Welcome everyone to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! After a couple of weeks of sneak attacks, Nia Jax got a dose of her own medicine when she was sent packing by multiple rivals with Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez and Shayna Baszler all wanting a piece of her. Will one of these women step up to be Ripley’s next challenger? Especially when we’ll see Ripley going against Baszler this week on Raw. And what’s next for the apparent ‘friendship’ between Tegan Nox and Natalya? Let’s get into it, and find out…
RHEA RIPLEY accompanied The Judgement Day as they confronted Sami Zayn, but the arrival of Jey Uso prevented any beatdown.
Backstage, TEGAN NOX spoke with KAYDEN CARTER and KATANA CHANCE while NIKKI CROSS did Nikki Cross things elevated up on an equipment case. Once again, just like last week, the Women’s Tag Team Champions of CHELSEA GREEN and PIPER NIVEN appeared to mock the other women. Green tried to mock Nox for being another rookie that Natalya manipulated, but Nox pointed out how Niven bullied her way into becoming a tag champ. Green backed off when Nox threatened to slap her.
Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion PIPER NIVEN w/h CHELSEA GREEN defeated NATALYA
Tegan Nox didn’t accompany Natalya to the ring. Natalya was quickly bulldozed over after the start of the match. Then being backed into a corner off a collar-and-elbow. After being shoved back, Natalya delivered a slap. Ducking a retaliation swing and hitting some punches. But after running the ropes a Crossbody attempt was caught, only for Natalya to slip out the back and run the ropes again. A Tilt-a-whirl Headscissors of sorts by Natalya sent Niven into the corner, setting up for a Roll-up then a Jackknife Pin for two counts. Niven got one of her own with a Sunset Flip counter to the Jackknife.
A Low Dropkick got Natalya barely a one count as Niven powered out. Natalya went to the apron and was caught with a shot through the ropes, but managed to block being sent into the ringpost to instead send Niven into the top turnbuckle at one side of the ring then into the other a few times. A Niven Headbutt stunned Natalya when she tried to go up top, then a Running Knee sent Natalya off the apron to the floor.
After a commercial break, Niven blocked the Discus Clothesline to hit a Leg Sweep, but Natalya rolled away to avoid being squashed by Niven’s Senton. A Crucifix Pin got Natalya a two count. Natalya did her step-over spot but Niven barely managed to block or swat away the follow-up Dropkick. Niven’s Basement Crossbody similarly avoided. A form of a La Magistral got Natalya a near fall, as did the Discus Clothesline.
Natalya went for The Sharpshooter but Niven kicked her away, and that sent Natalya into Green who had gotten onto the apron to try and distract. That collision did the trick, as Niven yanked Natalya down by the hair and then hit the Basement Crossbody for a stolen win.
After the match, Niven and Green attacked Natalya until Tegan Nox finally appeared. Green got decked easily and the faces made Niven back away after an attempted double team.
NXT Women’s Champion BECKY LYNCH was confronted backstage by INDI HARTWELL and CANDICE LERAE as Hartwell complained about Lynch not giving an opportunity to her, the woman who ‘never lost the NXT Women’s Title’. (Hartwell was briefly NXT Women’s Champion in April of this year but relinquished the title due to injury and being drafted to the main roster). Lynch replied that she’d go talk to Adam Pearce to make a match official. But when Lynch walked off, she went into a face-to-face with Rhea Ripley.
Non-Title Singles Match
Women’s World Champion RHEA RIPLEY Vs SHAYNA BASZLER went to a no-contest
Before the match Ripley cut a brief in-ring promo, mocking her rivals for trying to prove that they were the baddest while she’d been away. After some early grappling, Baszler tried for an Ankle Lock but got shoved away. Leading to a Shoulder Charge to the corner then some thrusts, followed by clubbing blows by Ripley. Baszler hit an Arm Wringer but Ripley took the move spiking herself almost like a DDT. The Arm Stomp followed then kicks to the arm, before Ripley ducked a third kick and hit a Leg Sweep to set up the Basement Dropkick for a near fall.
Baszler hit a round of strikes but Ripley avoided the low Knee Strike. Hitting blows of her own then a Clothesline with her good arm. Ripley tried for an Electric Chair but Baszler escaped to slip down for an attempt at a German Suplex but Ripley held the ropes to block, then escaped with a Back Elbow. Baszler avoided a Big Boot but got caught with an Andrade-style Flash Elbow. The women traded blows, but Baszler got the edge as she avoided a Head Kick, then hit a Release German Suplex to set up the Low Knee Strike but only for a two count.
Ripley avoided being hooked on the shoulders, but soon got caught with a Knee Strike in a corner. Moments later, Ripley hit a Missile Dropkick. Ripley went for Riptide but Baszler impressively countered with an Arm Bar attempt. Only for Ripley counter with a Deadlift Powerbomb.
NIA JAX stormed down looking to pick the bones, only to be cut off by RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ to start a brawl on the outside. Only for ZOEY STARK to appear from the crowd to take out Jax with a Con Hilo from the crowd barrier! Rodriguez tossed Stark into the barricade and then decked Jax with a Big Boot, but missed a wild charge into the steps. Stark had been sent into the ring, and she hit a kick to Ripley to cause the match to be thrown out. Only for her to be tossed into Baszler by Ripley. Ripley dared Jax to get in the ring and fight, which led to Jax being peppered by big shots from both Stark and Ripley. Before Ripley went to slam Jax, just for Stark to hit a Dropkick to send Jax squashing down on Ripley.
Backstage in Adam Pearce’s office, Becky Lynch was informed that the NXT Women’s Title match would be made for next week. XIA LI stormed in and again complained that Lynch was giving opportunities to other women other than her. Lynch replied that Li just needed to say the word to get a shot, but Li claimed she would on her time. When she left, recent WWE signee JADE CARGILL (formerly of AEW) appeared to which Lynch coldly told her to ‘get in line’.
JACKIE REDMOND handled interview duties. That included when Nia Jax interrupted one to claim she was ‘still standing’ and claimed she did the ‘squashing’ on Raw.
Rhea Ripley stormed into Adam Pearce’s office, demanding action be taken about ‘her’ division being out of control. Instead, Pearce told Ripley she could handle things his way. Putting Ripley into a Fatal Five-Way Match at Crown Jewel to defend her Championship against Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriguez, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark! Ripley almost lost it, ranting that she’d ‘eradicate’ them all and clearly wasn’t happy about the decision.
MAXXINE DUPRI tried to lead a workout class for the Alpha Academy but it descended into a bit of chaos when The New Day appeared.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Multi-women matches can sometimes be a train wreck. I certainly have worries about this one with the likes of Jax in the match and the fact Ripley and Rodriguez didn’t have good chemistry in their PLE clash a while back. This match might have been made to try and claim there’s ‘progress’ made to have so many women competing on a Crown Jewel event, but will that come at the expense of a mess of a match? Elsewhere it appears that Natalya and Nox may be a challenger team for the tag titles but where does that leave Double KC? And will we see Xia Li step up and make a statement next week after Lynch presumably beats Indi Hartwell? There’s still a lot more questions than answers with the storylines on Raw.
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!