Paige Returning To WWE With New Tag Team, The IIconics Respond

As seen on SmackDown LIVE this past Tuesday night, it looks like Paige will be part of the storylines again soon. This past Tuesday night’s episode of SmackDown LIVE, which was The Fallout Show from Sunday night’s WrestleMania 35 PPV, saw Paige watch from backstage as The New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics retained their titles over two local enhancement talents they found, billed as The Brooklyn Belles with an undefeated streak of 45-0. Billie Kay & Peyton Royce noted that this was the best tag team they could find in the city.

Paige then spoke to Kayla Braxton and mocked The IIconics a bit, adding that she will be bringing an impressive tag team of her own next week on The Superstar Shakeup edition of SmackDown LIVE from Montreal.

“Well, obviously this is SmackDown Live after WrestleMania and it’s just one week until the Superstar Shakeup,” Paige said when asked what brought her to TV this week. “I mean, that night is just full of surprises and you know what, I just wanted to get a close up look at the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. I mean, they were very impressive, they end the legendary undefeated streak of The Brooklyn Belles… is that what…? Well, yeah, impressive to say the least. Do you want to know a little secret, Kayla? Next week I’m going to be bringing an impressive tag team of my own.”

There is no word yet on who Paige is bringing next week to face The IIconics but there have been rumors on The Sky Pirates (Kairi Sane & Io Shirai) being brought up to the main roster from NXT to get involved in The WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles chase.

Paige was forced to retire from in-ring competition in April Of 2018 after suffering a career-ending neck injury in December Of 2017 at a live event. She was brought back to TV in April Of 2018 as The SmackDown LIVE General Manager, but she has been off of TV since December OF 2018 when WWE did away with non-McMahon Family authority figures on RAW & SmackDown LIVE. Then-SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon stated at the time that we would be seeing more of Paige, but this is the first storyline she has had since then. Paige did serve as the guest commentator for The 2nd Annual WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal on The WrestleMania 35 Kickoff Show.

The IIconics were informed of the challenge in a backstage post-SmackDown LIVE segment with Cathy Kelley, seen below. Cathy mentioned how they promised to be fighting champions and asked if they are prepared to answer the challenge.

“Next week is the Superstar Shakeup so she’s probably bringing back… developing some new tag team, I guess, thinking that we will challenge any newcomers, and sure we’ll do that…,” Peyton said before trailing off.

“Point is, Paige wants to come out with this hot, hot new tag team… next week, we are ready. We are fighting champions and we are here to make this tag team division absolutely iconic,” Kay said with Royce.

Below is a video of Paige’s backstage interview along with a second video of the response from The IIconics as well as a few shots from the segment on SmackDown LIVE:

With an undefeated record of 45-0, the #BrooklynBelles have a HUGE opportunity at the @WWE Women’s #TagTeamTitles against @BillieKayWWE & @PeytonRoyceWWE on #SDLive! #SDLiveAfterMania pic.twitter.com/eXwRADS6nt
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2019

Former #SDLive General Manager @RealPaigeWWE seems to have an interest in this one… #SDLive #SDLiveAfterMania pic.twitter.com/ENf6916Vzf
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 10, 2019

In case you couldn’t tell by the reaction…#TheIIconics just SUCCESSFULLY defended their @WWE Women’s #TagTeamTitles on #SDLive! #SDLiveAfterMania pic.twitter.com/nB9GcDPxLY
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2019

“Next week, I’m going to be bringing an impressive tag team of my own.”@RealPaigeWWE appears to be ready for the #SuperstarShakeUp NEXT WEEK! #SDLive #SDLiveAfterMania pic.twitter.com/SNiGFyignd
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 10, 2019

After taking a closer look at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions @BillieKayWWE & @PeytonRoyceWWE, @RealPaigeWWE promises to bring an impressive Tag Team of her own to #SDLive next week! pic.twitter.com/cd5fC7nt0V
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2019