Tag: Naomi

Naomi replacing Jade Cargill as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Naomi has replaced Jade Cargill as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Bianca Belair.

In a backstage segment on Friday’s WWE SmackDown, GM Nick Aldis told Belair that he was forcing her to relinquish the Women’s Tag Team titles as the investigation into who attacked Cargill in a backstage angle continues.

Naomi offered to step in for Cargill, and Aldis relented under the condition that the duo defend the Tag titles on next week’s SmackDown.

Later in the show, Belair and Naomi defending the Women’s Tag Team titles against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae was announced for next week’s SmackDown.

The Cargill injury angle took place on the November 22 SmackDown, with the star shown laying on the hood of a car.

The most recent Women’s Tag Team title defense came on the November 11 edition of WWE Raw, with Belair and Cargill retaining over Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in that contest.

WWE SmackDown live results: Two championship matches

Posted on by Colin McGuire

After picking up a series of high-profile wins in recent weeks, Naomi will get her shot at Nia Jax’s WWE Women’s Championship on tonight’s SmackDown from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Naomi defeated Jax on the October 11 edition of SmackDown and also picked up a win over Tiffany Stratton the week prior.

In other championship action, WWE Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) will defend their belts against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins). This will be the first time the two teams have ever faced each other.

Also slated for tonight is the beginning of the inaugural Women’s United States title tournament. First up will be a triple threat between Bayley, Candice LeRae, and B-Fab.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes is slated to kick off the episode. He was last seen riding in an ambulance with Randy Orton last week after Kevin Owens landed a much-discussed piledriver on Orton.

**********

– Michael Cole welcomed everyone into the show as footage of Nia Jax, Naomi, the Motor City Machine Guns and the Street Profits entering the building from earlier in the day aired. The show went to the ring, where Cody’s music hit.

The Cody Rhodes segment

Cody showed good fire here and it was nice to see Aldis get some significant live television time in front of the crowd. Because Code-Man (I still can’t believe Cody referenced Orton calling him Code-Man out loud here) appeared in fighting clothes, I sort of thought we’d either get a match or a brawl of some sort, but maybe he’s already on his way to Georgia for College Gameday by the time these words even hit the internet. Either way, it was good logic for why he’s so fired up about Owens doing what he did to Orton and I still commend everyone involved, including the company, for selling the piledriver’s danger as a move. This wasn’t special, but it moved the story forward and sometimes, that’s all you need.

Cody made his entrance not in a suit, and instead in sweat pants and a t-shirt. Cody looked angry and focused as footage from last week’s piledriver angle was shown. Cody said, “Kevin Owens, you have crossed quite the line,” and then called for Owens to come to the ring. Nothing happened, so Cody yelled for Owens to appear. Nick Aldis, instead, walked to the ring with a microphone. Aldis said he knew Cody was angry and Aldis noted how Orton has severe cervical trauma.

Aldis explained how and why the piledriver has been banned in WWE for so many years. Aldis said Owens crossed a line last week and until things are figured out, Aldis cannot have Owens at the shows. Cody said Aldis was giving Owens what he wanted and instead, Aldis should let Cody handle things. Cody kept going on and Aldis stopped Cody from talking. Aldis asked Cody if he thought it was about money because he knew it wasn’t about money. Aldis said if he gives the roster an inch, they take a mile. Aldis said Owens cannot be at the shows until the situation is resolved internally.

Cody questioned “internally?” Cody asked Aldis to “be real,” and said he knows Aldis is a wrestler and a good man. Cody asked Aldis if he was the one in the ambulance with Orton and how Aldis would react. Cody referenced his celebration at WrestleMania 40 and how Orton told Cody he was proud of him and it was a moment he’d cherish forever. Cody noted how it bothers him Owens is saying Orton’s injury is because of Cody, so Cody said if he can’t handle his business in a WWE ring, he wondered what Aldis expected Cody to do. Cody told Aldis the ball is in Aldis’s court and Cody won’t be waiting long. Cody dropped the mic and Cody’s music hit to end the segment.

