Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Clash at the Castle is in the books, and it saw Damage CTRL get not just the big victory, but saw its leader Bayley pin the Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. So what does this mean for the Red Brand and the title picture? Let’s get into it, and find out…
RHEA RIPLEY as part of The Judgement Day tormented Edge and Rey Mysterio. Bringing out the new ‘improved’ Dominik Mysterio as she said she’d made a man out him. Leading to Ripley directing Dominik to block his father from interfering in the beatdown The Judgement Day gave to Edge, which allowed Ripley to manhandle Rey and toss him into the steel steps. Ripley then handed Dominik a chair to pass into the ring to be used on Edge.
SARAH SCHREIBER and MEGAN MORANT handled interview duties.
Non-Title Women’s Tag Team Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions ALIYAH & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ defeated DOUDROP & NIKKI A.S.H.
The announcers even referenced how Doudrop and Ash competed in NXT When Worlds Collide event. Aliyah and Ash started off, with Aliyah soon hitting a Tilt-a0whirl Backbreaker for a count of one. The announcers slyly referencing how Rodriguez has done the heavy lifting for their team as Ash used a hair pull to bring Aliyah to the heel corner. Doudrop tagging in to rough up Aliyah but soon Aliyah vaulted over a charge in but instead of tagging out hit a Low Dropkick. Only to be sent down with a big slap, before ASH held onto Rodriguez’s leg to allow Doudrop to charge and knock her down.
Aliyah tried for a Hurricanrana but Doudrop easily held her, and then swung Aliyah into the corner pads. Damage CTRL of BAYLEY, DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY were watching backstage as Doudrop hit a corner Cannonball for a two count. The announcers referencing that the illegal woman was pinned in the tag tournament finals as Ash was tagged in. Taking out Rodriguez with a Dropkick through the ropes before helping to hit a double team of a Doudrop Samoan Drop as Ash hit a Neckbreaker. Rodriguez broke up the pin and soon after Aliyah got the tag to her.
Rodriguez mowed down Ash with a charge but it sent her back into the heel corner as Doudrop tagged in. Rodriguez held Ash and kicked Doudrop away before hitting a Fallaway Slam on Ash. Rodriguez tried for a Powerbomb but couldn’t get Doudrop up. Doudrop coming back with a Headbutt then later a simple Legsweep to set up the Senton for a two count. Doudrop went for a Vader Bomb but got distracted by Aliyah leaping from the ring steps to hit a Lou Thesz Press on Ash. That allowed Rodriguez to hook Doudrop from the corner and hit a version of the One-Armed Powerbomb to get the victory.
Damage CTRL went to the ring showing off new theme music for the stable and video wall graphic. Bayley bragging about the win at Clash at the Castle before Sky declared they were taking the Women’s Tag Team Championships next week. Kai stating correctly that she wasn’t legal last week so shouldn’t be pinned. Bayley stating that she’d pinned Belair and was the first woman to do it about a year.
BIANCA BELAIR came out and called out Bayley and demanded a match tonight. Bayley claimed that because it was Labor Day in America she wasn’t going to compete. Belair complained that it took all three of Damage CTRL to take her down, and tried to bait Bayley of leaving her crew behind to face her one-on-one. Instead, Bayley punked Belair and lured Belair to be surrounded by the heels, only Bayley to call them off as they left the ring. Bayley stating that Belair’s fragile ego couldn’t handle one loss and claimed her group could have ended Belair there and then. Saying that when and where she wanted it, Bayley would take the title. Making a visual statement by having Kai and Sky stand in front of her to block Belair.
Rhea Ripley along with the rest of The Judgement Day came out during Damien Priest’s match against Rey Mysterio. Helping to provide a distraction to allow Priest to win.
It was confirmed that Aliyah and Rodriguez would defend against Damage CTRL next week.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A harmless tag team match, giving the champs a win but then again who hasn’t beaten Doudrop and Ash. A logical set-up for the tag title match last week with the controversy over the illegal woman being pinned. Bayley has played mind games before with Belair but this time it worked even better, stating that Bayley came back from injury just to do what no one else could while she was gone. It’s a very smart line to go on and pointing out how Belair couldn’t handle one loss was good too, considering how Belair’s short match loss to Becky Lynch hung over her for months. It’s going to be a fun feud.
Elsewhere the Ripley stuff with the Mysterios and Judgement Day continues to be a blast. Ripley has been shining in her role here and shows that if done well, you can easily utilize female Superstars outside of title feuds. A side-note, that there was no sign at all of the 24/7 Championship or Dana Brooke (who is still parading the title around at live events and media appearances). Maybe the WWE really has quietly retired the belt and that’s no bad thing to be brutally honest.
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!