Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLUTION! Last week saw a new twist in the Raw Women’s Championship picture as Nikki Cross made a return. Attacking Bianca Belair and costing her a non-title match against Bayley. That tainted victory has handed Bayley a title match at Crown Jewel against Belair but in a high-stakes Last Woman Standing Match. But this week Belair has a chance to cut off the new threat before it happens with a non-title clash against the deranged former Almost a Superhero. Who will emerge on top? And how will Damage CTRL terrorize Raw this week? Let’s get into it and find out…
Non-Title Women’s Singles Match
Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR Vs NIKKI CROSS
Cross had new music, so not even any of her old themes. Cross tried for a charge to start but Belair side-stepped, then charged Cross into the corner for some Shoulder Thrusts. Cross would counter being hauled out, trying for a Sunset Flip but Belair powered her up and soon hit a Shoulder Check. Belair fif a flip and taunted, but only firing up Cross who smacked herself in the face a couple times much to Belair’s concern. Cross hitting a Running Crossbody and firing off strikes to the head. Cross showed some of the old offence with a double handed body shot before sending Belair’s head into a corner a couple times.
Belair blocked a third shot and them went into a comeback with a Shoulder Check then the Single Leg Dropkick before kipping up. Cross got her feet up to counter a charge but her Crossbody off the middle rope was captured as Belair hit a Fallaway Slam. NCross went to the floor and seemed to be laughing. Belair tried going after her but Cross pulled the ring skirting away to make Belair slip and leave Belair’s leg tangled in the ropes for a neat spot. Cross going right after the leg with shots to the apron then just clubbing the leg before pulling Belair down to trap her between the apron and skirting to hit some shots.
After a commercial break, Belair hit a Backbreaker to counter a charging Cross. A trio of Body Slams followed then a Delayed Suplex by Belair, who skipped up but sold the injured leg. Belair went for the Handspring Moonsault but Cross got the knees up. Cross pulled Belair and sent her into the middle turnbuckle before locking on a Sleeper after jumping on Belair’s back. Both women then tumbling through the ropes to the floor. Cross went for another Sleeper but this time Belair dropped back to slam Cross into the ringside floor.
DAKOTA KAI and IYO SKY ran down and distracted the ref, allowing BAYLEY to sneak attack Belair and ram her into the ring post. Cross however knocked down Bayley and then went after Sky, who took a nasty bump into the barricade that looked like she landed on her neck on the floor. Cross taking out Kai with a Crossbody off the ring steps but returning to the ring Belair scrooped her up and hit a KOD to pin Cross clean on her ‘return’ to WWE.
Post-match, Damage CTRL to beatdown Belair until ASUKA and ALEXA BLISS ran down as Kai got taken out with an Asuka German Suplex while Bliss hit Sky with the DDT. Bayley was sent out of the ring with a Belair Single Leg Dropkick, and then knocked down when trying to get back in by an Asuka Hip Attack. Bliss hitting a Con Hilo off the apron to take out all of Damage CTRL.
CATHY KELLEY interviewed Belair, Asuka and Bliss as Belair dismissed Cross like a non-issue now. Bliss saying she and Asuka would be backing up Belair at Crown Jewel before challenging Kai and Sky to a Tag Team title match tonight.
RHEA RIPLEY along with The Judgement accompanied Damien Preist as he faced Karl Anderson with The OC. A post-match brawl saw Ripley hitting a Low Blow on Luke Gallows then taunting Anderson and AJ Styles to allow the men of Judgement Day to hit them from behind.
Backstage, we saw a brief shot of Damage CTRL attempting to reason with Nikki Cross but Cross just grinned wickedly and ran off. Later Kai complained to her teammates as she showed her unhinged side, before Bayley gave her women a pep talk.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
ALEXA BLISS & ASUKA w/h BIANCA BELAIR defeated Damage CTRL (DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY) w/h BAYLEY to become the NEW Tag Team Champions
Bliss and Sky started off, trading blows before Bliss stomped away to Sky in a corner, then doing the rope held, stomps to the back of the head spot. Bliss missed the Double Knee Drop to allow Sky to hit a Clothesline. Kai tagged in as Damage CTRL each hit kicks to Bliss, finishing with an Axe Kick to Bliss back by Kai to set up a Low Dropkick by Sky. Kai hit a Facewash on Bliss for a near fall, then tagged Sky so she could hit a vaulting out of the corner Meteora.
