Welcome one and all to the first edition of the RAW RECAP for 2022, presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Day One ‘Premium Live Special’ saw Becky Lynch retain the Raw Women’s Championship despite the best efforts of Liv Morgan. So who will step up next to face The Man as we head towards the Royal Rumble event? Let’s get into it, and find out…
SARAH SCHREIBER handled interview duties.
WWE 24/7 Championship Match – Mixed Tag Team Match
24/7 Champion DANA BROOKE & Reggie defeated TAMINA & Akira Tozawa
Dana Brooke tried to help make Reggie’s entrance with a handstand on the apron but bounced off of the ropes so Reggie had to back up and just do his entrance normally. The men started off and it seemed Reggie didn’t want to tag in. Tazawa ended up kicking Tamina in the head with a kick meant for Reggie, so Tamina slapped Tazawa which set him up for being pinned by Reggie. So Brooke and Tamina never legally were in the Divas-era short match. Sigh.
BECKY LYNCH went to the ring for a bragging promo. Mocking the fans for failing all their lives and then the women’s locker room for making it their New Year’s Resolution to dethrone her. Eventually, LIV MORGAN came out and talked about how close she was to beating her. Lynch dismissed the speech before BIANCA BELAIR came out and claimed she’d stepped aside to let others get a shot, but wanted back in the title conversation. Lynch just mocked them both saying she’s already beaten them both. Morgan and Belair didn’t appreciate one another trying to get ahead of the other for a title shot, but ended up teaming up to toss Lynch out. Before brawling with one another, but Lynch used that to sneak attack them and plant Belair with the Man-Handle Slam.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions CARMELLA & QUEEN ZELINA defeated NIKKI A.S.H & RHEA RIPLEY
Ripley and Zelina started things off, with a trade of slaps before Ripley turned a Wheelbarrow Bulldog attempt by Zelina into Delayed Suplex. Tagging in Ash as a Ripley Snapmare set up a Perfect-mare by Ash for a near fall. Ash hit a Neckbreaker Drop for just a count of one before Zelina pulled Ash into the ropes to get the advantage. Zelina roughed up Ash for a while, before knocking Ripley off the apron. Out of nowhere Zelina countered being on Ash’s shoulders with a Roll-Up to get a sudden, shock win. Carmella had never been even in the match legally.
Backstage DOUDROP confronted SONYA DEVILLE and Adam Pearce about Belair and Morgan getting more title shots. Deville made a Triple Threat match for next week, pitting Doudrop against Morgan and Belair with the winner facing Becky Lynchy at the Royal Rumble.
MARYSE accompanied The Miz as he complained about the events of Day 1, before BETH PHOENIX accompanied her husband Edge to confront them. Challenging Maryse and Miz to a mixed tag team match at the Royal Rumble.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
An awful night for the women. Two super short matches with one having one woman never being legal, and the other having neither women in the match being legal. The 24/7 title is doing neither Brooke nor Tamina favours for their careers aside from TV time. Meanwhile, the inevitable break up of Ripley and A.S.H. seems fast approaching which would leave the women’s division with zero tag teams left aside from the champs. The only slight bright spark was seeing a contendership match put together but with the Rumble Match on the same night, surely Lynch will stay champ as get her next challenger lined up.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP! Thanks for watching.