Kiana James vs. Giulia, Jayne vs. Paige Set for Next Week’s SmackDown

Next week’s SmackDown is shaping up to be a big night for the women’s division, with two notable matchups confirmed for the show.

Kiana James and Giulia will meet in a singles match — their first ever one-on-one encounter — nearly 11 months after the two originally joined forces as a team. Giulia issued the challenge to James, setting up what figures to be a compelling collision between two women who know each other well after their time on the same side. That familiarity can cut both ways in a rivalry, and it gives the match a built-in layer of intrigue heading into the broadcast.

Also booked for the show is a singles match between Jayne and Paige, which rounds out what looks like a women’s-division-heavy episode of the blue brand.

The James-Giulia pairing was an interesting combination when it first came together, and watching that partnership dissolve into direct competition gives the match real stakes. Both women have continued to develop prominent roles on SmackDown, and a singles meeting between them has been a logical next step for some time. With Giulia being the one to pull the trigger on the challenge, expect her to come in with a clear gameplan — though James has proven more than capable of holding her own when the pressure is on.

SmackDown airs next week, and these two bouts are expected to be among the marquee attractions on the card.