The IIconics React to Paige’s Challenge
After shocking the crowd at WrestleMania by winning the Women’s Tag Team Championships, Billy Kay and Payton Royce took to SmackDown with a purpose. They were determined to be known as fighting champions, and they scrounged up their own competition in the form of the Brooklyn Belles. Paige watched the match and was less than impressed, promising to bring her own team of ladies to challenge the pair next week. Thanks to WWE.com, we can now see that the IIconics aren’t the least bit concerned about the former SmackDown GM’s threat.
EXCLUSIVE: The #IICONICS @BillieKayWWE & @PeytonRoyceWWE don't seem too worried about @RealPaigeWWE's post-match comments… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/y6NTpcBT0P
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2019
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The Identity of The Brooklyn Belles Revealed
Thanks to the research of @LocalCompWWE on Twitter, we now have an idea of who The IIconics faced in the ring on SmackDown for the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Karissa and Kristen were billed as The Brooklyn Belles, with the tag champs assuring us that the pair had an impressive undefeated streak. While it’s possible that these wins occurred in Rio de Janeiro, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen at least one of these ladies.
On Smackdown Live IIconics defeated Brooklyn Belles (Karissa & Kristen). Karissa @Karissa__Rivera last appeared in the 11/15/18 NXT episode where she lost to @LaceyEvansWWE. Kristen is Kris Statlander @callmekrisstat. Kris is the 1st female graduate from @CreateAPro. #WWE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/9c6RD4Y4JJ
— The Local Competitor (@LocalCompWWE) April 10, 2019
Karissa is Karissa Rivera, a competitor who showed up in NXT this past November in a losing effort against Lacey Evans. Kristen hasn’t competed for WWE, but she’s shown up in promotions like CZW as Kris Statlander. It’s also noted that Kris and Karissa are the first “local competitors” to compete on SmackDown in 2019.
