Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Money in the Bank is weeks away and Raw has already set its women’s match participants in stone. Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross and Naomi will represent the red brand, with Carmella so far the only Smackdown Superstar confirmed. And things are heating up with the women’s titles, as we have a load six-woman tag team match with challengers and title holders involved. So who will stake a claim and get momentum ahead of the Pay Per View? Let’s get into it and find out.
SONYA DEVILLE fulfilled duties as a WWE Official on the show.
Backstage SHAYNA BASZLER was shuffling a deck of cards as NIA JAX and Reginald walked up. Baszler accepted the fact that Alexa Bliss’ spooky powers cost her the match last week, and vowed to give Nikki Cross a hard dose of reality before doing the same to Alexa Bliss. But after calling Lily a stupid doll again, the heels walked off and we saw ALEXA BLISS had been watching them in the background.
Women’s Singles Match
NIKKI CROSS defeated SHAYNA BASZLER w/h NIA JAX & Reginald
Cross was interviewed before the contest by SARAH SCHREIBER as Cross gave herself the new nickname of ‘Nikki ASH – Almost a Super Hero’ as she layed on how people should accept her being an inspiration a little bit too thick. Baszler controlled early with a takedown, before Cross applied a Headlock but a shoulder knockdown sent her down. Cross came back with a Crossbody for a one count, but a Back Suplex by Baszler led to some ground and pound blows.
Baszler hit a Bodyslam then a Mountain Bomb-like suplex for a two count, then sending Cross hard into a corner face-first. Later, Cross avoided a Knee Strike to the corner and used a Low Dropkick to send Baszler through the ropes to the floor. Alexa Bliss made her way out to distract as Cross hit a Crossbody off the top down to the floor onto all the heels.
Back from commerical Baszler was back in control with kicks. Hitting the Knee Strike to a kneeling Cross for a two count, then following up with a Front Gutwrentch Suplex then another Knee Strike to Cross in the corner. Baszler set up the Almost a Super Hero up top, and paid for mouthing off at Bliss as Cross fought back and hit the Tornado DDT. On the outside, Nia Jax confronted Bliss but Reginald came in to break the trance. Bliss then kicked Jax in the gut, and used a reverse Mule Kick to give Reggie a low blow. Cross almost stole it from a Roll-up but Baszler kicked out, but Cross used her Tilt-a-whirl into the La Magistral to get yet another victory in straight weeks.
Women’s Tag Team Match
DOUDROP & EVA MARIE defeated ASUKA & NAOMI
Before the match the heels were interviewed as Marie dismissed last week’s antics as Doudrop making a ‘rookie mistake’ but clearly the two weren’t on the same page. Doudrop and Naomi started off with Doudrop using strength before Naomi hit a kick off the ropes. A dropdown squashed Naomi’s attempt at a Sunset Flip, but Naomi avoided a Senton to make a tag. Asuka hitting the Missile Dropkick then a corner Hip Attack. Trying for a German Suplex didn’t work out, before Doudrop obsorbed a Clothesline then hit Asuka with a Splash to the corner.
Asuka avoided a Viper Driver attempt, applying a standing Asuka Lock before Doudrop struggled free. Doudrop went for a tag but in payback for last week Eva Marie dropped off the apron. Asuka tried to roll up Doudrop but she rolled right through and hit a Senton to Asuka’s back. She bulldozed Naomi coming back in, then crushed Asuka with a Running Low Crossbody to pick up a major win over Asuka in what was basically a handicap match. However, Eva Marie claimed the victory was hers alone much to Doudrop’s annoyance.
Six-Woman Tag Team Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions NATALYA & TAMINA and CHARLOTTE FLAIR defeated Raw Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY, DANA BROOKE & MANDY ROSE
The women started off with a large brawl around ringside that then went into the ring before the faces took control of the ring. After a commercial break Natalya was controlling Rose with a Cobra Twist, before Natalya tried for a Sharpshooter but was kicked off. Brooke tagged in and hitting the Whirlybird Headscissors, setting up the Handspring Elbow then a Clothesline for a near fall. Tamina got a blind tag, but Brooke tried cutting her off with a Dropkick only for Flair to bling tag herself in. So Flair was able to clobber Brooke from behind on the floor when she went after Tamina.
Flair tried to take a swipe at Ripley but she dropped down, and it wasn’t clear if the heels were working over Brooke in their corner as the camera was on Flair taunting and seemingly doing crotch chops towards Ripley. Tamina was tagged to stomp away at Brooke before Natalya took a tag and hit a Snap Suplex for a two count. Tamina tagged in for a brief slam back then Flair coming in to hit Chops. Brooke eventually got a break, rolling up Flair when she went for the Exploder Suplex and off the kick out Brooke leapt and tagged in Ripley.
Ripley hit Short-Arm Clotheslines, a Headbutt then a Northern Lights for a near fall. Flair quickly tagged out to Natalya before Rose was the legal woman so she and Brooke could hit their duel Cartwheels into stomps spot. Tamina broke up the pin before Ripley took her out with a Dropkick, and that allowed Flair to hit a Chop Block on Ripley. Brooke hit a Flip Neckbreaker to Flair, then Brooke was taken out with a Natalya Discus Clothesline. Rose got a near fall with a Sunset Flip counter, and managed to push Natalya off from a Sharpshooter attempt but it allowed Flair to sneak a tag in. So when Rose hit her Pump Knee on Natalya, she was then wiped out with a Queen’s Boot sneak attack as Flair stole the win. Ripley had the last laugh with a Chop Block after the match to Flair’s anger.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Instead of getting proper Money in the Bank Ladder match build, we get throwaway bouts continuing other storylines in the division. The Cross stuff this week was laid on thick with the nickname, and it feels like they’re trying to force the gimmick to work rather than giving it a fair chance. That isn’t a good sign. And the obvious route of Eva Marie claiming any Doudrop victory as her own will lead to likely Doudrop challenging for a title on Eva’s behalf. The six-woman tag was fine, and did it’s job of keeping Flair happy with another win while keeping the storyline going.
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!