Welcome to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Extreme Rules is fast approaching, and this week will see a contract signing for the Ladder Match for the Raw Women’s Championship between Bianca Belair and Bayley. Meanwhile, newcomer to Raw Candice LeRae will face Women’s Tag Team Champion Dakota Kai after LeRae’s surprise win over Nikki A.S.H. What twists will we see this week? Let’s get into it, and find out…
RHEA RIPLEY accompanied The Judgement Day for pre-match taunting before Finn Balor and Damien Priest defeated Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles. Towards the end of the match Ripley using her pet Dominik Mysterio to distract his father Rey, allowing Ripley to deck him on the outside with a Clothesline behind the referee’s back.
Women’s Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion DAKOTA KAI w/h BAYLEY & IYO SKY defeated CANDICE LERAE
LeRae got a Backslide pin early for a two count then hit an Arm Drag, leading to a lengthy arm hold by LeRae. Later, Kai missed her Big Boot in the corner as LeAre used a Snapmare, a Perfect-Mare then a Jackknife Pin to get a two count. Soon after the two avoided one another’s strikes, before LeRae ran Kai along the apron and into the ring post. Leading to LeRae hitting a Dropkick through the ropes, setting up an off the apron Springboard Crossbody to Kai on the floor.
After a commercial break, Kai shut down an attempted rally by LeRae with a Big Boot, getting a near fall. Kai hit Kawada Kicks and then pie-faced LeRae a few times while Bayley on the outside crowed about calling LeRae’s child and telling them Mommy wasn’t making it home. Kai hit a Scorpion Kick, but going for her corner Boot LeRae hit a Jumping Knee as a counter. LeRae came back with strikes and a flurry of corner body blows, leading to a Corner Back Elbow, a Snapmare and a step-off the back Senton for a near fall.
LeRae locked on the Octopus Hold but Kai backed herself to the corner, sending LeRae’s head into the middle turnbuckle. Moments later Kai hit a Jumping Boot to cut off LeRae as she went up top. Eventually leading to LeRae trying for a Powerbomb out of the corner but settling for a nice Super Release German Suplex instead. Iyo Sky got on the apron to distract the ref, allowing Bayley to sweep LeRae’s leg as she went for a Lionsault to Hot Shot LeRae. Kai then rolled up LeRae with a pinhold to steal the win.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed Damage CTRL backstage. Bayley bragged about having weapons in her corner but claimed she’d be at the contract signing alone tonight.
The in-ring contract signing between Bayley and BIANCA BELAIR for the Ladder Match at Extreme Rules was held. Bayley mocking Belair for being worried about not wanting to face all of Damage CTRL and for being “dumb enough” to accept a Ladder Match. Bayley happily signing the contract and mocking Belair’s ego, before claiming she picked the stipulation because it’s symbolic of how she’s had to climb since day one. Bayley making the link that like Belair currently is, Bayley used to wear a ponytail and have sequin outfits. Belair eventually cut Bayley off, signing the contract before taking her turn to mouth off. Objecting to Bayley comparing herself to her and claiming that Bayley used to be someone she really wasn’t. Belair’s promo dragged with her catchphrases and a vague reference to being ‘surprised’ at SummerSlam before and it not turning out (eventually) well for her rival.
Bayley starting talking about having her girls in her corner, before the camera showed Damage CTRL beating up ASUKA and ALEXA BLISS backstage. Bayley using the distraction to haul Belair over the contract signing table and lay a beatdown. Belair fleeing the ring and managing to send Bayley into the LED-board apron before rushing backstage. Belair finding a sobbing Asuka who looked injured with her leg having been put in a chair. An enraged Bliss, dare I say looking more Goddess-like in her glare, demanding a match with Iyo Sky tonight.
Women’s Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion IYO SKY w/h BAYLEY & DAKOTA KAI defeated ALEXA BLISS w/h BIANCA BELAIR
Bliss was all business, not even having a Lily doll with her. Sky hit a Running Dropkick off the bell but Bliss came back with Short-Arm strikes, the a series of shoulder knockdowns and Lou Thesz Presses with punches. Sky came back with a Dragon Screw and then focused on the leg with kicks and a Knee Drop. But Bliss answered with a trio of shots, ending with the Low Dropkick to the face. Hitting a Meteora to Sky’s back on the ropes, before hitting the Insult to Injury combo for a near fall.
Bliss hit a Suplex for a two count. Action spilt to the outside as Sky did her vault out of the ring counter to put Bliss on the ropes, but missed the Drive-By attempt. Moments later Sky hitting a Shotgun Dropkick on the floor. After a commercial break, Bliss hit her version of the STO and then a Knee Strike to a kneeling Sky for a near fall. Sky coming back with a Double Underhook Backbreaker that set up a Running Meteora to Bliss down in the corner. Sky only hit canvas with the Over The Moonsault. Bliss hit the Goddess DDT and then Twisted Bliss, but Bayley distracted the ref as Bliss went for the cover.
Belair tried to fight off both other members of Damage CTRL but got sent into the ring steps. Bliss hitting a Tope Con Hilo off the apron to take out Baley and Kai. Bliss went up top but Sky caught her with the Venus Palm Strike, then plucking Bliss from the corner to hit an Air Raid Crash. Leading to the Over The Moonsault and the win.
Damage CTRL beatdown Bliss three-on-one and Belair tried to stop it, but just got hit with a ladder shot by Kai and Sky. Asuka hobbled out with a Kendo Stick and managed to get a shot on Kai, but Sky Dropkicked the ladder into Asuka, before Kai and Sky dropped the ladder onto Asuka a couple times when she slid into the ring. Putting Bliss between a ladder set on its side, as Kai and Sky delivered kicks to slam the ladder legs into Bliss. Belair was held in the corner as Kai hit her Running Boot before Bayley hit the Rose Plant, then hitting one on Bliss. Before Damage CTRL put the ladder over a downed Belair and posed with the Women’s gold, including Bayley with her yet-to-be-won Raw Women’s title as Raw went off the air.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Some great last-minute build with Bayley and Belair, and the new wrinkle of the Asuka ‘injury’ and beatdown plan adds new interest to what would be a messy three-on-three almost affair at the Ladder match. There’s still the risk of overbooking in the match with too much interference but hopefully it will still be the great match as expected. LeRae taking a loss in her second outing might not be the best sign, but it was a protected loss because of the interference so hopefully something she can bounce back from.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days time for all the fallout from Extreme Rules with the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!