Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Elimination Chamber is on the horizon and this week’s edition of Raw is loaded with action. Not only a Fatal Four-Way Match to qualify for the Women’s Chamber Match to become Number One Contender at WrestleMania for the Raw Women’s Championship. But a Steel Cage Match (as long as it doesn’t get scrapped again because a Tribal Court segment went too long!) to ‘finally’ settle the score between Bayley and Becky Lynch. Who will emerge the victor as we head along the Road to WrestleMania? Let’s get into it, and find out…
WWE Hall of Famer BETH PHOENIX accompanied her husband Edge for a promo to kick off Raw. Just as Phoenix was making a challenge to Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor, The Judgement Day (but no Ripley) interrupted. Claiming that Ripley wasn’t here because she was doing ‘promotion for WrestleMania’, to which Phoenix said Ripley was just scared after she’d speared her last week. Phoenix making the challenge for her and Edge to face Ripley and Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber. The challenge was accepted but before The Judgement Day could get the jump on Edge and Beth, The Street Profits helped even things up. That led to Dominik Mysterio taking a Glam Slam from Phoenix!
MAXXINE DUPRE along with her Maximum Male Models officially signed contracts backstage to become part of the Raw roster. CHELSEA GREEN interrupted to demand to speak to ‘the manager’ WWE Official Adam Pearce. Complaining about not being in the Elimination Chamber Match, and demanding a match tonight.
BECKY LYNCH had a backstage interview, recounting her history with Bayley. Claiming she had a ‘plan’ for her and Damage CTRL.
Backstage CANDICE LERAE was given a ‘good luck’ picture drawn by Dexter Lumis, who even drew NIKKI CROSS at the side ‘stalking’ which, of course, was currently happening with Cross watching from the background. Cross ran off laughing when LeRae tried to get some answers.
Fatal Four-Way Match – Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
CARMELLA defeated CANDICE LERAE, MICHIN and PIPER NIVEN
Carmella got part of her entrance televised, LeRae and Michin did not get any televised entrances. Niven got a full entrance. Niven decked Michin and LeRae right from the bell with a Double Clothesline. Carmella bailed from the ring rather than fight Niven, leaving her to stack Michin and Lerae in a corner to hit a corner Splash to both. Carmella tried for a back Sleeper on Niven but got easily hauled off with a Snapmare. LeRae and Michin used a Double Team Drop Toe Hold to send Niven into the ropes, following with stereo Dropkicks to send her down to the floor.
LeRae and Michin evaded one another’s strikes, before Michin powered LeRae up and hit a Buckle Bomb. Moments later LeRae hitting a Poison Rana to counter the Electric Chair. Carmella tried to steal it, going for multiple pins on both women but only getting near falls. Before Niven returned and hit a Low Running Splash to all three opponents as they sat up! Getting a two count on Michin before tossing her then LeRae out and getting a two count on Carmella.
After a commercial break, Niven was hitting corner Splashes to Michin and LeRae but missed one aimed at Carmella, who hit a Superkick to Niven only for Niven to use the momentum of being sent back to the ropes to hit a Clothesline. Niven caught a Crossbody attempt by LeRae but Michin used her Jumping Neckbreaker on Niven, bringing her down so LeRae ‘splashed’ onto Niven hitting the mat. Carmella and Michin exhanged strikes, leading to Michin hitting Eat Defeat but Niven pulled Carmella out as she was getting pinned to save the match.
Niven and Michin faced off, with Niven hitting a Headbutt and thinking about a Powerbkomb but shoved Michin away, seeing LeRae up top but wasn’t quick enough to avoid the Missile Dropkick. LeRae hitting a big Springboard Moonsault from the middle rope but Michin broke the pin up. The two friends got distracted with explaining things, leading to Niven decking Michin from behind to send her into LeRae to knock her down. Niven hitting a Black Hole Slam on Michin but this time LeRae broke the pin up. Moments later Niven missing a Senton attempt before LeRae hit her Step-up Senton.
Carmella rolled up LeRae from behind but could only get a two count. Soon after hitting a Bronco Buster after moonwalking and taunts, before side-stepping Niven who barreled into LeRae still down in the corner with a Cannonball. Taking out Niven with a Low Superkick before pulling LeRae out and using a stacked pin to steal the victory.
Backstage Niven shoved a hurting LeRae into equipment cases, blaming her for the match loss. Michin intervened, telling Niven to back off. Niven warned both of them not to get in her way from getting the Raw Women’s Championship again.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties.
Singles Match
ASUKA defeated CHELSEA GREEN
Asuka was distracted when, unannounced, RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ and LIV MORGAN were down at ringside along with NATALYA up at the high corner. Allowing Green to deck Asuka from behind with a Dropkick before slamming Asuka’s head into the canvas. Carmella coming out as well as Green hit a Curb Stomp to send Asuka into the bottom turnbuckle. Green hit an Elevated Flatliner but made the mistake of running her mouth at everyone including Nikki Cross who appeared after crawling out from under the ring.
