Friday’s episode of “WWE SmackDown” held plenty of promise for Solo Sikoa and his MFTs, but the stable walked out of Fort Worth, Texas with one less victory than they hoped for. In the first of the faction’s two scheduled matches, J.C. Mateo and Tama Tonga took to the ring in search of the WWE Tag Team Champions, but incumbent champions Damian Priest and R-Truth successfully retained — effectively spoiling the MFTs’ double-win ambitions.

The night started off strong for the MFTs. Tonga and R-Truth locked up in the beginning, with Tonga scoring a few solid hits on the veteran before colliding with the canvas during a missed elbow drop. R-Truth took the opportunity to tag in Priest, but before the former WWE World Champion could deal any damage, Mateo ran interference to allow Tonga to knock Priest out of the ring. Priest struggled to gain any significant edge over the MFTs, but a devastating clothesline to Mateo allowed R-Truth to tag-in for a Five Knuckle Shuffle.

The MFTs attempted to play the numbers game, but R-Truth and Priest matched them where they were. Priest broke up a pin on R-Truth following a swinging neckbreaker and Northern Lights Bomb from the MFTs, which allowed him to score a legal tag-in. The fresh Priest and R-Truth, somehow still chock-full of life, then landed a Rise Up on Mateo to retain their titles, much to Sikoa’s certain disappointment.

Truth and Priest are set to continue their WWE Tag Team Championship reign at 36 days and counting. Friday’s match was a rematch between the MFTs and R-Truth and Priest, with the reigning champions originally securing the tag titles at the expense of the MFTs on the March 20 episode of “SmackDown.” As of writing, no new challengers have come forth for the duo.

It might have been Paige’s first appearance on “WWE SmackDown” in over eight years, but the blue brand was Fatal Influence’s house Friday night as they debuted on the main roster during the women’s tag match. Paige and her WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion partner Brie Bella were facing Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, when former NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne interfered and caused the disqualification.

Jayne pulled Paige from her spot on the ring apron as Bella went to make a tag, then drove her into the steps at ringside. As she was attacking the champion, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid slid into the ring to take out Flair and Bliss. Fatal Influence beat down all four competitors before triumphantly walking back up the ramp, with Jayne telling the camera they were there to take over “SmackDown.”

Fatal Influence would later appear on the program again, confronting WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. The encounter would lead to a match between Ripley and Jayne, with Ripley winning by disqualification when Henley and Reid interfered. Fatal Influence left the ring after Jayne laid Ripley out with a Rolling Encoure.

The call-up of the former two-time NXT Women’s Champion had been rumored for days following WWE WrestleMania 42, as she appeared to say her goodbyes to the WWE Performance Center after a match on a recent episode of “WWE NXT.” The rumors were unclear at the time if the rest of Fatal Influence would be joining her on the main roster.

Set your alarms — it’s Tiffy Time once more. On Friday’s edition of “WWE SmackDown,” Giulia put her WWE Women’s United States Championship up against Stratton in a post-WrestleMania title defense, and after a strong showing from both women, Stratton managed to outpower the wily Giulia just enough to snatch a victory, and title, from the now-former champion.

Stratton established an early lead against Giulia following the opening bell, but Giulia managed to make up for the deficit following a pin combo sequence followed by a neckbreaker. Giulia extended her lead by pushing Stratton off of her perch mid-Prettiest Moonsault Ever attempt, before dumping her to the outside with a draping neckbreaker. After a steady beatdown from the champion, however, Stratton managed to come back after a double slingshot from both women. Stratton led an incredibly acrobatic comeback sequence that nearly saw her earn the victory after an accidental collision between Giulia and Kiana James, but right when Stratton was about to land the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, Giulia managed to catch her with a Rings of Saturn submission.

Stratton attempted to reverse Giulia’s submission with a pin cover, but Giulia sagely released her hold. Giulia attempted to land her signature Northern Lights Bomb on the challenger, but the powerhouse Stratton fought out of Giulia’s grasp to land her own signature Alabama Slam. From there, all Stratton needed was her patented Prettiest Moonsault Ever to secure the victory.

“It feels so amazing. I feel for the last couple months, I had the runner-up story,” Stratton said in an entrance ramp interview with Cathy Kelly. “Tonight, I’m no longer the runner-up! I’m your new United States Women’s Champion! And now, I’m going to show everybody why the WWE Universe runs on Tiffy Time!”

With this victory, Stratton has ended Giulia’s second WWE Women’s United States Championship reign at 113 days.