Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! This week on Raw will see Asuka defending the Raw Women’s Championship against Mickie James just weeks before Clash of Champions, so will this bout play a factor in what the title match will be at the Pay Per View? Plus, we’ve gotten confirmation that The Riott Squad will face Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax for the Women’s Tag Team Championships at that PPV. Not to mention the sudden trade of Mandy Rose to the Raw Brand as part of the storyline of Otis versus The Miz and John Morrison. So what else will we see on the show, and who will emerge as the Champion? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Angel Garza put his charms on LANA backstage but ZELINA VEGA and Andrade butted in. It led to Vega implying she was done with both of them as she stormed off, leaving the men to brawl against one another.
Raw Women’s Championship Match
ASUKA defeated MICKIE JAMES to retain
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed James backstage before the match. The women did grapple work to kick off before James shoved Asuka off and went for pinholds for near falls. Asuka went for the Asuka Lock but James got to the ropes. They did counter work before James hit her counter Neckbreaker for a near fall. Asuka countered a Hip Toss with a Knee Strike and moments later hit the Pop-up Knee Strike for a near fall.
Asuka went for the Hip Attack on the ropes but James moved, and hit a Mick Kick as Asuka was still on the ropes, but Asuka rolled to the floor. Back from commerical both women were struggling up to their feet as they exchanged blows. James tried for her own Asuka Lock but was backed up to a corner. James countered charges with strikes before getting her corner Headscissors counter. Asuka came back with a Hip Attack before James hit a Flapjack. She went up top but was caught briefly. Getting the Lou Thesz Press but Asuka countered the pin with one of her own for a two count.
Asuka ducked a Mick Kick and hit a Spinning Backfist, setting up Kicks that sent James over backwards. Asuka went for a PK but James caught it and flowed into a Single Leg Crab. When she pulled Asuka back and tried for the double leg version Asuka countered with a Small Package for a near fall. James got a glancing shot of a Mick Kick but Asuka managed to grab the bottom rope to stop the pin. Asuka applied an Arm Bar but the referee ignored James’ foot being on the bottom rope a couple times as James rolled the hold into a pin attempt.
James went for the DDT but Asuka countered trying for the Asuka Lock, and James countered that with a Victory Roll for a two count. Asuka then got the Asuka Lock again but even as James countered into a pin, the referee instead called with match off claiming James had tapped. The close-ups seeming to make it look like James’ shoulder had popped out as the referee stated James couldn’t continue.
After the match Zelina Vega marched out to the ring. Vega said she’d been wasting her life as a manager and called Asuka an ingrate who was handed her title. Mocking Vega for taking on anyone but ignoring “the future” like her. Asuka wasn’t fazed but Vega delivered a slap before bailing the ring when Asuka charged.
CHARLY CARUSO also handled interview duties.
LIV MORGAN was in a backstage advert segment with R-Truth for a chocolate.
Women’s Tag Team Match
THe Riott Squad (LIV MORGAN & RUBY RIOTT) defeated LANA & NATALYA
The Women’s Tag Team Champions NIA JAX and SHAYNA BASZLER were on commentary. The Riott Squad had a cut in promo as they put themselves over saying they’ll show them what a real team looks like. Natalya jump stared Morgan to work her off. Lana got the tag as she sent Natalya in for a Shoulder Thrust bere Lana followed up with a Spin Kick to the corner for a two count. Lana sent Morgan into her team’s corner but Morgan knocked Natalya off the apron. Managing to escape Lana’s grip with a roll through as she got the tag to Riott. They instantly hit combo finishers as Riott held the arm as Morgan hit her Side Codebreaker before Riott nailed the Riott Kick on Lana for the easy win.
After the match the Riott Squad wisely bailed from the ring when the tag champs stormed the ring, and that was proven as Baszler and Jax roughed up Natalya and Lana. Jax hitting a Samoan Drop to drive Lana through the ringside announce table to send a message to their future opponents.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Clearly not the planned finish for James versus Asuka but if James’ shoulder was popped out as it seemed to be then it was the right call to make. No point dragging the match on especially as, from Vega coming out, clearly James was never booked to win the match anyway. A shame for James as it had been a great match until that end but you can’t blame the ref for doing the right thing. Vega is finally geting a long, long overdue chance to finally compete after years being stuck as just a manager. Whether this translates to anything meaningful we’ll wait and see. Elsewhere The Riott Squad gets a solid momentum win before Clash of Champions, and we got to see Lana put through an announce table! That might be the first time Jax has ever done anything that I approve of! However, there was no sign of the freshly traded to Raw Mandy Rose, let alone the newly singles competitor Peyton Royce (or Billie Kay for that matter) which doesn’t bode well of any of their careers going forward.
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!