October 21st 2022. Huntington Center. Toledo, Ohio. SmackDown. We all know Our Captain hasn't always had the best of luck when it comes to tag team championship retention within the confines of WWE. Outside those confines, she's faired better with title retention including in 2016 as co-holder of the Shimmer Tag Team Championship alongside Ruby Soho (as Heidi Lovelace) with successful retention three times. Thankfully her retention misfortune in WWE changed recently with IYO SKY and her retaining their tag titles three times at house shows.

I had no doubt in my mind that Dakota Kai and IYO SKY would again be proclaimed "And Still" following their WWE Women's Tag Team Championship defense on SmackDown against Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi. They now have four successful title defenses since they won the titles on the September 12th 2022 episode of RAW. But their match against Raquel and Shotzi was no easy task. It was a brutal fight with Dakota in particular enduring a lot of punishment so IYO and her could retain.

In the early going, IYO and Dakota showcased control delivering a nifty double team where IYO took Raquel to her knees with a sunset flip so Dakota could nail her with a pump kick. The tide dreadfully turned when Dakota looked to sting Raquel with the Scorpion Kick only for her former partner to catch her leg in the stretch muffler. Raquel tagged in Shotzi who cut Dakota down from Raquel's shoulders with a neckbreaker. IYO helped Dakota to the floor to regroup as Shotzi climbed to the top rope looking to hit her senton bomb.

There was no time for respite as Raquel dropped to the floor and tossed IYO right into Dakota. Raquel returned to the apron and tagged Shotzi who was lifted up on her shoulder, taking flight to the floor taking out both opponents with a crossbody. Dakota was tossed back into the ring so Raquel could attempt a pin but Kai kicked out. Shotzi was tagged back in and climbed to the top rope as Raquel lifted Dakota onto her shoulders. Shotzi would nail Kai with a missile dropkick. Not only did Dakota plummet to the canvas, she turned inside-out from the brutal impact.

Shotzi covered Dakota thinking she had victory in the bag. But Dakota kicked out. One thing I've learned over the years from her matches since Evie: Our Captain is the embodiment of endurance. I swear she feeds on the pain she receives, using it as fuel to fight her heart out. She would fight on, enduring shoulder trusts in the corner from Raquel who had tagged in. A quick tag back to Shotzi was made. Dakota felt a charging back elbow in the corner. Shotzi failed to score a pinfall on a cover so continued her assault with an elbow drop. Dakota kicked out again.

Dakota would take back control stunning Shotzi with a jawbreaker as she was brought to her feet. Shotzi didn't notice Kai making it to her corner and IYO tagging herself in. Dakota led Shotzi on a chase to the floor and back into the ring so IYO could surprise her with a springboard missile dropkick. The Ladies were back in control thanks to Dakota's endurance and the duo's cleverness. Kai and SKY remained in control through the commercials pummeling Shotzi to a pulp. But after the break ended, Shotzi managed a tag to Raquel after fighting off a double team.

Raquel was a brickhouse of rage tossing both Kai and SKY to the canvas with fallaway slams. Her attempt at the corkscrew elbow on Dakota was felled by IYO who climbed the ropes from the apron hoping to suplex Raquel to the floor. But Raquel overpowered and deadlifted her up for her own superplex. IYO would not go though, allowing Dakota to grab Raquel by the legs looking for a powerbomb. Shotzi broke her effort up, smashing Dakota with a cannonball.

Dakota's fall would be a worthy sacrifice as IYO kicked Raquel off the ropes. Raquel stumbled around, spiked to the canvas by IYO who flew off the top rope with a tornado DDT. SKY covered Raquel for a pin but she kicked out. IYO went for Over the Moonsault but Raquel rolled out of the way. SKY rolled through only to get turned inside-out by a lariat. Raquel tagged in Shotzi who struck IYO with an assisted sliced bread. Shotzi made a cover as Raquel caught Dakota in powerbomb position, however Kai slipped off right into a splash breaking the pin.

Raquel caught a charging Dakota in powerbomb position a second time. This time Kai unloaded punches, forcing Raquel over to the ropes so she could headscissor her to the floor. All this action got Bayley pumped up -- she found herself on the apron shouting moral support to her Ladies. Shotzi has taken on Raquel's bad habit of not focusing on her actual opponents, choosing to strike Bayley. Shotzi's lack of focus is bad for her team. Good for Damage CTRL.

IYO lifted Shotzi onto her back and planted her with the SKY Crash. Over the Moonsault. Dakota held Raquel down from trying a save. Three count. And Still Your WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: Dakota Kai and IYO SKY. Dakota gave IYO an adorable squeeze. Bayley gave both her ladies a squeeze. They were punished but endured and consumed the pain to grasp victory. Shotzi can host NXT Halloween Havoc this weekend knowing Raquel and her gave a good fight. But on SmackDown, The Ladies worked together as a team (not a makeshift pairing) and continued to dominate the division.

WWE Digital Exclusive caught up with The Ladies in a candid backstage moment where Bayley was offering Kai and SKY praise. She exalted to them this is what the Women's Tag Division had been missing. The Role Model is 100 percent correct. Dakota was an energy drink of ecstatic. IYO said with pride she didn't win the match alone: They did it as a team. Dakota told Bayley that she knows she'll handle business when she faces RAW Women's Champion Bianca Belair in an important non-title match on the October 24th episode of Monday Night RAW.

On The SmackDown LowDown, Megan Morant accused Bayley of purposely interfering in the match. Bayley pointed out it was Shotzi who attacked her. She's correct. Shotzi took her eyes off her actual opponent to attack someone who was merely cheering her team on from the apron. Bayley told Megan to speak to Kai and SKY who won the match, reassuring her that IYO doesn't bite... hard. IYO had some fun, jesting a bite. Guessing it was a jest. Anyway... Dakota's emotions stirred as she reminded Megan they've done as they promised and continue to dominate the division. IYO didn't want Dakota to get worked up any more so cut her off, affirming it was Dakota and her who won the match. Truth was spoken. Bayley approved. The Ladies were out.

I will close this entry with a dose of truth. They are a team. The well-oiled machine. Family. These Ladies don't need a tank because they are the fucking tank. They are the living breathing hellfire. Beware The Ladies. Fear the Wrath of Damage CTRL.

Additional Information | WWE Women's Tag Team Champions IYO SKY & Dakota Kai defeated Shotzi & Raquel Rodriguez (10:12) to retain the tag team titles on WWE SmackDown from Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio on October 21st 2022.