Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw a non-finish between Bianca Belair and Asuka after Becky Lynch interfered in the match. How will these women collide this week without a clear challenger yet for Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship? And what will we see from the developments of Rhea Ripley being a part of The Judgement Day, and the new team of Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop? Let’s get into it, and find out…
At the start of the show, they announced a Six-Pack Challenge to decide a new Number One Contender for the Raw Women’s Championship. Both of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Naomi and Sasha Bank announced as taking part in the match along with Asuka, Becky Lynch, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H.
However later in the show BECKY LYNCH complained to WWE Official that Naomi and Sasha Banks ‘had left with the building with their bags’ and she should be just named the next challenger. However Pearce instead made the main event a singles match, Lynch against Asuka to decide the next challenger. Throughout the show the announcers called Banks and Naomi unprofessional for walking out on the show.
LIV MORGAN had an ‘earlier today’ interview where she turned down the advances of Los Lotharios, before AJ Styles and Finn Balor showed up to dismiss the Lotharios. Balor and Styles offered Morgan a chance to team up against their common enemy but Morgan seemed unsure about the offer, telling them she’d think about it.
But the answer came later when Morgan did take the duo’s offer and accompanied them to the ring as they beat Los Lotharios. Posing with Styles and Balor to throw up the Too Sweet hand gesture together.
RHEA RIPLEY stood alongside The Judgement Day as Ripley bragged about not being held back and vowed to eradicate, while Edge offered that membership of their group was open.
Women’s Singles Match
ALEXA BLISS defeated SONYA DEVILLE
Bliss had new punk-rock entrance music for the match. Deville roughed up Bliss early then pie-faced her, getting a slap for her troubles. Bliss then controlled with a shoulder check, a Dropkick and a version of a STO. Bliss went for Insult to Injury but missed the Moonsault Knees part as Deville rolled away, hitting the Running Knee Strike to Bliss for a two count. Deville roughed up Bliss again and a little messily, before hitting a Clothesline for another two count.
Bliss seemed a little off step as after a Jawbreaker she rather just ran in too quick to a Deville counter knee. Another Running Knee Strike by Deville afterwards getting a two count. Deville tried to undo the top turnbuckle but the ref stopped her, and while the official was distracted trying to redo it Deville hit a Spinebuster but only got a two count as the ref was late to start the count, still fixing the buckle. Alexa then came back with the big punch then the Goddess DDT to get the win off an odd falling on her back pin.
After the match Deville was furious and slapped the referee.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed ASUKA who vowed to win.
Backstage TAMINA and R-Truth found Akira hiding in a trashcan, giving him Tamina’s divorce papers. Truth would be shoved aside when DANA BROOKE objected to Truth wanting ‘his’ 24/7 Championship back. Brooke would run off, bumping into CARMELLA who mocked Brooke as the two traded insults. Brooke would take off again and Carmella curiously told Truth, after grabbing him by the jacket, that she’d get him the 24/7 title but she wanted Brooke ‘when the time was right’.
LACEY EVANS who is now apparently just on Raw now after weeks of promos on Smackdown, came to the ring for a promo pandering to the fans.
Number One Contendership Match
ASUKA defeated BECKY LYNCH
BIANCA BELAIR came out before the match to watch from ringside but perhaps tellingly the WWE didn’t let her do guest commentary. Asuka went for a Backfist early but Lynch ducked, just to take a Codebreaker. Moments later Asuka was sent to the apron and took a Springboard Kick from Lynch to send her down. A Baseball Slide attempt was countered, allowing Asuka to set Lynch up along the apron and hit a Running Hip Attack. Moments later Lynch caught Asuka on the floor, counting a charge with a Bex-ploder into the crowd barricade.
Back from a commercial break, Lynch gave Asuka a nose flick as payback for the one she took at Asuka’s return. Only for Lynch to be almost pinned off an Asuka Backslide. Asuka got another near fall off a Roll-up before a Buzzsaw Kick decked Lynch. Asuka got the better of a strike exchange, hitting two Backfists then a Savat Kick to set up a Hip Attack to Lynch in the corner. A Pop-Up Knee Strike then led to the Release German Suplex, before a Sliding Knee Strike got a near fall.
Lynch countered the Asuka Lock with a Samson Clutch for a near fall, before Asuka Arm Dragged her way out of a Man-Handle Slam attempt. Asuka missed a Hip Attack, leaving her hung on the ropes to take a boot to the head then more strikes through the ropes, setting up the Legdrop from the middle rope to Asuka through the ropes for a near fall. Asuka would counter the Dis-Arm-Her twice and eventually locked on the Asuka Lock. Only for Lynch to counter with a pin hold that the ref, after finally deciding he was happy a shoulder was down, got a two count.
Later, Asuka got an Arm Bar but Lynch got to the ropes. Lynch hitting a Hot Shot to stun Asuka before Lynch went to try and provoke Belair at ringside to try and hit her to steal the match from DQ. it didn’t work,l so Lynch tossed Asuka into Belair to knock her and her chair over. Belair tried to storm the ring but the referee held her back. Lynch then tried to use Asuka’s entrance Kabuki umbrella prop as a weapon but Asuka spit the Poison Mist into Lynch’s face. A head kick then a sit-down pin getting Asuka the win. A match graphic announcing that Asuka would face Belair at the Hell in a Cell Premium Live Event for the Raw Women’s Championship.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Lynch was protected with the green mist finish, and it still sets up the potential for Lynch being involved at Hell in a Cell or at least keeps a wider feud going involving her and Asuka. A great match that shows how top level the two are. In contrast, Alexa Bliss did not seem at her best against Deville in a longer bout than last week. Misstepping a couple of times and needing to be in a few rest holds. Not a good sign for a woman many have been looking forward to seeing back. Of course, the big story was the walk-out by the Women’s Tag Team Champions which was, unusually for the WWE, referenced repeatedly on the show. One has to wonder if there will be consequences for that including possibly vacating the titles. We will wait and see during the week to see what punishments come the way of the champs.
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!