Brief

Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley win WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship on SmackDown

Bliss and Paxley became champions after a backstage injury forced Charlotte Flair out of the match.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:35:18 GMT

On the October 10 episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown, Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley captured the Women’s Tag Team Championship after Charlotte Flair was ruled medically unable to compete, Sportskeeda reported.

What happened

The originally scheduled title bout featured Flair and Paxley versus Fatal Influence’s Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid. Jade Cargill and her Baddies ambushed Flair backstage, injuring her shoulder and prompting medical staff to withhold clearance. General Manager Nick Aldis announced the postponement, but Paxley convinced Bliss to step in as Flair’s replacement.

What the reports add

Sportskeeda detailed the match’s back‑and‑forth action, noting that both teams had opportunities. The climax saw Henley and Paxley as the legal participants; Henley attempted a heel‑side interference that the referee halted. Bliss then delivered her signature Sister Abigail to Lainey Reid, leaving Henley stunned. Paxley followed with a Cemetery Drive for the decisive pin, securing the titles for the new duo.

What was said

The outlet did not quote any wrestlers or officials directly, but described Bliss’s “Sister Abigail” and Paxley’s “Cemetery Drive” as the finishing moves that clinched the victory.

How it came about

The title change stemmed from Flair’s injury and the GM’s decision to keep the championship match on the card. This follows WWE’s recent focus on elevating emerging talent, as highlighted in earlier Felo coverage of Paxley’s involvement in Money‑in‑the‑Bank qualifiers.

Key facts

• Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship on SmackDown (sportskeeda.com)
• Charlotte Flair was medically cleared out due to a shoulder injury (sportskeeda.com)
• The finishing sequence involved Bliss delivering Sister Abigail and Paxley executing a Cemetery Drive for the pin (sportskeeda.com)

Sources

• [1] sportskeeda.com — originally reported as “3 Reasons why Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley are your new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions”