Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! WrestleMania is now just mere weeks away, and we got confirmation last week about what involvement WWE Hall of Fame members Lita and Trish Stratus will have on the show. A major Six-Woman Tag Team Match pitting Lita, Stratus and Becky Lynch against Damage CTRL! Although as of yet, the Women’s Tag Team Championships that Lita and Lynch hold will not be on the line but will that change as Damage CTRL look to get revenge for recent humiliations? And will things remain respectful between ‘Mania title opponents Asuka and Bianca Belair? Let’s get into it, and find out…
RHEA RIPLEY accompanied The Judgement Day as they confronted ongoing rival Edge. But a beatdown by The Judgement Day was thwarted when CANDICE LERAE, Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis ran down to get some payback over last week’s events.
That led to a tag match as Lumis and Gargano faced Damien Priest and Dominick Mysterio, with Ripley and LeRae at ringside. LeRae at one point shoved Mysterio’s feet off the ropes as he tried to steal the win. Ripley went after LeRae, and while she got sent into the ring steps at first, Ripley managed to duck a kick and hoist LeRae up Electric Chair-style before dumping LeRae into the crown barricade. The Judgement Day ultimately winning the match.
An ‘earlier today’ video showed CATHY KELLEY interviewing The Miz backstage. It was interrupted by DAMAGE CTRL attacking TRISH STRATUS. A triple-team kick flattening Stratus before referees finally broke things up.
Later, LITA and BECKY LYNCH stormed past Kelley, refusing to be interviewed as they barged into the Trainer’s Room to check on Stratus’ condition. Later still, Stratus would finally emerge with Lynch and Lita, saying that Damage CTRL should have finished the job and they’d just made her pissed off.
MAXXINE DUPRI raved as she finally had Otis perform in a Maximum Male Models photoshoot backstage, much to the disgust of Chad Gable. Otis opting to follow Durpi off the set than stick with his coach Gable.
Non-title Singles Match
Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR defeated CHELSEA GREEN w/h CARMELLA
Green was knocked down early, and tried messing with Belair with some wild swats at the face but ducked through the ropes when Belair did the same thing back. Belair’s main attack was shoulder checks, using one and then another after running the ropes and avoiding shots from Green. The corner taunt and backflip led to a Backbreaker by Belair, setting up for a Standing Moonsault rather than the usual Handspring version for a two count.
Carmella provided a brief distraction, allowing Green to slide to the floor and trip up Belair with a hand in the process. Leaving Belair set up on the apron as Green distracted the ref, allowing Carmella to hit a cheap shot Superkick to gift Green a near-fall. After a commercial break, Belair did a couple of spots from last week as she got a Roll-up to bring Green in through the ropes for a two count, then jumping up to the middle rope off the kick-out. Green kicking the ropes to leave Belair caught in the corner, allowing Green to hit a Backstabber from the corner position.
Green tried for a Curb Stomp to another corner, but Belair broke free to (barely) send Green into the turnbuckle instead. Belair hitting a Side Slam before going into House on Fire mode with Clotheslines and a Dropkick before kipping up. Moments later hitting (only just) a Delayed Suplex on Green. Carmella got on the apron, but Belair used the Handspring part of her usual Moonsault to rattle the ropes and send Carmella down. But Green seemingly got her knees up to counter the Monnsault (the cameras missed it) and a Small Package by Green got a near fall.
Green hit a unique move, pulling back Belair’s arm to hit the head into Green’s knee for a near fall. Belair avoided the Unprettier and ducked a Ripcord move, but got caught at the ropes with a Forearm Strike. But running the ropes, Belair ducked a wild strike and hit the KOD for the victory.
After the match once again the heels ganged up on Belair before ASUKA ran out. Carmella fleeing to leave Green to get ping-ponged between strikes before taking a Spinebuster from Belair. Asuka however taunted Belair, holding her Raw Women’s Championship, refusing to hand it back and posing with it. Belair left frustrated as Asuka’s mist left her teeth coloured as she laughed it up, much to Belair’s fury as Asuka left the scene.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Probably safe to assume that the segments backstage with Lita and Stratus might have been filmed last week in a smart way to keep the feud going without in-ring appearances. It worked and it gave Damage CTRL some badly needed heat back. Elsewhere Chelsea Green put on a fine match for a proper match on Raw against Belair, showing that there’s potential yet for Green to be a Superstar after runs in and out of WWE in the past. The interactions between Asuka and Belair have been simple and effective and I think Belair showing she’s infuriated with Asuka’s antics works very well to bring out a more determined side than the usual laid-back attitude.
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!