Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! WrestleMania is creeping ever closer but we might see a major twist before the biggest show of the year. The unexpected appearance of WWE Hall of Famer Lita as she and Becky Lynch will be unlikely challengers for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. But not even at WrestleMania, but this week on Raw! So will the WWE make the odd choice of crowning a champion in a barely part-time competitor and further bury the leading heel female faction? Or is this all part of a bigger plan for ‘Mania? Let’s get into it, and find out…
CATHY KELLEY interviewed LITA and BECKY LYNCH. Lita claimed that being tag team champion would be a ‘bucket list’ moment, trying to link it to having been involved in moments with legendary tag teams before. Lynch also claiming it had been a ‘secret’ bucket list of hers since she doesn’t get on with others.
RHEA RIPLEY and The Judgement Day had a backstage segment bragging about recent actions on Smackdown. Ripley claiming that she saw ‘acceptance’ in Charlotte Flair’s eyes, knowing Ripley would become the new champion.
MAXXINE DUPRE again tried to recruit Otis, much to the dismay of her Maximum Male Models, goading him into taking up a match tonight so she could be in his corner.
Singles Match
ASUKA defeated CARMELLA
After a couple lock-ups, Carmella backed Asuka into the ropes to hit a couple of strikes, only for Asuka to reverse it and hit shots of her own. Carmella’s husband ranted on commentary as Asuka hit MMA knees then a hooking kick. Missing a Head Kick attempt but soon trying for the Ankle Lock, but Carmella managed to squirm out and catch Asuka with a kick from a grounded position. Carmella hitting a barrage of Back Elbow shots in one corner then soon after the Bronco Buster in another.
Asuka hit the Pop-Up Knee for a near fall. Carmella started running away from her opponent, baiting Asuka in as she pulled the ropes to send Asuka down to the floor. Hitting a Low Superkick to Asuka on the floor as the show went to a commercial break. Carmella having a Chin Lock applied but made the mistake of pie-facing Asuka. Soon eating the rapid flurry of strikes for her trouble, leading to the German Suplex and a Buzzsaw Kick.
Carmella went to the floor to get a break, but Asuka nailed her with a version of the Sliding Kick along the apron. Moments later Asuka missed a Missile Dropkick, leaving her open for another Low Superkick to give Carmella a two-count. Asuka got near falls from a couple of pin holds, but Carmella briefly locked on the Code of Silence to escape one pin before Asuka escaped that hold. Asuka would then counter a Roll-up into the Double Arm Bar to get the submission win.
After the match, Asuka got the mic and called out BIANCA BELAIR who answered the call. Belair sounding offended, warning Asuka about not saying anything else other than them tearing the house down at ‘Mania. Carmella took advantage of this to hit a cheap shot, sending Belair into Asuka to knock them both down. Carmella fleeing the scene as Belair looked furious.
Singles Match
CANDICE LERAE defeated PIPER NIVEN
NIKKI CROSS followed LeRae out during her entrance to be ringside, much to LeRae’s confusion. Niven easily bulldozing LeRae over then roughing her up on the ropes. LeRae escaped a Driver attempt, hitting kicks but was easily held up trying to go for a Crucifix. Almost getting squashed with the drop-down spot to counter the Sunset Flip but escaping harm. A Perfect-Mare leading to a Jackknife Pin but Niven powered out at one.
Niven hit the counter ST-No then the Back Senton, apparently now called the Low Road (so that means ST-No is the High Road?) for a two-count. Niven locking on a Cobra Clutch to almost rag doll her opponent. Moments later Niven shoving LeRae off from the corner to send her down and to the floor. Nikki Cross, seemingly trying to help out LeRae, made a while charge but got easily tossed into the crowd barrier. Niven took too long gloating about that in the ring, allowing LeRae to use a ROLL UP OF DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM and snatch an upset win! Although LeRae seemed to back away from Cross, still unsure about this potential friend.
DAMAGE CTRL were interviewed backstage. Bayley dismissing their rival’s remarks, claiming Lita and Lynch were a phoney team.
