Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Just over a week removed from WrestleMania, we’ve yet to see who will step up and challenge Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. Meanwhile, there seems to be a rift between tag partner Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley after a non-title match loss to Naomi and Sasha Banks last week. Despite that, a rematch had been announced on last week’s Raw for this week, but this time with the tag straps on the line. Who will emerge as the champs? And will we see Belair get confronted by a new or familiar opponent? Let’s get into it, and find out…
SARAH SCHREIBER handled interview duties.
Despite having advertised a Women’s Tag Team Title Match for this week, the WWE sidestepped that (even using editing to miss out Ripley saying next week in a recap video) and claimed the match was an ‘eventual opportunity.
Women’s Singles Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion NAOMI w/h SASHA BANKS defeated LIV MORGAN
The announcers said that Rhea Ripley was ‘in protocol’ (we’re assuming Covid?) and not at ringside, which would explain her not being at Smackdown either. The ladies traded counters earlier including Morgan flipping out of a Hip Toss attempt and ducking two Head Kicks, but got hit with a kick when she ducked her head too early. Naomi did her twerking counter in the corner spot, only to get hit with a Morgan Headscissors soon after. Soon after, Naomi did a roll back counter to a charge, catching Morgan with a Kick to the head for a near fall.
Morgan tried to steal it with a Small Package but only got two, before Naomi avoided a Clothesline with a knee slide. Only to jump up and get caught with Morgan’s Enzigiri. Naomi blocked ObLIVion, holding the ropes and not long after caught Morgan as she tried for a Headscissors after leaping off the middle ropes, planting Morgan with a Powerbomb. Morgan managed to counter a stack pin, but Naomi countered that to a deep Jackknife pin to get a win back for the tag champs.
This week’s 24/7 title nonsense featured a Hen Night party with DANA BROOKE and TAMINA apparently having a truce, but saw NIKKI A.S.H. trying to get the title.
Non-Title Women’s Singles Match
Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR defeated QUEEN ZELINA
Zelina had a cut-in promo, bragging that now she was free of the ‘dead weight’ of Carmella she was going to get the Raw Women’s title to go with her crown. Zelina couldn’t get the stronger woman over for an early Roll-Up as Belair flipped away. Moments later, Zelina did a flip-style Backstabber out from the corner for a near fall. Zelina controlled with a modified Muta Lock with a headstand before she fell back for the bridge. Belair would power up from a Sleeper Hold, tossing Zelina off then hitting a Fallaway Slam. The Gorilla Press Slam with squats followed, before the KOD finished Zelina off in quick fashion.
After the match WWE Official SONYA DEVILLE came out and said that Belair has been demanding to know who her next challenger would be. Putting over the rest of the roster as future opponents but presented Belair with an ‘Open Contract’ for her next challenger. Belair, despite clearly saying she knew what was happening here, Deville managed to goad her into signing. That led to Deville distracting Belair thinking that her opponent was coming out, only for Deville to hit a Chop Block, hitting an Eye of the Hurricane. Declaring herself as the opponent before signing her own contract and leaving.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Deville’s full-time return has been a long time coming, and she’s certainly a fresh opponent considering Belair has bulldozed the rest of the Raw Roster for months now. And the dynamic of a corrupt official as an opponent while corny could be fun as well. Meanwhile, a trading of wins bridges the gap while we wait for Ripley to return and get the title match, even if the result still seems obvious of the champs retaining.
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!