**********

– Backstage, Jimmy Uso was walking and ran into Jey Uso and Sami Zayn. Jimmy said Roman Reigns was on the way and he wants everyone to meet in the same room together later. Zayn said there was someone he could ask when it came to who the fifth member of their team could be at War Games. Zayn told the Usos he’d catch them later.

Bayley defeated Candice LeRae & B-Fab to advance in the Women’s United States Championship tournament [9:54]

This was clearly designed to get B-Fab over as a wrestler – as opposed to her usual gig as a manager – and it mostly worked. B-Fab, for her part, did a great job showing up when she was called upon and LeRae and Bayley seemed more than happy to give her the spotlight as much as they could. As such, good work all around. I had my guard up for a LeRae upset because she seems to be getting a mini-push, but there’s only one first women’s U.S. champion, so Bayley going far in this tournament – and potentially winning it – would make sense if that’s what the creative minds choose to do. On the way, though, both Bayley and LeRae were able to elevate B-Fab, and that was a good thing.

LeRae dropkicked Bayley’s knee and that took Bayley outside. B-Fab then slammed and clotheslined LeRae for a two-count. B-Fab kicked LeRae and Bayley got back into the mix. B-Fab then double-clotheslined Bayley and LeRae right before the show went to a commercial break. The show returned and Bayley was working over B-Fab, complete with an elbow to the back of B-Fab’s neck from the second rope. That was good enough to get Bayley a two-count, but LeRae broke up the pin attempt.

The women traded blows as they fought on their knees. B-Fab and Bayley teamed up on LeRae until LeRae clotheslined the babyfaces and the match reset. LeRae went to the top and B-Fab cut her off. LeRae fought B-Fab off, but Bayley was able to get the upper hand on LeRae. B-Fab got up and involved and the sequence ended with LeRae hitting a cross-body on Bayley for a two-count. B-Fab slammed LeRae for a two-count and Bayley returned to the mix, where she ran into an inverted neck-breaker from B-Fab, which earned B-Fab a two-count.

Bayley came back with a Bayley-To-Belly on B-Fab, but LeRae reappeared and almost stole a win. LeRae went for a moonsault, but B-Fab moved. Before long, B-Fab slammed Bayley and kicked LeRae to the outside. B-Fab went for another kick on Bayley, but Bayley rolled B-Fab up and got the win.

**********

– Sami Zayn was shown talking to LA Knight backstage, but we couldn’t hear what they were saying. Knight then walked to the ring for his U.S. title open challenge.

– Footage of The Rock on The Tonight Show from earlier this week aired. Turns out, The Rock is GW’s Entertainer Of The Year.

– B-Fab was shown backstage and Chelsea Green and Piper Niven walked up to her. Green said when her and Niven because the first-ever U.S. women’s champion, maybe they’d let B-Fab hold it someday. B-Fab said the two of them couldn’t hold the title at the same time and Michin walked into the frame with a kendo stick. Green and Niven left quickly.

– LA Knight made his entrance and had a microphone. The crowd cheered “LA Knight!” Knight said “Let me talk to ya!” and the crowd loved it. Knight said everyone is looking for his U.S. title. Knight said Zayn asked him to join the Bloodline Civil War. Knight said it wasn’t his fight and he doesn’t need it or want it. Knight said if the Bloodline just destroyed each other, he’d be fine with that. Knight said he wasn’t going to defend his belt two times a year like Logan Paul did, and instead called to action the U.S. Championship open challenge. Santos Escobar walked out flanked by the rest of Legado Del Fantasma.

Escobar grabbed a microphone and asked Knight why he couldn’t say something cool and interesting. Escobar told the crowd it sounded like they were from a different planet. Escobar said it should be, “Es. Co. Bar. Si!” Escobar said it’s time for someone to shut Knight up. Escobar since Elektra Lopez is going to bring the women’s U.S. title to LDF, Escobar wants to do the same for the men. Knight said he already beat Escobar, so he could give Berto a shot. Berto attacked Knight and the show went to break, so it looks like we’ll join the match in progress soon.

LA Knight defeated Berto to retain the United States Championship [4:00 of TV time]

The match was fine for what it was, but, man I liked the post-match stuff with a retooled Nakamura. That was great. First, it’s good to see him back, and second, it’s even better to see him with a new, more ominous coat of paint. I’m very, very interested to see how Knight and Nakamura work together moving forward. Here I was, wondering if Knight was going to keep spinning his wheels as a champion with no real challengers, but Nakamura changed that instantly. Good stuff.

