The WWE women’s tag division hasn’t blossomed quite like everyone thought it would when the belts were introduced, but these five team recommendations can help change that direction.
With Ronda Rousey out of the WWE picture, there’s been a lot of concern over how the women are booked throughout the organization. There’s been a real drop off in valuable air time, and quality storylines for the various women within the WWE.
One thought the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles would help create time for more of the roster, but instead they’ve been mired in an inadequate storyline with The IIconics that can’t get the television time many believe would help it flourish.
The women’s tag team division hasn’t been flushed out even though there’s plenty of women to use for building compelling teams.
This list looks at five teams that would add interesting wrinkles to the women’s tag division. Some have storylines that could mesh together, while others are pairings that would help freshen up characters that haven’t been booked well in recent months or longer.
There’s a lot of opportunity within tag team wrestling, as it is a chance to highlight multiple capable athletes at once, while building future stars that can get over as a single talent. With that in mind, here are five women’s tag teams that would help had a spark to the women’s tag division.
Ruby Riott & Rhea Ripley
As individual stars, both Ruby Riott and Rhea Ripley have an appeal that could catapult them to the top of the women’s division as a singles competitor.
Ripley has already held the WWE NXT UK Women’s title, while Riott was the leader of the Riott Squad – finding herself within many of the top storylines in the women’s group before an injury sidelined her growth. Many looks at both women and see an athlete that can lead the women’s division of which ever main roster brand that would have them.
While this is potentially true, think about the value they could have if introduced as a tag team soon.
Neither Riott or Ripley have cracked the age of 30, but they have a combined 15 years of experienced between them. Riott has shown that she is the worker that the next generation of the women’s division needs; with the ability to have a good match with nearly anyone that she’s placed against.
Ripley, on the other hand, has a unique look that delivers whenever she walks into the forefront. Ripley and Riott both have unique looks that stand out among all WWE women which tend to follow a “standard” sense of fashion.
There’s an additional wrinkle to this pairing. Imagine if this duo was brought together with Paige as their mouth piece. Yes, she’s currently with the Kabuki Warriors – which is a role that seems quite odd for the former SmackDown General Manager.
As the manager for the Ripley and Riott team, this would be the exact type of group that would get fans interested and deliver in the ring.
Candice LeRae & Liv Morgan
When Candice LaRae was added to the NXT roster back in 2017 there was a lot of excitement and speculation with how the organization would use her.
LeRae was a staple across many independent organizations such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, DDT Pro and others. She should never have been type-cast as Johnny Gargano’s wife, but that is exactly what the promotion did when she was placed within the storylines surrounding her real-life husband.
As her own angle with Io Shirai continues to develop, it will be intriguing to watch how she’s used in NXT; a brand that could use someone of LeRae’s veteran capabilities.
But, there’s an individual on the main roster that can benefit from working with LeRae as well, and that is Liv Morgan.
When Morgan was moved over to SmackDown without the rest of her Riott Squad mates, there was immediate intrigue into how she would fit within the women’s division, and how she would perform. As a Performance Center product, there was still a lot of questions around the height of Morgan’s ceiling.
She was off television for months before recently returning to SmackDown in a losing effort to multiple-time champion, Charlotte Flair. But after the fight she promised to return as “real” in what hints to be a character change.
The character of Morgan and LeRae would have potential to tell a story around a veteran taking a younger talent under their wing. Think of this as a big sister – little sister type relationship with LeRae trying to guide Morgan toward a path to success.
Not only does that storyline have appeal within the tag team division, there’s an opportunity to build them as a team before breaking them off into their separate tracks. As individuals, it’s hard to see either LeRae or Morgan being prominently featured on a brand, but as a duo there’s a chance to open a door to a storyline with multiple branching outcomes.
Mia Yim & Bianca Belair
What’s not to like about either Mia Yim or Bianca Belair? They both come with background stories that capture the attention of fans and they have each excelled in the ring.