Kai was tagged back in, but Bliss fought back with her more heel, Goddess-era face grab into her STO. That set up Insult to Injury for a near fall. Moments later Bliss hit a Headscissors counter from the corner before finally tagging out to Asuka. Asuka hitting a flurry of strikes with three Spinning Backfists too set up for the Release German Suplex. Kai cut off a tag attempt with a hair grab before tagging Sky in. The former Triple Tails teammates facing off before shoving and then just trading blows. Asuka getting the better off it, and soon after hitting a Misdirection Clothesline.
Bliss was tagged in, hitting a KO Punch to set up a Facecrusher by Asuka for a near fall. Asuka was tagged in, hitting a Missile dropkick off the middle rope that sent Sky rolling to the floor. Asuka hitting Kai off the ap[ron with a Hip Attack before both faces tried for Baseball Slides but while Asuka hit Sky, Bliss missed Kai as Kai hit a Shotgun Dropkick on the floor to sent Bliss to the barricade. Asuka went for a kick on Sky but Kai pulled her out of the way, leaving Asuka kicking the ring post before Sky hit a Dragon Screw on the outside.
After a commercial break, Asuka was trying to make a tag but Sky was cutting her off. Trying to hit a Double Stomp after a troll through but Asuka avoided it, getting a Roll-up for a two count. Sky hit a Palm Strike but got sent to the floor by Asuka. Bayley able to roll Sky back in without the referee caring as Sky tagged in Kai. Asuka was able to duck and counter Kai’s kicks into pin holds for near falls, before sending kai out to the floor. Even Sky coming in illegally couldn’t cut off Asuka as she made the hot tag. Bliss bulldozing Kai over three times before hitting a Lou Thesz Press with punches. Bliss hitting strikes finishing with a Knee Strike then a Low Dropkick. Moments later Bliss countered a charge to a corner to hit a version of Code Red for a near fall.
Asuka was tagged in for a double team of a Russian Leg Sweep by Asuka helped with a Dropkick by Bliss to Kai. Asuka trying for an Armbar but Sky broke it up. Bliss tried to get Sky out, only to take a Double Underhook Backbreaker from Sky. Kai hit a grounded Knee-DT or sorts before tagging in Sky as she hit a Running Meteora to Asuka in a corner. A Springboard Missile Dropkick got Sky a near fall. Sky took a leap of faith off the top, getting countered by a Codebreaker by Asuka who tried for another Arm Bar but Sky countered into a pin for a two count.
Asuka locked on the Asuka Lock but Bayley got on the apron to distract the ref, not seeing either Sky tapping out or Kai hitting a Dropkick to Asuka’s back to break the hold. Belair charged Bayley and they both went over the barricade into the Timekeeper’s area. In the ring Kai countered a DDT attempt by Bliss into a Ripcord Headbutt. Kai and Asuka trading Headkick attempts before Asuka hit one, only for Kai to answer with a Scorpion Kick. Meanwhile, Bayley and Belair brawled up on top of a handily placed box in the crowd by the Timekeeper’s area. Bayley pulling the braid to clutch Belair and hit a Super Bayley-to-Belly Suplex off the box through a couple of tables!
Asuka tried fighting the numbers game, missing a Hip Attack as Kai hit a Big Boot to Asuka on the ropes. But Bliss pulled Kai out of the ring and sent her into the ring steps. Moments later Sky tried for the Over the Moonsault but had to land on her feet. Eating a Head Kick from Asuka who tagged in Bliss who hit Twisted Bliss to not just pin Sky clean, but win the Women’s Tag Team Championships for herself and Asuka.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
On the Halloween edition of Raw, we got a night of burials as Nikki Cross’ new character got used as job fodder to the already dominating Belair. Making Cross be was worthwhile as she had been pretending to be a superhero. Then Damage CTRL lose their tag titles in a match without any prior hype and just one night’s worth of promotion. What a mess. And the hastily booked Last Woman Standing stipulation got just as rushed bit of hype with the table spot during that title match. This is not a good sign for the women after weeks of good matches and moments, especially with WrestleMania season on the horizon.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days for the post-Crown Jewel edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!