s the opposite how I would feel’ but knowing what they’re doing and how they’re doing their job and they’re doing it well ‘This is it.’ And so I’m like, ‘All right, keep doing what you’re doing. This is good. This is good stuff.’” 

Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid officially transitioned to the main roster on the SmackDown after WrestleMania. For Jayne it was a comeback after her participation in the Women’s Tag Team Titles Tournament with Gigi Dolin in August 2022. 

Fatal Influence interrupted Paige and Brie Bella’s title defense against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Later that night, Jayne confronted Rhea Ripley and faced her in a singles match. The group drew immediate boos from fans with their presence which established themselves as heels. 

Last week, Jayne defeated Flair, with some assistance from Reid and Henley, further positioning their stance on the SmackDown roster. 

Fatal Influence join WWE SmackDown roster

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Fatal Influence made quite the impression on their first night on SmackDown.

Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid all made their presence felt immediately on Friday, attacking Paige, Brie Bella, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair during a Women’s Tag Team title match. Later in the night, Rhea Ripley came out to talk about her match against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania when the trio interrupted her.

After Jayne, Henley, and Reid introduced themselves, Nick Aldis came out and welcomed the group to SmackDown. He made a match between Jayne and Ripley to take place right then and there. The two wrestled but the match ended in a disqualification when Henley and Reid entered the ring and attacked Ripley, giving Jayne an opening to lay out Ripley with the rolling encore.

Later backstage, Flair and Bliss were being checked on by medical when Ripley walked in, also hurt. She asked Flair if they had a problem. Bliss suggested that they all take on Fatal Influence together, but Flair instead said she would take on Jayne next week, quickly making it clear she wanted nothing to do with Ripley.

Fatal Influence was last seen on week one of WWE NXT Revenge, which saw Lola Vice retain the NXT Women’s Championship over Jayne.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Ricky Saints, number one contender’s gauntlet part of next week’s WWE NXT lineup

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Following an event-worthy March 17 episode of WWE NXT and Booker T appreciation night, WWE has already announced another packed NXT episode for next week.

Next week’s March 24 episode of WWE NXT is scheduled to take place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

While this week’s episode has three title matches, next week’s will be more about a number one contender chance.

A Gauntlet Eliminator match has been scheduled to determine the number one contender for Myles Borne’s NXT North American Championship at the Stand and Deliver PLE on April 4, 2026. Ricky Saints, with Ethan Page in his corner, will also take on Tony D’Angelo.

Eli Knight & Elio LeFluer will also take on The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) in the Tag tournament match for the NXT Tag title shot. Below are several other matches announced.

Update lineup for next week’s WWE NXT

  • Ricky Saints (with Ethan Page) vs. Tony D’Angelo
  • Gauntlet Eliminator for a shot at Myles Borne’s North American title at NXT Stand and Deliver
  • Sol Ruca and Zaria to meet face-to-face
  • Eli Knight & Elio LeFluer vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) – Tag tournament match for the NXT Tag title shot
  • Thea Hail vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley) vs. Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey

Tag team match added to WWE NXT lineup

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On the road to New Year’s Evil, Kendal Grey is set to face off against Fatal Influence in tag team action.

It’s been announced that Grey & Wren Sinclair vs. Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid will take place on NXT this coming Tuesday. The matchup continues the build to Grey challenging Fatal Influence leader Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Championship at New Year’s Evil 2026.

Grey — the Evolve Women’s Champion and one of NXT’s brightest up-and-coming stars — won the women’s Iron Survivor Challenge match last weekend at NXT Deadline. The victory earned her this upcoming title shot against Jayne on the special New Year’s Evil episode of NXT that’s set for January 6.

Following Deadline, an angle took place on NXT where Fatal Influence beat down Grey and her friend Sinclair.

The updated card for Tuesday’s NXT episode can be seen below:

WWE NXT (Tuesday, December 16) —

  • NXT Championship number one contender’s match: Joe Hendry vs. Myles Borne vs. Leon Slater vs. Dion Lennox (winner challenges Oba Femi at New Year’s Evil)
  • NXT Women’s North American Champion Blake Monroe defends against Thea Hail
  • Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair vs. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)
  • Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Bronco Nima & Lucien Price

WWE announces opening match for NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has revealed the opening match for tonight’s NXT episode.

A six-woman tag bout will open the show with Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame & Lola Vice taking on Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid). Paxley, the NXT Women’s Champion, defeated Jayne for the belt at Halloween Havoc and is still feuding with Fatal Influence.

In her title reign, Paxley has promised to be a fighting champion. Her first title defense was against Vice last week. It ended in a no contest after Fatal Influence interrupted and laid out both.

Tonight’s NXT will continue the build to Gold Rush 2025 — a two-week TV special that’s airing on November 18 and November 25. The next NXT PLE is Deadline on December 6.

Here is the updated card for tonight:

WWE NXT (Tuesday, November 4) —

  • WWE Speed Women’s Championship tournament begins
  • Je’Von Evans vs. Saquon Shugars
  • Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame & Lola Vice vs. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)

Jacy Jayne addresses change to WWE NXT faction

Posted on by Joseph Currier

When there are unexpected changes in her WWE NXT career, Jacy Jayne’s mindset is to just adapt and move forward.

