The opening match of WWE SmackDown quickly took a dangerous turn when a moment between Nia Jax and IYO SKY ended badly, prompting referees to rush into the ring. This incident occurred during the Women’s Tag Team Championship match where Nia Jax and Lash Legend challenged champions Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, igniting concerns over the botch that left multiple wrestlers down.
Details of the Botched Spot and Match Breakdown
The contest started aggressively as both teams battled fiercely for the titles. Nia Jax and Lash Legend were determined to incapacitate their opponents while seizing the championship, leading to escalating tension and high-risk maneuvers. At one point, Jax prepared a table outside the ring to use as a weapon, intending to return to the match. However, when IYO SKY executed a crossbody through the ropes aiming at Jax, the sequence went awry.
Instead of landing fully on the table, Nia Jax only made partial contact with it, with the remainder of her body and IYO SKY falling heavily onto the hard floor. The impact appeared severe enough that both competitors seemed winded and unable to recover immediately, raising alarm among officials and viewers alike.
Meanwhile, Lash Legend successfully sent Rhea Ripley crashing through the barricade, a spot that unfolded without issue. Yet the referees remained focused on the welfare of SKY and Jax as they quickly moved into the ring area to attend to the situation. The match was halted without a definitive outcome due to the botched landing and subsequent medical concerns.
Impact and Immediate Aftermath on WWE Storylines
Despite the interruption and no clear winner declared, the champions retained their titles by default following standard WWE rules regarding champions’ advantage in unfinished matches. The incident underlined the risks inherent in high-flying maneuvers and complicated spots, signaling a need for caution moving forward in the championship scene.
With referees closely monitoring the wrestlers’ conditions and the unexpected stop to what began as an intense showdown, the botch during the IYO SKY WWE botch match has heightened scrutiny on match safety protocols. How WWE addresses this event could influence future booking decisions and wrestler welfare measures across programming.
Man Nia can't just not botch. She fell short of the table. That looked like it hurt IYO and knocked all the breath out of her. Nia set up the table, she knew the spot was gonna happen – set it closer? what are you doing with all that experience? pic.twitter.com/mCzD08PTum
— Why not wrestling? (@write_horror) February 14, 2026
