Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The slow build towards SummerSlam is well underway and it seems Rhea Ripley might have a potential powerhouse challenger in one-half of the current Women’s Tag Team Champions in Raquel Rodriguez. At least if the face-off from last week is any sign. And the tag champs are busy enough with a future clash against Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville for the gold. Meanwhile, the feud between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus will continue with Lynch facing off against Zoey Stark this week. So what twists and turns will take place this week? Let’s get into it, and find out…
World Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY attempted to play peacemaker in the issues within The Judgement Day, only for Finn Balor to storm off. A frustrated Ripley then dared any woman to step up and take her down. Ripley would continue to feature in backstage segments trying to smooth out the clear issues in her faction.
JACKIE REDMOND handled interview duties. During one with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, Ripley and Dominik Mysterio interrupted to threaten that The Judgement Day were looking to take the tag titles.
Rhea Ripley would again appear accompanying Dominik Mysterio as he had a match again Seth Rollins. Ripley serving as a distraction before the bell to allow Mysterio to hit a cheap shot. Leading to a set-up as The Judgement Day beat down Rollins before, in retaliation to the interview earlier, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens hit the ring to even the numbers.
Singles Match
ZOEY STARK w/h TRISH STRATUS defeated BECKY LYNCH
Stratus still had the classic face protector mask on. Lynch was frustrated early as Stark controlled with a Headlock then a Shoulder Knockdown. The two showing some nice chain wrestling before Zoey paid for showing off with a flip. Eating a Single Leg Dropkick from Lynch then some Arm Drags as Lynch focused on the arm. A Small Package getting Lynch a close near fall before they traded sweeps with the arm and kick outs as Lynch did a Matrix revelation to allow her to hit a Bang Kick.
Behind the referee’s back Stratus managed to trip up Lynch as she went to run the ropes. Allowing Stark to pounce with stomps in a corner. Lynch soon came back, hitting strikes to Stark as she was through the ropes to set up an attempt at the Leg Drop off the ropes but Stark pulled herself back to avoid. Seconds later Stark hitting an impressive Springboard Dropkick.
After a commercial break, Stark managed to roll through a Lynch Cross Body attempt but couldn’t hit a move as Lynch escaped. Moments later Lynch sweeping the legs to leave Stark draped over the top ropes at a corner to take kicks to the midsection. Then hitting a Springboard Kick to send Stark down off the apron. A Baseball Slide by Lynch set up the Flying Forearm off the apron, then the hat trick of tosses into the crowd barrier.
Back in the ring Lynch hit a T-Bone Suplex for a two count. Stark would come back with a Clothesline then a Sliding Kick. A Hot Shot setting up Stark hitting her tumbling in Senton for a near fall. Lynch countered Z-360 with an Arm Drag, and soon after hit a Reverse DDT to get a two count. Stark countered the Dis-Arm-Her twice, first with a Roll-up for a near fall then shoving Lynch to the ropes before nailing a wicked Superkick for another two count.
Out of a corner, Lynch tried to roll back Stark for a pin but Stark rolled it over to try and steal the win by grabbing the ropes, but the referee saw it. Lynch then got a Sunset Flip pinhold and tried to return the favour of attempted cheating by holding the ropes, but Stratus got on the apron to point it out. Lynch blocked Z-360 by grabbing the leg, shoving Stark away and hitting a Dropkick through the ropes to nail Stratus. That distraction allowed Stark to Roll-up Lynch and grab the ring gear to steal the win.
MAXXINE DURPI had her Alpha Academy Graduation Ceremony, but VALHALLA used The Viking Raiders as a distraction to attack Dupri from behind. Stealing Durpi’s new Alpha jacket before leaving the scene.
Singles Match
SHAYNA BASZLER defeated EMMA
Emma didn’t get a televised entrance. Before the bell an ‘Earlier Today’ video showed this match being set up as Baszler didn’t buy Emma trying to cozy up with her. Baszler hit strikes early before getting caught with a counter boot. Setting up a Running Kick then the Emma-mite Sandwich. Only getting a count of one, and seconds later Baszler decked Emma with a Clothesline. Mounted strikes leading to the Arm Stomp. Soon after the Clutch was locked in to get the quick win.
RONDA ROUSEY stormed out after the match for a brawl. Rousey getting the better of it this week as her Arm Bar forced Baszler to get the ropes and haul herself out before backing away from the pain.
The Women’s Tag Team Champions LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ were confronted backstage by challengers CHELSEA GREEN and SONYA DEVILLE. But the brief bickering stopped when Rhea Ripley showed off to confront Rodriguez and warned her again about getting in her business again. Green attempting to buddy up leading to Deville wisely pulling her away. That left Morgan to tell Ripley that they weren’t afraid of her as Rodriguez said they’d stop her bullying.
Tag Team Match
CHELSEA GREEN & SONYA DEVILLE defeated KATANA CHANCE & KAYDEN CARTER
Rodriguez and Morgan watched from ringside. Carter and Deville started as Carter hit a dropkick. A quick tag allowing Chance to put her body through the ropes to keep Deville trapped in a corner as Carter hit a Dropkick. Another tag allowed Carter to hold Deville at the ropes for a Dropkick from Chance. Green got a blind tag as Deville hit body shots, before Green made an ugly attempt at a vaulting Sunset Flip for a messy pin. A Deville Knee Strike gifting Green a two count.
Green hit a Complete Shot into the faces’ corner. Moments later it looked like a tease of doing the Super Frankenscreamer spot from last week was coming but Deville hauled Chance down as she tried to climb up. Green was shoved down and caught with a kick as Carter stayed up top. Leading to Chance climbing Carter’s shoulders for a Super Front Electric Chair Drop into a Splash. Deville broke the pin up.
On the floor, Deville took out Carter with a Head Kick. Chance got a two count off a Roll-Up. Green applied a Crucifix Pin right after and had her feet on the ropes with Deville holding them in place for good measure to steal the win. Much to the fury of Double KC and the disgust of the tag champs. The tag title match being announced to take place next week on Raw.
Rhea Ripley was again on our screens as she accompanied The Judgement Day as they faced Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Ripley being the deciding factor to grab Zayn’s leg to prevent the Helluva Kick and distracting the ref so Priest could hit South of Heaven to set up Balor stealing the victory.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
There was a lot of Ripley on the show in multiple segments and being ringside. As big of a fan of her as I am, there can be such a thing as having too much all at once. Only one segment had a tease of the future clash between Rodriguez and Ripley so we’ll see if anything more comes next week with the tag title match. That was all balanced out through with us getting three women’s matches on the show. Stark and Lynch put on a great match and the stolen win keeps the feud going, while Baszler won an almost squash match and the brawl kept the story with Rousey going. Even if the fans weren’t fully into a babyface Baszler this week as they were with the promo on last Raw. So a little work still to be done there before SummerSlam arrives. While Deville and Green got a cheap victory that’s perfectly fine being the heels they are, even if it’s meant Double KC take yet another loss as they’ve been doing a whole lot of since their call-up.
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!