Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Backlash is in the history books, and saw both singles champions retain their gold. Leaving us with the unusual situation of the Raw Women’s Champion now being on Smackdown, and the blue brand’s title holder on Monday nights. Will we see a title exchange take place this week? And what new twists will we see as the new rosters take effect following the WWE Draft? Let’s get into it, and find out…
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties.
MAXXINE DUPRI (along with Chad Gable) once again accompanied Otis to the ring as he faced Mustafa Ali. But the bickering between Gable and Dupri giving Otis conflicting advice led to Otis losing.
Non-Title Match
Smackdown Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY w/h Dominik Mysterio defeated DANA BROOKE
Brooke had a brief cut-in interview claiming everyone would see her ‘untapped potential’. Brooke kick started the bout with a Shotgun Dropkick of all things! Firing off strikes in the corner but got shoved back before a Headbutt shut Brooke down. Ripley worked her over with strikes but going for one too many, Brooke was able to hit a Chopblock. Moments later turning a Wheelbarrow into a Lucha Bulldog.
Brooke went for a Crossbody off the middle ropes, but Ripley caught her and from the Slam position drove Brooke down over the knee. Powering Brooke right up to hit a Riptide but not going for the cover. Making a statement by applying the Prism Lock to get the win.
After the match Ripley punished Brooke some more with another Riptide and then the Prysm Lock. NATALYA stormed out, confronting Ripley and making Ripley back off after a face-off.
New Superstar ZOEY STARK was interviewed but she got distracted by NIKKI CROSS lurking about. Confronting Cross and that led to a challenge for a match.
CHELSEA GREEN and SONYA DEVILLE harassed Superstars backstage including new faces XIA LI and INDI HARTWELL (who was with her old friends of The Way CANDICE LERAE and Johnny Gargano) to sign a petition about ‘injustices’.
Singles Match
ZOEY STARK defeated NIKKI CROSS
Stark got a slap in to start things off, unleashing Cross’ rage as she pounded away with strikes in the far corner. Stark countered with a knee to the gut then sending Cross into the middle turnbuckle. Stomping away before she charged in, getting sent over to the apron where she sent Cross into the top turnbuckle before yanking Cross down by the hair. Vaulting back in and tumbling with the ropes to hit a twisting Senton.
A Clothesline getting a near fall for Stark. Cross escaped a rest hold with a Chinbuster, then avoided a corner charge. Getting in strikes then running the ropes, avoiding Clothesline attempts but catching Stark with a Low Dropkick to the knee that set up one to the head. Cross hit a Corner Splash but her attempt at a Tornado DDT was shoved off. Stark nailing a Superkick before hitting Z-360 (her version of the Go 2 Sleep with a rotation) for the debut victory.
Rhea Ripley and Dominick Mysterio were interviewed but were interrupted by Xavier Woods and Akira Tozawa laughing it up.
TRISH STRATUS was seen putting up missing person posters about Beck Lynch backstage, and the same graphic was on her top. Stratus would go to the ring for a promo, faking concern about Lynch’s whereabouts and claiming she’ll find her. Even harassing the commentators to help and saying the fans will be saying ‘Thank You Trish’ for her work. Daring to mock Lynch’s child and saying that when Lynch returned she wouldn’t be coming to Raw because it was her show.
Lynch’s music played but Stratus made over-the-top reactions, laughing at the fans for fooling them. Saying the people were as gullible as Lynch for believing she was her friend. Stratus starting to tell a story about her child wanting to call a doll Becky before Lynch’s music hit again.
This time BECKY LYNCH for real appeared from behind, before dropping Stratus with strikes and a BexPloder to send Stratus running off. Lynch wanted to say more but the production team played her theme to cut her off because we needed to see oh-so-important replays of earlier events (yep, that’s sarcasm).
Rhea Ripley accompanied Dominick Mysterio for his match against Xavier Woods. Ripley would help Mysterio steal the win, pulling him out of the ring to avoid taking a Top Rope Elbow Drop before Mysterio rolled up and held the rights to get the dirty win.
The Women’s Tag Team Champions LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ confronted Deville and Green about their petition. Saying if they wanted a title shot so badly, they just needed to woman-up. Saying after they beat Damage CTRL on Smackdown, they’d see Green and Deville next week on Raw. The heels countered saying they were looking forward to facing Damage CTRL next week, laughing as they walked off leaving the champs infuriated.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A nice, enjoyable night this week. A short but simple interaction between Lynch and Stratus to leave us wanting more. Ripley gets an easy showcase win and the face off with Natalya easily sets up the next title feud. And a somewhat short but effective match giving Zoey Stark her first win. A solid night that starts off the new era of the Draft rosters nicely. However, I’m surprised nothing was made of the fact Raw has Smackdown’s Women’s Championship. I’d expect that some sort of title swap or exchange will happen soon, perhaps this Smackdown, to sort that situation out otherwise it’s just very odd for the title of one show to be on the other’s brand.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop in seven days’ time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!