A major upset shook the WWE SmackDown Women’s Tag Teams division as the Kabuki Warriors suffered a surprising defeat in an eight-woman tag team match, shifting momentum just days before their upcoming title defense on RAW. The heated rivalry that has ignited between the competing teams signaled a pivotal shift in the landscape of women’s tag team wrestling in WWE.
Heated Competition in the Women’s Tag Team Division
The WWE Women’s tag team division has reached an intense level of competition, with many prominent stars eager to capture the tag team championships. The Kabuki Warriors, who have held the titles amid fierce opposition, are now slated to defend their belts against Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY during the next episode of Monday Night RAW. In recent months, tensions have been mounting between these two duos, setting the stage for this critical matchup.
Last week on SmackDown, hostilities between the Kabuki Warriors, Rhea Ripley, and IYO SKY, as well as other teams on the brand, erupted. This escalating conflict prompted Nick Aldis to arrange a significant eight-woman tag match for this week’s episode, bringing together some of the division’s top names for a high-stakes confrontation.
Momentum Shifts in the Eight-Woman Tag Team Match
In one of the evening’s main attractions, Lash Legend and Nia Jax aligned themselves with the Kabuki Warriors to challenge Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, and IYO SKY. At the opening bell, the team of Lash Legend, Nia Jax, and the Kabuki Warriors took the fight directly to their opponents, with Asuka commandeering the match’s momentum for the early stages.
This team, consisting of traditionally villainous stars, maintained control for the majority of the bout using controversial strategies to keep their adversaries at bay. However, once Rhea Ripley entered the ring, the intensity shifted dramatically.
“RHIYO AND CHARLEXA WITH THE WIN 👊Is RHIYO destined to win tag team gold? pic.twitter.com/Q1f7evgBtf— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2026”
Ripley demonstrated her power by delivering a decisive Riptide to Kairi Sane. She then tagged in IYO SKY, who capitalized by executing her signature Over-the-Moonsault maneuver to pin one half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. This result granted Ripley and IYO, popularly referenced as “RHIYO,” a monumental victory and new momentum as contenders for the tag titles.
Outlook for the Tag Team Title Picture
The aftermath of this upset sets the Kabuki Warriors at a crucial disadvantage heading into their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship defense. The loss on SmackDown loosens their grip on the division’s hierarchy, while Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY emerge as a forceful pairing ahead of their championship opportunity. With the match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles set for the next episode of RAW, all eyes will be on whether the new challengers can build on this victory or if the reigning champions can recover and defend their place atop the division.
This turn of events not only intensifies the ongoing storylines within WWE’s SmackDown Women’s Tag Teams but also injects unpredictability and heightened anticipation among fans and participants alike. With competitive spirits soaring and key figures like Nick Aldis, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Lash Legend, Nia Jax, Asuka, Kairi Sane, and the Kabuki Warriors all significantly involved, the future of the women’s tag team scene in WWE remains as dynamic and unpredictable as ever.
RHIYO AND CHARLEXA WITH THE WIN 👊
Is RHIYO destined to win tag team gold? pic.twitter.com/Q1f7evgBtf
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2026