This of course allowed Asuka to get back up, peppering Green with her flurry of strikes and multiple Backfists before hitting the Release German Suplex to set up the Buzzsaw Kick. Moments later Asuka went for the usually Flying Armbar spot but it seemed Green just took the move as a face plant, but regardless Asuka locked on a Tiger Mask-style Double Armbar to force the submission.
BIANCA BELAIR came out after the bell trying to steal the heat, giving back-handed compliments and reminding everyone how she won last year’s Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Saying she would see the winner at WrestleMania.
DAMAGE CTRL were seen backstage with Dakota Kai on crutches.
It was announced that next week would see a Raw versus Smackdown 6-Woman Tag ahead of Elimination Chamber: Asuka, Carmella and Nikki Cross against Liv Morgan, Natalya and Raquel Rodriguez.
Steel Cage Match
BECKY LYNCH defeated BAYLEY w/h DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY
Bayley tried to flee early but Lynch hauled her down from the cage. Lynch firing off a few strikes before getting briefly dropped by a kick to the knee, before grabbing Bayley’s leg to sweep away an attempt to escape. Both women blocked being sent into the cage wall, but Bayley countered the Dis-Arm-Her to send Lynch through the ropes and into the cage. The cameras missing another cage shot to look at Damage CTRL on the outside before Lynch took some stomps and got sandwiched against the bottom of the cage wall by Bayley’s boot. Bayley barely getting a count of one.
Bayley tried climbing out but Lynch Dropkicked the cage wall, making Bayley fall down before Lynch sent her into a cage wall one side of the ring and then the other. A couple of Baseball Slides used to jolt Bayley into the bottom of the cage wall. Lynch climbed up at a corner, thinking about escaping but Bayley blocked her. Climbing up with her only to get her head slammed into the cage wall a few times. Lynch tried for a Man-Handle Slam off the top rope but Bayley blocked, driving Lynch into the other cage wall at the corner. Lynch tossed down, setting up for Bayley’s Top Rope Elbow Drop to get a near fall.
After a commercial break, Lynch was shoved off from a Dis-Arm-Her attempt, and used the momentum off the ropes to hit a Flying Forearm. Lynch got the better of a strike battle, and hit a Springboard Kick from the middle of the ropes. Bayley tried to climb out, but holding onto the top of the cage Lyunch swung her legs a couple of times, slamming Bayley’s front into the cage. Lynch able to hit a version of that Spinmgboard Kick on the top rope to knock Bayley down over the top cable. Setting up for the Leg Drop onto Bayley hung up on the ropes, but only getting Lynch a near-fall.
Bayley countered a Man-Handle Slam attempt, hitting a Back Suplex for a two count. Bayley again tried to climb out, only for Lynch to drag her down a bit just to toss Bayley over the top rope for a Back Body Drop of sorts into the cage. Bayley countered a Leg Drop attempt into a Kneebar hold and knowing there were no rope breaks in a Cage Match, Lynch crawled her way to the door to try and get out. Bayley pulling her back, just for Lynch to roll through the hold to send Bayley into the middle turnbuckle. Rolling up Bayley for a two count before Bayley went back to the Kneebar. Lynch rolling herself and Bayley over to the opposite cage wall and forcing a break by driving Bayley’s head into the wall a few times.
Moments later the two fought on the top rope to try and escape, leading to Bayley hitting a Bayley-to- Belly Suplex of sorts from off the ropes, only getting a near-fall. The Superstars then fighting on the top of the cage itself, exchanging blows before Lynch was able to lock a version of the Dis-Arm-Her to Bayley before sending Bayley tumbling down into the ring. Iyo Sky finally interfered, climbing up to strike Lynch and kick her down into the ring. Dakota Kai passing one of her crutches into the ring for Bayley to use to hit Lynch.
At that point WWE Hall of Famer LITA suddenly jogged down! Hauling Sky off the cage to the floor, before yanking the other crutch from Kai to send her (safely) into the ring steps before using the crutch to hit Sky. Hitting Sky with a Twist of Fate on the floor! Bayley tried to get out the door, only for Lita to slam into Bayley, allowing Lynch to hit a Man-Handle Slam and get the victory over Bayley. The former rivals from a few years ago embracing before Lita raised Lynch’s hand as the show went off the air.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A fine cage Match with some very different spots than we’ve seen from men’s bouts in the past, but the major story here of course is the surprise, out-of-nowhere appearance by Lita back to the WWE. There’s been plenty of rumours about WrestleMania plans with the Women’s Tag Team Championships but could this be building to some sort of dream six-woman tag at Mania? Damage CTRL against Lynch, Lita and another Legend? That would be wild, and would explain why neither Lynch nor Bayley were in the running for the Raw Women’s Championship Chamber Match. This will certainly be quite interesting to watch unfold. Bayley can handle taking the expected loss here, especially since she can claim she only lost because Lita slammed the door in her head. This will be interesting to see where this story goes to next.
Elsewhere another as-expected outcome with the returning Carmella securing the last Chamber spot to join Natalya from Smackdown who earned it last week. A diverse line-up in the match and no clear sign yet about who will win and face Belair. As for Chelsea Green her ‘Karen’ character might give some people a kick but after this loss and the mere seconds appearance at the Rumble is there any real end-plan for her other than being job-fodder?
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!