Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We’re on the Road to WrestleMania, and the first stop is the Royal Rumble. Tonight sees a Triple Threat Match to decide Becky Lynch’s next challenger for the Raw Women’s Championship. Either former champ Bianca Belair, Lynch’s last challenger Liv Morgan, or the unlikely Doudrop who has been on a losing streak as of late. Let’s get into it, and find out…
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed NIKKI A.S.H. and RHEA RIPLEY in the ring. However, when Ash made a challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Championships (again) Ripley wasn’t on the same page as she cut in and said that’s not what they agreed with. And Ripley didn’t appreciate being cut off, clearly making it out that she thought their team was done. Despite Ash trying to inspire her tag partner, Ash started snapping as she claimed she was doing Ripley a favour by teaming with her, and even claimed that she was better in the ring than Ripley. Ripley demanded a handshake to end the duo, but Ash demanded that Ripley look her in the eye and tell her she still believes in Ash. Ripley gave the old ‘I hope we can still be friends’ line and gave a hug.
However, Ash then took a cheap shot, attacking Ripley with blows before leaving the ring and bragging that ‘Almost Superheros don’t need friends’.
DANA BROOKE avoided losing the 24/7 Championship with more nonsense with Reggie in a backstage skit that saw TAMINA getting pelted with a couple of cheesesteaks. Reggie’s night got worse when he ran into Omas who threatened to pummel him next week, despite Brooke trying to encourage her friend.
BETH PHOENIX was the guest on her husband Edge’s talk show The Cutting Edge with a highlight package of her being shown. As expected though MARYSE and The Miz came out to trade insults and show a video of their own about Maryse.
ALEXA BLISS, in full playground attire and make-up, was shown in a therapy session and as expected Bliss started freaking out and wrecking the office when she was shown footage of Lily the doll being destroyed.
Triple Threat Match – Number One Contendership for the Raw Women’s Championship Match
DOUDROP defeated BIANCA BELAIR and LIV MORGAN
Raw Women’s Champion BECKY LYNCH cut a promo to mock all the challengers before the match, before Lynch joined commentary. The faces tried ganging up on Doudrop to start the match off, but Doudrop shut them down with Headbutts. Doudrop hit a Back Suplex on Belair but shortly after got tossed to the floor with a middle rope low bridge. Only for Doudrop to pull her out to the floor, and a brawl left both women open for Morgan to hit a flip Tope con Hilo to take both out, much to Lynch’s shock.
Morgan tried pinning Belair back in the ring for a two count. After some rope running and lucha-style flips Morgan caught Beliar with a Headscissors before Belair came back with a Shoulder Thrust to the corner. Belair dodged Doudrop as she hit Morgan with a Splash in the corner (of sorts) but Belair had to fight out of a Powerbomb attempt soon after. After a bit of stalling (forgetting which spot was coming?) Belair flipped out of a Back Suplex attempt by Morgan to hit one of her own. But when the two ladies sat up Doudrop flattened them both with a Low Running Crossbody.
Doudrop planted Belair with the Viper Driver, but didn’t follow up with a cover as she went after Morgan. Countering a Headscissors off the middle ropes attempt to turn it into a Front Electric Chair Drop, sending Morgan down onto Belair. Trying to cover both women but both kicked out. Lynch on commentary seemed concerned about how she’d beat Doudrop, an unknown opponent, sounding like she was second-guessing herself. While Doudrop worked over Morgan with a Cobra Clutch resthold then a Splash in the corner. Doudrop missed the corner Cannonball, but when Morgan went for the corner Spinrboard Stomp Doudrop held herself steady. Then tossing Morgan over the ropes as Morgan hit the ring steps (planned) as she got sent to the floor.
After a commercial break there was an impressive spot as Morgan rolled over Dodrop’s back to hit Belair with the Stratusphere Headscissors out of the corner, but attempting to Roll-up Doudrop led to a kick-out that sent Morgan crashing into the corner. Belair nailed a Spear to take down Doudrop and even the match out. Morgan missed an Enzigiri to Belair, but came back with the Rings of Saturn to counter a Roll-up. Belair eventually powered up but spinning Morgan off, Morgan hit her Side Codebreaker. Then giving one to Doudrop before hitting Belair with the Arm-hook push off with her feet, sending Belair into the corner.
Doudrop planted Morgan with a Powerbomb, but going for the cover Belair broke up the pin with a wicked 450 Splash! Belair appeared frustrated when she was unable to get the pin on either opponent off of the move. But she got rolling, hitting a Spinebuster to Doudrop then driving Morgan onto Doudrop with a Glam Slam. Setting up the Handspring Moonsault onto both women. Belair has the match won after hitting the KOD on Morgan, but Lynch left commentary and broke up the pin. Sending Belair out and then having to flee from her, but ending up tossing Belair over the announce table. Meanwhile, Doudrop took advantage of all of this,k dragging Morgan to the corner to hit a Banzai Drop and get the victory.
After the match Lynch faked a handshake and tried to cheat shot Doudrop, but the powerhouse easily shoved off a Man-Handle Slam attempt. Mouthing that Lynch had ‘Messed up’ as Lynch stared in shock from the outside.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
This was a damn good Triple Threat match and fine use of the main event spot. Heel versus heel matchups rarely go over well with the fans, but a Piper Niven versus Becky Lynch clash is a legit dream match that I’m looking forward to. One has to assume that they’re building also to Belair getting a WrestleMania title match either by winning the Royal Rumble or winning contendership on the Road to WrestleMania. Elsewhere the as excepted break-up between Ripley and Ash had the surprising turn of Ash going heel. The team has run its course but can Ash, after weeks of losing, be a credible opponent now to Ripley? And how will the WWE find a new team to put together to face against the Women’s Tag Team Champions now?
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!