Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! With the so-called new era of WWE having begun with changed rosters after the Draft, we will see a dose of more of the same this week. Bianca Belair getting yet another shot at regaining the Raw Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch. Will this finally mark the end of the feud or will things drag on? And what’s next for the new official Queen of WWE, Queen Zelina? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Raw Women’s Championship Match
Raw Women’s Champion BECKY LYNCH defeated BIANCA BELAIR to retain.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed both Belair and Lynch backstage before the match. There was pushing and a slap from Lynch to kick things off before a fired up Belair used waistlock slams. Belair got the Handspring Moonsault in early for a near fall, making Lynch bail to the floor. Lynch pounced, trying to use Belair’s extensions to her advantage but Belair won the tug of war, sending Lynch into the ringpost instead. Before Belair pulled Lynch along the apron, hitting a Delayed Suplex to the floor.
Back from a commercial break, Lynch used a nice sequence of a leg trip into a roll back to hit a Reverse DDT for a two count. As replays of spots during the break were shown, it appeared Lynch was trying to undo the top turnbuckle pad only for Belair to roll her up for a two count. Belair grabbed Lynch’s foot to prevent a kick, but Lynch rolled through and locked on a modified Dis-Arm-Her with the other arm hooked by that leg. That was turned into a pin by Lynch for a two count, and right after Belair tried for another Delayed Suplex but Lynch countered into a Small Package for another near fall.
The fans appeared to be more behind Lynch than Belair with smatterings of Becky chants during the bout. Lynch hit a Leg Lariat but missed a Legdrop, allowing Belair to go into a rally with shoulder knockdowns and Single Leg Dropkicks. Leading to a Suplex float-over into a Delayed Suplex for a near fall. A rough-looking Tilt-a-whirl Gutbuster followed moments later by Belair for another two count. The fans fuelled with chants for both women as Belair missed with a braid whip, and then a Belair Glam Slam attempt was countered into a pin hold that Belair then countered herself for near falls. Lynch tried for the regular Dis-Arm-Her but Belair powered out and both women ended up tumbling to the floor.
After another commercial break Lynch countered another Suplex attempt this time into a straight Armbar, turning it into a Triangle Choke and managing to counter the first power out attempt into a headscissors to go for the hold again. The second time Lynch took the Powerbomb for a two count. Belair caught Lynch on the corner and got her up for the Press Slam to drop her down. But going for another Handspring Moonsault only ate the knees from Lynch. Lynch hit the Man-Handle Slam but Belair got a foot on the rope to break the pin. Lynch tried for a Baseball Slide but Belair caught her, and dropped her onto the announce table with an Alley-Ooop. Belair took too long getting Lynch back inside as Lynch kicked out at two.
The Glam Slam got Belair a two count but going for a top rope move she had to land and roll through. Belair went for the KOD but Lynch held onto the ropes, and then the turnbuckle pad she’d loosened earlier which got ripped off when Belair yanked her away. Leaning to Lynch sending Belair face-first into it, and the Roll-up with a pull of the tights stole the win for The Man.
Non-Title Women’s Tag Team Match
QUEEN ZELINA & CARMELLA defeated Women’s Tag Team Champions NIKKI A.S.H. & RHEA RIPLEY
They advertised this as a Champion’s Contenders Match. Zelina started the match against Ripley as Carmella had her hideous face mask put on, leaving Ripley to easily overpower the smaller Zelina. Carmella was tagged in and unwisely slapped Ripley, who replied with a Headbutt then strikes, setting up for the Snapmare then a Running Low Dropkick. Other members of the women’s roster – DANA BROOKE, LIV MORGAN, TAMINA and DOUDROP were watching from backstage.
ASH was tagged in, hitting a Low Dropkick to Carmella before cutting off Zelina coming in, sending the Queen into Ripley’s extended boot through the ropes. ASH then wiped out both opponents with a Crossbody off the apron. After a commercial Carmella was working over Ripley with a Chinlock. A blind tag by Zelina allowed her to grab Ripley’s leg, setting her up to take a stomp to the back from Carmella before Zelina went for the Sleeper on the back. A Snapmare escaped the hold as Ripley tagged out.
ASH was in House on Fire mode with Hooking Clotheline to Zelina, knocking Carmella off the apron then hitting the 10 Count Punches on Zelina in the corner. ASH hit the Swinging Beckbreaker but Carmella broke up the pin with a Side Kick. Ripley tried to deal with Carmella, but wound up getting sent into the ringpost on the outside then tossed into the barricade. ASH got distracted by Carmella who held her bend over at the ropes, allowing Zelina to climb onto her and hit the Sunset Bomb (Code Red) for the win over the tag champs.
Becky Lynch was interviewed backstage, as Lynch brushed off having used the turnbuckle. Lynch then piled on the hate on the fans, claiming half were booing her and calling them fickle. But when Lynch said it was time for someone new to step up Liv Morgan was right there to get in her face, making Lynch leave the set.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A good match between Belair and Lynch (and a match that went longer than the Queen’s Crown tournament bouts put together I think!) and hopefully the finish, while protecting Belair, marks the end of the feud with the Lynch win. Of course with Survivor Series on the horizon, any future feuds might just be put on ice if we get another bland brand versus brand event. Liv Morgan finally getting a title feud should be interesting, but considering that Morgan’s first match on Raw was a quick loss to Carmella? The WWE needs to work to make her a credible challenger. And the WWE finally remembers they have women’s tag champs and put together a fine heel tag team to challenge them which all works out for me.
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!