Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw some big developments as on the same night we had new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions crowned in Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. But following a backstage attack on Lita, another Hall of Famer in Trish Stratus took her place for that tag title match only to end up losing. Then turning on Becky Lynch with a blindside attack after the match! Meanwhile, Bianca Belair’s first post-Mania challenger was decided as Iyo Sky became number one contender, much to the apparent dismay of her Damage CTRL leader Bayley. So what’s up next for the women of Raw as we head towards Backlash? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Smackdown Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY along with The Judgement Day confronted The Bloodline in the ring. While Ripley and Solo Sikoa had quite the stare-down, a ‘short term’ alliance was announced between the faction to try and deal with common enemies.
MAXXINE DUPRI and Chad Gable once again bickered over Otis, trying to convince Adam Pearce to make either of them the package deal with Otis.
Non-Title Singles Match
Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR defeated DAKOTA KAI w/h BAYLEY & IYO SKY
Belair easily overpowered Kai with collar-and-elbow lock ups to back Kai to a corner. Belair countered a Wristlock to a Slam attempt, but Kai escaped and used the braid for a Mat Slam. Belair responding with a hairpull toss, before missing a corner charge as Kai used a leap and roll over, trying for a Roll-up but Belair held the ropes to block. Flipping out from the corner to hit a Dropkick and kip up.
More flips followed before eventually hitting a Hip Toss to set up a Standing Moonsault for a near fall. Moments later, Belair blocked her braid being used after sending Kai over to the apron, but missing a Shoulder Thrust through the ropes allowed Kai to hit a kick to send Belair into the ringpost. Another kick hit on the outside as the show went to a commercial break.
Belair hit a Jawbreaker then a Roll-up for a two count, before Kai countered the Delayed Suplex with a Small Package for a near fall. Moments later Belair busted out a new move, hitting a Running Blockbuster. Belair going House on Fire with Shoulder Knockdowns, a Single Leg Dropkick then a Suplex rolled through into the Delayed Suplex. The Handspring Moonsault getting a near fall. Bayley appeared to be not too cornered that Kai was taking a beating, and Sky seemed to notice that. Kai’s Scorpion Kick was blocked, but she hit a Wheelbarrow inverted Code Red for a two count.
Kai hit a corner Facewash but missed a Double Stomp off the top rope, before taking a messy Tilt-a-whirl Backbreaker from Belair. Belair went for the KOD, but Kai used the braid to escape, before countering a Glam Slam to send Belair into the middle turnbuckle. Kai missed the Running Corner Kick, and got scooped up and planted with KOD as Belair got the win. No activity after the match but both Belair and Sky made ‘I’m watching you’ motions.
TRISH STRATUS went to the ring, showing shades of her old Ruthless Aggression heel-era with her entrance and outfit. Trish said that when she started out, women’s wrestling in WWE was a joke and claimed she ‘single-handedly’ changed everything. Dismissing Lita’s involvement and saying she was the first woman to make the fans ‘give a crap’ about the women’s division. Saying fans should have been chanting Thank You Trish instead of This Is Awesome when women first main evented WrestleMania.
Stratus mocked the ‘Four Horse-Ladies’ for claiming to have started the Women’s Evolution, calling such a claim much like Beck Lynch herself – a joke. Claiming she let it slide before getting annoyed with it, saying she wondered if Lynch believed her own hype. Stratus said Lynch never thanked her once for ‘opening the door’, and mocked Lita for eating out of Lynch’s hand, becoming just a sidekick when a year earlier they were rivals.
Stratus stated she was nobody’s sidekick and admitted to being the one who attacked Lita last week to ‘put her out of her misery’. Bragging about taking out Lynch and saying she wanted to make sure she was the one who ‘screwed’ Lynch out of her title. Saying she wasn’t a nostalgia act or someone’s fantasy – she was the most important figure in the WWE and was going to remind everyone about that.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties.
Tag Team Match
CHELSEA GREEN & SONYA DEVILLE defeated CANDICE LERAE & MICHIN
The Women’s Tag Team Champions LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ came out before the match to watch from ringside. A video recap showing that Morgan and Rodriguez will defend against Deville and Green on Smackdown this week. Green and Michin started off, with Michin blocking a slap and hitting a Headbutt. Green sent to the faces’ corner for a quick tag, with LeRae whipped to hit a Back Elbow, leading to a Snapmare, a Perfect-Mare then a Jackknife Pin for a two count. The Step-up Senton also getting LeRae a near fall.
Deville was tagged, but the Double Team Suplex attempt by the heels was countered into a Double DDT. LeRae hit Deville with a Step-up Senton but going up top she was distracted. Seeing NIKKI CROSS was once again in the crowd at the barricade, watching LeRae compete. That allowed Green to distract, leading to Deville hauling LeRae off from the corner. Running the ropes to hit a wild Running Knee Strike for a two count. Green tagged in as the heels hit the Double Team Suplex, but Green paid for mouthing off at the champs ringside as her Elbow Drop hit only canvas.
Tags made on both sides, with Michin rushing across to kick Green down from the apron before using the Mickie James corner Headscissors counter on Deville. Michin hit strikes on Devillie, before avoiding Green’s attempt at a run-in. Moments later Michin hitting Code Blue but Green broke the pin up. Deville tried to steal a win with feet on the ropes but the ref saw it, but Michin didn’t see Green tag herself in. So as Michin went for Eat Defeat on Deville, Green came in and hit The Unprettier on Michin to get the win.
After the match the champs and challengers faced off, only for Green to soak Morgan with a bottle of water splashed in her face before fleeing the scene.
Rhea Ripley accompanied The Judgement Day for their main event match against Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. At one point Ripley decked Owens with a Clothesline on the outside as the referee was distracted. Later, shoving Zayn off from the top rope but eventually got thrown out from ringside when the referee caught her trying to sweep Zayn’s leg later on.
FINAL THOUGHTS: A truly outstanding promo from Trish Stratus that makes me super excited for where this story with Lynch goes. A couple of fine matches as well, selling the slow-build story of the cracks forming in Damage CTRL and giving momentum for the upcoming Women’s Tag Title match. Overall a great edition of Raw as things look good heading towards Backlash and the WWE Draft beginning next week.
That’s your lot for this week, be sure to stop by seven says’ time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!