Alexa Bliss & Tatum Paxley Win Gold on 10/9 WWE SmackDown

The WWE SmackDown event in Lafayette took place just before the company's major Premium Live Event, WWE Money in the Bank 2026. The night's main event was a Women's Tag Team Championship match between the defending champions, Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid), and an unexpected pair, Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Tatum Paxley had to replace Lainey Reid due to a dangerous incident involving a former WWE Women's and Women's Tag Team Champion earlier in the night.

Despite having lost their qualifier matches for the 2026 Women's Money in the Bank match, Henley and Paxley's impressive performances secured them a shot at the championship. However, they faced a hurdle as Henley was attacked by Jade Cargill before the match, forcing both her and Alexa Bliss to sit out. Alexa Bliss stepped in to replace Henley and turned out to be one of the most formidable replacements in the history of the tag division.

The match was fast-paced and intense, with Fatal Influence initially trying to isolate Tatum Paxley. Paxley, however, was remarkably defiant and turned to Bliss for help, leading to a heated melee. Lainey Reid was eventually pinned by Paxley after a series of intense exchanges, marking Blair as the first ever SmackDown Women's Tag Team Champion in Tatum's career. The match highlighted the exceptional talent of both Bliss and Paxley, ultimately bringing a breath of fresh air to the WWE SmackDown Women's Tag Division.