Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Payback is in the history books, as Rhea Ripley retained the Women’s World Championship over Raquel Rodriguez in a match that some might call bowling shoe ugly. Meanwhile, Becky Lynch finally defeated rival Trish Stratus in a fantastic Steel Cage Match. Afterwards, Zoey Stark severed her relationship with Stratus, laying her mentor out with a Z-360. So what’s next for the women of Raw? And who, if any, will step up to challenge Rhea Ripley next? Let’s get into it, and find out…
VALHALLA accompanied The Viking Raiders as they faced Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle in a Tornado Tag Team Match. At one point Valhalla distracted Riddle to aid her team, but in the end the Raiders won after an attempt to get revenge by Kofi Kingston backfired.
RHEA RIPLEY and Damien Priest watched from backstage as World Champion Seth Rollins took a beating but Ripley advised Priest not to cash in.
JACKIE REDMOND interviewed ZOEY STARK, who said she severed ties with Stratus because no one pushes her. SHAYNA BASZLER entered the picture. Telling Stark she’d been waiting for Stark to drop the ‘dead weight’ and making comparisons to how she’d ditched Ronda Rousey but Stark wasn’t interested. Stark instead said that they had unfinished business and challenged Baszler to a match, and it was accepted.
Rhea Ripley and The Judgement Day went to the ring to rave about their wins at Payback. Ripley took exception to Jey Uso being on Raw and said The Bloodline had fallen and her group now ran the WWE. The segment set up a match between Sami Zayn and JD McDonagh.
Backstage RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ spoke to Adam Pearce but vaguely said that he was going to make ‘something official’ in regards to her. She left and CHELSEA GREEN walked in to complain as usual. Pearce said that Piper Niven wasn’t ‘medically cleared’ to compete, raising an issue about her tag titles and implying it was Green who was cursed and not the titles. Green unwisely mocked Rodriguez who, of course, was in ear shot. Leading to a match made between the two.
Singles Match
SHAYNA BASZLER defeated ZOEY STARK
Stark controlled with mat work early, before Baszler used misdirection to send Stark down with a Shoulder Check. Stark hit a Dropkick then applied a Grounded Headlock but Baszler escaped to hit the Arm Stomp. Moments later, Baszler stepped back to counter Stark’s vault back from the corner, locking on the Clutch. Stark tried to counter with a pin but Baszler dropped down with one of her own for a count of one, before a Stark Roll-up got a two count.
A Stark Superkick sent Baszler out of the ring, but Baszler ducked a Baseball Slide attempt and applied the Clutch on the outside. Stark backed her into the announce table to break and then hit a Plancha to the floor. The show then went to in-picture for adverts. Back to live action, Stark hit a German Suplex then kipped up. She got sent to the apron but hit a Lucha Kick, then the Springboard Missile Dropkick for a near fall. Stark paid for bad mouthing, as she missed a Sliding Kick that allowed Baszler to hit a Knee Strike for a two count.
After a few counters, Stark tried for Z-360 but the move didn’t hit right, so Stark had to just hit a strike to send Baszler out of the ring. Stark hit a Splash off the apron then sent Baszler back in. Trying for the Tumbling Senton but Baszler countered and locked on The Clutch. Stark tried to fight out a couple of times but got dragged back down before the referee called the match off to give a TKO victory.
A new team or alliance apparently formed between Stark and Baszler as they shared a fist bump after the match.
Backstage The Judgement Day still didn’t seem fully on the same page, as Rhea Ripley advised that they should wait and see how JD McDonagh performed before letting him into the group, and then ordered Dominik Mysterio to make sure ‘everything went right’ with her plan for him.
Singles Match
RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ defeated Women’s Tag Team Champion CHELSEA GREEN
Green tried to flee the ring right at the bell, just to be hauled back in and rag dolled. Green hit a few cheap strikes but got levelled with a Big Boot. Rodriguez hit a Fallaway Slam that sent Green rolling to the apron, when Green used a Hot Shot to get an edge. Green tried for a Crossbody off the top rope but Rodriguez easily caught her. Green escaped a Powerslam attempt, but unwisely slapped Rodriguez. Getting decked with the Rewind Clothesline for her troubles. The One Armed Powerbomb soon getting the glorified squash match victory.
After the match Rodriguez said that Adam Pearce had given her a rematch against Rhea Ripley with Dominik Mysterio banned from ringside. The rematch would happen next week.
MAXXINE DUPRI accompanied Chad Gable to the stage ahead of him losing the main event match for the Intercontinental Championship against Gunther.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
After the disappointing clash between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez at Payback I can’t say I’m excited for a rematch next week. But Ripley getting a win there should end the feud unless they drag things out to Fastline for a stipulation match. Elsewhere Stark and Baszler as a team of badasses could be fun. While Chelsea Green (and her partners) can’t catch a break with the ‘curse’ of tag champs being injured. There was no Stratus on the show which might signal her run is done (or she’s getting some time off) while the same goes for Becky Lynch but if rumours are to be believed she’ll be popping up on NXT this week if not appearing there for quite some time to come.
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!