Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! After the disappointment of a lacklustre Raw After Mania last week, we now have something potentially delicious to look forward to this time. A WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship bout with Becky Lynch and Lita finally defending their titles for the first time since winning them before WrestleMania. Going against the Smackdown duo of former champs in their own right of Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Who will emerge on top in this battle of future Vs present/past? Let’s get into it, and find out…
In an ‘earlier today’ video CATHY KELLEY attempted to interview Alpha Academy but MAXXINE DUPRI interrupted, once again objecting to Chad Gable’s existence. But the bickering was cut off when some yelling was heard off-screen. The camera racing away to show LITA, apparently having been attacked from behind, being tended to by LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ. Both of whom were clueless as to who attacked Lita who sold her injuries. As Adam Pearce and a ref checked over Lita, TRISH STRATUS and BECKY LYNCH appeared, concerned for Lita but Lynch started hurling accusations without evidence that the babyfaces did it, something that offended Morgan.
Becky Lynch would be interviewed, confirming that Lita wasn’t cleared to compete and didn’t know who attacked her. Lynch said she’d promised the fans a title match but instead of going it alone, someone made her an offer. Enter Trish Stratus, recalling their team at WrestleMania and vowing to do the match tonight for her fallen friend. Adam Pearce briefly signing off on the decision.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
LIV MORGAN & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ defeated BECKY LYNCH & TRISH STRATUS to become the NEW Tag Team Champions
Lynch and Rodriguez started off, with Lynch again accusing the challengers of the attack on Lita as she shoved Rodriguez a few times. Just to get hauled up with a double-handed choke, and tossed into a corner. Lynch avoiding a charge in and using more counters, escaping a Powerslam attempt and moments later going for a Springboard Crossbody, but having to again escape from Slam when Rodriguez easily caught Lynch. Rodriguez hauled Lynch up to charge her to the challenger’s corner, getting a couple Shoulder Thrusts as Morgan tagged in. Nice double teaming as Rodriguez whipped Morgan in to hit the Jumping Back Elbow, before Morgan returned the favor to send Rodriguez in for a Corner Splash.
Morgan hit a Glimmering Warlock for a nearfall. The women exchanged one counts from a Small Package spot, before Lynch used a Matrix push out from a cover before hitting a Low Kick to Morgan. Moments later Morgan avoided a corner charge, hitting her High Knee right after to Lynch. Hitting a dropkick to the back then the Springboard Double Stomp to Lynch’s back but only getting a two count. Lynch hitting a Jawbreaker and a couple strikes before finally tagging in Stratus.
Morgan tried to use Stratus’ own Matrix evasion against her but Stratus clubbed her down. Morgan was sent into the Champions’ corner, trying to go up top but Lynch hit a version of her Springboard Kick from the apron to hit Morgan as she was sitting up top. That set up Morgan to take the Stratusphere Headscissors spot as Lynch had tagged herself in, hitting a Legdrop from off the top rope but Morgan kicked out at two.
After a commercial break, Stratus had a rest hold Chinlock on Morgan. Morgan escaping, leading to a classic Divas-era spot of both women going for a hairpull X-Factor, slamming one another to the mat in the process. Tags made on both sides as Rodriguez went into House on Fire mode with Clotheslines and her counter Clothesline from the other side. Leading to the Fallaway Slam then the twisting Vader Bomb Senton for a nearfall. Lynch countering the Powerbomb with a Headscissors, and soon after hitting a Missile Dropkick for a two count. Moments later the two women battled for position up in the corner, with Lynch raining down Headbutts.
Stratus was tagged in as the Champions tried for a Double Team Superplex but Rodriguez shoved Lynch down. Rodriguez tried to counter Stratusphere with a Powerbomb but Stratus punched her way into hitting it anyway for a nearfall. Lynch tagged back in, leading to a double team as Stratus held Rodriguez through the ropes as Lynch hit a Legdrop to the back while Stratus need up hitting an X-Factor of sorts. Rodriguez still managed to kick out.
Rodriguez fought back with a Backbreaker, managing to hoist Lynch up in position and backing up as Morgan tagged in. Rodriguez hitting another Backbreaker before providing a boost as Morgan hit a Tornado DDT to get a nearfall. Morgan escaped a Dis-Arm-Her attempt with a Roll-up for a two count, before getting sent into the middle pad at the Champions’ corner. Stratus tagging in as the champs once again tried for a Double Team Superplex. Hitting it, but as part of a Tower of Doom spot as Rodriguez hit Double Powerbombs.
