Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Elimination Chamber event is only days away and we’ll see the Women’s Chamber Match decide who Bianca Belair’s WrestleMania opponent is. So what twists and turns will we see as the six women in that match face off in a three-against-three tag match? And what will the fallout be from Becky Lynch finally beating Bayley in a Steel Cage thanks to help from Hall of Famer Lita? Let’s get into it, and find out…
BECKY LYNCH kicked off Raw (but she didn’t get a full entrance thanks the the opening pyro show). Mocking the fact that WWE Official Adam Pearce was in the ring too and rather half-heartedly thanking Lita for her help last week. Lynch admitting she had no path to WrestleMania because of her feud with Damage CTRL. Lynch attempted to goad Pearce into giving her a chance to earn her way into the Women’s Chamber match, only for BAYLEY to interrupt. Bayley pointing out Lynch only won last week because the ‘so-called Hall of Famer had to do it for you’.
After trading insults and bragging about past WrestleMania accomplishments BIANCA BELAIR (like always) interrupted to steal the spotlight. Complaining that they were talking about her title yet not going right to her, before saying that if they wanted her title they should go through her first. Pearce used that statement to book a Triple Threat Match, saying that if Lynch or Bayley won the winner would get into the Chamber match that would kick off with three women instead of two. But if Belair won, neither Lynch nor Bayley would get into the Chamber.
BETH PHOENIX and Edge would once again sneak attack The Judgement Day with Phoenix taking out Dominick Mysterio with a Clothesline. However as she went for the Glam Slam on Mysterio, RHEA RIPLEY returned and decked Phoenix from behind. Hitting her easily with a Riptide to leave the Hall of Famer laid out in emphatic fashion.
Singles Match
PIPER NIVEN defeats MICHIN
Niven bulldozed Michin over from the start then clubbed into her in a corner. Michin dazed Niven with kicks but made the mistake of trying for a Slam, only for Niven’s size to squash her. Michin managed to use a Matrix escape from the pin, eventually hitting a rather slow-motion Tilt-a-whirl DDT. Michin peppered Niven with strikes and chops, but charging in got caught with a Delayed ST-No counter. The Back Senton followed for a near fall.
Niven used her size, standing on Michin’s stomach while holding the ropes. Later, Niven tried for the Piper Driver but Michin escaped, hitting a Roundhouse Kick and trying for Eat Defeat afterwards but got shoved away. Michin running the ropes worked against her, eating the Black Hole Slam, which she now calls the Lock Ness Slam, to give Niven the victory.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties.
Backstage CARMELLA was disturbed by NIKKI CROSS manically saying she’d been playing ‘Hide And Seek’ with her ‘new friend’, and Carmella had to storm off when ASUKA and her ‘Kana’ makeup appeared from the other side. CANDICE LERAE appeared to try and get answers from her ‘stalker’ but Cross just laughed in her face and walked away.
In the Gorilla position were the Smackdown women in the Chamber, LIV MORGAN, NATALYA and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ. Natalya complaining about Lynch and Bayley ‘weasling’ their way into the Chamber match, but Morgam just saw it as just one more person to beat. Natalya took that as Morgan not seeing her as a threat, leading to brief bickering before Rodriguez yelled to shut them up, telling them, to save it for the Chamber and focus on tonight.
Six-Woman Tag Team Match
ASUKA, CARMELLA & NIKKI CROSS versus LIV MORGAN, NATALYA & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ
Liv Morgan got a long entrance before a commercial break and the rest of the women had to rush their entrances (which at least worked well for Cross and Asuka). Cross started against Rodriguez but a Back Sleeper attempt by Cross was easily tossed off, before Rodriguez hit a Fallaway Slam. Carmella reluctantly tagged in but refused to fight the powerhouse, demanding Natalya come in and she got the tag. It didn’t take long before she locked on The Sharpshooter, only for Cross to break it up. Leading to an in-ring brawl with Asuka and Morgan, Rodriguez and Cross, and Carmella and Natalya pairing off.
The Smackdown women cleared the ring before the show went to in-picture to air commercials (sigh). Back to live action Natalya and Carmella were legal as Carmella controlled with a Legscissors. Natalya fought out and up, slamming Carmella before tagging out to Morgan as Cross got the tag on the other side. House on Fire mode as Morgan hit Clotheslines then her trio of kicks. The corner combo of Back Elbow, roll out then High Knee Strike followed to set up a Dropkick off the middle rope.
The momentum sent Cross back to her corner as Asuka tagged in. Asuka hitting her flurry of strikes then the Pop-up Knee Strike, but Natalya broke the pin attempt up. Just to be sent into the corner post (or close enough). Rodriguez came in, catching Carmella’s Crossbody attempt before Cross jumped on her back for a Sleeper. Leaving Rodriguez open to take a Head Kick from Asuka to finally drop her. Asuka however showed her new mindset, hitting Cross with a Headkick then the Release German Suplex, then doing the same to Carmella before hitting a Buzzsaw Kick to her. Asuka then took down Morgan with the same ‘flying catch’ spot she used from last week ton Chelsea Green, applying the Double Arm Bar to get the win.
