Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Crown Jewel event is soon approaching with a Triple Threat Match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, alongside the finals of the Queen’s Crown Tournament. Tonight we’ll have the first round matches for the Raw women, so who will advance in this new tournament? And what will come from a tag match where the two Women’s Champions have to team up against the two challengers (and rivals to one another) for the Smackdown title? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Queen’s Crown Tournament – First Round Match
SHAYNA BASZLER defeated DANA BROOKE
Brooke didn’t even get a televised entrance, and Baszler only got a partial one. Baszler started early with body shots in the corner. Baszler missed a Corner Knee Strike, and soon after Brooke countered being sent into the corner head first with the same shot of her own. Brooke went for a Handspring Elbow but Baszler countered with the Clutch, only for Brooke to counter that will a roll-up for a two count. Brooke got another pin attempt before a La Magistral was countered into an Ankle Lock. Brooke managed to roll through it, but trying for another roll-up Baszler slipped out and caught Brooke with the Kneeling Knee Strike for the pinfall win. Another very short match. After the match Baszler tried going after Brooke again but that just looked awkward as she got away from being out of the ring already.
CHARLOTTE FLAIR cut another standard, self promoting promo. Yawn. SASHA BANKS, BIANCA BELAIR and BECKY LYNCH all cut promos of their own later on.
Women’s Tag Team Match
Raw Women’s Champion CHARLOTTE FLAIR & Smackdown Women’s Champion BECKY LYNCH Vs BIANCA BELAIR & SASHA BANKS went to a Double DQ
The entrances for this match were easily twice and long and then some than the earlier women’s match. Belair and Banks shoved one another back fighting to start the match until Lynch attacked Belair from behind. The brawl leading to Flair being knocked off the apron before Banks came in to go after Belair just to start fighting with Banks. Referees storming the ring to try and restore some order but failing. It led to Flair decking her own tag team partner with an intentional Queen’s Boot, then trying to go up for a Moonsault to the floor but Banks cut her off. Lynch hauled Flair down, then Belair tossed Banks into the two champions as agents came out. SONYA DEVILLE and Adam Pierce trying to announce a restart but the women just brawled on the floor again.
After a commercial Flair started off against Banks as the bell rang again. Banks countered a Figure Four into a roll up for a two count then hit a Headscissors before turning a Wheelbarrow into a pin hold for a near fall. Banks hit the High Knee Strike but soon after got caught with Complete Shot into the ropes into an STO throw combo from Flair. Lynch blind tagged herself in but missed a Legdrop, then taking a Meteora as Banks reluctantly then tagged Belair in. Banks and Belair did agressive tags to one another as Lynch took the chance to escape their grasp. It ended up with Belair sending her tag partner out over he ropes with a toss counter when she charged her trying to hit Lynch. Belair hitting a Suplex rolled through to a Delayed Suplex then a Splash for a two count.
When Belair taunted with butt slaps in her team’s corner, Banks tagged herself in and promptly dumped Belair down to the floor. Catching a charging Lynch with a High Knee from the apron in. Lynch countered a Banks Statement by looking for the Dis-arm-her but Flair tagged herself in with mocking headpatts. Banks taking advantage of the two champs bickering to hit Flair with a Backstabber as things broke down with a fresh brawl as Belair slammed Banks down by the hair then hit a corner Glam Slam to Belair as the referee threw the match out as a Double DQ.
The Triple Threat Match opponents kept fighting as Belair countered a Dis-arm-her into a KOD attempt but Lynch escaped. Banks hit a Backstabber to Belair but Lynch managed to escape a series of counters to deck Banks with the Man Handle Slam.
Queen’s Crown Tournament – First Round Match
DOUDROP defeated NATALYA
Doudrop had a short cut in promo. Natalya hit a slap, objecting to Doudrop’s dancing as she soon backed Doudrop into a corner to strike. Doudrop took a couple of chops, only to be bulldozed down but Doudrop missed a Senton. That set up Natalya’s run over Stomp then the low Dropkick for a near fall. Natalya locked on an Abdominal Stretch as Shayna Baszler was shown watching backstage. Doudrop escaped, crushing Natalya in the corner but missed the Cannonball. Natalya hit the Discus Clothesline for a near fall. Doudrop blocked the Sharpshooter then camer back with a ROLL UP OF DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM to get the win. Baszler didn’t seem concerned at her future opponent at the end of the match.
Backstage Women’s Tag Team Champions NIKKI A.S.H. and RHEA RIPLEY were bemused by John Morrison’s meditation.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Although Brooke got some moves in, the Baszler match did neither woman favours with how short it was. Brooke continues to be buried as Raw’s designated enhancement talent ever since Mandy Rose was moved down to NXT. One has to wonder what chances she has left in WWE after such stumbles in her career path. Natalya and Doudrop was only slightly longer but still short, with just a match of getting spots in. Meanwhile the actual lengthy match was more of just an extended brawl that did no one any favours. It’s really like wrestling is second to the WWE compared to so-called story telling. What an utter mess.
That’s your lot for this week! Stop by in seven day’s time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP with all the fall-out from Crown Jewel and the new rosters for the WWE. See you then!