The show returned and Berto had control over Knight. Knight went for his leap-to-the-top rope spot and in a rare turn of events, hit it. The development didn’t matter, though, because Berto pushed Knight off the top and eventually worked an abdominal stretch. Knight fought his way out of it and clotheslined Berto over the top and to the floor. Knight repeatedly slammed Berto off the commentary table. Knight rolled Berto back into the ring and landed a DDT for a two-count.

Berto came back with a roll-up and a kick and dragged Knight to a corner. Berto went for a moonsault, but Knight got a leg up. Knight followed up with a pop-up slammed, but Berto moved when Knight went for an elbow. Berto perched Knight on the top rope and set up for a super-plex, but Knight fought Berto off and landed the top rope elbow drop. Knight hit the BFT after that and got the win.

After the match, Nakamura appeared out of nowhere, wearing facepaint and looking kind of cooler than he’s looked in a long time in WWE. Nakamura laid Knight out and walked away.

**********

– The Usos were talking backstage and Zayn approached them saying it wasn’t looking good for finding a partner. The three then walked into Roman Reigns’s dressing room and the show went to a break.

– A video hyping the Royal Rumble in Indianapolis aired.

– The Usos and Zayn were standing in Reigns’s locker room and Reigns finally walked in. Zayn said they had been to Raw and SmackDown and there is nobody who wants to work with the Bloodline. Jey asked Roman if he “made that call.” Solo Sikoa’s music hit and Sikoa and his Bloodline made their entrance ringside. Roman stood up and left his dressing room. Zayn and the Usos followed him.

The Bloodline segment

I’m still not a fan of Seth Rollins being the fifth man for Roman’s team – there’s just too much history to ignore for this viewer and to shoehorn Rollins in based solely on the idea that he hates Bronson Reed with the passion of a thousand red hot suns doesn’t do it for me for more reasons than I have the space to type tonight. Still, this was a good brawl segment and a good beatdown from the heels. WWE has done good by Reed since he came back over from New Japan and this furthered that winning streak. Michael Cole sounded like he wondered if this meant Reed would join Solo’s Bloodline for good after all this resolves itself at War Games, but that won’t be the case … right?

Solo told Milwaukee to acknowledge him. The crowd booed heavily. Roman’s music hit instantly and Reigns walked out with Jimmy, Jey and Sami. The teams stared each other down as Roman’s group hopped onto the apron. The teams brawled and Jey hit a dive onto most of Solo’s Bloodline. Fatu took back control for the heels and Sikoa set up for a Samoan Spike on Zayn, but Roman speared Sikoa. Zayn then landed a dive onto everyone except Fatu. Alone in the ring were Fatu and Roman and boy, the crowd was there for it.

Fatu distracted Roman and Bronson Reed showed up to take down Roman. Reed and Fatu stared at each other and Reed landed a splash on Roman. Fatu followed that up with a hip attack on Roman. Jey, Jimmy and Zayn tried to fight back against Reed and Fatu, but the heels were too much. Fatu landed a moonsault on Zayn and Reed hit a Tsunami on Jimmy. Roman, on the outside of the ring, took out Tonga Loa. Reigns hit a series of Superman Punches on everyone … until Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike on Reigns … and Fatu followed that up with a moonsault … and Reed followed that up with a Tsunami. Finally, WWE officials ran out to break things up. The heels stood tall to end the segment.

**********
– Kevin Owens posted a video on social media and Michael Cole threw to it. Owens said he got to the arena, but he was turned away for what he did to Orton last week. Owens said it was messed up because all he did was show up when Orton told him to show up. Owens said he got a call from Aldis asking Owens to be at next week’s SmackDown in Salt Lake City. Owens said he shouldn’t show up, but he will and he will do so for himself. Owens said when he shows up, he will just be doing his job.

Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) via DQ [7:58]

Lots of (misguided?) male aggression in the SmackDown tag team division these days. The Profits are pissed. Ciampa is looking to murder people. The Machine Guns, meanwhile, are simply just the peaceful new guys. They didn’t ask for any of this. Anyway, I’m not a fan of these types of finishes, but I actually prefer this over the Profits taking another loss. Both teams looked good and I like the chippiness of Montez Ford these days. MCMG continue to struggle to elicit a meaningful response from the live crowds and that’s concerning, but maybe a program like this, where everyone around them is just angry as hell (and aren’t going to take it anymore), can help get the champs some reactionary momentum.

Ford and Sabin started the match. Ford looked series and worked kind of/sort of like a heel. Sabin hit a pair of arm-drags and Shelley tagged in. The two hit a series of double-team moves, but they were good enough for only a couple one-counts. Ford fired up and hit a strong clothesline. Shelley rolled to the outside and Dawkins shoulder-blocked Shelley over the commentary table as the show went to a commercial break.

The show returned and Shelley continued to receive punishment. Quickly, Sabin received the hot tag, however, and Sabin took out both Profits. The action spilled outside and MCMG tried their damndest to get the crowd fired up. Back inside the ring, Shelley planted Ford after Sabin dropkicked Ford in the back of the head. Sabin tagged in, but before long, the Profits regained control and set up for their finisher. With Ford on the top rope, Ciampa showed up and attacked the Profits. Gargano showed up late and tried to pull Ciampa away from everyone. Ciampa then shoved Gargano to the ground and left the ring.

After all the commotion, MCMG tried to shake hands with the Profits and Dawkins leveled Shelley. The Profits angrily left the ring to end things.

**********

– Naomi was shown in the back and Bayley showed up. Naomi congratulated Bayley on her win earlier in the night. Bayley told Naomi she can’t trust IYO SKY and Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair walked in. Bianca is still unhappy with Bayley after all these months and she made it a point to remind everyone of that. Cargill told Naomi that if anyone interferes, Cargill and Belair have Naomi’s back.

– Next week, Bianca Belair, Chelsea Green and Blair Davenport will wrestle as part of the women’s U.S. title tournament. Plus, Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes will go face-to-face.

Nia Jax defeated Naomi to retain the WWE Women’s Championship [12:08]

This was very good – especially the last five minutes. It was one of those cases where you start the match knowing there is no chance of a title change and by the time you get to the end, you are convinced the title should have changed hands a couple times over. Those women worked super hard to get it there and boy, did it pay off. Whatever it was Naomi pulled off as a counter from the top near the end of the match was quite the visual. Even better, Naomi was kind of/sort of protected in the loss and they could run this back, no problem. The end of the show with Roman calling the Wise Man was a lot of fun. Here’s hoping we see Heyman soon. His presence in the Bloodline saga has been noticeably missed since Roman came back. This was a strong final 20 minutes of the program, so if you only have 20 minutes to spare, use the fast-forward button accordingly.

Jax had control early and sort of just toyed with Naomi, swinging her around and landing a splash in a corner. Jax went for an elbow, but Naomi moved and followed that up with a kick to the head. Naomi then hit her split leg drop. Jax clotheslined Naomi and threw Naomi to the outside. Naomi executed a sunset flip, but Jax came right back with a clothesline and a one-coun. Jax worked a chin-lock. Jax missed a strike and Naomi briefly tried to come back, but Naomi ran into an elbow from Jax, who then pounded Naomi’s head into the mat. Jax, in a wild move, lifted Naomi and hit what appeared to be a very stiff headbutt. Naomi popped up and got Jax to the outside, where Naomi hit a suicide dive. The show then went to its final commercial break of the night.

The show returned and Jax took down Naomi for a two-count. Jax landed a headbutt to Naomi’s back. Jax then worked a single-leg crab. Jax went for a powerbomb, but Naomi kind of turned it into a Destroyer for a two-count. Naomi then kicked Jax in the head and hit a cross-body from the second rope. Naomi followed that up with an enziguri. Naomi hit the Rear View out of nowhere, but it resulted on only a near-fall. Naomi ran at Jax, but that meant she ran into a pop-up Samoan Drop from Jax.

