Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! With the Day One Pay Per View approaching, this week’s Raw will see Liv Morgan finally get an opportunity at the Raw Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch. So will we get the upset of the year, or will there be simply shenanigans to keep the feud going until the PPV? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Women’s Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion QUEEN ZELINA w/h CARMELLA Vs NIKKI A.S.H. w/h RHEA RIPLEY
Zelina ranted to the ring, breaking out of her fake accent to snap in Spanish at the fans. Ash tried going to the middle rope early but was yanked off by the foot, leading to being worked over at the bottom rope as Zelina tried to provoke Ripley. A Running Knee Strike got Zelina a two count but her cocky cover allowed Ash to scoop a Crucifix Pin for a near fall. Another Roll-up got Ash a two count and soon after hit a Neckbreaker Drop-like strike. A Corner Splash then a Running Bulldog by Ash, but Zelina slipped out from a Bodyslam attempt.
Zelina tried to steal the win with a scoop pin with feet on the ropes but the ref caught her. Cross then hit the Regal Neckbraker but going up top for the Crossbody Zelina avoided it, then planted Nikki with the Code Red for the clean win over the ‘weak link’. Ash’s night would get worse when in a backstage skit she mistook a fan wanting her autograph for a certain local hometown Hall of Famer who thankfully isn’t on commentary anymore.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed BECKY LYNCH as Lynch said her battle was in her own mind, and claimed no one wanted to see Morgan really win. Schreiber also got comments from LIV MORGAN later in the show.
Women’s Singles Match
BIANCA BELAIR defeated DOUDROP by count-out
Doudrop sneak attacked Belair during her entrance but a following commercial break mean that, well, it wasn’t effective. When the match began Belair tried for a Spinebuster early but couldn’t get it, and had to use her quickness to counter Doudrop’s power. Belair did her taunts and flips, but eventually Doudrop swatted down a Dropkick attempt before hitting the Back Senton for a near fall. Doudrop worked over the arm with a rough Arm Wringer then a Headbutt to the limb. Doudrop applied a Cobra Clutch and shut down Belair when she tried to fight out.
A Clothesline shut down a Belair rally for a two count. After breaking free from another Cobra Clutch, Belair was able to avoid being clammed on the apron and smartly performed a Handspring to the ropes to send Doudrop down as she tried to reenter the ring. Doudrop would pull Belair out to the floor whoever, sending her back first into the apron then hitting a Splat to Belair on the floor.
After a commercial break Belair tried for a Suplex, but soon after hit the Spinebuster. A Crossbody off the top rope got a near fall for Belair. Belair tried for a Sunset Flip at the corner but Doudrop hit a Banzai Drop and then a Vader Bomb but only got a two count. Nobody was home for the Cannonball and Belair tried for the KOD but Doudrop slipped out, leaving the ring and taking a full walk to be counted out and leave nothing settled between the two.
TAMINA tried to catch DANA BROOKE to capture the 24/7 Championship backstage, but an apparently smitten Reggie blocked the patch allowing Brooke to escape.
Raw Women’s Championship Match
Raw Women’s Champion BECKY LYNCH retains over LIV MORGAN
Lynch outwrestled Morgan to start with and taunted, but had to flee the ring when Morgan went for ObLIVion early. Morgan then got the edge with out wrestling her rival, but Lynch telegraphed a leapfrog to take Morgan down. Trying for the Dis-Arm-Her but Morgan counterwed with a Cradle for a two count. The women traded Matrix counters before Lynch blocked a Roll-up, trying again for the Dis-Arm-Her but Morgan had another pin counter for a near fall. Morgan got multiple pin attempts but Lynch eventually shut her down a wild strike.
Morgan hit her double bounce Dropkick from the corner, but Lynch avoided the corner Stomp spot to hit a Springboard Kick. A Baseball Slide by Lynch missed before Morgan caught her with the Side Codebreaker on the outside. Morgan went back in just to hit a Suicide Dive to Lynch on the floor, and seemed to be selling her arm after the dive before rolling Lynch in for a near fall. Morgan went up top but Lynch caught her and hit a Superplex as the show went to a commercial break.
Back to live action as Lynch set up Morgan on the ropes to take strikes, before hitting a Diving Legdrop across the back but only got a two count. Later, things got messy as Lynch tried to pick the ankle with a backward roll but Morgan was out of position, eventually leading to Lynch hitting a Reverse DDT for a near fall. Lynch yanked Morgan off from the ropes for the head rebound off the top buckle spot, but rolled through a Leap of Faith when Morgan rolled off from the mat. Morgan hit a Step-Up Enzigrir but couldn’t follow up.
Morgan rallied with strikes then a Lou Thesz Press with punches, then a Corner Elbow followed by a Knee Strike to the corner. Lynch avoided OvLIVion but Morgan used a see-saw on the ropes to hit Lynch from behind. Morgan hit a Springboard version of her Side Codebreaker but only got a two count. A Headscissors sent Lynch to the apron, setting up Morgan vaulting over to hit a Stomp to the back. Morgan hit a Missle Dropkick and after the kick out instantly applied a Rings of Saturn. Lynch countered, applying the Dis-Arm-Her but Morgan got to the ropes.
Morgan got a Small Package for a near fall, then countered the Man-Handle Slam with another pin hold. However Lynch countered that with a sit down pin and cheated, grabbing the bottom rope to steal the win and retain. Leaving Morgan heart broken but vowing this wasn’t over.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I had honestly expected a DQ finish to the title match but the cheating end allowed the feud, as expected, to carry on to likely the Day One event. It was a great match, minor misteps aside, and the rematch should be even better. Meanwhile the other feuds on Raw continue with Doudrop talking a walk to leave things unsettled. And it appears more and more like the WWE is going to plant seeds to split up Ripley and Ash which might be fine, if it didn’t rip apart the only other tag team that exists still on the main roster.
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!