00:00Joe and Wade with you here in Portland.
00:03Reminder, undisputed WWE Championship.
00:05Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre still to come in our main event.
00:08But right now, tag team action.
00:10Wade, two tag teams trying to stake their claim to a title shot
00:14against the newly minted champs, the Irresistible Forces.
00:18Yeah, well, it's been the hottest division in all of wrestling
00:22over the past six months or so.
00:24And despite the fact we've got new tag team champions
00:27in the Irresistible Forces, this tag team division
00:31is certainly not slowing down at all.
00:34Charlotte Flair in there right now with Kiana James.
00:36Kiana James was making the argument earlier
00:39about her efforts in Elimination Chamber qualifying
00:42the triple threat a couple weeks ago
00:44when she defeated Nia and Charlotte.
00:46Then what she was able to do in pinning Alexa in Chicago
00:49at Elimination Chamber is the reason why they should be
00:53at the front of the line for a title shot.
00:55Well, it's a fair claim, but right now, Charlotte Flair and Alexa
01:00technically have no clear pathway to WrestleMania.
01:05Now, that might change in a big way if they win this match,
01:09go on to compete against the Irresistible Forces,
01:12win gold all of a sudden.
01:14There you are.
01:15WrestleMania is heading your way.
01:17James just sending Flair right into the post.
01:21Just a smart move once again from Kiana James,
01:24who has blown minds over the past couple of months.
01:28As we said, Kiana James really a rank outsider
01:31when she first arrived on SmackDown a few months back,
01:34but she has now proven herself to be a major contender,
01:39not least with that victory against Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax.
01:43And, of course, a performance in the Royal Rumble and the Chamber.
01:49Julia and Kiana, they have been circling near the top of this division.
01:53Back in January, they won a triple threat number one contenders match.
01:57Struggled to get past Rhea and Io in early February,
02:00but now this opportunity put forth by general manager Nick Aldis,
02:05it is a fast lane to the top.
02:07And I like how much Julia has really stepped her game up
02:14the past few weeks on SmackDown,
02:15found a new layer of aggression,
02:18and that really bodes well for her United States Championship ring.
02:21That has served her well.
02:22Possibly more.
02:23Kiana James trying to get the best of Charlotte Flair here,
02:26driving those shoulders right into the midsection.
02:28You see the athleticism and the speed and the dynamic power as well.
02:33We are learning more and more about Kiana James,
02:35and there really is no weakness to this woman.
02:38Just strength alone has blown my mind.
02:40We've seen some tremendous power moves against the likes of Nia Jax.
02:43Oh, knees got up there.
02:46Charlotte Flair got the knees up.
02:48Well, that was just a moment of inexperience there from Kiana
02:51against the ultimate veteran in the locker room.
02:54You know, you say that we're learning a lot about Kiana James.
02:57I think she's learning a lot about herself.
03:00You can see the confidence growing each and every time,
03:03especially coming off of Elimination Chamber in Chicago.
03:08Both really desperate for a tag here.
03:10Here's Julia, and here comes Bliss.
03:17Alexa Bliss, the five-time world champion,
03:22showing all that experience, rallying well here.
03:26And a multiple-time tag jab, too, with a multitude of partners
03:32looking to get back to the gold ASAP.
03:36Of course, Charlotte and Alexa looking to get number one contender status right here.
03:40The former recent champs, they're looking for a little revenge
03:44after Nia and Lash Legend played a major role in costing them the championship.
03:52Oh, Julia.
03:54Nearly a big opportunity, but basement dropkick by Bliss sends her across the ring.
03:59Just outmaneuvered by Alexa Bliss there.
04:02And Bliss now looking to double down on the punishment on Julia.
04:09And Bliss on the apron.
04:11Caught by James.
04:13We talked about it earlier.
04:14Julia, the power of Keanu James, coming to the full.
04:19And then just dropping her across that hard edge of the apron
04:23before Julia levels her with a big boot.
04:45Julia, look in the leg of Alexa Bliss.
04:47You brought it up moments ago about the range of James
04:50and everything she offers.
04:52Here is Keanu James.
04:53We have seen it already in this tag team match.
04:56The skill, the speed, the athleticism, and moments ago, the sheer strength.
