Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We’re heading towards the Elimination Chamber event but there’s twists already on the Road to WrestleMania. Charlotte Flair and Lacey Evans continue to have issues, and the Women’s Tag Team Champions have new challengers in new duo Lana and Naomi. That’s not even factoring in that Bianca Belair has yet to announce which Women’s Champion she will face at the biggest show of the WWE year. So will we get some clarity tonight? Let’s get into it, and find out…
LACEY EVANS and Ric Flair came to the ring as the old man ranted and put over Evans. Eventually saying that Evans was coming after Asuka to become the next Raw Women’s Champion. Evans claimed that she respected Flair and that their relationship was merely business. She took shots at Charlotte for disrespecting Ric. Eventually CHARLOTTE FLAIR came out and mocked Evans saying if Evans wanted to learn, she needed to go to the Performance Center. Charlotte claimed she was trying to protect the Flair family legacy. Evans put on fake charm, claiming they could work together and another shot at Asuka, as Evans said she’d be a better partner than that ‘feral animal’.
“I didn’t come this far, to come this far.” Charlotte said, saying she wanted to do this on her own and called Evans “Flair 2.0”. Evans then baited Charlotte to accepting a match, saying WWE officials said if she could beat Charlotte she’d get a title shot. Charlotte taking the challenge but as Ric Flair tried to make peace, Evans decked her. Sending Charlotte to the floor and then to the ring steps, yelling that she accepted the match.
Women’s Singles Match
LACEY EVANS w/h Ric Flair defeated CHARLOTTE FLAIR by DQ.
Flair started off with a charge to the corner for Shoulder Thrusts. Evans targetted the arm that went into the ring steps as the commentators put over that Ric Flair’s politicing claimed Evans would get a title shot if she won the match. Flair did the vault over to the apron spot from the corner, then darted in through the ropes but rolled out of the Roll-Up spot to instead hit a Side Kick. Evans hit an Arm Drag-style throw but Flair rolled out to hit a Dropkick. On the apron Evans hit a Hot Shot, the sweeped the leg before she had a rough landing with her Vault-in Elbow Drop that ended up being more of a back splash.
Evans focused on the left arm but Flair countered a Neckbreaker as she hit a Short-arm Clothesline. Evans slammed Flair down a couple times by the hair but Flair kipped back up, but the final time it seemed that Flair had to mouth to Evans to do it and Flair fell back awkwardly. Evans did some strutting, only for Flair to hit an Exploder Suplex. Flair went for a dive but Ric Flair stood in front of Evans, allowing Evans to yank Flair down to the apron.
Back from a commerical Flair was being choked in the corner. Evans hit a Jawbreaker then applied a stretching arm hold, trying to use the hair to keep her rival down. An Evans Clothesline got a two count, and a Neckbreaker got the same. Evans went for the Springboard Moonsault but Flair got the feet up, seemingly catching Evans in the knee. Flair fired off chops with the good arm. Another delay in the action as Flair had to run to the corner, stop to take a slap and tell Evans what to do, and then finally Evans charged out to take the Queen’s Boot. Flair took her time going for a pin and only got two.
Ric Flair distracted again, allowing Evans to get the arm before sending Flair back inside for a near fall. Evans went for a Figure Four but Charlotte kicked off and then hit a Spear. Enraged by the Figure Four attempt Flair just went wild with strikes on Evans in the corner, and shoving the referee led to a DQ but Flair just hit more strikes and stomps anyway. Only backing off when Ric Flair came in and got between the women.
CHARLY CARUSO handled interview duties, including interviewing Smackdown’s BIANCA BELAIR. Belair put herself over but revealled nothing about who she’d pick to face at WrestleMania. ASUKA herself showed up, and warned Belair that she wasn’t ready for her.
Women’s Tables Match
LANA w/h NAOMI defeated Women’s Tag Team Champion NIA JAX w/h Women’s Tag Team Champion SHAYNA BASZLER
They showed a replay package of the streak of Jax putting Lana through the announce table many times a few months ago. Jax easily shoved Lana about in the start. Hitting the Powerbomb into a Chokeslam a couple times that looked safter than than previously done. Locking on an Elevated Stretch Muffler then swinging Lana into the corner with it. Jaw hoisted Lana onto the shoulder, acting like she was gonna try and toss Lana down through a table but just hit a Stun Gun instead.
Lana dodged an Elbow Drop then came back with a series of Head Kicks but was soon shoved down. Lana countered another Powerbomb with a Headscissors over the top rope, with Jax landing on the apron. Trying to use kicks to send Jax off and through a table but a Headbutt shut things down. Jax went for a Legdrop but Lana avoided it, sending Jax into the apron. Jax came up loudly screaming “AHHHH! MY HOLE!!” before Lana rush charged Jax into a table helpfully already proped up at the barricade corner to send Jax crashing through it. After the match Baszler decked Lana, but Naomi in turn decked her with a Head Kick then a Disaster Kick.
Women’s Singles Match
NAOMI w/h LANA defeated Women’s Tag Team Champion SHAYNA BASZLER
Naomi started off with strikes and a Fallback Boots to the chest spot. Baszler managed to trip the leg, hitting a kick to the arm and hitting the Arm Stomp. Remember when that used to end careers instead of just being a regular match spot? Baszler worked over the arm with a Top Wristlock and an arm snap. Naomi avoided strikes and came back with Single Legged Dropkicks and a Headscissors. A slap set up a Spinning Facebuster. She went for the Rear View but Baszler countered into the Clutch, forcing Naomi to roll to the ropes. Baszler for no reason attacked Lana on the outside, and taking her time getting back into the ring Naomi caught her with a Small Package for the win.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
No sigh of Alexa Bliss this week. Did they use up all the budget already with her tricks? Evans going against Asuka should make for a fresh change of pace, but Evans did not have a stellar performance against Charlotte Flair, even with Flair trying to guide the match. Reminding me of how Evans failed to step up to the plate in the feud against Becky Lynch. Will we see the same again? Itr should make for an interesting match at Elimination Chamber and the threat of a possible new champion there. Meanwhile, it was nice to see finally a team labeled as a possible threat with wins over the tag champs for Lana and Naomi. Simple and effective momentum for them as a duo. And perhaps Jax will want to think before she speaks about any, let’s call it area of hers, that’s hurt. Yikes.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven day’s time and we’ll have the next edition of the RAW RECAP ready for you. See you then!