Jax set Naomi up for her finisher, but Naomi stood up and dumped Jax to the floor. Naomi then hit a cross-body block on Jax on the outside. Backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were shown attacking Cargill and Belair. Back in the ring, Tiffany Stratton attacked Naomi while the referee was checking on Jax. Jax went to the second rope, but Naomi cut Jax off. It didn’t matter because Jax went for a body-slam from the top, but Naomi countered it into … something … and that earned her a near-fall.

Bayley ran out and attacked Stratton and Naomi rolled up Jax for a good near-fall. Naomi ran Jax into a ring post and hit a split-legged moonsault on Jax for a very good near-fall. Naomi went to the top and Candice LeRae attacked Bayley at ringside. As a result, Jax hit a Samoan Drop from the top and followed that up with her finisher for the win.

After the match, Stratton, LeRae and Jax stood tall in the ring. The show cut to Reigns in his dressing room. Reigns had his cellphone and said “Call … the wise man.” A response said “the number you have reached is not in service; this is a recording.” Roman dropped his phone as a dial tone rang and Roman looked all types of upset as the show went off air.





Naomi to host WWE Bad Blood with Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE has added a third host to the lineup for the Saturday, October 5 Bad Blood PLE in Atlanta.

It was revealed during Friday’s SmackDown that Naomi will host Saturday’s Bad Blood event alongside WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. The announcement came after Naomi defeated Tiffany Stratton on Friday’s SmackDown.

Cargill and Belair were announced as hosts for this weekend’s event during last Friday’s SmackDown.

The updated lineup for the Saturday, October 5 Bad Blood event with a special 6 p.m. Eastern start time:

WWE Bad Blood, Saturday, October 5, 6 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock/WWE Network —

  • Hell in a Cell match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu
  • WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against Rhea Ripley
  • WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax defends against Bayley
  • Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
  • Naomi and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill host

WWE adds tornado stipulation to SmackDown tag match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has added another stipulation to Bayley & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton on tonight’s SmackDown.

The stakes of the match are — if the babyface team wins — whoever scores the pinfall or submission will challenge Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship at Bad Blood. If the heels win, the member of the babyface team that loses the fall will have to leave SmackDown forever.

In addition to those stipulations, WWE has now announced that Bayley & Naomi vs. Jax & Stratton will be a tornado tag match. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis explained that, with this stipulation, the match is more fair because neither Bayley nor Naomi can refuse to tag out or refuse to tag in.

With Stratton’s help, Jax won the WWE Women’s Championship from Bayley at SummerSlam. Stratton currently holds the women’s Money in the Bank briefcase.

Bad Blood is taking place from Atlanta on Saturday, October 5.

Here’s the updated SmackDown lineup for tonight:

WWE SmackDown (Friday, September 20) —

  • United States Champion LA Knight defends against Andrade
  • Tornado tag match: Bayley & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton (If Bayley & Naomi win, whoever scores the fall will challenge Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship at Bad Blood. If Bayley & Naomi lose, whoever loses the fall must leave SmackDown forever)
  • Footage of Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns Georgia Tech angle will air
  • Apollo Crews vs. Giovanni Vinci

Naomi advances in WWE Speed Women’s title tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The first semifinal match in the WWE Speed Women’s Championship tournament has now been confirmed.

Naomi advanced to the semifinals with a first-round victory over Blair Davenport on WWE Speed today. With 25 seconds left of the three-minute time limit, Naomi submitted Davenport to get the victory. This sets up an IYO SKY vs. Naomi semifinal match for later in the tournament.

“Well, I won my first match in the first round tonight,” Naomi said in a post-match promo. “Next stop: Ms. IYO SKY. Girl, ain’t nobody scared of you. You better be ready for this glow. I am well on my way to becoming the first WWE Speed Women’s Champion.”

The title tournament began last week with SKY defeating Lyra Valkyria. It was the first women’s match to ever take place on WWE Speed.

Kairi Sane vs. Elektra Lopez and Candice LeRae vs. Piper Niven are the remaining first-round matches. Sane vs. Lopez will premiere at noon Eastern time next Wednesday (September 18).

This April, WWE Speed debuted on X/Twitter as part of a two-year deal between WWE and the social media company. Andrade is the men’s WWE Speed Champion.