Fatal Influence — Jayne’s NXT faction — recently had a departure when Jazmyn Nyx made the decision not to renew her WWE contract. In Nyx’s place, Lainey Reid has been added to the group and now works alongside original members Jayne and Fallon Henley. Tuesday night’s NXT episode saw Jayne & Reid defeat Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame in a tag match.

Jayne addressed the change to Fatal Influence during an appearance on Busted Open Radio this week. While stopping just short of calling Reid an upgrade over Nyx, Jayne had high praise for her new partner.

“I think it’s still too soon to really say anything,” Jayne responded when asked if this is an improved version of Fatal Influence. “We had our first match, me and Lainey together, [on Tuesday]. Before that, we had had a singles match and I felt like we had great chemistry right off the bat.

“I definitely think Lainey is a huge — I don’t want to say upgrade because that’s so mean, but, you know, she’s definitely going to fit the part and she’s going to do a good job. She’s a great worker. She’s like a sponge. She listens to everything. She takes everything in really well.”

Earlier in her career, Jayne was a member of Toxic Attraction — a faction that also changed unexpectedly when Mandy Rose was released from WWE. Jayne has learned that you need to be adaptable to thrive in pro wrestling.

“But, you know, I’m kind of used to new partners all the time,” she told Busted Open Radio. “This isn’t anything new to me. It’s all part of adapting. Things change all the time. This is show business — last-minute changes, things you never thought would happen, you just have to go with the flow and figure it out as you go.”

Jayne is set to defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Paxley at Halloween Havoc this Saturday. Despite Paxley losing the tag match on NXT, she was able to stand tall heading into the PLE after fighting off an attack by Jayne and the rest of Fatal Influence.

WWE NXT notes: New Fatal Influence member, tag team returns

Posted on by Bryan Rose

News and notes coming from Tuesday’s NXT.

OTM made their return on NXT, attacking Chase U, Hank & Tank, and the Culling while they were wrestling a triple threat tag team match. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price laid out all three teams in dominant fashion, cementing themselves as future contenders. It was later announced that they would be back in action next week against Hank & Tank.

The two haven’t teamed together since January of this year, out of action due to injuries.

During Tuesday’s show, a video package aired of Fatal Influence explaining that Jazmyn Nyx was eliminated by someone that wanted to prove their loyalty to them in a way that “the other” never did. It was then revealed that Laney Reid was sitting next to them. Reid said that falling short against Jayne earlier this year made her realize that in order to get like the NXT Women’s Champion, she needs to follow in her direction. Jayne then welcomed Reid as the newest member of Fatal Influence.

The trio eventually returned at the end of the night, when Tatum Paxley won a battle royal to become the new number one contender for Jayne’s title. The show ended with the new trio staring down Paxley, who celebrated with longtime friend Lyra Valkyria.

Fatal Influence segment set for WWE NXT

Posted on by Ian Carey

A new segment has been announced for tomorrow’s edition of WWE NXT. 

Fans will “hear from” Fatal Influence on the show. The segment follows Fallon Henley successfully defending her NXT Women’s North American title against former champion Kelani Jordan last week, thanks in part to ringside interference from Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx.

WWE announced the segment on Monday, writing:

“After @FallonHenleyWWE successfully defended her Women’s North American Title last week, we will hear from Fatal Influence TOMORROW on #WWENXT!”

The lineup for the Tuesday, November 19 WWE NXT: 

  • NXT Championship number one contender’s match, winner faces Trick Williams at Deadline: Andre Chase vs. Ridge Holland [Chase U must disband if Chase loses]
  • Karmen Petrovic & Ashante Adonis vs. Brinley Reece & Dion Lennox
  • Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen
  • Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match: Zaria vs. Wren Sinclair
  • Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match: Nathan Frazer vs. Eddy Thorpe
  • Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jaida Parker
  • We’ll hear from Fatal Influence

Fatal Influence in-ring debut booked for next WWE NXT

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The in-ring debut of a new group is set for the Tuesday, August 27 WWE NXT.

Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Jazmyn Nyx reintroduced themselves as ‘Fatal Influence’ during this week’s NXT show with a backstage promo noting that they are in NXT because they love the wrestling business, unlike some newcomers who joined the company because of their social media following or athletic pedigree:

Henley & Jayne will be in action as Fatal Influence on next week’s show against Meta-Four’s Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson.

A mixed trios match is also set for next week’s show, with No Quarter Catch Crew’s Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne, and Wren Sinclair facing Stacks Lorenzo, Luca Crusifino, and Adriana Rizzo.

A grudge match is also set for next week, with Karmen Petrovic taking on Izzi Dame. Dame took Petrovic out in the NXT parking lot in an angle airing on this week’s show, costing Petrovic her spot in the number one contender’s gauntlet match on Tuesday’s show.

Next week’s WWE NXT episode is being taped Tuesday night, August 20. The announced card for the show:

  • Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne) vs. Meta-Four (Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson)
  • Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne & Wren Sinclair vs. Stacks Lorenzo, Luca Crusifino & Adriana Rizzo
  • Karmen Petrovic vs. Izzi Dame