05:02Yeah, and let's not forget the absolute smart of Keanu James
05:07distracting that referee.
05:08So, Julia on the outside could add a little extra damage to Alexa Bliss.
05:13And that is why Bliss is now in such a bad way.
05:17Find me a weakness with Keanu James
05:20outside of the relative inexperience versus the rest of the locker room.
05:25Boy, and that is changing quickly when it comes to the inexperience.
05:29Over the course of the past month to two months,
05:33she has rapidly grown.
05:35Both in singles action, came up with,
05:38and she just takes Charlotte right off of the apron.
05:41Charlotte needs to be held back by our official.
05:43Again, once a smart move by Keanu James,
05:47just enraging Charlotte Flair.
05:49Now, Charlotte is the one distracting the referee
05:51while Bliss gets double teamed in the corner.
05:58Crowd here in Portland is trying to rally the support for Alexa Bliss,
06:03who's being held back and then kneed right in the midsection from James.
06:07A frenzy of energy there from Bliss,
06:10but it was all for nothing.
06:11James blocking her,
06:12and now Julia tagged in to do even more damage.
06:21Julia is pulling back.
06:24Nothing beautiful about that,
06:25just pure madness.
06:27The beautiful madness coming in hard
06:29with Alexa framed against the ropes.
06:37Such a juxtaposition when it comes to Julia.
06:41It's that fine balance of an elegant package
06:44and such a ferocious fight in style.
06:47And this might be devastating.
06:50Jaw first,
06:52into the mat goes Alexa Bliss.
06:59And Bliss now in a whole world of trouble
07:03as Keanu James and Julia are closing in
07:06on a potential showdown with the tag champs.
07:10But Bliss ain't done yet.
07:14And it's desperation time,
07:16and this is a mad scramble.
07:18And Julia needed to cling on.
07:20She failed.
07:26Ducking and diving,
07:28and here comes the queen.
07:31Charlotte Flair is ready for action.
07:35Big cross body by Flair.
07:39And now the signature Flair chops.
07:44Go!
07:45Go!
07:46Go!
07:47Go!
07:49Go!
07:49Go!
08:02Charlotte Flair taking control of things here.
08:05Flair and Bliss going up against Julia
08:07and Keanu James.
08:08They are set to see who can be
08:10in line to meet the new champs.
08:13The irresistible forces of Nia and Lash legend.
08:16Well, it looked like it was game over
08:18for Charlotte and Alexa Bliss,
08:20but that tag to a fresh Charlotte Flair moments ago
08:25has completely turned this one around.
08:28And we might be getting two for the price of one here, Joe.
08:33Flair going up top.
08:39What a spectacular moonsault.
08:42Two are the target.
08:44And Keanu James just got her shoulder up.
08:48Yeah, talk about the toughness of Keanu James
08:52because this move was on the point,
08:55taking out Julia in the process.
08:57I've no idea how Keanu James managed to kick out,
09:00but their hopes are still alive in this one.
09:05Big kick delivered.
09:07And now Julia, she enters into the fight
09:10right in the middle of the ring.
09:12And slams down Charlotte.
09:15Trying to win it right here.
09:17Well, Bliss is down and Bliss may be out,
09:20but it looks like Charlotte might have been wiped out
09:23with this one.
09:32Looking to regroup in her own unique way.
09:35Here is Julia.
09:36That's that madness seeping out once again.
09:39And this is when she gets truly scary.
09:43Of course, so much on the line for these tag teams
09:45as the Irresistible Forces were celebrating their new titles.
09:49And these two teams came out to stake their claim
09:52to number one contender spot.
09:54Here's Charlotte now, able to counter.
09:57And the German suplex by Flair.
10:00Just when Julia was going for that Northern Lights bomb.
10:03Oh, what a DDT by Bliss.
10:07And the pendulum swinging back.
10:09Oh, natural selection.
10:11Flair right on time.
10:18They are right back where they belong.
10:20Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
10:25While the former tag team champs now earn themselves a showdown
10:30with the new tag team champs,
10:32a.k.a. the women who cost them gold in the first place,
10:37the Irresistible Forces.
10:40See that WrestleMania sign up there?
10:41Of course, we're going to get a major answer to WrestleMania.
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