Lynch managed to cut off a tag, knocking Rodriguez off the apron only to be rolled up by Morgan for a near fall. A slightly messy spot as Stratus came in, seemingly at the wrong spot so had to be shoved out of the action before Lynch hit a Diamond Dust on Rodriguez from the corner. Hitting a Senton of sorts onto Morgan in the process but only getting a two count. Morgan countered the Man-Handle Slam into a Samson Clutch for a two count, only for Lynch to lock on the Dis-Arm-Her. Rodriguez broke it up, and got hit with Stratusfaction by the Hall of Famer!
Morgan hit the Side Codebreaker, but Lynch managed to roll through the follow-up ObLIVion attempt to hit the Man-Handle Slam. Rodriguez pulling Lynch out from the pin cover (thankfully the referee didn’t apply the WWE’s secret one breakup in a tag match rule to call for a DQ). Stratus was tagged in as Lynch hit a Flying Forearm from the apron to Rodriguez on the floor. Stratus went for the Chick Kick, but in a classic Divas-era moment Morgan ducked and used a ROLL UP OF DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM to score the upset win! Pinning a WWE Hall of Famer to become the NEW Tag Team Champions with Rodriguez.
The former champs appeared despondent after the match, but Lynch pulled Stratus up and raised her hand for the effort in the match. But when Lynch turned her back to leave, Stratus decked her from behind! A Chick Kick then leaving Lynch laid out as Stratus taunted, squatting over Lynch and saying about “I’m Sorry!” before leaving the scene.
Stratus refused to explain her actions when interviewed backstage.
Backstage DAMAGE CTRL didn’t seem on the same page as BAYLEY left Adam Pearce’s office to speak to DAKOTA KAI and IYO SKY. Bayley stating that she didn’t get her girls a Tag Team title shot and didn’t seem to get through to Pearce to make sure the trio were kept together in the upcoming Draft. Bayley saying she’d gotten herself into a Triple Threat Match for the Number One Contendership against Michin and Piper Niven. Sky objected in Japanese, as Kai stated “What about us?” before in English Sky said that Bayley had gotten her opportunities before. Bayley seemed taken aback by this, but said she’d go back in (which she did) and see about swapping her out with one of her teammates for the match.
Triple Threat Match – Raw Women’s Championship Number One Contendership Match
IYO SKY w/h BAYLEY & DAKOTA KAI defeated MICHIN Mia Yim & PIPER NIVEN
Bayley didn’t seem as thrilled as Kai was about not being in the match. Something that would be seen a few times during the match with Bayley not looking super thrilled when Sky was in control. Sky was clubbed down early by Niven, who soon after hauled Yim up from a Sunset Flip. As Yim tried and failed for a Slam, Sky waited for her moment as perched on top. Hitting a Missile Dropkick that caught Niven, leaving Yim to hit Arm Drags then a Flapjack. Yim was whipped by Sky, but used the moment to hit a Suicide Dive to Niven on the floor. Leading to Sky hitting an Asai Moonsault to both opponents.
After a commercial break, Niven hit a Slam on Yim in the ring. Sky went for a Back Sleeper, only to get tossed down and used to hit a Senton onto Yim. Niven hitting the Low Crossbody on both opponents then a double pin attempt but both women kicked out. Sky applying a Japanese Stranglehold while leaning back at the corner, leaving Niven open to take a Dropkick from Yim who then hauled Sky from the corner with a Deadly Drive. Sky defying gravity soon after as she was tossed up to the top rope by Niven, just to hit a Frankenscreamer on Yim!
A Shotei from the apron staggering Niven back as Sky hit the Springboard Missile Dropkick, but the pin broken up by a Yim kick to the head. Yim peppered Sky with kicks, leading to a Dragon Suplex. Sky was whipped across, into the arms of Niven who hit the ST-No. Yim used a Dropkick to hit Niven, and landed a Splash on Sky for a cover but smartly rolled out of the way to leave Niven hitting an Elbow Drop on Sky.
Yim hit a Code red on Niven for a near fall, which the announcers claimed was Pop Rox from Roxanne Perez. Yim hit Eat Defeat, but going for the cover Sky hit the Over the Moonsault on both women, pinning Yim to win the match. Bayley clearly conflicted with her teammate winning but Kai was thrilled.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A great turnaround from last week with two great matches. I had no issue with Lita being swapped out after her lacklustre performances, and the heel turn was done very well for Stratus who did her limited time in the ring well. Moving the tag titles off of the mix of full-time and part-time Superstars was the right call (a better call would have been never putting the title on Lita at all of course), and we should see a fun team from Morgan and Rodriguez. Lynch against Stratus should make for a delicious dream match so we’ll wait and see when the match happens. Elsewhere Sky against Belair should also be fun for a title match, even if it seems the title might be secondary to this new drama with Damage CTRL and a likely breakup even before a split thanks to the upcoming WWE Draft.
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!