LA Knight, Tiffany Stratton, Naomi qualify for WWE Money in the Bank

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Three more wrestlers qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder matches set for July 6 on Friday’s WWE SmackDown.

LA Knight defeated Logan Paul & Santos Escobar in a triple threat qualifying match on Friday to earn the fifth spot in the six-person men’s Money in the Bank ladder match field at next Saturday’s MITB pay-per-view. Knight pinned Paul with a roll-up after hitting Escobar with BFT to secure the victory.

In the first women’s qualifying bout on Friday’s episode, Tiffany Stratton defeated Jade Cargill & Candice LeRae in a triple threat. Stratton pinned LeRae with the PME after Indi Hartwell interfered on LeRae’s behalf and took out Cargill on the floor.

In the second women’s qualifier on Friday, Naomi defeated Hartwell & Blair Davenport after Cargill got retribution on Hartwell, interfering in the match to lead to Naomi’s victory.

Five of six spots are secured in both the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches set for next Saturday, with the final spots to be decided on Monday’s Raw.

Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus vs. Ilja Dragunov will decide the final men’s participant in a qualifier on Monday’s Raw, while Zoey Stark vs. Ivy Nile vs. Dakota Kai will determine the final women’s qualifier.

The current lineup for WWE Money in the Bank on Saturday, July 6 in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena:

  • World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest defends against Seth Rollins — If Priest retains, Rollins can’t challenge for the title ever again as long as Priest holds it. If Rollins wins, Priest leaves The Judgment Day
  • Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defends against Bron Breakker
  • Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline
  • Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match: Jey Uso vs. Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Chad Gable vs. LA Knight vs. TBD
  • Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match: IYO SKY vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. TBD

Eight-woman tag match added to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

An eight-woman tag match is set to take place on the final SmackDown before Backlash.

Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill will team up against Tiffany Stratton & three members of Damage CTRL on tonight’s SmackDown in Lyon, France. The announcement of the match was made during this afternoon’s Backlash kickoff fan event.

At Backlash, Bayley is defending her WWE Women’s Championship against Naomi and Stratton in a triple threat match. That was made official after Stratton interrupted a title bout between Bayley and Naomi on SmackDown two weeks ago.

Belair & Cargill are challenging Damage CTRL’s Asuka & Kairi Sane for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles at Backlash. The premium live event streams live on Peacock starting at 1 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday (May 4).

WWE has also announced that Paul Heyman will be Kevin Owens & Randy Orton’s guest for their RKO Show segment on SmackDown tonight. Owens & Orton vs. Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga is happening at Backlash.

Here’s the updated lineup for SmackDown:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles go face-to-face
  • Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton & Damage CTRL
  • The RKO Show with Paul Heyman
  • WWE Tag Team Champions Austin Theory & Grayson Waller defend against The Street Profits
  • Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. AOP

Jade Cargill teaming with Bianca Belair & Naomi at WWE WrestleMania 40

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Jade Cargill will make her WWE WrestleMania debut in a six-woman tag team match. 

WWE announced following an angle at the close of Friday’s SmackDown that Cargill, Bianca Belair, & Naomi will face Damage CTRL’s Asuka, Kairi Sane, & Dakota Kai at WrestleMania 40 in a trios bout. 

Belair defeating Kai in a singles match main evented Friday’s SmackDown, then Damage CTRL jumped Belair after the match. Naomi, then Cargill made the save, and the trios bout was officially announced on WWE’s digital channels by GM Nick Aldis: 

Cargill made her first official appearance as a member of the SmackDown roster earlier in Friday’s episode, officially signing with the brand in an in-ring segment with Aldis. 

After signing with WWE late last year, Cargill made her in-ring debut for the company in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match in January. 

Here is the officially announced lineup for WrestleMania 40, which streams live on Peacock/WWE Network on Saturday, April 6 & Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. Eastern time: 

WWE WrestleMania 40 —

Night one:

  • The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins

Night two:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
  • World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre

Night to be announced:

  • WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley
  • Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch
  • Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Sami Zayn
  • Triple threat match: United States Champion Logan Paul defends against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens
  • Six-pack ladder match: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defend against DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa), The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods), The Miz & R-Truth, Grayson Waller & Austin Theory, and Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate
  • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
  • LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
  • Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair & Naomi vs. Damage CTRL’s Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai

IYO SKY challenges Naomi for next WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A singles match between IYO SKY and Naomi looks to be set for next Friday’s WWE SmackDown.

