The Culling, consisting of Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley, have earned the opportunity to challenge Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. This was decided during the September 9 episode of WWE NXT, which featured an elimination tag team match to determine the next challengers for the titles.
The elimination match included three teams: Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx), The Culling, and ZaRuca (Zaria and Sol Ruca). Before the match began, Zaria expressed strong confidence in their chances to win and soon face Flair and Bliss for the belts.
However, ZaRuca was the first to be eliminated after Sol Ruca accidentally executed their finishing move, the Sol Snatcher, on her own partner rather than on her opponents. This mistake cost ZaRuca the match early on.
Following ZaRuca’s exit, The Culling and Fatal Influence battled intensely, with The Culling demonstrating strong teamwork and cohesion. Despite some signs of internal conflict developing between Henley and Nyx, The Culling stayed in sync, with Paxley securing the victory with the final pinfall to clinch their spot as the new challengers.
The official challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship will take place at the upcoming NXT Homecoming event next week.
Fatal Influence Reacts to Loss While Main Event Drama Unfolds
After the elimination match, Fatal Influence’s leader and NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne expressed frustration with her teammates, openly blaming Henley and Nyx for the defeat. Jayne also proclaimed herself as the greatest NXT Women’s Champion ever, which sparked reactions from others backstage.
Stephanie Vaquer made an appearance, contesting Jayne’s claim by asserting that she was the better champion. This confrontation escalated as WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton joined, voicing disagreement with Jayne’s self-assessment as well.
Amid the tension, former NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley entered to a cheering crowd and, alongside Vaquer and Stratton, challenged Fatal Influence to a six-woman tag team match at the NXT Homecoming event. The trio then proceeded to attack the members of Fatal Influence to close the segment.
In addition to this drama, the episode highlighted other former NXT talents scheduled to compete at the Homecoming show.
Upcoming WWE Matches and Developments on the Horizon
Separately, the WWE has confirmed that John Cena and AJ Lee will appear on the September 15, 2025, edition of Monday Night RAW, promising a major event for fans. Meanwhile, Triple H revealed Cody Rhodes’ WWE return date during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, exciting the community eager for his comeback.
There is also news involving other wrestling personalities: Shayna Baszler, a star in AEW and former UFC champion, was involved in a real bar fight where a former WWE champion expressed relief upon her arrival. Additionally, Bryan Danielson shared his candid views on WWE’s unusual programming tactics against AEW, and Rey Mysterio hinted at a possible rematch with a current WWE champion, fueling interest in future rivalries.
Significance of The Culling’s Victory and What’s Next
The Culling’s win marks a fresh challenge for the dominant tag team champions, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Their victory demonstrates the rising talent within the NXT women’s division and sets the stage for an exciting showdown at Homecoming. Meanwhile, the ongoing tensions within Fatal Influence and the involvement of established stars add layers of intrigue to the event.
With multiple key figures appearing and competing next week, WWE NXT Homecoming promises to be a pivotal episode, impacting championship storylines and wrestler trajectories alike. Fans can anticipate dynamic matches and notable interactions as new rivalries develop and others resume.
