Nia Jax and Lash Legend make a bold statement; the Terror Twins reunite
Friday Night SmackDown this week rolled into the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. After Survivor Series: WarGames last weekend, several WarGames participants clashed on Raw this Monday, turning into a tag-team showdown. Alexa Bliss and Kairi Sane squared off tonight, while Chelsea Green’s celebration of the Women’s United States Championship was upended last week. The question looms: would Alba Fyre have the nerve to face the storm that is Women’s Champion Jade Cargill? Let’s dive in.
Damian Priest appeared in a backstage vignette to address his ongoing feud with Aleister Black and Zelina. A shadowy figure of a woman moved in the distance as Priest insisted the cycle of their talks has gone on long enough. He challenged the idea that he can be broken or that his mind is delusional; to Priest, delusion would be believing that his face could be burned and still walk away unscathed. He teased bringing in his own family, namely Rhea Ripley.
Ripley fired back, saying the mistake Black and Zelina made was thinking the bear wouldn’t be awakened. As founding members of The Judgment Day, who’ve been driven out and back again, Priest and Ripley have been through hell. If Priest must walk through that fire, she’ll be by his side. She then taunted Zelina for thinking she could get under his skin, but warned that Zelina’s actions have only sealed her own fate. Next week, the two pairs will collide, and Aleister and Zelina will learn why the Terror Twins are unbeatable.
Cathy Kelley spoke backstage with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, noting their WarGames victory alongside Rhea Ripley, AJ Lee, and IYO SKY the previous Saturday and how cohesive the team felt. Kelley asked Flair whether joining the group stemmed from burying the hatchet with Ripley. Flair clarified that she joined the team because “Lexi” needed her.
Bliss praised Flair’s performance, joking that WarGames helped Flair sharpen her social skills and strengthen the bond that once helped them win the Women’s Tag Team Championships — a win they haven’t forgotten. Flair said WarGames was fun, but now they’re focused on reclaiming the tag titles, with Bliss beating Sane tonight. Kelley wished them luck; Bliss formed a heart with one hand, while the interviewer did the other, linking to form a full heart as the segment closed.
A short time later, Kairi Sane faced Alexa Bliss, with Asuka and Charlotte in the corners of their respective partners. The opening exchange saw Sane seize control early, but Bliss answered with a running senton to Sane’s midsection. Outside the ring, Sane confronted Flair, drawing a warning from the referee. Unseen by the official, Asuka grabbed Bliss’s leg and tripped her, sending Bliss crashing into the ring apron before the break.
Returning from commercial, Sane mounted offense from the top rope, landing punches and a headbutt on Bliss. Bliss fought back with slaps, a knee to the chin, and a dropkick, finishing with a Natural Selection move that left Sane down. Bliss prepared for Sister Abigail, but Asuka distracted the referee from the outside, allowing Sane to attempt a roll-up. Bliss kicked out at two as Charlotte attacked Asuka with a big boot. Sane again perched on the top rope, but waited too long, allowing Bliss to counter into Sister Abigail for the win.
Bliss and Flair celebrated until Nia Jax and Lash Legend blindsided them. Legend blasted Bliss with a forearm, while Jax delivered a Samoan Drop to Flair. The raid continued as Legend and Jax targeted Sane, with Asuka attempting to intervene. Jax appeared ready to finish with an Annihilator, but Asuka dragged Bliss’s partner to safety. The attackers strutted away with the Women’s Tag Team Championship belts held high, while Asuka and Sane looked on in disbelief from the floor.
Post-match, Cathy Kelley pressed Jax for comment. Jax stated that she and Legend are dangerous and that the Kabuki Warriors got what they deserved, criticizing Bayley’s remarks on Raw the previous night. Legend teased this attack as a warning shot and promised more to come as they chase the women’s tag team titles. She warned there’s nothing The Kabuki Warriors, The Judgment Day, Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, or Charlotte and Alexa can do to stop them.
Jade Cargill, the WWE Women’s Champion, headed out to face Alba Fyre, who was flanked by Chelsea Green after last week’s championship celebration disruption.
Fyre opened with a flurry, landing a dropkick, punches, and a hurricanrana on Cargill. She pressed the attack with more strikes, but Cargill fought back with a big boot and a leg-assisted hold around the rope. Green attempted to aid her ally while the referee was momentarily distracted.
Kiana James appeared, tapping Green’s shoulder and drawing her attention away from the match. Giulia, known as The Beautiful Madness, charged in and struck Green, continuing even as Green tried to retreat.
Seizing the moment, Cargill delivered a spinebuster, followed by a big boot that set up the Jaded for the win.
Backstage, Cargill bumped into B-Fab again, continuing to taunt her about recent results. Cargill speculated that B-Fab’s loss and the locker room disrespect are echoes of past feuds, insinuating a recurring pattern.
Michin arrived with a kendo stick to confront Cargill, defending B-Fab and reminding Cargill that attitude isn’t welcome. Cargill fired back, calling Michin a lap dog, only for Michin to insist she’s more than a pet and to warn Cargill that if she doesn’t like the attitude, she can go fetch Nick Aldis so she can be stepped on. Cargill exited.
Bayley interrupted a discussion between The Miz and SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis. Miz pressed Aldis about why he wasn’t booked for a SmackDown appearance on Saturday Night’s Main Event, just a week away on December 13. Bayley strutted in, expressing her delight at being booked for the show, prompting Miz to storm off in a huff.
Aldis revealed he’d been coordinating with Raw GM Adam Pearce and NXT GM Ava about a RAW/SmackDown cross-promo opponent from NXT: Sol Ruca. Ruca greeted Aldis and Bayley, who welcomed her and praised her on-screen potential, though Bayley warned Ruca that the higher stakes of RAW and SmackDown will test her mettle. Bayley expressed admiration for Ruca’s confidence, but promised she’ll see if Ruca is ready when she competes in NXT Deadline’s Iron Survivor match for a future NXT Women’s Championship opportunity.
In a closing note, Aleister Black and Zelina answered the Priest–Ripley challenge with a new video package. Zelina, holding a snake, accused Rhea of being a succubus trying to trap Damian in a controlled life. She argued The Judgment Day as it once was is over and that the Terror Twins are a mere ploy to keep him in isolation.
SmackDown heads to the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania next week with two marquee matches already announced:
- Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley versus Aleister Black and Zelina
- Alexa Bliss versus Lash Legend
Share your reactions to this week’s SmackDown in the comments below and join the discussion.