During an interview on The SmackDown LowDown, SKY issued a challenge for Naomi to face her on SmackDown next Friday. SKY was mad at Naomi for getting involved in Damage CTRL’s business last night.

Bayley vs. Dakota Kai in the main event of last night’s SmackDown ended in a disqualification when Damage CTRL interfered. As Damage CTRL were beating down Bayley after the match, Naomi ran out to try and make the save. Naomi initially had success in fighting Damage CTRL off, but their numbers advantage was too much. SmackDown went off the air with Damage CTRL standing tall.

SKY is defending her WWE Women’s Championship against Bayley at WrestleMania 40. Leading into WrestleMania, there’s been a storyline where Naomi has had Bayley’s back but Bianca Belair refuses to forgive Bayley after everything Bayley did to her while leader of Damage CTRL.

SmackDown is taking place from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee next Friday. It’s the third-to-last episode of the show before WrestleMania.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, March 22) —

  • Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes face-to-face
  • WrestleMania qualifying tournament match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
  • WrestleMania qualifying tournament match: The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar
  • IYO SKY vs. Naomi

Mercedes Mone reacts to Bayley, Naomi, Tamina attending AEW Big Business

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Mercedes Mone is thankful to have had some of her closest friends supporting her at AEW Big Business.

Mone arrived in AEW on Wednesday night’s Big Business edition of Dynamite. Among those in attendance at Boston’s TD Garden were WWE wrestlers Bayley, Naomi, and Tamina. They made a social media post on Wednesday joking that no one would know it was them if they wore disguises to the show.

Mone tweeted the following in response:

Without their joke “disguises,” Bayley, Naomi, and Tamina could be seen in a skybox during Mone’s debut promo at Big Business:

Mone’s promo kicked off Dynamite last night. At the end of the episode, Mone saved Willow Nightingale from an attack by Julia Hart and Skye Blue.

Until last night, Mone had been out of action since May 2023 due to an ankle injury. She had suffered the injury during a match against Nightingale for NJPW.

Samuray Del Sol (former WWE wrestler Kalisto) was also at Big Business to support his friend Mone.

AEW has announced that we’ll hear from Mone on next Wednesday’s Dynamite from Toronto.

Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton announced for WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new match announcement has been made for tonight’s Elimination Chamber fallout edition of SmackDown.

After competing in last Saturday’s women’s Elimination Chamber match, Naomi and Tiffany Stratton will go one-on-one tonight. They were the first two competitors eliminated from the Chamber bout.

Stratton eliminated Naomi from the match, taking advantage of the situation after Naomi gave Liv Morgan a Blockbuster from the top of an Elimination Chamber pod. Stratton immediately pinned Naomi after Naomi hit the move.

Stratton put in a star-making performance at Elimination Chamber but was eliminated by Morgan.

Becky Lynch won the Chamber match and will challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Naomi and Stratton both joined the SmackDown roster last month. Naomi made her return to WWE after nearly two years away. Stratton was called up to the main roster from NXT.

Tonight’s SmackDown is taking place from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. An appearance by The Rock headlines the episode.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, March 1) —

  • The Rock appears
  • Bayley & Dakota Kai vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
  • Street fight: Santos Escobar vs. Carlito
  • Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

WWE Elimination Chamber update: Men’s lineup set, one spot left in women’s match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

– We now know the full lineup for this year’s men’s Elimination Chamber match.

Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Kevin Owens, and Logan Paul will face off in the men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia on Saturday, February 24. The winner earns a title shot against World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40.

Owens and Paul were the last two wrestlers to qualify, defeating Dominik Mysterio and The Miz in their respective matches on SmackDown tonight.

– Tiffany Stratton and Naomi also qualified for Elimination Chamber tonight. Stratton defeated Zelina Vega in her qualifying match, while Naomi won a qualifier against Alba Fyre.

