Coming off of their big win to start 2026, the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions RhIYO took to the ring for the opening segment of the Jan. 12 episode of Monday Night Raw. Rhea Ripley talked first on the mic, welcoming the crowd in Dusseldorf, Germany to Monday Night RhIYO. IYO SKY adds that Asuka and Kairi Sane give no respect.
Before Ripley could say much more, the champions were interrupted by Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez of the Judgment Day. Morgan said that she and Perez came out to congratulate them and got the crowd involved in the celebration. Morgan says it is so cool. but her problem is that the tag titles still belong to her because she never lost them. She says that Ripley and SKY can do things the easy way and just give them back to her or she can fight for them and take them back the hard way.
Morgan gets interrupted by Bayley’s music as Bayley and Lyra Valkyria make their way out to the ring. Bayley welcomes back Morgan into the fold, but says even though Morgan didn’t lose the tab belts, Perez did. And she reminds everyone she did defeat Perez in a singles match a few weeks ago.
Ripley states that they do not have a problem facing whoever, as SKY yells in Japanese between both challenging teams. As Judgment Day and Bayley/Lyra start verbally fighting, the Kabuki Warriors sneak up and take down RhIYO by their legs underneath the rope to the outside. The three challenging teams brawl in the ring until the champions re-enter, clear the ring, and stand tall to end the segment.
A number one contender’s tag team match between the three teams is booked for later in the show.
Moments later backstage, Perez and Morgan approached Finn Balor who was busy playing 2K. Morgan laid into him as he stated previously he would carry Judgment Day. She says that she and Perez as well as Raquel Rodriguez are going for gold, so what is he waiting for? As Morgan and Perez walk away, he tells them “just you wait.” Balor later on in the night came out to challenge CM Punk.
Next for the women came the triple threat match to determine the number one contenders for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. The Judgment Day was able to get the win against both the Kabuki Warriors and Bayley & Valkyria. The final moments of the match, Sane was able to deposit Perez out of the ring, but this allowed Morgan to hit ObLIVion on Sane to get the win.
The Judgment Day will challenge RhIYO for the tag titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Jan. 24.
Next a vignette of the new WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion, Becky Lynch aired. She explained it took her two months to attempt to get her title back last week, but Maxxine Dupri is getting one more shot at the title next week in Belfast. Lynch also says she won back the title fair and square despite the video evidence of her holding the bottom rope.
Dupri responded in a backstage interview with Jackie Redmond. She stated that she became champion because she finally believed in herself and she wants Otis and Akira Tozawa to do the same. She says last week was a setback and Lynch had to cheat to beat her. Dupri says she will break Lynch’s ankle next week.
Raquel Rodriguez was up next with an interview with Michael Cole on the stage. Cole addressed her actions last week from attacking Stephanie Vaquer last week, targeting her injured ankle. Rodriguez says she was tired of sitting on the sidelines and smiling when she was told….patiently waiting for a title shot. Rodriguez plays to the audience saying that everyone keeps wanting to feel sorry for Vaquer? She says she won’t stop until she gets Vaquer one-on-one and takes the title.
Vaquer made her way out to the stage with her walking boot on. Officials tried to keep her and Rodriguez apart. Vaquer says that this will not stop her, as Rodriguez comes from behind and attacks her once again. She took the title belt and used it as a weapon on the ankle of the champion before raising it in the air. Rodriguez got major heat with a “you suck” chant from the crowd.
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