Lead: On January 23 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga defeated Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis to win the WWE Tag Team Championship on WWE SmackDown. The victory ended the Wyatt Sicks’ near-200-day reign, which began when Gacy and Lumis recaptured the belts in July from the Street Profits. The decisive sequence involved a ringside lantern distraction and a Cut Throat finisher. The change marks a major title swing for the MFTs on a televised SmackDown.
Key Takeaways
- Title change occurred on January 23 in Montreal during WWE SmackDown; challengers Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga emerged victorious.
- The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) lost after a reign that lasted nearly 200 days following a July title win over the Street Profits.
- Ringside presence included Tonga Loa and JC Mateo; Talla Tonga initially went backstage with the Wyatts’ lantern but later returned to ringside.
- Talla Tonga’s return with the lantern created a distraction; Sikoa struck Lumis with the lantern and Tama Tonga followed with his Cut Throat finisher to seal the pin.
- The win begins a new title reign for the MFTs (represented by Sikoa & Tama Tonga) effective January 23.
Background
The Wyatt Sicks—Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis—regained the WWE Tag Team Championship in July, taking the belts from the Street Profits. Their run extended into the winter and was commonly described on commentary and in coverage as one of the longer modern SmackDown tag reigns, approaching the 200-day mark by late January. The Wyatt Sicks have been built around cinematic and psychological elements, including a distinctive lantern tied to their presentation and storylines.
On the opposing side, the MFTs (a faction anchored by Solo Sikoa and members of the Tongan family) have pursued the tag gold with increasing prominence. Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga teamed in the challenge on January 23, backed at ringside by family allies. The lantern angle has been an ongoing plot thread in recent weeks after the MFTs came into possession of the Wyatts’ lantern, creating an escalation between the groups heading into Montreal.
Main Event
The title match unfolded with tempo shifts as the Wyatt Sicks sought to use their in-ring chemistry and the lantern’s symbolic weight to maintain control. Early exchanges saw Gacy and Lumis coordinate to isolate Tama Tonga, forcing the challengers to tag and regroup. Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga responded with power-based offense later in the bout, turning the momentum with tandem strikes and near-fall sequences.
At ringside Tonga Loa and JC Mateo remained openly present and engaged, while Talla Tonga initially exited the immediate area carrying the lantern the group had taken from the Wyatts weeks earlier. Midway through the match Talla Tonga reappeared at ringside holding the lantern, drawing the Wyatts’ attention and prompting a referee distraction.
The finish occurred when Sikoa used the lantern as a strike to Dexter Lumis, leaving Lumis vulnerable to Tama Tonga’s Cut Throat finisher. Tonga connected and Sikoa covered for the pin, awarding the titles to the MFTs and ending the Wyatt Sicks’ near-200-day hold on the championships.
Analysis & Implications
The title change shifts SmackDown’s tag division narrative and gives the MFTs immediate momentum heading into televised and live-event defenses. Ending a near-200-day reign restores a traditional beating-heart of weekly storylines: long-term champions are dethroned on a big-stage episode, creating fresh matchups and rematches for upcoming shows. For the Wyatts, losing on television after an extended run may signal a creative pivot rather than an outright de-emphasis, depending on how the lantern storyline is used going forward.
Strategically, the MFTs now carry both championship prestige and a storyline justification for continued interference-based tactics; the presence of multiple family members at ringside raises the likelihood of protected title defenses via numbers advantage. Promoters often employ such post-title-change booking to set up rematches that can draw ticket and viewing interest.
Economically, title switches on a major SmackDown can influence merchandise visibility and character pushes. Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga hold cachet with different fan segments—Sikoa with an aggressive singles reputation and Tonga with veteran credibility—allowing WWE creative to market the champs across programs and future pay-per-view matches.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Reign Start | Reign Length (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) | July (won from Street Profits) | Near 200 days (ended Jan 23) |
| MFTs (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) | January 23 (this event) | 0 days (new reign) |
| Street Profits | Prior to July | Previous champions (defeated in July) |
The table places the new champions in immediate context: the Wyatt Sicks’ run stretched across the second half of the year into January, while the MFTs begin their tenure at the top on January 23. This snapshot omits exact July dates reported in earlier coverage; the key comparison is the long duration of the Wyatt Sicks’ reign versus the fresh start for the MFTs.
Reactions & Quotes
“The title change in Montreal was decisive and centered on the lantern distraction at ringside.”
WrestleTalk (reporting)
“The announcers acknowledged Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga as the new WWE Tag Team Champions following the pinfall.”
WWE SmackDown broadcast (official)
“Ringside fans reacted loudly to the interference finish, with social posts noting the dramatic nature of the lantern moment.”
Ringside social reaction (public)
Unconfirmed
- Any backstage decision-making that led to the timing of the title change has not been publicly confirmed by WWE or creative sources.
- Attribution of who specifically ordered Talla Tonga to remove and then return with the lantern is not independently verified beyond the on-screen staging.
Bottom Line
The MFTs’ victory on January 23 in Montreal ends a near-200-day Wyatt Sicks run and resets SmackDown’s tag landscape. The lantern-centric finish and the presence of family allies at ringside suggest WWE intends to continue the faction-driven storyline rather than present the switch as a clean, competitive title loss.
Fans and promoters should watch upcoming SmackDown episodes and live events for immediate rematch cues and creative direction: expect the MFTs to be booked heavily in short-term defenses while the Wyatts may pursue narrative payback or character evolution tied to the lantern angle. This title change is likely to shape tag division storylines through the next pay-per-view window.
Sources
- WrestleTalk — news site (reporting on SmackDown outcome)