Alexa Bliss returns and Tatum Paxley debuts on SmackDown

"

Rumors initially indicated Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill would be a feud over the women’s championship coming out of SummerSlam. Instead, Chelsea Green won the title and certainly appears to be off to duke it out with Nia Jax. Flair and Cargill, meanwhile, are still fighting amongst themselves, they just aren’t doing it for a championship. And it turns out, the headlining segment they were given on Friday Night SmackDown in Philadelphia this week was about more than the two of them. Indeed, after putting together a fairly strong television main event match, the two were interrupted by Michin & B-Fab, who interfered to ensure Cargill could get out of the Figure Eight. That’s when we got surprise one — Alexa Bliss making her return, complete with her doll Lilly. Then the lights went out and when they came back up, we got surprise number two — Tatum Paxley making her main roster debut. This changes EVERYTHING!! 🤯 ALEXA BLISS is back and TATUM PAXLEY is here!!!@AlexaBliss_WWE | @TatumPaxley pic.twitter.com/etfCVA8fI6 — WWE (@WWE) August 8, 2026 Paxley, who spent years working her way up the card in NXT, hit a huge splash from the top rope to Michin & Fab on the outside. Bliss, it should be noted, is still wearing a brace on her arm. Paxley did all the physical work for her. After, Bliss, Flair, and Paxley celebrated in the ring to close the show. A new faction? Or just a few friends looking out for each other while giving one hell of a rub to a debuting hopeful? Get complete SmackDown results and coverage of this week’s entire episode by clicking here.