Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw the aftermath of Money in the Bank as Liv Morgan bid farewell to the red brand as she moved to Friday nights after her successful cash-in to become the new Smackdown Women’s Champion. That leaves Bianca Belair’s potential challengers being a long list, but potentially Becky Lynch might reignite their old feud after she got a main event victory over rival Asuka in a No Holds Barred Match. So who will step up and challenge Belair as we head towards SummerSlam? Let’s get into it, and find out…
BECKY LYNCH hijacked the show, cutting a promo on the announce table as she ranted about how she’s not the number one contender after last week’s win. Lynch demanded a title shot at SummerSlam.
Raw Women’s Championship Match
CARMELLA defeated BIANCA BELAIR by count-out. Belair retains the title.
Lynch was still at ringside after her rant before. Belair started off with a charge and Shoulder Thrusts in the corner, but Carmella came back moments later with a hair pull mat slam. Carmella had to roll to the floor after taking a shoulder check, only to get slammed into the announce table. Leading to a shouting match between Belair and Lynch as the show went to a commercial break.
Carmella tried to do the Whirlybird Headscissors but Belair’s power prevented it as she countered into a Backbreaker. Carmella would come back with a Candice Michelle-like Rope Hung Figure 4 Headscissors, setting up a rather wild Crossbody off the top for a two count. After a Cradle got another near fall, Carmella hit a snap Low Dropkick to send Belair face-first into the bottom turnbuckle. Carmella tried for another Crossbody but this time Belair caught her, and from the grip transitioned into hitting a Delayed Suplex. Belair roughed Carmella up, sending her into corners and hitting stomps before trying for a Glam Slam, only for both women to counter one another with pin holds.
Things started getting sloppy as Belair hit a messy version of a Glam Slam and moments later Carmella barely got her knees up at all to counter a Standing Moonsault. A Low Superkick got Carmella a near-fall. Carmella went for a second but Belair countered, muscling her up to send her over Alley-Ooop style overhead and into the corner. Belair tried for the KOD but after holding onto the ropes, Carmella was able to counter with an impressive X-Factor but only got a two count.
Belair went for a Powerbomb but Carmella escaped, only to be shut down with a Clothesline then a rough Spinebuster for a near-fall. Moments later, Carmella seemed like she’d had enough as she scurried out of the ring. belair went after her and tried for a Delayed Suplex on the outside, only to get her eyes raked. Managing to shove Carmella into the ring post anyway. Belair sent Carmella back in, but Becky Lynch appeared and faked like she was going to attack. The distraction was enough to get Belair counted out to lose the match, but Belair retained the title thanks to the Champion’s Advantage. Furious, Belair hit Carmella with a KOD after the match.
Women’s Tag Team Match
ALEXA BLISS & ASUKA defeated DOUDROP & NIKKI A.S.H.
Asuka started off against Ash, and while Ash got a hair pull in early she couldn’t get the better of a shoulder check, ending up taking one herself after Asuka’s rope running misdirection. Bliss was tagged in and tried multiple pinholds but only got one counts, and ended up shut down with a midsection shot then a hair pull. Doudrop made a blind tag, leaving Bliss to hit her KO punch then a Knee Strike to set up the first part of Insult to Injury. But after hitting the Double Knee Drop, she got clobbered down by a charging Doudrop. Doudrop soon letting Ash tag in as Doudrop hit a slam to set up Ash’s low Blockbuster for a near fall.
After a rest hold, both Ash and Bliss took one another out with duelling Clotheslines. Tags made either side as Asuka was able to fire off strikes and avoid Doudrop’s swings before hitting a Codebreaker. A Dropkick from the middle rope sent Doudrop into her team’s corner as Ash tagged in. Asuka was ready for Ash going up to and caught Ash with a Knee Strike from the Leap of Faith. Asuka hit kicks then knocked Doudrop off the apron with a Hip Attack before hitting a less than usually perfect Sliding Kick for a near-fall.
Bliss was tagged in as she and Asuka went for Double Team Dropkicks on a seated Ash, but Doudrop hauled Asuka out to prevent her hitting one. Unable to follow up as her Senton attempt on the floor just hit the ringside mat. Bliss soon hitting the Goddess DDT on Ash to get the victory for her and Asuka.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A nice match between Belair and Carmella aside from a couple sloppy moments towards the end, and the unclear nature of who is the next challenger will build interest towards SummerSlam. Elsewhere Asuka and Bliss made a classic smiling babyface duo. There’s been no sign of the WWE bringing back the Women’s Tag Team Championships yet, but SummerSlam might be the event to do it But then again, we were talking about Bliss and Liv Morgan being a potential team before, and we saw how that panned out.
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!