Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Hell in a Cell is in the history books, and it saw Bianca Belair emerge victorious to retain the Raw Women’s Championship. While Rhea Ripley and The Judgement Day got a victory over the ‘Too Sweet’ trio of Liv Morgan, AJ Styles and Finn Balor. So what’s next for the women of the red brand as we now head towards Money in the Bank? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Women’s Singles Match
BECKY LYNCH Vs DANA BROOKE ended in a no-contest.
Brooke didn’t even get a televised entrance, because the WWE wanted to remind us all of the PLE women’s match we all saw the night before with a video package. The match barely started with Lynch roughing up Brooke before Akira Tozawa scurried out, being chased by the 24/7 title mob including TAMINA. When Tozawa rolled into the ring to flee, Brooke rolled him up and became the 24/7 Champion once again. This infuriated Lynch who ranted that no one was winning titles in matches involving her except for herself from now on, and demanded Brooke defend the newly won gold against her now. Threatening to ‘smash in’ the faces of the mob if they tried to get involved.
WWE 24/7 Championship Match
DANA BROOKE defeats BECKY LYNCH to retain.
The mob was no longer ringside after the show came back from a commercial break. Lynch dominated early with three Bex-Ploder Suplexes with badmouthing and roughing up in-between. ASUKA made her entrance but not quite enough to distract Lynch as she hit yet another Bex-Ploder, but getting onto the apron just to drop down to avoid a swing was enough of a distraction from Asuka to allow Brooke to get a two count off a Roll-up. Brooke took a Clothesline, but soon rallied back with kicks then a Dropkick. The Handspring Elbow followed by a Running Facebuster got Brooke another near fall.
Brooke went for a Swanton Bomb but hit only canvas, with Lynch following up with a boot to the head. Lynch went for a Man-Handle Slam close to the ropes which Brooke countered into a messy Jackknife Pin. Asuka reached in and held down Lynch’s foot, helping Brooke to steal the win! Brooke fled the scene and Lynch threw a fit in the ring as Asuka taunted.
MARYSE was back for Miz TV and promoting their reality TV show. But with Riddle as the guest, it led to the expected match between the men that Riddle won.
RHEA RIPLEY and The Judgement Day went to the ring as they introduced former rival Finn Balor as their new member. However, the rest of the group then turned on Edge with a major beatdown to remove him from the stable.
Number One Contendership – Fatal Four Way Match
RHEA RIPLEY defeated ALEXA BLISS, DOUDROP w/h NIKKI A.S.H., & LIV MORGAN
BIANCA BELAIR, once again, was ringside for the match. When the bell rang Morgan and Ripley went after one another while Bliss locked a Back Sleeper onto Doudrop. Doudrop tossed Bliss off then sent her out, while a Ripley Headbutt disposed of Morgan. That left the two powerhouses to trade bombs before Ripley ducked a Clothesline and hit a Superkick. Trying to muscle up Doudrop but failing, before Ripley escaped from a Viper Driver attempt. Moments later, Morgan and Bliss were able to pull Doudrop out to the floor and drove her head into the apron. Morgan went in first and tried to waistlock ripley, but Ripley was able to kick Bliss away first before tossing down Morgan who then came back with a Kneeling Chinbreaker.
Morgan hit the Step-Up Knee in the corner, but rolled out for the Jumping Back Elbow only to be caught by Ripley leading to a Short-Arm Clothesline. Bliss came in and caught Ripley with a Knee Strike but showing off her old Fiendish side with a face grab came back to haunt her as Ripley did the same and easily overpowered her. Leading to Bliss getting roughed up then stomped as Ripley taunted her to ‘free herself’ and join The Judgement Day. Ripley then paid for taunting Belair as it gave Morgan time to recover. Coming in to kick Ripley as she held up Bliss for a Suplex. Sending Bliss down to hold Ripley’s head before Morgan ran the ropes, Dropkicking Ripley and the moment sent her over for a snapping DDT by Bliss in a neat spot.
Moments later, Bliss went for a Crossbody off the apron but was caught, before Morgan hit a Dropkick off the apron into Bliss to send both her and Ripley crashing down for more unintended double teaming. But it left Morgan on the floor and open as Doudrop hit a Senton. Back from a commercial break Doudrop was in control in the ring over Bliss. A Short-Arm Clothesline getting Doudrop a near fall. Bliss was crushed with a corner Splash, but Doudrop paid for posing as Morgan came in to hit her Side Codebreaker Getting cut off by Ripley as they traded blows, leading to Morgan snapping off a Headscissors off the middle rope onto Ripley. That set up Bliss to hit a Code Bliss from out of the corner, but unable to keep Ripley pinned and the position allowed Doudrop to hit the Low Running Splash on Bliss but Morgan broke the pin up.
Morgan hit her trio of kicks to Doudrop, but ended up Clotheslined against the ropes. Doudrop flattening Morgan with a big Sit-out Powerbomb but Bliss broke the pin up. Doudrop set up Bliss for a Vader Bomb but Ripley caught her up top from the apron. The Tower of Doom spot then coming with Doudrop hitting the Suplerplex on Ripley while Bliss and Morgan powerbombed Doudrop. Morgan pinned Ripley while Bliss pinned Doudrop but each only got a two count. Morgan and Bliss then traded one counts off Roll-ups before they did the tumbleweed Small Package spot, leading to Morgan getting a two count before Bliss caught her with the Goddess DDT. But going up top for Twisted Bliss she only got the knees from Morgan, before Doudrop tossed her out.
Morgan hit her Springboard version of the Side Codebreaker and tried for ObLIVion but Nikki A.S.H. who hadn’t interfered yet finally got involved, holding the leg of Morgan to allow Doudrop to toss her down. Bliss and Ash ended up wiping one another out on the floor while Doudrop countered a Crossbody attempt by Morgan into the Viper Driver. Ripley breaking it up with a Low Dropkick. Ripley then hitting a version of Riptide on Doudrop to win and become the number one contender for Money in the Bank. Belair had to put on a brave face though when the rest of the ‘new’ The Judgement Day joined Ripley to stare down from the ring at Belair.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I could get really used to seeing the women of Raw killing it in the main event spot like this. A great match with some cool moments – was the double teaming by Morgan and Bliss a set-up for a future team perhaps? Ripley winning is the obvious and right choice, especially with the heel stable she’s in. So we’ll see if The Judgement Day comes into play for the title match or if Belair will have to enlist the aid of her IRL husband and his tag team of The Street Profits to counter them. I’d rather just see a solo match with those two but we don’t always get what we want from the WWE. The Lynch/Brooke match was harmless and Asuka’s interference protected Lynch and kept their feud going so no problems there.
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!