Unfortunate news related to the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles was announced on Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown. It was revealed during a backstage segment on RAW that Liv Morgan suffered an injury and couldn't compete.
Fans hoped that since she wasn't immediately stripped of the prestigious gold that she would be healthy soon. Unfortunately, SmackDown proved that theory to be incorrect, as it was revealed that Liv Morgan would be unfit for action going forward.
As a result of Liv's injury, she and Raquel Rodriguez are being stripped of the tag team gold and new champions are set to be crowned in less than two weeks. While that can be exciting, Morgan's injury is unfortunate. It also leaves many wondering about what's next for Raquel.
The powerful superstar was on top of the world as a tag team champion, but now she has to reset her career. What direction might Raquel Rodriguez go in now that she lost her tag team partner?
Below are four ways WWE could book Raquel Rodriguez following Liv Morgan's injury.
#4. Raquel Rodriguez could challenge Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley is one of the most dominant female athletes in pro wrestling history. She's been in WWE since 2017 and has become a top tier champion on NXT UK, NXT, RAW, and SmackDown. She's been nearly unstoppable.
Aside from her many singles titles, The Ripper is also a former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion and arguably stole the show at WrestleMania 39 with Charlotte Flair. She's also a key member of The Judgment Day.
Raquel and Rhea go back many years, having been friends and rivals. The two finally having a big-time clash on the main roster feels inevitable, and given Liv's injury, the time to strike may be here. Rodriguez is a RAW Superstar, so challenging the red brand's top female star makes sense.
#3. She could move to SmackDown
WOAH... @BiancaBelairWWE was 🤏 THIS CLOSE to falling victim to @WWEAsuka's mist!
— WWE (@WWE) May 20, 2023
Will the #WWERaw Women's Champion be as lucky at #WWENOC? 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/gz5PFWRXiV
Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were part of the 2023 WWE Draft, despite the fact that the two were the reigning Women's Tag Team Champions. This is done, in theory, to give the superstars a home after they lose their titles.
Obviously, the company didn't expect Liv to suffer an injury. This clearly hurts any plans they had for the duo, which could in turn lead to her being lost in the shuffle on Monday Night RAW. They may instead decide a move to SmackDown could be the better choice.
The blue brand has a wealth of talented stars such as Damage CTRL, Asuka, Bianca Belair, Shotzi, Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, and Zelina Vega, among others. Raquel would fit in nicely. The company would need to explain the move, but a simple trade or contract expiration could work.
#2. Rodriguez could win the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles with a new partner
Wishing @YaOnlyLivvOnce a speedy recovery! ❤️@RaquelWWE #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/bW3eGZwk1d
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 20, 2023
Liv Morgan's injury is most certainly unfortunate. Truthfully, Raquel hasn't had the best of luck when it comes to dealing with tag team partners and injuries. Aliyah, her former Tag team partner, was hurt when the two lost the Women's Tag Team Titles last year too.
Despite the unfortunate luck of having two partners suffer injuries, Rodriguez is clearly a quality tag team competitor. She's won tag team gold with both Liv and Aliyah on the main roster, but she also won the NXT Tag Team Titles in the past.
Given her ability to make things work with any partner, whomever she teams up with next could be another success. If Raquel teams up with Shotzi, Aliyah again, or somebody else entirely, the two could win the belts on RAW in two weeks and she will once again be on top of the division.
#1. She may shockingly join Damage CTRL
Damage CTRL is one of the most dominant female factions in WWE history. The group is comprised of Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai. The latter of which captured the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles on multiple occasions, while Bayley is a Grand Slam Champion.
Unfortunately, the dominant stable has had some issues as of late. There were signs of discontent within the trio and now Dakota Kai is seemingly out of action for the time being. This could be a chance to shake things up and add Raquel to the mix.
While Rodriguez has feuded with Damage CTRL for much of their main roster run, people have made up in the past. If Raquel were to join the group and turn heel, it'd give them much needed momentum. This could lead to the faction dominating Friday Night SmackDown going forward.