Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The WrestleMania Backlash event is in the books, and Rhea Ripley retained the Raw Women’s Championship in the Triple Threat Match. Pinning Asuka to win, but will that leave the door open for Charlotte Flair to whine and complain her way back into a title match? And what’s next in the tag title division, following the victory by Smackdown’s Natalya and Tamina who are the new Women’s Tag Champs? Let’s get into it, and find out…
ALEXA BLISS hosted the new Women’s Tag Team Champions NATALYA & TAMINA on Alexa’s Playground. Tamina had little time for Bliss and Lily’s games, but luckily it seemed that Lily was a fan of the tag champs.
SARAH SCHREIBER handled interview duties.
In the WWE officials office SONYA DEVILLE and Adam Pierce had the teams of LANA & NAOMI and DANA BROOKE & MANDY ROSE making pitches about why they should get a tag title shot. CHARLOTTE FLAIR interrupted to dimiss the duos, which got a snide remark from Brooke. Flair stated that because she didn’t take the fall last night she deserved another title match. Deville claimed that Flair’s request to get another title match wasn’t her decision to make alone, but implied that if Flair beat Asuka she might be in line. RHEA RIPLEY then showed up, taunting Flair for failing to win and said she wanted some new competition.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions NATALYA & TAMINA defeated NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER w/h Reginald to retain.
Natalya and Jax started off, with Jax bulldozing Natalya and tossing her about. Hitting a Running Hip Attack to Natalya in the corner and a tag set up Baszler to hit a Running Knee to the corner for a town count. Baszler worked over the arm with a snap then a Top Wristlock. A Clothesline got Baszler a two count, before Jax was tagged to hit a body check. Natalya rallied with a couple Short-Arm Clotheslines that set up the Discus Clothesline to finally drop Jax.
Tamina got the tag but despite getting the hot tag, Jax shrugged off the blows from her and hit a Bodyslam. Tagging to Baszler but when Jax went up Tamina shoved off Baszler, and then hit a Superkick to send Jax down. Tamina blocked a Knee Strike attempt and hooked up for a Samoan Drop. Alexa Bliss suddenly was on the stage with Lily and as Baszler locked on the Clutch, fire shot out from the ring posts seemingly blinding Reginald. Distracted, Baszler was wide open as after a tag Tamina and Natalya hit the classic Hart Attack Clothesline double team to get the win. The champs left worried as the creepy laugh of Lily was heard playing out.
Women’s Singles Match
ASUKA defeated CHARLOTTE FLAIR
The women started off avoiding and dodging one another’s big kicks before Asuka used misdirection to hit a Dropkick then a Running Hip Attack. Flair came back with a Back Elbow counter but shortly after doing her vault over to the apron backfired as Asuka countered her Shoulder Thrust through the ropes. A Legsweep sending Flair hitting the apron, then Asuka sliding out as she swung Flair around so her head was off the apron for a new way to hit a Hip Attack but only getting a two count.
Flair bailed from the ring to avoid the Asuka Lock, and managed to block Asuka’s running Kick along the apron before kicking Asuka’s leg to send her face first to the apron. Rhea Ripley then invited herself to make her entrance much to Flair’s anger. Back from commerical Flair was in control as Ripley was sat at ringside to watch. Flair hit the Fallaway Slam then choked Asuka on the ropes before hitting a couple of strike and chop combos to Asuka in the corner. A cartwheel into a Stomp to the head got Flair a near fall.
Asuka countered another Fallaway attempt, and soon after hit the Hooking Clothesline much to Ripley’s approval. The two women traded Crucifix Pin counters, before Flair hit her Backbreaker into a Flatliner to the ropes combo then a Neckbreaker for a two count. The Madison Rayne headsmashes followed then a flip with the Headscissors before more head smashes. Another flip that more tossed Asuka over like a slam but a rough landing for Asuka’s head and neck got a near fall. Asuka got near falls with flash pins then a wild kick just caught Flair for a break.
Asuka rallied with the Pop-Up Knee then the German Suplex. Then a corner Hip Attack, a Bulldog then the Sliding Kick for a two count. Flair got Asuka charging with the Queen’s Boot for a near fall. Flair went for Natural Selection but Asuka impressively countered almost into the Asuka Lock but Flair avoided it. Asuka dodged another Queen’s Boot but a glancing Back Elbow just got Flair a two count. Asuka was set up on top. In a really bad looking spot Flair just seemed to deliver a Moonsault to herself to hit the canvas instead on any actual move being attempted so Asuka was just left holding onto the top ropes. Asuka hit her Missile Dropkick for a two count.
Asuka went for another Sliding Kick, but Flair countered and tried to steal the win by holding the tights with a Roll-Up but Asuka still kicked out. Asuka used a Wheelbarrow to turn it into a Knee Bar but Flair powered out only for Asuka for to lock on a Triangle Choke. Flair powered out again into a Boston Crab but Asuka countered that into a Victory Roll for a near fall. Asuka went for the Lock again but Flair rolled to the ropes. A kick through the ropes allowed Flair to lock on a Leg Hold against the ropes to damage Asuka.
Flair provoked Ripley at ringside by swinging Asuka into the announce table, and Ripley had to block a Spinning Backfist from Asuka that was intended for Flair. Back in the ring, Flair tried for the Figure Four but was kicked off and hit a Queen’s Boot to Ripley who was on the apron, not appreciating the bad mouthing from Flair. Flair tried again for the Figure Four but Asuka got a Small Package counter and got the win! The announcers tried to claim that Ripley’s distraction caused the loss when there was a clear break between hitting Ripley and the pin.
NIKKI CROSS was randomly one of the Lumberjacks as Damien Priest faced John Morrison, and at one point Cross sent Morrison back into the ring by herself.
EVA MARIE had another ‘hype’ video that was again more about her doing a photoshoot than any in-ring talent.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Another fantasic match between Flair and Asuka, even with the odd spot of Flair’s leap of faith Moonsault spot. It’s hard to see how Flair can still be in the title conversation here unless perhaps Flair puts something on the line to get a match against Ripley. Meanwhile the new tag champs get their first win and put an end seemingly to the shots the old champs will have left. Seeds were planted last week for Bliss to be feuding with Jax and/or Baszler so we’ll see what spooky goings on are next for these three (and Reginald I guess).
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!