CHELSEA GREEN once again complained to Adam Pearce backstage, but his woes only increased when Carmella appeared. Pearce excusing himself after quickly saying that Carmella would get a match against Bianca Belair next week. But it seemed a mutual appreciation society quickly formed between Green and Carmella, showering one another with compliments.
Maxxine Dupre and her Maximum Male Models were on Otis’ corner for a match against Johnny Gargano. But things broke down when Dexter Lumis appeared to deal with the Models, and Gargano picked up the win.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
BECKY LYNCH & LITA defeated DAMAGE CTRL (DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY) w/h BAYLEY to become the NEW Women’s Tag Team Champions
Lynch and Sky started off, with Lynch using a basic knockdown then an wristlock before Sky broke free as Lynch teased making a tag. Tags made on both sides for Kai and Lita to face off. Lita only hit a knockdown and tried for a Twist of Fate but got shoved off. Kai tagging out as Sky ate a kick before Lita tagged out. The faces hitting a Double Team Suplex to give Lynch barely a two-count. Another tag to make Lita legal before hitting a Double Team Hip Toss to Sky, then one for Kai when she came in. Hitting Clotheslines to both opponents in opposite corners before the heels got stacked up. Lita hitting what could kindly be described as a ‘slow motion’ Clothesline version of Poetry in Motion to Damage CTRL.
Lita hitting 10 Count punches (but even climbing up fully to the corner) to Sky while Lynch hit blows to Kai on the outside. Lita climbed perhaps thinking Litasault but Sky rolled to the floor, so Lita just tagged out. Allowing Lynch to hit a Con Hilo off the apron to wipe out both opponents.
After a commercial break, Lynch set up Kai through the ropes, just hitting her Legdrop off the middle rope. Then hitting a two-for-one to hit a DDT on Kai and a Reverse DDT to Sky at the same time, for a near-fall on Kai. Lynch hit Diamond Dust for a two-count and turned the kickout into the Dis-Arm-Her. A Dropkick from Sky breaking it up, and as Lita checked on Lynch on the floor Sky grabbed her from behind to send Lita into the announce table.
Sky took the tag and then hit an Asai Moonsault to Lynch on the floor, and got a two-count in the ring from it. Moments later after a tag Damage CTRL hit their high-low strikes combo, giving Kai a two count. Kai got another near-fall off her Scorpion Kick. Double Clotheslines decked both legal women, but Bayley slid in a tag title belt, distracting the ref who didn’t see Bayley running around the ring and yanking Lita down to prevent a tag. Sky hit a Shotei, leading to a Double Team Electric Chair by Damage CTRL for a near-fall.
Suddenly, another Hall of Famer in TRISH STRATUS ran down, tackling Bayley and pummeling her to even things up! Lita finally getting a tag and hitting slow-motion offence of Clothesline then a Headscissors, barely hitting it. Planting Sky on her skull with a version of the Daizee Haze Mind Trip apparently called Vertigo. Moments later Sky tried for OIver The Moonsault, only eating canvas and then taking a Twist of Fate. Bayley tried to interfere again but Stratus pulled her down, decking Bayley with a Chick Kick! Lynch neutralised Kai with a Dis-Arm-Her on the apron. leaving Lita free to hit the Litasault and get the victory! Making Becky Lynch and Lita the brand new Women’s Tag Team Champions!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Oh boy. As much as everyone loves a throwback and ‘One More Match’ with legends, this all left a sour taste in my mouth. Lita is clearly not able to go and her moves were slow and sloppy. Another case of the WWE reverting to type and burying young, current talent in favour of Legends. I can only hope there’s something worthwhile at the end of this because if the rumours are true, then a match between Lynch/Lita against Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler has car wreck written all over it. Although if Trish Sttraus has one last good match in her, then perhaps a bout with Bayley might end up working out.
Elsewhere issues seem to be building between Belair and Asuka but we’ll see if Asuka unleashes anything on Belair after her match next week. Carmella also got in a lot more offence in than she should have against a WrestleMania title challenger. The story between LeRae and Cross is interesting, but is it just another case of forcing a team together for fodder in the tag division? At least Carmella and Green as an egotistical power couple would make sense and easily drive the fans furious with their complaints and antics.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days’ time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!