Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw Nikki A.S.H. pick up an impressive win in a No Holds Barred Match, defeating Charlotte Flair after dodging a Spear through a table then hitting the Rope-Aided Swinging Neckbreaker for the win. So with Summerslam ahead, can ASH keep the momentum up? Or will Flair or Rhea Ripley have some tricks to get the edge back? And what’s next for the issues between Eva Marie and Alexa Bliss? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Women’s Singles Match
ALEXA BLISS w/h Lilly defeated DOUDROP w/h EVA MARIE
Marie tried to protest the fact that Lilly had been left perched on one of the corners but the ref ordered her out. Doudrop easily shoved Bliss down, but got freaked out by Bliss’ crawling. Bliss charging and slipping out from a Slam attempt to lock on a Sleeper before being hauled off. Doupdrop missed a Senton attempt and Bliss followed with kicks but only got a one count. Bliss countered being sent to the ropes with her Spider clutch, and a Crossbody off the ropes got another one count.
Bliss went after Marie on the floor, but Doudrop decked Bliss from behind then sent Bliss into the barrier. Doudrop hit a corner Splash but then made the mistake of bad mouthing Lilly. Bliss grinning as a close up (with the magic of editing) of Lilly made the doll ‘wink’. A freaked out Doudrop was then rolled up with a Sunset Flip into a stacked pin for the win. Eva Marie after the match bad mouthing Doudrop claiming there’s no way the doll could have winked.
Women’s Non-Title Match
Raw Women’s Champion NIKKI A.S.H. Vs RHEA RIPLEY ended in a no-contest.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed ASH before the match, and ASH had her ribs taped (but over her costume… OK). ASH got a Roll-up in early for a one count, then controlled with a Headlock into the takeover. Ripley eventually powered out with Kingdom Falls and a kick to the taped ribs. A Shoulder Thrust then a body shot followed before being tossed across the ring. Ripley roughed up ASH a bit before tossing her to the floor and sending ASH ribs first into the apron.
Back from commercial Ripley hit knees to the small of the back. ASH came back with strikes, and managed to count a lift up into a spiking DDT. ASH followed up with the Tilt-a-whirl Headscissors, then a Wheelbarrow into a pin hold for a near fall. Ripley went for Riptide after a kick to the ribs, but ASH countered with a Crossbody for a two count. Ripley set ASH up top for a Superplex but ASH fought out. But before she could go for a Crossbody CHARLOTTE FLAIR appeared and pushed ASH off, causing a DQ. Hitting a Queen’s Boot (barefoot no less!) to Ripley then hitting the Overhead Exploder on ASH before nailing Natural Selection on Ripley. Posing with the title as the crowd boo’d Flair out of the building.
Flair would brag after the attack, claiming that her rivals should have seen it coming and brushing past her loss from last week.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
One has to wonder if the two losses in a row by Doudrop is punishment for the injury Natalya suffered, but at least they’ve been playing into this storyline between Bliss and Marie. I know some mighty see the Lilly wink as corny, but I still get a kick out of it all. Meanwhile, once again the WWE gives Charlotte Flair heat when she’s already got plenty of that to spare. The irony of her promo complaining about people cancelling her past wins over one loss, when the WWE constantly works to erase any loss she suffers. It’s not a good way to install hope either of her opponents have a chance to win at SummerSlam a week from Saturday.
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!