With Michin now behind her following their Street Fight on the August 30 episode of “SmackDown,” Nia Jax is shifting her focus toward the upcoming showdown in Atlanta. During the season premiere of “WWE SmackDown” on the USA Network, Jax presented an intriguing challenge to Bayley and Naomi.
She proposed that in their upcoming tag team match against Jax and Stratton, the competitor who secures the pinfall or submission would earn a shot at the WWE Women’s Championship at Bad Blood. Conversely, if Bayley or Naomi were to lose, Jax warned that they would face indefinite removal from “SmackDown.”
At the midway point of “SmackDown,” Jax took to the microphone to announce her upcoming title defense at Bad Blood, as per Nick Aldis’s request. Bayley interrupted Jax’s self-promotion, demanding a rematch for the title. This provoked Stratton and led to Bayley being cornered by Jax and Stratton. Naomi came to Bayley’s aid but expressed her own desire to pursue singles gold in WWE once again.
Jax then declared that on the September 20 episode of “SmackDown,” Bayley and Naomi will face Jax and Stratton. Jax promised that if Bayley and Naomi emerged victorious, the individual who scores the pinfall or submission would challenge her for the title at Bad Blood. However, if Jax and Stratton won, the person who lost would be permanently banished from “SmackDown.” Bayley and Naomi accepted these stipulations.
Currently, Jax has held the WWE Women’s Championship for 41 days, having won it from Bayley at SummerSlam 2024. Naomi’s last reign as a singles champion was in 2017 when she captured the “SmackDown” Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 33.