Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Royal Rumble is in the history books, and Smackdown’s Bianca Belair pulled off the biggest win of her career so far, lastly eliminating Rhea Ripley to win. Booking herself a title shot at WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler stole back the Women’s Tag Team Championships from Asuka and Charlotte Flair, thanks to a cheap shot with a loaded Women’s Right from Flair’s rival Lacey Evans. So what’s next for the women’s division? Will we see Bianca Belair on Raw? Will someone finally step up to face Asuka one on one? Let’s get into it, and find out…
CHARLY CARUSO handled interview duties.
Women’s Triple Threat Tag Team Match
LANA & NAOMI defeated Raw Women’s Champion ASUKA & CHARLOTTE FLAIR, DANA BROOKE & MANDY ROSE
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed Flair and Asuka before the match as Flair again dismissed Lacey Evans, but perhaps telling Asuka cut in saying she’d speak for herself. Referencing that if not for Flair’s drama around her they would have won. Asuka even saying “Do not again” to Flair. Lana and Naomi had a cut-in interviews, and Naomi said that she knew what it like to be stuck on the sidelines for her reason to team with Lana. The Winners of this match will get a future shot at the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Flair and Naomi started off so neither Rose or Brooke started with only two teams legal. Flair did some flips before Naomi caught her with a headscissors, then the two did the duel Dropkicks spot before kipping up. NIA JAX and SHAYNA BASZLER were shown watching from backstage. Asuka and Rose blind tagged themselves in to make Naomi’s team not legal in the match as both women missed Dropkicks. Asuka ducked the Pump Knee and got a near fall off a Wheelbarrow Roll-up. Brooke and Lana then blind tagged in, going for Leg Sweeps each but jumping to avoid. Lana was worked over, taking the Handspring Elbow from Brooke before Rose was tagged in to hit the Pump Knee but Asuka broke the pin up.
Rose ducked a Head Kick and hit a Clothesline. Brooke was tagged in as Asuka despite not being legal was worked over as The Sexy Muscle Friends hit a Double Team Flapjack on the woman who gave them their nickname. After a commercial Brooke was against Flair, as Flair just clubbed Brooke down to avoid the Handspring Elbow for a two count. Flair did the Madison Rayne Figure Four Headscissors smashes then a flip over, but Brooke rolled over to her corner to tag Rose. Flair only got a one-count off a dive-in Roll-up from the apron back in, and soon Rose caught Flair with stomps and strikes in the corner. Brooke was tagged to hit a Handspring Twisting Moonsault for a two count.
Things got scrappy as it looked like Flair was doing whatever she could to not take strikes from Brooke in the corner. Rose tagged in but Flair flipped out of a Double Team Suplex attempt, tagging out before hitting Rose and Brooke with Clotheslines. Asuka hit the Hip Attack on Rose then the German Suplex and the Shining Wizard for a two count. Asuka hit the Missle Dropkick and it sent Rose across the ring so Lana could tag in, while Asuka tagged Flair back in. Flair taking Lana lightly with a couple of covers then just slamming her down. Lana countering a Powebomb into a Headscissors then tagging Naomi in who came in with Flying Back Elbows and a Flying Jawbreaker. A Springboard Kick getting Naomi a two count.
Lana was tagged in, hitting a Double Knee Strike to Flair on the ropes. Flair hit the Queen’s Boot on Lana, but couldn’t lock on the Figure Four before Rose came in to hit a Pump Knee. Naomi took Rose out with an Enzigiri but was taken out herself by a Natural Selection-like move by Brooke. Asuka hit the Double Knee Facebuster on Brooke, setting up the Natural Selection by Flair. Ric Flair’s music hit as he and LACEY EVANS came out. Charlotte tagged out to Asuka as she started storming up the stage. Distracted, Naomi hit the Rear View on Asuka and got the upset win on the current Raw Women’s Champion!
Women’s Singles Match
ALEXA BLISS defeated NIKKI CROSS
Cross yelled that she didn’t want anything to do with Bliss before she forced the match to go with a Headlock into a Takedown. Bliss escaped and did her hands pose, but Cross stayed on the attack with shots and stomach Headbutts. A Running Crossbody got a two count. Cross kept control, hitting shots in the corner then a Suplex for a two count. Bliss hit a Jawbreaker, then floored Bliss with a strike of her own to get a near fall. Bliss standing on Cross’ back and hitting head stomps to the count of four, then doing mat slams with the hair.
Bliss did a bit of Hopscotch before hitting a gut kick then locking on a Bodyscissors. Bliss looking for Sister Abigail but Cross countered with a Neckbreaker. Alexa’s old music hit, and then suddenly Bliss was The Goddess in the corner but all smiles. Cross didn’t buy it as she hit strikes, Short Arm Clotheslines then a Corner Splash. Another blast of music and Funhouse Bliss was back, grinning away. Bliss taking advantage of Cross being confused, hitting a DDT out of the Sister Abigail position for the win.
As Bliss headed to the back, Randy Orton came out but refused to make eye contact with her, much to Bliss’ staring anger. Bliss however would appear during the following Orton versus Edge match. Distracting as she was drooling some creepy horror slime from the mouth, which led to Edge hitting the Spear to pick up the win.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
If there aren’t seeds being planted here for an Asuka against Charlotte Flair match at Mania, then certainly at the very least the break-up of their team as Flair continues to lose matches thanks to Evans’ distractions. Will this mean that Asuka once again gets left on the sidelines even while champ, taking a backseat to other women? Meanwhile, the WWE has gone back to loving having Lana as an underdog against women who should be able to destroy her. Having Naomi as backup might work out for now, but will the duo work in the long run? We’ll wait and see. We got more of the same insanity from Bliss as the WWE gets its fill of using the Thunderdome to make movie magic happen. I loved the wicked twist on Sister Abilgail with the DDT for her own spin on the move.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven day’s time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!