The IIconics’ Billie Kay and Peyton Royce must stay together for the greater good

It was the slap heard around Twitter. The disturbance in the force created among the stans and the way-too-online marks when Billie Kay slapped Peyton Royce was significant and prompted quick questions as to the duo’s future as a tag team.

With the IIconics having just returned to WWE TV after an absence dating back several months, you may have heard the collective sigh of contentment ripple through the WWE Universe.

For good reason, the IIconics were well-received coming back, and even put a new finishing maneuver on display in a win over the current tag champs, Bliss Cross Applesauce.

After a May 18 Raw title shot ended in Royce flying off the handle and repeatedly tossing Bliss into a ring post, the IIconics were disqualified, prompting a post-match confrontation in which Billie Kay seemingly out of instinct walloped Royce across the face with an open-hand slap.

The immediate regret registered on Billie Kay’s face, and the pain and shock showed on Royce’s face. That moment also told us something. The action shocked them both and instead of registering anger in Royce, she quickly took on a look of disbelief and internal pain. There was no vitriol immediately after.

That’s because these two aren’t just self-interested heels. They’re a pair who relies on and builds up one another. Splitting them up would not only be ludicrous for their characters, but it would remove the dynamic of one of the best comedy acts in the company, something WWE has voluntarily done the last few months for whatever reason.

Even teasing the possibility of an IIconics breakup is enough to send some people into a frenzy. With a new finishing move, a renewed title feud and plenty of time and space for artistic freedom during the pandemic, now is the time to utilize the comedic chops the two have exhibited, not separate them.

It’s one thing if they want to tease a breakup and promote tension between the two as a storyline with a satisfying payoff — I’m thinking of Hangman Adam Page’s heel turn swerve with Kenny Omega when I say this — but actually separating them for any reason excepting possible a short-lived feud and reunion angle is absolutely absurd and counterproductive to current WWE programming.

When Samoa Joe flubbed the end of the duo’s first match back, exclaiming incorrectly, “new tag champs,” he said something that plenty of people are surely fantasy-booking by now. The current situation without fans in attendance could still go on a while, and any reason to keep them on TV  – where they’re overselling every word, every scream, every upset freakout about a kick out or perceived slight – is something that is needed.

Raw and Smackdown both need these two showing the rest of the roster how to be extra at all times. They’re essentially cut in the right cloth in being extra loud and obnoxious to give extra legitimacy to the otherwise quiet arena.

Feeding off one another, whether in the ring or in backstage segments or promos, The IIconics are better together than they could ever be separate.