00:00Charlotte and Alexa, they know what it's like to come so close to regaining their championship.
00:04By the way, let's go back to last week, their match against the Bellas,
00:08and give folks a little bit of an update on an injury weight.
00:12Yeah, this is Nikki Bella suffering a nasty ankle roll in the Bellas tag match
00:16with Bliss and Flair last week, as you mentioned.
00:19Nikki is currently undergoing some rehab in order to be ready
00:23for their fatal four-way tag title showdown at WrestleMania 42.
00:28Get well soon, Nikki.
00:31Of course, these three teams will be cutting for the irresistible forces at Mania.
00:55And their opponents making their way to the ring.
00:58The team of Bayley and Lyra Valkyria!
01:04And Wade, they've been a dynamic pairing, Bayley and Lyra.
01:08They thought this past Monday at MSG, they may have their drowning moment before Mania even arrived.
01:13Yeah, taking on the irresistible forces.
01:15The tag champs now mid-match, the Bellas, along with Flair and Bliss, well, they hit the ring.
01:22And of course, as you can imagine, chaos ensued.
01:25Three teams really gave the champs a taste of their own medicine after the match was thrown out
01:34by a disqualification, delivering a major beatdown to the irresistible forces
01:39as the tag division hits boiling point ahead of WrestleMania 42.
01:54So Bayley and Lyra Valkyria highly irate that Flair and Bliss essentially caused that disqualification on Monday night.
02:03And they're now out here to A, get even, and B, send a little message, get some momentum
02:09ahead of that fatal four-way showdown in two weeks' time at WrestleMania.
02:13Yeah, but don't you feel like just about every top contender has that same feeling
02:18as Lyra quick to jump straight on top of Charlotte Flair.
02:22No matter which direction you look, especially in recent weeks, whether it's the Bellas or Charlotte and Alexa
02:27or what we saw at Madison Square Garden, everybody can seemingly make that argument.
02:32That's why it's perfect to have this fatal four-way at Mania.
02:35Yeah, you're right.
02:36And countless matches have imploded over the past few weeks between...
02:40That's a good start by Lyra.
02:41...those four teams due to the outside interference from each of the other teams.
02:45So nothing has been resolved over the past few weeks, hence why we're having this massive showdown
02:52in two weeks' time in Las Vegas to decide who really is the tag champs in this division.
03:00Bliss was able to make the tag moments ago.
03:04Now you see the teamwork as they pin Lyra in that corner.
03:08You mentioned it yourself, Joe.
03:10Flair and Bliss, of course, four...
03:11Oh, wow!
03:13Oh, my God.
03:13DDT from Alexa Bliss.
03:15Good stuff.
03:28In a couple weeks, these will be two of the four teams in the fatal four-way that contend
03:32for the Women's Tag Team Championships.
03:34Now meeting up here in St. Louis.
03:37Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss taking control here against Lyra Valkeria,
03:42who's, of course, paired up with Bailey.
03:45So Flair and Bliss, former tag team champions together.
03:48They've been to the top.
03:50They know they can get there.
03:51Bailey's a former tag champ.
03:53Valkeria's a former tag champ.
03:55Of course, not with each other.
03:57Still yet to prove that they can get it done as a duo.
04:01But what a way to do it.
04:03It would be to win that fatal four-way in Vegas and take tag gold.
04:11Charlotte's having a lot of fun enjoying taking control here against Lyra.
04:16I mean, go back 12 months and remember the Charlotte Flair who looked utterly miserable in the run-up to
04:21WrestleMania.
04:22It was not her usual self.
04:24It really was Alexa Bliss post-Fallout of last year's Mania,
04:28who got Charlotte Flair back on track, back to her best, back to winning form, winning gold.
04:34And those two have been pretty tight ever since.
04:37Yeah, everybody's been doubting the relationship for so long.
04:41The sincerity of the friendship, including the irresistible forces.
04:45Pointing that out.
04:47And yet, here they are.
04:48Let me tell you about the DNA of Charlotte Flair.
04:51If you give Charlotte Flair an opportunity to win gold,
04:54she will be your friend for as long as that window is open.
04:59And it certainly is wide open with this duo of Bliss and Flair.
05:0314-time world champion is Flair.
05:08Lyra Valkyria is one of those rising stars in this division.
05:12Has held some serious gold already in her time here.
05:16The Intercontinental Championship.
05:18Tag gold, of course.
05:19And is desperate for more.
05:21Desperate to keep building this legacy for herself.
05:27Following in the footsteps of a fellow doubling up in Becky Lynch.
05:32One of the greatest of all time.
05:36Becky Lynch, who, of course, will be in action.
05:39Women's Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania against AJ Lee.
05:45The whole world is salivating for that one.
05:47Just top to bottom.
05:48A stacked card at WrestleMania.
05:51And it's still evolving.
05:53Let's not forget, of course, Sammy Zayn versus Carmelo Hayes.
05:58Winner of that for the United States Championship.
06:00We'll go on to WrestleMania to defend against Tripp Williams.
06:03Well, that matchup is coming up later on tonight in our main event.
06:07Yeah, Sammy was quite conflicted as to what he should do as the challenge was put forth to give him
06:13the rematch.
06:14And that is indeed happening tonight.
06:15So Sammy risks everything.
06:17But the right thing to do to run it back, Sammy Zayn, Carmelo Hayes will be coming your way.
06:22Flyer of Valkyrie in a whole world of hurt here, realizing just why Flair and Bliss are rated so highly
06:31in this tag division and maybe the favorites of WrestleMania.
06:40Flyer of Valkyrie in a tough spot.
06:43With the 14-time world champion, Charlotte Flair getting the best of her, making the tag to Alexa Bliss.
