Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We are fast approaching the Elimination Chamber event, but will there be new twists and turns with both women’s divisions on the red brand? With Baszler and Jax facing the challenge of Naomi and Lana, and Asuka having to defend against Lacey Evans… Or will she? Let’s get into it, and find out…
MANDY ROSE was seen backstage sweet talking to celeb star Bad Bunny. An interview by SARAH SCHREIBER would lead to Bad Bunny winning the 24/7 Championship, because why not.
Women’s Tag Team Match
Raw Women’s Champion ASUKA & CHARLOTTE FLAIR defeated LACEY EVANS w/h Ric Flair & PEYTON ROYCE
We got a recap of the match last week where Charlotte was DQ’d, gifting Evans a title shot to Lacey Evans. Lacey bragged on the mic as she and her posse went to the ring, saying they’d gotten Charlotte a ‘Bite Me’ love hart sweet. Evans vowed to take a present of her own from Asuka on Sunday in the form of the Raw Women’s Championship.
Royce started off with Asuka as they traded headlocks and headscissors counters. Soon enough Asuka hit the misdirection Shoulder check before Flair was tagged in. Sending Royce into the heels corner but Evans refused to tag in as she backed away around the post. Royce got strikes in but took a Fallaway Slam. Asuka tagged back in as the Asuka hit kicks and Flair nailed chops. Royce then came back with kicks as a jumping one sent Asuka down before some mounted punches led to a pin for a two count.
Royce worked over Asuka with stomps then a Suplex with a slow floatover for a two count. Asuka soon fought up, as her misdirection led to dualling Clotheslines. Asuka got a tag to Flair but Evans made no attempt to tag, so Flair grabbed Royce for an Exploder Suplex. Slamming an exhausted Royce into the announce table and sending her in as Royce finally rolled across and tagged in Royce. Evans however refused to enter the ring as Evans grabbed a microphone and announced she was pregnant! Ric Flair was as surprised as the rest of us but then Flair started strutting around. Seemingly implying that he might be the Daddy much to Charlotte’s deep horror.
CHARLY CARUSO handled interview duties.
Schreiber would interview LANA and NAOMI showing the replay before of Jax yelling “MY HOLE!!” before Lana pushed her through a table. Lana said she was working so hard and deserved the win, and called Naomi her good luck charm. The two women making Hole puns at Jax’s expense.
ALEXA BLISS interrupted Randy Orton’s backstage promo with a threat about The Fiend’s return as she sat in a demonic summoning circle.
Women’s Singles Match
LANA w/h NAOMI versus Women’s Tag Team Champion SHAYNA BASZLER w/h Women’s Tag Team Champion NIA JAX.
Baszler easily controlled with wrist manipulation into an arm snap. Then using Lana’s flexibility against her with an elevated Single Crab-like hold. Lana managed to slap Baszler and ate a Clothesline for her trouble for a two count. Working over Lana with a neck hold. Lana countered a Suplex attempt into a Small Package for a near fall, and soon Baszler blocked Lana’s kick attempts to slam her down. Lana avoided a Running Knee to the corner but blocked Lana tried to Roll Up Baszler off of it. Somehow out of that Lana managed to shove Baszler into the middle turnbuckle.
Lana managed to avoid damage, but going for a Bulldog off of a kick to the head counter Baszler just caught her and shover her back into the corner. After being set up on top, Lana managed to hit strikes to send Baszler down and then hit a Cross Body to get a near fall. The women then traded Head Kicks. On the outsite Jax roughed up Naomi, but ended up sent into the post a couple of times by Naomi. Lana almost stole it off a Roll Up as Baszler was distracted, but she escaped to hit the Kneeling Knee Strike. When Lana kicked out, Baszler locked on the Clutch for the tap out win.
Alexa Bliss would appear again, distracting Randy Orton to get him counted out as her face flooded the Thunderdome video walls.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Well, so much for Evans versus Asuka at Chamber. They didn’t officially announce that the match was off but you’d assume so. Unless the WWE pulls something really silly with the match. We’ll see what they do, if anything, with Asuka at the Chamber event. It sucks as the Flair against Evans feud was really picking up steam, but life is life. Let’s hope Peyton Royce doesn’t get lost in the shuffle in the fallout from this all. Perhaps she’ll take Evans’ place and take on Asuka? Meanwhile Lana but on perhaps the best performance yet in the ring against Baszler. Hitting a Cross Body of all thing? Sure, why not. And perhaps seeds were planted here of Lana being the weak link of the team with her taking the loss in the match.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by next week and we’ll have all the coverage with the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!