Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Elimination Chamber event is fast approaching as we have two women’s matches confirmed for the Premium Live Event. Becky Lynch faces a surprise, Hall of Fame challenger in Lita for the Raw Women’s Championship. Meanwhile, a Women’s Elimination Chamber Match will pit five of Raw’s finest (and a TBA participant) against one another to see who will earn a Women’s Title match at WrestleMania. This follows Ronda Rousey’s decision to challenge Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown Women’s title at Mania. So what twists and turns will we get this week? Let’s get into it, and find out…
ALEXA BLISS had another therapy session.
MARYSE accompanied The Miz as he hosted Miz TV. She ended up being tossed out from ringside when she interfered in her man’s match against Dominick Mysterio and that helped Dominick to get a win.
Women’s Singles Match
BIANCA BELAIR defeated NIKKI A.S.H.
Ash didn’t get a full entrance. Belair controlled the opening part with a Shoulder Check, taunting, flips and a Single Leg Dropkick to send Ash out. Ash used the ring skirting to push it over the apron, and when Belair stepped out to grab her Ash sneakily pulled it out, making Belair slip as her leg caught on the middle rope. Ash targeting the leg with a Single Leg Crab in the ring but Belair fought then kicked her way out of it. Ash followed up with a Low Dropkick, but trying for a Crossbody Belair countered with a Fallaway Slam despite the hurt leg.
Belair was selling the injury with hopping but she still hit her usual moves with a couple of Body Slams, then after that a Suplex rolled through into a Delayed one. What’s the point of selling a leg if you’re just hitting the usual moves anyway? Ash lured Belair in, sending her into the middle pad and then hitting a Tornado DDT for a two count. Soon after, Belair hit a spot of kicking from the apron, sending Ash’s head into the ring post before vaulting in (what hurt leg?) and hitting KOD for the win.
DANA BROOKE seemingly put Reggie in the Friend Zone as she managed to avoid Tamina and the mob as she stayed 24/7 Champion backstage.
WWE Hall of Famer LITA went to the ring for a promo. Claiming she wanted this match for a long time but BECKY LYNCH herself interrupted things. Mocking Lita for the kudos she’d heaped on Lynch before telling Lita she was furious that a woman that meant everything to her growing up was now trying to take everything away from her. Lita claimed she loved being the underdog in this match and thanked the fans for making her a multi-time Champion. Lynch tried to cheap shot Lita, but managed to counter Lita going for a DDT. Getting in blows and stomps but when she went for the Man-Handle Slam Lita countered, hitting the Twist of Fate then the Lita-sault to send a (pun intended) Big Time message to the Champion.
SONYA DEVILLE, with her arm in a sling thanks to the event with Ronda Rousey on Smackdown, handled duties as a WWE Official.
Women’s Singles Match
DOUDROP defeats LIV MORGAN
Both women got a pre-match ‘earlier today’ promos. Doudrop easily pushed Morgan back from a lock-up then slammed Morgan down from second. Morgan countered a Slam into a back Sleeper before Doudrop backed her to a corner. Morgan did her Jumping Back Elbow followed by a roll out a couple times, but going for a third Doudrop charged out a with a Crossbody to wipe Morgan out. The match continued in-picture as adverts played as Morgan was tossed to the floor. Then later, Doudrop hit a Neckbreaker Drop counter and got a near fall. Morgan appeared to get bonked on the top of her head, misunderstanding a spot and getting hit when she tried to duck.
Morgan tried taking Doudrop down with a Clothesline the a Running Dropkick but Doudrop only budged a bit. A Crossbody attempted turned into a Front Slam that set up the Back Senton for a nearfall as the full live action returned. Later on, Morgan’s Double Springboard Dropkick finally knocked Doudrop over. Morgan hitting an Enzigiri then a Dropkick to Doudrop’s back as she was on the ropes. A corner Knee Strike followed, then a Springboard off the ropes for the Side Codebreaker but Doudrop kicked out.
Doudrop countered a Headscissors attempt, planting Morgan face first off the Electric Chair position for a near fall. Moments later, Doudrop yanked Morgan from the middle ropes to send the head bouncing off the top pad. The Vader Bomb followed to give Doudrop the clean win.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Standard, showcase wins for Belair (who doesn’t need them) and Doudrop (who certainly did). I complained last week that Belair no sold, and this week she somehow managed to both over sell and then no sell the targeted leg in the same match. I don’t know if I should be amazed or disgusted. The Dana Brooke Friend Zoning angle seems odd sincethe WWE loves to have men and women not just be friends and make them something more. It also might sadly make Brooke get boo’d thanks to the macho, male fanbase not believing women can just be friends with men and don’t have to be anything more. But then again, it’s the 24/7 Championship so in the end will anything really matter with it? The Lita segment worked fine to make a story be told, even if we all know including Legends on the show is to appease the royals of the country Elimination Chamber is being hosted in.
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!