Belair is a product of the Performance Center with a wealth of athletic success in her past, while Yim is a veteran with nearly a decade worth of experience. What’s even more important is that they’ve be involved with an important angle within NXT which has helped elevate both of their statuses as a part of that brand.
There are a lot of different ways to look at how Yim and Belair can be brought together as a team. Yim is currently embroiled in a feud with Shayna Baszler. What’s well known is that wherever Baszler goes, her friends in Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke are never far behind.
Belair knows what it’s like being on the losing side when being outnumbered by three of the four horsewomen. That opened the door for Yim to go through Belair as she moved into the number one contender’s position. Think of this as an opportunity for Belair to get back at Baszler, and see the title taken from the two-time champion.
Plus, as a duo there’s more of a chance that Yim and Belair would be better received by fans of the main roster. The WWE Women’s Tag Titles were said to be defended across all brands; including NXT. Yet no mention of that has been made since Sasha Banks and Bayley dropped the titles.
Featuring Yim and Belair as top contenders and even champions while still a part of NXT would not only highlight that the women division within that brand, but help highlight all of NXT at the same time.
Belair and Yim put on some great matches together, now is the perfect time to see what they can do as a duo.
Natalya & Mickie James
A wrestler always has value when they’ve reached the level of experience that Natalya and Mickie James have achieved. With eight WWE championships and nearly 40 years of professional wrestling under their belts; there’s very little that James and Natalya haven’t done.
The tag team titles are the one pinnacle they have yet to obtain, widely because these belts were not available when they were at the height of their popularity. Times have changed, and this is as good of a moment for James and Natalya to get their opportunity as top contenders and potentially title holders.
Sadly, the timing of this recommendation is off as James is sidelined due to an ACL injury. After successful surgery back in June, the timeline to her return is unknown.
Injury aside however, James and Natalya can deliver within any type of match against any of their roster mates across brands. They are frequently used as a good opponent that can put on a quality match whenever needed; especially against younger talent that needs assistance carrying them through to the end.
As a tag team, and even tag team champions, they are a strong pairing that would help any of the younger members who’ve made this list.
Natalya is currently a part of the Raw women’s title picture, and James has had multiple roles in the main event picture over time. Just as they helped push the organization toward the Women’s Revolution, they deserve another career accolade to put in their crowns.
Featuring James and Natalya as a surly veteran duo prepared to beat back the up and comers is the type of angle that would add a new layer to what has been a successful career for both women.
Alicia Fox & Kacy Catanzaro
There is a place for comedy wrestling in every promotion. What’s even funnier is when one has an ability to deliver comedic wrestling in a way that pushes a performer’s range.
That is what has made Alicia Fox a special member of the WWE roster, and she could help the growth of another wrestler that the WWE has set for success; Kacy Catanzaro.
Fox is a WWE product that has come up through the ranks of OVW and FCW, but what is impressive is that she’s been with the company for 13-years; a stellar run regardless of gender. She’s the only African American woman to ever hold the Diva’s Championship, and many believe she should have a chance to play a bigger role in today’s brand of women’s wrestling.
Even though personal troubles have plagued portions of her career, she continues to find a way to bounce back and when her number is called, she gives a strong performance between the ropes.
Catanzaro is poised to be pushed as the superheroine of the women’s division. The 5-foot-tall, 95-pound gymnast may be the smallest person on the WWE roster, but that stature creates a variety of ways that she can be used within the ring.
She was featured heavily at the 2019 edition of the Women’s Royal Rumble, and has continued to grow within the NXT roster. WWE relishes in pushing the underdog narrative for their babyface characters and Catanzaro personifies that angle.
When coupled to her athletic abilities that excelled on American Ninja Warrior, WWE can easily package her in a way that will attract female viewers of all ages.
The pairing of Fox and Catanzaro would be an interesting dynamic of Fox trying to “lead” Catanzaro in a way that’s incorrect and different than any type of mentoring one should receive.
Like how the Women’s Revolution was initially announced with those questionable groups; this one-off pairing would be a different way to introduce Catanzaro, leverage Fox’s experience and present both competitors in a new fashion.