Since getting called up from NXT, the members of Fatal Influence have made their presence known in a big way. Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Lainey Reid debuted on Friday Night SmackDown amidst a huge wave of call-ups after WrestleMania: Vegas. Henley and Reid were impressive in NXT, but Jayne was the star of the group. She was a two-time NXT Champion and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, as well as a one-time TNA Knockouts Champion.
It was a surprise to some fans that Henley and Reid joined Jayne on the main roster, but now they have a chance to get some gold of their own. At Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 18, Henley and Reid will face Brie Bella and Paige for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
This is a very interesting matchup, as Fatal Influence have only been on SmackDown for two months. However, giving them the titles will be a good move for many reasons.
It Will Further Signify the Next Generation is Here
Since the start of 2026, many wrestlers have been called up from NXT, such as Ethan Page, Joe Hendry, Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, and Sol Ruca. Since then, Femi has been in a huge feud with Brock Lesnar, Hendry has been feuding with the Vision, Saints has been a key part in the Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams story, amongst others.
With that happening, some controversial departures of wrestlers with decade-long tenures, such as the New Day and Sheamus, have left fans furious over TKO’s treatment of WWE’s veterans.
It’s obvious that the roster is getting younger, even though how that’s happening doesn’t make fans happy. Henley and Reid becoming WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions will place the belt on two young stars who are extremely athletic and talented in the ring. WWE has already invested in a future star with Lash Legend and her tag team with Nia Jax, and highlighting two more rising talents in Henley and Reid would be a great decision.
A Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid Win Will Make Fatal Influence Stronger
There was never a clear leader when Fatal Influence was on NXT television. However, based on her accomplishments, fans treated Jayne as the leader of the faction. They placed her ahead of Henley and Reid when there was no clear hierarchy between them.
That’s why the latter two getting a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match is important. Winning the championships will show fans that calling them up as well was a good decision while also motivating Jayne to get gold of her own.
There’s a reason why they’re getting this match so early in their main roster careers. WWE was clearly impressed with what they’ve done in NXT, and so far they’ve shown that same energy on SmackDown.
If all three women walk out of SummerSlam as champions, it’ll show the entire women’s division that Fatal Influence is an extremely powerful faction capable of beating even the best of opponents. Henley and Reid winning next Saturday could be the key to Fatal Influence becoming stars.
A Title Change is Necessary for Fatal Influence
Saturday Night’s Main Event will be taking place on July 18, just two weeks before SummerSlam. It may be surprising to some fans that the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match is happening there. But a win for Henley and Reid also affects more than Fatal Influence.
If they do win, but it’s under controversial circumstances, Bella and Paige can petition for a rematch at SummerSlam. That will check another box of career highlights for Fatal Influence in their short careers.
Femi wrestled Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania three months into his main roster run, and now he’s facing him at SummerSlam. Henley and Reid potentially taking the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships into one of WWE’s biggest PLE’s can only help their standing in the company.
Getting this much exposure in such a short amount of time is something that many wrestlers only dream of. If Henley and Reid win next Saturday, it’s clear that Fatal Influence could be the next great WWE faction.
