A major title change shook up WWE SmackDown on February 27 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, just 24 hours before Elimination Chamber. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships were on the line in a heated clash that carried serious momentum into Chicago.
RHIYO — IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley — defended against the Irresistible Forces, Lash Legend and Nia Jax, in what quickly turned into a power-versus-precision showdown.
The rivalry had intensified after Legend and Jax interfered in Ripley’s February 20 non-title match against Giulia. On the go-home show, the receipts came due.
Irresistible Forces Capture WWE Women’s Tag Team Gold on SmackDown
The match opened at a frantic pace, with SKY and Ripley using speed to neutralize their larger opponents. Stereo dropkicks and a diving sequence to the floor left the challengers reeling early. However, once Legend and Jax grounded Ripley, the tide shifted.
Ripley rallied with short-arm lariats and a Tenryu-style powerbomb on Jax, but the powerhouse kicked out. SKY nearly sealed it with her Over the Moonsault, only for Jax to break up the count. Moments later, chaos erupted. Ripley hit a Riptide on Jax, yet before momentum could swing fully back, Lash Legend struck.
After Ripley was pulled into position, Legend delivered the Lash Extension and secured the pinfall.
With that, the Irresistible Forces became the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. The victory marks their first reign together. Individually, it is Jax’s third tag title reign and Legend’s first.
The loss raises questions about Ripley’s path heading into Elimination Chamber. With tag gold gone, she may now focus solely on singles glory. If Mami plans to run the Chamber, she’ll be doing it without extra baggage — and perhaps with extra motivation.
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