Decision to unify WWE Raw, SmackDown Tag Team titles made at last minute
The decision to follow through with unifying the WWE Raw and SmackDown Tag Team titles was made at the last minute Friday.
Dave Meltzer reported the news on Sunday’s Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer said there was “no plan” for what to do for the finish going into the show and that The Usos vs. Randy Orton & Riddle happened primarily to get the angle over at the end of the match which set up future singles matches between WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns against Orton and Riddle.
In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer reported that the discussed next three challengers for Reigns are Riddle for Money in the Bank, Orton for SummerSlam and Drew McIntyre for Clash at the Castle.
Meltzer said WWE was going back and forth when deciding what to do with Vince McMahon making the final call, paying off a story that was initially teased for the WrestleMania Backlash event.
Jimmy & Jey Uso (SmackDown tag champions) defeated Orton & Riddle (Raw tag champions) Friday to become the undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Reigns interfered, preventing Riddle from hitting a super RKO on Jey from the top rope. Jey then hit a big splash to pin Riddle for the win. The Bloodline then attacked Orton & Riddle, laying them out.
Meltzer said he didn’t know if there are plans for a rematch.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.