Damage CTRL suffered a four match losing streak on the WWE European Tour. That streak started with Bayley (to the surprise of no one but herself) coming up on the losing end in a RAW Women's Championship Match against Asuka and champion Bianca Belair. Bad Luck Bayley, Dakota Kai & IYO SKY would lose to Belair and Asuka in handicap matches the next three nights. That continued string of bad luck coming off their trios match loss on RAW was unfortunate, however they were about to pick up some momentum upon returning stateside.

April 28th 2023. American Bank Center. Corpus Christi, Texas. SmackDown hosted Night 1 of the 2023 WWE Draft. During the fourth round, Damage CTRL were drafted to SmackDown. Dakota Kai, IYO SKY and Bayley will now be seen regularly on Fridays once the new rosters go into effect on May 8th 2023. But first, The Ladies have important Damage CTRL business to handle including IYO SKY challenging fellow draftee to SmackDown, RAW Women's Champion Bianca Belair, for the championship this Saturday May 6th 2023 at Backlash.

May 1st 2023. Dickies Arena. Fort Worth, Texas. Monday Night RAW. Bayley convinced management to give Dakota Kai and her a non-title match against WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez. If Kai and Bayley can defeat the champions, a tag team title opportunity could be in the future of Damage CTRL. Bayley got this match because she felt she let Kai and SKY down getting pinned during the 6 Woman Tag Team Match last week. To be fair, said match wouldn't have even happened if Bayley didn't act selfish.

I know Bayley's motives in recent months have been suspect but I want to remain optimistic. Just imagine all of Damage CTRL with gold at the top of the division. So, the match started with Kai and Morgan trading unsuccessful pin and kick attempts. Dakota tossed Morgan throat first to the middle rope to snatch control. Bayley tagged in. The Role Model successfully bodyslammed Liv but missed an elbow drop, giving Morgan the chance to tag Raquel. Bayley stood up to that annoying itch Raquel, slapping the taste out of her mouth. Regretfully, that just pissed her off.

Raquel and Liv double teamed Bayley in their corner for a bit. Bayley tried to reach out for a tag to Dakota who tagged her boot. The referee wouldn't count that as a tag but that was the point. While he was bad-mouthing Dakota to return to her corner, Bayley gave Morgan the ole Greco Roman eye gouge. Bayley tossed Liv to the floor. Kai tagged in before slipping to the floor, striking Liv flush in the jaw with a pump kick. The Captain of Team F'N Kick doing it like only King Kota can!

Dakota continued her attack in the ring, smashing Liv's face with the running face wash in the corner. Kai went for a pin but Liv kicked out. Bayley held Morgan so Kai could hit offense. Morgan struck Bayley to the floor before trying to make a tag to Raquel. Dakota prevented it with a shot to Liv's face. Morgan evaded a kick and rolled Kai aside, reaching out with a leap to tag Raquel. The itch got some of her offense in, however in a heroic moment of self-sacrifice Bayley pulled Kai out of the way as Raquel went for the Stinger splash.

Sadly, Raquel remained in control crashing down on Kai with the Vader bomb elbow. Liv tagged in. Raquel lifted her onto her shoulders to senton her onto Kai. Bayley put that to a stop, pulling Raquel to the floor and smashing her stupid back against the apron. Dakota struck Liv down with The Kairopractor! Kai went for the victory pin but Raquel broke it up. Bayley came at Raquel only to get tossed to the apron. The Role Model hung on and held Raquel by the tights so Kai could strike her down with a pump kick. Bayley assisted the limp Raquel to the floor.

Morgan hit a codebreaker on Kai who staggered into her team's corner, allowing Bayley to tag in. Liv didn't see the tag and spiked Kai skull to canvas with ObLivion. Bayley heroically sprung into action, sunset flipping Morgan for the splendid pinfall victory. Dakota Kai and Bayley defeated the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions! Yes, it was a non-title match but a victory over champions makes a damn good case for a future title match. Kai and Bayley celebrated their well-deserved victory. Bayley even planted a kiss on Our Captain's head.

Bayley helped Dakota away from the ring, shouting for the whole world to scream Bayley's name. I'll be screaming BOTH her name and Dakota's name because they both won. Dakota both gave and sacrificed for her team. So did Bayley. Last week I would have questioned if Bayley was taking all the credit, however after tonight I don't think she was. The Ultra Superstar was just on cloud nine because Damage CTRL are on their way to holding the majority of the championships. Kai and Bayley jelled as a team, working together wonderfully in unison.

In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Bayley along with Dakota Kai and IYO SKY celebrated the first tag team win of Kai and Bayley in 2023. They were ecstatic about the impending moment where all three will have championship gold. Dakota was feeling groggy from that ObLivion, even staggering a bit, yet was so excited she was still ready to fight anyone. With what they said, said The Ladies bid RAW farewell. Onto Backlash and Friday Night SmackDown they go.

But before leaving RAW, Damage CTRL interrupted an interview with Bianca. Bayley told Bianca The EST will be sad when IYO ends her championship reign. Bianca said what made her sad was to see a unique, talented competitor like IYO get influenced by Kai and Bayley whom she accused of holding SKY back. They took offense to that. Dakota with good reason. Our Captain has never held SKY back, supporting her while Bayley has been suspect. Bianca said she hopes SKY gets to feel how it feels to finally step out on her own and shine...after Bianca beats her at Backlash.

Bianca is The WorstEST, digging into that dissension playbook. She's wrong to blame Dakota Kai whose been only supportive of IYO. Dakota and Bayley clearly didn't appreciate Bianca's mouth. I hope IYO remembers Dakota has been supportive of her as SKY continues to have doubts about Bayley. IYO got in Bianca's face with strong words. Dakota was going to translate per usual but Bianca affirmed SKY and her understood each other. IYO's reaction made it clear that was so. Bayley disagreed as Damage CTRL took their leave.

I did take notice during the Bianca confrontation that Bayley had some of those same ill looks toward IYO from recent weeks. For now though, I'll try to be optimistic all will be well within Damage CTRL. This tasty drink is encouraging. IYO will win the RAW Women's Championship at Backlash. Soon, Dakota and Bayley will become WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. The Ladies will stand together and support each other, all holding gold. Everything will be right in the world. Things will finally be as they should.

Additional Information | Bayley & Dakota Kai defeated WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (8:14) in a non-title match during the May 1st 2023 episode of WWE Monday Night RAW from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.