MAXXINE DUPRE attempted to recruit Otis for the Maximum Male Models in a backstage skit.
CHELSEA GREEN was once again complaining to Adam Pearce about her recent treatment but Pearce just walked away from her, much to her dismay.
Non-Title Triple Threat Match
Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR defeats BAYLEY & BECKY LYNCH
That match actually started off in-picture so, once again, adverts could be played. By the time the ads finally stopped, Belair used a Press Slam to send Lynch crashing into Bayley Crossbody style for an unintentional pin, so Belair hauled Lynch off to go for a pin herself, only for Lynch to return the favour. Belair avoided a Man-Handle Slam attempt, moments later getting scooped with a Backslide that Bayley broke up, trying to steal a pin herself as Lynch broke that up.
Lynch tried for a Springboard Crossbody from the corner but Belair rolled through, holding Lynch and managing to kick away Bayley but having to clearly yell for Bayley to come at her so Bayley could duck Lynch’s legs being swung around. Moments later after dumping Lynch out of the ring Bayley hit the Sliding Northern Clothesline to Belair for a near-fall. Bayley using a strategy of keeping Lynch downed, attacking her on the outside before returning to the ring to focus on Belair. Belair tried for a comeback with rapid strikes, but Bayley soon hit a Back Suplex for a near fall. Lynch was a second off from breaking that pin up, and soon got dispatched by the rope-aided Stunner by Bayley.
Bayley locked on her new Kneebar hold on Belair, but Lynch broke it up with a Legdrop from off the top rope. Belair having to break up the pin attempt. Lynch hit a round of strikes on Bayley then the Springboard Kick, before slipping out of a Slam attempt from Belair. Having to clearly hold Belair in place telling her what spot was next, before hitting a Double DDT to both opponents. Getting a near-fall on Belair before the match AGAIN went to in-picture adverts. During which, DAKOTA KAI (still on crutches) and IYO SKY came out to ringside.
Back finally to live action, and Belair hit a Glam Slam to the corner on Bayley, before Lynch broke the pin up. Belair tried for the same move on Lynch, but Lynch used a roll-through counter to send Belair into the middle pad before rolling her up for a two count. A Tower of Doom spot soon followed with Bayley hitting Belair with a Powerbomb as she hit Lynch with the Superplex. Bayley only getting near falls on both opponents. Bayley stacked Belair on top of Lynch (and Lynch could be heard saying instructions to Belair about the match) before going for the Top Rope Elbow Drop on both women. Only hitting Lynch as Belair rolled away and then broke up the pin attempt.
Belair went into House on Fire with her Shoulder Knockdowns to Bayley then the Single Leg Dropkick before kipping up. Hitting Ten Count Punches to Lynch in the corner then backflipping out to avoid Bayley’s charge, before hitting a Suplex to Bayley. Bayley countered the Handspring Moonsault with raised knees, and tried to steal the win with feet on the ropes but Lynch shoved the feet off to break the pin. Lynch able to hit a Diamond Dust from the corner to Belair, also hitting a Senton of sorts onto Bayley from the landing.
Lynch hit the Man-Handle Slam to Bayley, but this time Iyo Sky pulled Lynch out from the cover and the ring, sending Lynch into the ringpost. Taking full advantage of the no DQ rules of the match as Dakota Kai soon did, getting onto the apron to pull Bayley out from a KOD attempt. Belair tried to grab Kai but Sky hit a Dropkick along the apron to nail Belair leaning through the ropes. Bayley could only get a two count off the Roll-up. All the other Chamber match women then stormed out, dropping Sky to stomp her while Rodriguez chased Kai off but Cross went after Rodriguez instead with a Back Sleeper, while Carmella went after Natalya.
As the brawl went on ringside Belair hit a messy Spinebuster to Bayley for a near fall. Belair showed off her strength, catching Sky when she climbed up top and using a Press Slam to send Sky from inside down to the floor, wiping out the other Superstars! Moments later, Lynch hit another Man-Handle Slam to Bayley only to get scooped from behind. Belair hitting a KOD to plant Lynch onto Bayley, and then pinning Bayley to win. Preventing either Bayley or Lynch from entering the Chamber Match.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A great, lengthy Main Event Match with a predictable outcome, but the match was more hurt by the multiple advert breaks during it than the obvious end result. I’ve said it before but Belair does not need these kind of showcase wins, especially over two women who were once on top but now are being pushed well down the card just to boost her. It also makes last week’s appearance by Lita all the more perplexing. Was that the original plan for the axed Raw 30 match when all the legends were backstage, so they just brought her in again because they had no other real plan?
Elsewhere Asuka’s new (or well, old if you consider her pre-WWE days were similar) look was showcased well to go against her partners and take the six-woman match for herself. Niven gets a nice showcase win over Michin who seems to be losing more matches than winning these days, but will that momentum, be worth anything with the WrestleMania title picture all wrapped up?
That’s your lot for this week. Be sure to stop by in seven days time for the post-Chamber edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!