WWE has begun filling out the card for the October 23 edition of SmackDown, and the early lineup is led by a high-stakes Street Fight between Giulia and Blake Monroe.
The match was made during this week’s SmackDown, when Monroe appeared in a segment with WWE official Nick Aldis. Aldis announced that Monroe and Giulia will meet under Street Fight rules on next week’s show, giving their issue a setting with no conventional disqualifications and far fewer restrictions than a standard singles contest.
Also confirmed for October 23 is a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match. Champions Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss will defend against the team of B-Fab and Michin. In addition, Bakusai, the pairing of Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki, will face The MFT, represented by Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga.
With three matches already announced, SmackDown is shaping up to place a major emphasis on tag team competition while giving Giulia and Monroe a potentially decisive opportunity to settle their conflict in a much more physical environment.
For more background on this topic, read WWE EVOLVE Succession IV Results: Harlem Lewis and Nikkita Lyons Retain Titles.
Giulia and Blake Monroe take their rivalry into a Street Fight
The announcement of Giulia versus Blake Monroe as a Street Fight immediately changes the expectations surrounding their meeting. WWE’s Street Fight stipulation traditionally opens the door to an unpredictable match structure, with the wrestlers able to take their confrontation beyond the normal limits of a sanctioned bout.
For Giulia, the match presents another chance to demonstrate the intensity that has defined much of her WWE presentation. A Street Fight is not simply a technical test or an athletic showcase. It demands endurance, resilience, awareness, and a willingness to absorb punishment while remaining focused enough to capitalize when an opening appears.
Monroe, meanwhile, will enter a scenario in which momentum can shift rapidly. A Street Fight can remove many of the safety nets available in a regular match. There are no conventional count-out concerns to manage, and the environment itself can become an equalizing factor. That makes preparation and composure especially important.
The decision by Aldis to make the bout official also signals that the issue has moved beyond what can be handled through ordinary competitive terms. While the full scope of the confrontation will play out on October 23, the stipulation ensures that both competitors will have the freedom to make the match as personal and forceful as the situation requires.
Street Fights often become defining moments for wrestlers because the format places a premium on toughness. A victory can provide more than a place in the win column; it can establish control of a rivalry and leave a lasting statement on the SmackDown roster. Conversely, a defeat in such a match can be difficult to shake, particularly when there are few restrictions to blame for the outcome.
Giulia and Monroe will have an opportunity to make the October 23 episode memorable, and their match is positioned as the centerpiece of the announced card.
Women’s Tag Team Championship defense adds major stakes
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships will also be on the line when Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss defend against B-Fab and Michin.
Paxley and Bliss enter the match as the reigning champions, meaning the challengers will need to find a way to overcome a team that has already reached the top of the division. Championship matches carry a different kind of pressure from non-title contests. The champions must prove that their reign can withstand new opponents, while the challengers must balance urgency with discipline if they are to make the most of their opening.
B-Fab and Michin have been announced as the next team to challenge for the titles, and the pairing will now have a direct route toward changing the landscape of the women’s tag division. A championship victory would be significant for either competitor, while a successful defense would reinforce Paxley and Bliss as the division’s standard-bearers.
Tag team title matches are often decided by chemistry as much as individual ability. Teams must be able to create timely tags, cut off the ring, recover after momentum swings, and identify exactly when to take a risk. The champions have the advantage that comes with holding the gold, but B-Fab and Michin will arrive with the motivation of challengers who know a single decisive sequence can alter their careers.
The match also provides an important showcase for four women with a clear goal: leaving SmackDown with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Whether Paxley and Bliss continue their reign or B-Fab and Michin produce a breakthrough moment, the division will have a meaningful result to build from after October 23.
Bakusai meet The MFT in tag team action
The night’s third announced match will see Bakusai take on The MFT. Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki will represent Bakusai, while Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga will compete for The MFT.
On paper, the contest brings together two pairings with distinct strengths and potentially contrasting approaches. Nakamura is one of WWE’s most experienced and recognizable performers, and his presence gives Bakusai a veteran edge. Alongside Kyoki, Nakamura will look to establish a rhythm that can neutralize the physical challenge presented by their opponents.
The MFT will be represented by Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, a duo whose size and power make them a formidable matchup for any tandem. Tag team bouts frequently come down to which side can impose its preferred pace. If The MFT are able to control the action and isolate one member of Bakusai, their physical advantage could become a central factor. If Bakusai can use movement, timing, and coordinated offense to keep the larger team from settling in, the match could turn in a different direction.
There is also considerable value in a victory at this stage of the SmackDown schedule. The tag landscape is always shaped by teams that can string together decisive performances, and a win on a nationally featured episode can create momentum regardless of whether championships are immediately involved. Both Bakusai and The MFT will have the chance to make a case for greater attention with a strong showing.
An early look at the October 23 card
Only three matches have been announced so far, but the current lineup gives the October 23 SmackDown a clear mix of stipulation drama, championship stakes, and tag team competition.
- Street Fight: Giulia vs. Blake Monroe
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss (c) vs. B-Fab and Michin
- Tag Team Match: Bakusai (Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki) vs. The MFT (Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga)
The Street Fight between Giulia and Monroe stands as the most volatile bout currently scheduled. Their match has the potential to set the tone for the entire broadcast, particularly if their rivalry reaches the kind of physical conclusion the stipulation suggests.
The women’s tag title match brings a separate layer of consequence. Championships guarantee that the result will have an immediate impact, whether it means continued success for Paxley and Bliss or a new chapter led by B-Fab and Michin. Meanwhile, Bakusai against The MFT offers a matchup in which team identity, experience, power, and cohesion will all be tested.
WWE may add further matches or segments as the October 23 broadcast approaches. For now, the show has three confirmed bouts that cover several key corners of the SmackDown roster, with the Women’s Tag Team Championship defense and the Street Fight providing the clearest stakes.
SmackDown airs on October 23, with Giulia versus Blake Monroe, Paxley and Bliss versus B-Fab and Michin, and Bakusai versus The MFT all officially set for the program.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.