Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw the Raw Women’s Championship match set for SummerSlam, as new champion Nikki A.S.H. will have to defend against the former champs Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat Match. ASH’s reign didn’t start off well with a non-title match loss to Flair last week, and now seven days removed there’s yet another rematch. However, the stakes were raised with the news this bout, while still non-title, will also be under No Holds Barred Rules! Who will emerge victorious this week? And will Alexa Bliss and Lilly find new ways to torment Eva Marie? Let’s get into it and find out…
SARAH SCHREIBER handled interview duties.
Women’s Singles Match
RHEA RIPLEY defeated NIA JAX w/h SHAYNA BASZLER
After a couple lock-ups, Ripley hit her Headbutt but (surprise, surprise) Jax no sold it and hit one of her own. Jax sent Ripley into the ringpost, then went to the apron to hit a Hip Attack to squash Ripley into the post. Back inside Ripley hit her Kick from the mat spot, then another high kick as came off the ropes. Ripley tried for the Riptide but Jax elbowed out of it, and sent Ripley into the post again. Jax went for another Hip Attack but just bounced off the post as Ripley avoided it. Ripley then hit a Tope off the apron but Jax dodged so Baszler, who had been checking on her tag partner, took the move. Jax then hit a Samoan Drop to the crowd barrier before the crowd went to commercial.
Ripley fought out of a Argentine Backbreaker, and hit a couple of Short-Arm Clotheslines before Ripley went Lucha with a Springboard Headscissors to send Jax to a corner. Jax appeared to have been busted open somehow (cut by something on Jax’s ring gear?) as Ripley hit a Missile Dropkick for a near fall. Jax tried for her Powerbomb but Ripley fought out, going for a Sunset Flip and escaping harm when Jax dropped down. Jax squashed Ripley with a Standing Splash against the ropes, and hit the Leg Drop but only got a two count.
Ripley tried for Riptide again, and Baszler got on the apron to distract. Baszler dropped down, but then Ripley dodged Jax coming from behind but seemingly Jax was supposed to hit Baszler but since she wasn’t there, Jax just came to an awkward stop. Ripley the used a ROLL UP OF DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! to score the win. Jax and Baszler had words after the match as Baszler walked out on her tag partner. Ripley then sneaked back in and hit Jax with the Riptide at last to send a message to her SummerSlam opponents.
CHARLOTTE FLAIR cut a usual promo in the ring. The lengthy rant even had Flair leaving the ring to insult the crowd as she complained about how cowardly it was to win a title by cashing in. Flair also incorrectly referred to her opponent tonight as Nikki Cross as she tossed some weapons into the ring. Eventually NIKKI A.S.H. sneaked in from behind and silenced Flair with a chair shot to the back to send her packing.
Women’s Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champio TAMINA defeated DOUDROP w/h EVA MARIE
Before the match Marie ranted in an interview about being distracted last week by Lilly’s Lilly-Lution video. They also heavily recapped how Natalya suffered a freak injury last week, but so far have not stripped her or Tamina of the tag team titles. They traded body checks before Tamina knocked Doudrop down then hit a Hip Attack to the corner. Marie distracted Tamina as she went up top, allowing Doudrop to blindside and send Tamina into the ringpost. Doudrop then hit a fantastic leap in through the ropes, spingboarding off the bottom rope to hit an Elbow Drop.
Doudrop hit a Senton for a two count. Later, Tamina hit a Boot from the corner to take Doudrop down before the women traded strikes. Doudrop would soon after avoid a Superkick and took Tamina down, but being distracted by Marie yelling orders allowed Tamina to avoid the Low Running Crossbody. Tamina then hit an impressive Samoan Drop to get the win thanks to Marie’s meddling.
After the match ALEXA BLISS with Lilly mocked that Eva Marie was the loser of the match. Bliss would pay for that however later in the show as Doudrop would attack Bliss in her playground on the orders of Marie.
Rhea Ripley was interviewed about Flair and ASH’s upcoming match, and said she hopes ASH beats the Hell out of Flair but vowed to be champion at Summerslam.
Non-Title, No Holds Barred Match
Raw Women’s Champion NIKKI A.S.H. defeated CHARLOTTE FLAIR
ASH was interviewed before the match, claiming that her sneak attack was as unexpected as the match will be. ASH got a Crossbody in early but was shut down with a harsh looking Kitchen Sink knee then getting in the Backbreaker into the corner Flatliner combo. Flair sent ASH to the floor then cleared the table as Flair yelled about being cashed in on. Flair pulled out a regular table, then went for the overhead Suplex but ASH escaped to send Flair into the ringpost. Rhea Ripley was shown watching from backstage as Flair roughed up ASH with stomps on the outside. Flair yelled at a fan to “Suck it!” before she hit the Overhead Exploder on ASH on the floor. Flair then charged and wiped ASH out with a Spear through the time keeper’s barrier.
Back from commercial Flair was in control in the ring with Shoulder Thrusts to the corner, and a table was set up leaning against the corner. ASH fought off after being set up on top, but missed a Crossbody off the top before eating a Queen’s Boot. Flair pulled ASH up from the cover before she had a chance to kick out. Flair then hit another Queen’s Boot and again hauled ASH up before a three count. Flair went to the outside to get chairs from under the ring, only to get her own chair slammed into her face when ASH Dropkicked through the ropes to nail her. Following up with a Tornado DDT off the apron to dump Flair to the ringside floor.
Flair came back, dumping ASH over the barrier then catching her when ASH tried for a Crossbody. Turning it into a Powerbomb and driving ASH through the announce table! Flair took her time pushing ASH back into the ring and getting back in herself. So when Flair put one foot on ASH for a pin ASH kicked out. Flair again wasted time measuring her rival, so ASH was able to avoid harm so Flair crashed through the table in the corner from an attempted Spear! Flair was able to kick out at two. ASH then busted out her old Rope-Hung Swinging Neckbreaker finisher and got the clean pin over Flair!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A No Holds Barred Match that barely used weapons? Damn these TV networks and their rules! We got some neat Extreme Rules spots with the barricade and tables though and most of all, ASH got a much needed solid win over Flair to cement her championship status. Similarly Rhea Ripley got a long needed victory as she heads into the Summerslam match. The WWE seems to be holding off to see how long Natalya will be out for before deciding what to do with the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Or it might be a case that the WWE cares so little about the titles they are happy to do nothing about them not being defended.
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!