Naomi was originally supposed to face Shotzi in the qualifier, but Shotzi had to be pulled after suffering a knee injury during an NXT taping earlier this week.

Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Stratton, and Naomi have qualified for the women’s Elimination Chamber match. There’s only one spot remaining. A last-chance battle royal on Raw this coming Monday is set to determine the final participant.

The women’s Chamber winner will challenge for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40. Rhea Ripley, who currently holds the title, is defending against Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber.

Elimination Chamber takes place from Optus Stadium in Perth on February 24 and will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at 5 a.m. Eastern time.

Here’s the updated card for the event:

  • Elimination Chamber match to determine World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins’ WrestleMania 40 challenger (Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul)
  • Elimination Chamber match to determine Women’s World Championship challenger for WrestleMania 40 (Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. one wrestler to be determined)
  • Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Nia Jax
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defend against Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate
  • The Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins

Naomi, Tiffany Stratton join WWE SmackDown roster

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Naomi and Tiffany Stratton have officially joined the WWE SmackDown roster. 

Both Naomi and Stratton were announced as signing with the SmackDown brand in a backstage segment on Friday’s episode. WWE also confirmed on social media that Elektra Lopez has also joined the brand after her debut with Legado Del Fantasma on last week’s episode.

Stratton later made her SmackDown in-ring debut on Friday’s episode with a win over Michin. 

Naomi returned to WWE at Royal Rumble after walking out of the company due to creative differences in May 2022. Stratton also appeared in the women’s Rumble match last Saturday. 

Another entrant in this year’s women’s Rumble also made an appearance on SmackDown — Jade Cargill. 

Cargill was shown negotiating with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis in a backstage segment on Friday’s show that also featured Raw GM Adam Pearce. Cargill made her WWE in-ring debut in the women’s Royal Rumble match. 

NXT’s Bron Breakker was also featured in a different backstage segment with Aldis and Pearce, with each GM vying to sign Breakker to their brand. Pearce was successful in convincing Breakker to appear on Raw Monday to negotiate further before signing a contract that Aldis had presented him. 

Our full report from this week’s SmackDown is here.

Trinity’s farewell match set for next week’s TNA Impact

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Trinity’s farewell match, plus X-Division Champion Chris Sabin in action are set for the Thursday, February 8 TNA Impact episode. 

After returning to WWE as Naomi in last Saturday’s Royal Rumble match, Trinity finishes up with TNA with her final match airing on next week’s episode. Trinity & Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace will team against Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans. The match was taped on January 19. 

X-Division Champion Chris Sabin will also wrestle on next week’s Impact, facing John Skyler in a match set up during a backstage promo segment on this week’s episode. 

Sabin was being interviewed backstage about the possibility of being targeted by Mustafa Ali after an Ali vignette aired at the conclusion of last week’s Impact. Sabin was interrupted by another Ali vignette, then Skyler approached after the video concluded. Sabin challenged Skyler and the match was made official for next week. 

The announced card for the Thursday, February 8 TNA Impact: 

  • Jordynne Grace & Trinity vs. Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin vs. John Skyler in a non-title match

Naomi thanks TNA following WWE Royal Rumble return

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Naomi thanked the TNA roster and its staff following her return at the Royal Rumble on Saturday.

In a post on X Sunday, Naomi thanked backstage personnel including Scott D’Amore, D’Lo Brown, Lance Storm, Gail Kim, and Tommy Dreamer.

“I personally want to thank @ScottDAmore @dlobrown75 @LanceStorm @gailkimITSME @THETOMMYDREAMER for believing in me and pushing me through my fears, knockouts & brothers for accepting me as one of your own,” she wrote. “@ThisIsTNA I am better in every way bc of you! I thank with my whole [heart emoji].”

Making a surprise appearance in the Royal Rumble at number 2, Naomi lasted over an hour in the match before being the 25th person eliminated, thrown over the top rope by Jade Cargill.

Along with Sasha Banks (Mercedes Mone), Naomi left WWE in 2022 due to creative differences with management. She made her debut in Impact Wrestling in April of last year under her real name of Trinity, eventually winning the Knockouts Championship last July. Earlier this month at TNA’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view, she lost the title to Jordynne Grace, who also made a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble.