Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! SummerSlam is just days away (on a Saturday instead of the usual Sunday) and we will see the Raw Women’s Championship defended in a Triple Threat Match between reigning champ Nikki A.S.H., Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley. So who will get the upperhand before the biggest even of the Summer? And what’s next for Alexa Bliss and Eva Marie? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Non-Title Women’s Match
RHEA RIPLEY defeated Raw Women’s Champion NIKKI A.S.H.
ASH was interviewed by SARAH SCHREIBER before the match, laying it on again pretty thick that her outfit inspires her to a smattering of boos from the males in attendance. CHARLOTTE FLAIR hogged the spotlight as usual, coming out before the bell rang to join commentary. Ripley overpowered ASH early, before ASH hit a Bulldog after running the ropes in the corner. ASH followed up with a Crossbody off the apron to Ripley as Flair couldn’t even remember one of the commentator’s names. Maybe she’s been spending too much time in Mexico?
Back from commerical ASH tried a Cradle pin for a one count. Ripley showed off her strength with a Delayed Suplex, walking around while holding ASH up before dropping her for a two count. After a Bearhug for a rest hold ASH fought out, coming back with the Tilt-a-whirl Headscissors, then the Wheelbarrow Roll-up got a two count. The Tornado DDT from ASH also scorred a near fall. ASH tried for a Crossbody from the middle ropes, but Ripley caught her and turned it nicely into the Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. A Jawbreaker by ASH led to a Roll-up for another near fall. Ripley then levelled ASH with a Big Boot, and the Riptide gave Ripley a clean win over the current champ just days before SummerSlam.
After the match a furious ASH attacked Flair, who fled to the ring just to be decked by Ripley as the faces worked her over before ASH dumped Flair out.
Backstage Flair complained to SONYA DEVILLE and Adam Pierce about being attacked but the officials cut her off, telling her to find a tag team partner to face Ripley and ASH later.
EVA MARIE told off DOUDROP backstage for ‘blowing it’ last week, and told Doudrop to go handle the ‘other little problem’. But ALEXA BLISS knew it was coming so when Doudrop showed up to the playground and snatched Lilly whatever she saw from staring at the doll made her hand the doll straight back. That led to Marie slapping Doudrop a couple times for her failure.
Women’s Tag Team Match
CHARLOTTE FLAIR & NIA JAX defeated Raw Women’s Champion NIKKI A.S.H. & RHEA RIPLEY
ASH started with Jax as Jax no sold strikes then Headbutted Jax down. Jax took her time as she badmouthed ASH, so an attempted Powerslam turned into a Sleeper by ASH, but Jax backed into a corner to break it up. Jax followed up with Hip Attack, and then for whatever reason a bizzare Stinkface. The action returned with a crush against the ropes, tagging out to Flair as she hit a Queen’s Boot on the floor to ASH.
Back from commerical ASH fought out from the corner. Jumping up while holding Flair’s head to Dropkick Jax off the apron and then bouncing off the ropes to hit what should have been a Bulldog but Flair rolled over to sell it. Ripley got the tag and went House on Fire with Clotheslines, a Headbutt, a Snapmare to Flair before cutting off Jax and hitting a Low Dropkick on Flair. A nice Spin Kick set up the Northern Lights but only got a two count. Ripley missed a Missle Dropkick and whatever Flair hit to follow up we missed thanks to classic awful Kevin Dunn camerawork.
SHAYNA BASZLER was shown watched from backstage at the match involving her former tag partner. Jax was tagged, hitting the Samoan Drop but before she could hit a Vader Bomb Flair tagged herself in, stealing the moment as she sent ASH off the apron then hit Natural Selection on Ripley to get the win.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Two losses in one night for the current Raw Women’s Champion, even if one was indirect. It’s not how to make a champion look strong, especially considering one was a direct non-title loss to an upcoming challenger. The WWE continues to find ways to make any storyline that involves Flair just to make her look strong, at the expense of everyone else. We’ve had enough of that for all her many title reigns. But will the sudden firing of her father from the WWE, and Flair making questionable decisions like skipping a houseshow in her home town to attend a lucha libre event in Mexico, finally put her in the bad books in the WWE? Elsewhere, I fully expect spooky silliness when Bliss faces Marie, and I’m looking forward to it.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days time for all the fallout from SummerSlam with the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!