Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Women’s matches are being set up for WrestleMania, including a newly announced Women’s Tag Team Championship match pitting defending champions Carmella and Queen Zelina against the reunited duo of Naomi and Sasha Banks. That goes alongside the singles bouts for the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championships which, currently, are both signed for Saturday WrestleMania. So who will make a statement as we head towards the two-night Premium Live Event? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Six-Woman Tag Team Match
BIANCA BELAIR, LIV MORGAN & RHEA RIPLEY defeated Raw Women’s Champion BECKY LYNCH, DOUDROP & NIKKI A.S.H.
Both teams had promos before their entrances but Rhea Ripley didn’t want too much of a three-way fist bump with her partners. Lynch did the classic fake-out, acting like she wanted to start off against Belair but only tagged quickly out to Ash. Belair tagged out to Morgan who hit a Hiptoss of sorts as a counter, then (after a delay) snapping off a Headscissors to Ash who rolled to tag out to Doudrop. Doudrop overpowered Morgan but she came back with the Step-Up Enzigiri, allowing a tag to Belair who tried for a Suplex. Wisely making a tag to Ripley as they combined for a Double Team Suplex before tossing out Lynch and Ash who tried to jump them. Morgan was tagged in and got a literal helping hand from Ripley to climb the ropes and take out all the Heels with a Crossbody to the outside.
After a commercial break Lynch was against Belair as Belair countered the Dis-Arm-Her into a Roll-up, before Lynch soon countered a Delayed Suplex into a Small Package. Moments later, Lynch hit a Spingboard Kick to Belair on the apron that set up Lynch grabbing the braid to haul Belair into the ring post, shortly followed by a Savat Kick to send Belair (just about) into the post again from the apron. Roughing up Belair on the apron by wrapping that signature braid around the top rope to get in shots. Before draping Belair between the ropes for the Leg Drop off the middle ropes spot for a two count.
Doudrop got the tag and hit a Slam then an Elbow Drop before tagging into Ash who hit a Perfect Mare for a two count before clubbing away. Lynch was tagged back in and again focused on the braid, standing on it to prevent a tag. Belair rolled free to tag out to Ripley who hit the Short-Arm Clotheslines, then a Ripcord Savat Kick before landing Kingdom Falls on Lynch. Ripley continued with a Headbutt, the Cravate held Knee Strikes, then (after a rough Snapmare) the Running Low Dropkick. Ripley hit the Front Electric Chair Drop, but Doudrop broke the pin up with a Splash onto Ripley’s back. Morgan hit a Dropkick to take care of Doudrop, only for Ash to toss her out.
Ash perhaps making a wise choice, dragging Lynch (squashed in the Splash) to her corner to tag but it allowed Ripley to tag out to Belair. Ash avoided one slam but soon got planted with a Glam Slam. Belair went for the Handspring Moonsault but in a cool spot Lynch grabbed Belair’s hands at the ropes, preventing the Handspring and pulling Belair to the floor. Things broke down as Morgan hit a Suicide Dive to Lynch, only to get clobbered from the apron by Doudrop who in turn to a Dropkick from Ripley. Ash hit a Crossbody off the top rope to Ripley, but turned around to eat a Spinebuster from Belair. Lynch broke the pin up, once again grabbing the braid but this time Belair lost it, using it to lash Lynch (the WWE pipped in whipcrack sound effects as well) to make Lynch free. Ash tried to steal the win with a Roll-up, but Belair soon hit the KOD to win. Lynch showing off ‘wounds’ from the whipping but they seemed to have been pre-painted onto Lynch’s body, hidden under her ring attire that she hiked up to show off now.
Non-Title Mixed Tag Team Match
DANA BROOKE & Reggie defeated TAMINA & Akira Tozawa
Tozawa appeared smitten with Tamina and despite the FriendZone antics from previous weeks Reggie and Brooke seemed to be on the same page. The women started things off with Tamina hitting a Knee to the gut, before Brooke hit a Headscissors at Tamina awkwardly rolled from. Brooke hitting the Handspring Elbow soon after but a big Back Elbow shut Brooke down before Tamina tossed her across the ring. Tozawa blind tagged himself in and not long after the match ended with Reggie pinning Tozawa. Further making this storyline odd, Brooke ‘celebrated’ with a big mat takedown kiss to Reggie. Before Tamina, like she was trying to show them ‘this is how it’s done’ grabbed Tozawa’s face to apply a kiss to leave him dazed.
Women’s Tag Team Championships CARMELLA and QUEEN ZELINA in a backstage promo accepted the title challenge for WrestleMania from Naomi and Sasha Banks.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The fake wounds on Lynch seemed to me like either the WWE is selling the hair as the key to Belair’s victory, or they will put in some sort of stipulation that Belair will be DQ’d if she uses the hair as a weapon. Ripley once again looked super strong in this match, dominating Lynch but with all the title matches locked up for the show, is it all for nothing until after Mania? Meanwhile, the 24/7 Title nonsense somehow manages to get worse and it wasn’t anything good to begin with.
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!