WWE is heading towards WrestleMania, but recent developments in WWE tag team breakups have disrupted the promotion’s storylines and plans. Three major tag teams have split this year for reasons including storyline betrayals, WrestleMania strategy shifts, and contract complications.
RHIYO’s Sudden Split After Losing Tag Titles
The formidable team known as RHIYO, featuring Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, has officially disbanded following a dramatic loss. The pair had been a dominant force on WWE TV, chasing both the Women’s World and Women’s Tag Team Championships. However, on the February 27 episode of SmackDown, they unexpectedly lost their tag titles to The Irresistible Forces, composed of Nia Jax and Lash Legend.
Shortly after, Ripley won the Elimination Chamber match on February 28 and earned a shot against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania, which led to Ripley moving from Raw to SmackDown. This shift effectively ended RHIYO’s partnership, putting Ripley on a solo trajectory heading into WrestleMania.
ZaRuca Breaks Apart Amid Individual Ambitions on NXT
On NXT, the promising tag team ZaRuca, made up of power-focused Zaria and the high-flying Sol Ruca, also split following growing tensions. During the February 24 NXT episode, Zaria turned on Sol Ruca due to conflicting personal goals for solo success, sparking a feud between the former partners.
Many fans had hoped ZaRuca would stay united and eventually join WWE’s main roster together, but that vision has since been dashed, leaving their futures separate on Raw or SmackDown uncertain.
#DIY Ends After Tommaso Ciampa’s WWE Departure
The highly regarded tag team #DIY, featuring Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, came to an unexpected end largely behind the scenes. Despite fan excitement when they reunited on the main roster, the duo could not replicate their NXT success.
The breakup occurred after Ciampa chose not to renew his WWE contract in late January and signed with All Elite Wrestling, WWE’s key rival. Since then, WWE’s creative team has shifted Gargano’s role into a storyline centered around depression, which has received mixed reactions from viewers.
Implications of these Tag Team Breakups for WrestleMania and WWE’s Future
These WWE tag team breakups have introduced significant uncertainty just as WrestleMania approaches, compelling shifts in booking decisions and character directions. Rhea Ripley’s solo push against Jade Cargill now headlines part of the women’s division, while ZaRuca’s feud and #DIY’s quiet disbandment have altered mid-card storylines. How WWE adapts to these changes will shape WrestleMania’s narrative landscape and could influence roster dynamics beyond the event.
