Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The most Stupendous Two Night WrestleMania in WWE history (at least until next year) is in the books, with new champs on the Raw side of the roster. Bianca Belair getting revenge for SummerSlam as she defeated Becky Lynch to become the new Raw Women’s Champion. While Sasha Banks and Naomi captured the Women’s Tag Team Championships in the Fatal Four Way Match. So what’s next for the WWE on a night traditionally of surprises the day after Mania? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Championship Contenders Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions NAOMI & SASHA BANKS defeated LIV MORGAN & RHEA RIPLEY
Ripley and Naomi started things off. Ripley firing off a Headbutt then a long, 20-count Delayed Suplex for a near fall. Naomi used a knee slide to avoid a Big Boot, and stunned Ripley with strikes before tagging in Banks to do a double team version of Naomi’s headlock into the corner spot. Another tag as Banks hit a Vader Bomb before Naomi did a Split-Legged Moonsault but Morgan broke up the pin. Banks sent Morgan out and then hit a Meteora off the apron. Before Ripley took Banks out with a Con Hilo from the apron, only for Naomi to hit a Plancha to Ripley.
There was some stalling as the referee have Naomi some instructions for the match, before Naomi eventually sent Ripley back in. A Legdrop getting a two count before the show went to commercial. Back from it, Ripley and Naomi were still legal as Naomi hit a Nightmare Kick. Tags on both sides as Banks caught Morgan running in with the High Knee from the apron, then springing off the ropes for a Headscissors. Banks hitting two Meteoras to Morgan in the corner, one while standing and then another sat which set up a Running Facewash. A top rope Meteora getting a near fall.
Morgan got a couple pin holds in before hitting the Step-up Enzigiri. Tagging to Ripley to do a Kingdom Falls tossed into a Powerbomb by Morgan for a near fall. Ripley tried to toss Morgan for a Senton but Banks rolled away, before Naomi sent Ripley (the legal woman) out of the ring. Despite that, Banks and Naomi hit their Double Team Lungblower finisher and Morgan (not the legal woman) got pinned.
After the match Ripley, looking frustrated by two nights of important losses, brushed off Morgan and walked away leaving Morgan stunned. Despite that, later in the show the WWE announced a rematch of this match for next week’s Raw but with the titles on the line.
BIANCA BELAIR went to the ring for a promo as the new Raw Women’s Champion. Belair pandered to the fans, thanking them for their support. Takling off her sunglasses to show off one Hell of a black eye from the match with Lynch. She gave a lengthy speech that, perhaps due to the defiant crowd, lost some of the fans as it went on.
A match between CARMELLA and QUEEN ZELINA against Natalya and Shayna Baszler never happened. Before the Smackdown duo even came out Zelina ripped into Carmella for costing them the titles at Mania and provoked Carmella by claiming she thought Corey Graves was both a fool for marrying Carmella, but still a handsome man. Carmella mocked back, leading to a brief brawl between the two before Carmella and Graves had a make-out session.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Not exactly an exciting night for the women’s division post-Mania, but with Belair’s eye injured there was only so much to be done in regard to her and any follow-up with Lynch. I had liked the idea of keeping Morgan and Ripley as a team, but the notion of a heel Ripley (and rumours there’d been a pitch for her to join Edge’s forming heel faction) is actually even more interesting. Yes, it sucks that probably in the space of a couple weeks we’ll once again see the tag ‘division’ stripped of its teams with all the break-ups but no doubt the WWE will toss together a team or two when it’s needed.
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!