06:49Yeah, this is the relatively weak resume in the ring on the side of Flair and Bliss.
06:55Only a five-time world champion, Alexa Bliss.
06:58That just tells you how strong that pairing of Bliss and Flair really is.
07:03And Lyra of Valkyrie has been struggling, struggling, struggling, trying to get that tag.
07:09And a big shot to the jaw.
07:10Might do it.
07:12Bayley desperate to get in there.
07:14Of course, speaking of 14-time world champions, the big headline of the night came to open up SmackDown with
07:18Randy Orton and Pat McAfee attacking Cody Rhodes here in St. Louis.
07:25You heard me right, Pat McAfee returning and teaming up with Randy Orton to beat down Cody Rhodes two weeks
07:34away from WrestleMania.
07:35Oh, and that might have been the opportunity for Valkyrie to finally make that tag, but just in time, Charlotte
07:42Flair putting the brakes on the situation and back in agony now.
07:47So close to making that tag to Bayley.
07:50Can she get just enough separation?
07:55Of course, just a few days ago on Monday night, Rod Maston, Square Garden, Bliss and Flair, they got in
08:00the mix when Bayley and Lyra were going for the tag team championships.
08:04It cost them.
08:06And now Lyra on the second ropes, cross body, and reaching out for Bayley and makes the tag.
08:14Well, Bayley, the veteran, has been desperate to get in there with one of her fellow four-horse women, Charlotte
08:22Flair, and now completely unglued and taking it to the 14-time world champ.
08:29And she has been waiting, and now she gets hands on Charlotte.
08:34You know what happened on Monday night?
08:36We showed you that.
08:37You know what's going to happen in two weeks, but a lot to be decided here tonight in St. Louis.
08:41And fresh as a Gacy Bailey has completely changed the outlook of this match.
08:49Now in a whole world of trouble here is Charlotte Flair head first snapping back into the turnbuckle.
08:57Into the cover.
08:59And getting a hand right on that bottom rope.
09:03You know what you call that, Joe?
09:04You call that championship instincts of Charlotte Flair.
09:08Some are just born with it.
09:13And now Bayley dragging Charlotte into that drop zone.
09:20Charlotte looking incredibly groggy, but those instincts once again kicking in.
09:26Getting out of trouble.
09:28And now turning the tide on Bayley.
09:31Look to her feet, Charlotte Flair.
09:36Not wasting any time in putting Bayley into position.
09:42Bayley pulling the brakes on here.
09:44Saying, no, you're going to have to do this the hard way.
09:46There's been a lot taken out of Charlotte Flair in this one.
09:50And now adding some major assistance there.
09:53Lyra Valkyria.
09:55Nothing like an anchor around the feet of Bayley.
09:58Just at the right time.
10:00And then snapping Alexa Bliss down onto the apron.
10:03Here's take two from the top rope.
10:06The flying elbow drop lands.
10:09This could be it.
10:11And Flair finds a way to get that shoulder up.
10:14Yeah, that's that durability that has taken Flair to the top time and time again.
10:19And may well do so in two weeks' time at WrestleMania.
10:23But not if Bayley can do something about it.
10:28Now the teamwork from Bayley and Lyra.
10:32And that's what it comes down to.
10:34That instinctive chemistry.
10:36Wow.
10:37This could be it right now from Lyra.
10:41And Charlotte's still with enough in the tank.
10:44I mean, let's face it.
10:46At this point, after that folly of abuse, most people are done and dusted.
10:50But Charlotte Flair just built a little differently than the rest.
10:59Now we're seeing Charlotte have to dig deep.
11:01We haven't seen this side of her for quite some time.
11:04She's rocked here.
11:07Lyra looking for more.
11:10But baited in by Charlotte Flair.
11:13And locking it in is Charlotte Flair.
11:16Bridging to that figure eight.
11:19And sheer agony now for Valkyria.
11:22And Bayley comes in and makes the save.
11:25Well, that was smart by Bayley because there was a tap-out imminent.
11:31And Valkyria looks completely broken.
11:34Bayley dropped right into the corner so she can make a tag.
11:37Bliss is not having any of that.
11:40And now, right for the pickings perhaps, is Lyra Valkyria.
11:50Able to secure Bliss.
11:52Boy, that strength of Lyra so impressive.
11:56Yeah, criminally under-respected is the power of Valkyria.
12:01Oh!
12:01Look at this, Joe!
12:02What a reversal!
12:04Looking for Sister Abigail DDT!
12:07But instead, a counter by Lyra.
12:10Big old-fashioned right hand to the temple.
12:13Dropping the Irish woman.
12:15Charlotte's calling for it.
12:17Pointing to Mania.
12:18Looking to deliver.
12:19Teamwork, natural selection, times two.
12:22One, two, three.
12:27Here are your winners.
12:29Charlotte!
12:31Oh!
12:32Lash legend arrives.
12:35There's a little payback from Monday night.
12:38Lash, the recipient of some abuse.
12:40As was her tag partner, Nia Jax.
12:44While there are always going to be consequences when you step to the tag champs, the irresistible
12:50forces picked their spot perfectly this evening.
12:55Oh, what a big boot from Lash legend.
13:00The champs are here.
13:02Nia Jax and Lash legend.
13:05What a perfect victory perhaps there for Flair and Bliss.
13:10Double smash in the corner.
13:12Of course, Bella's not here tonight due to that ankle injury getting rehab for Nikki Bella.
13:20Meaning, this attack squarely focused on the four other opponents in that Wrestlemania match.
13:27Ragdolling Bayley and lining her up for destruction.
13:31The leg drop.
13:34The women's tag team champions.
13:38Irresistible forces.
13:41Quick on the heels of Charlotte and Alexa's win.
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