Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We’re heading closer to SummerSlam but no match has been set in stone yet for the Raw Women’s Championship. Becky Lynch has been making demands to face her never-ending rival Bianca Belair, but in doing so Lynch helped gift Carmella a count-out victory that keeps Carmella in the title conversation. Will we get some clarity with just a few weeks to go before the Premium Live Event? Let’s get into it, and find out…
BECKY LYNCH went to the ring and ranted about overcoming adversity since WrestleMania, including beating Asuka. After dropping a worrying amount of train-related puns Lynch finally got to the point, and said that she would face the Raw Women’s Champion at SummerSlam. That being whoever out of Belair or Carmella who won tonight’s title bout. BIANCA BELAIR came out and complained about Lynch’s distraction last week. Belair claimed that this wasn’t Lynch’s comeback story, but hers from all the way back to last year’s SummerSlam and the 26 second match. CARMELLA then came out and mocked Belair for overlooking her. Carmella also then stated that in this title match if Belair got counted out, she’d lose the championship. When Belair stupidly started running her mouth and dropping her EST catchphrases Lynch decked her from behind. The numbers game beating down Belair before Lynch dropped Belair with the Man-Handle Slam.
Raw Women’s Championship Match – Title Can Change Hands on a Count-Out
Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR defeated CARMELLA to retain.
Becky Lynch stayed for guest commentary as the announcers seemed to not know for sure whether the match had count-outs or not. Carmella easily got the early advantage over the weakened Belair with a hairpull. In a reply of a spot from last week Belair blocked a Headscissors attempt, turning it into two Backbreakers. Belair kept control with strikes and a Single Leg Dropkick, before hitting a Fallaway Slam. While Lynch claimed she wanted to beat Belair in 15 seconds this year. Belair went for the Handspring Moonsault but landed on her feet when Carmella rolled to the floor. Belair went out and sent her right back in but only got briefly distracted by Lynch.
Carmella rolled out again and the stipulation of a count out loss seemed overbooked as Belair managed to get in at eight (but to no real crown reaction) after being sent into the ring post. After taking a Superkick and being sent over to the Timekeeper’s area, Belair still made it back in at barely the count of eight. Then once again at just a count of eight when Belair was sent over the top and hit the ringsteps.
After a commercial break Belair regained control with a Shoulder Thrust in the corner then 10 count punches, although she hit nine before back flipping and hitting the tenth when Carmella charged out. The Handspring Moonsault got Belair a two count. Carmella managed to counter a Glam Slam with a roll through, sending Belair into the middle rope before Carmella tried to steal the win with a Roll-up and feet on the ropes. She only got a two count, as did the follow-up Low Superkick. Later, Belair caught a Crossbody attempt and turned into the Delayed Suplex. Carmella used a Hot Shot and then hit an X-Factor for a near-fall. After some pie-facing and a slap, Carmella was easily scooped up into a KOD as Belair retained. After the match Lynch played mind games, dropping Belair’s title at her feet before walking off.
SARAH SCHREIBER handled interview duties.
Six-Woman Tag Team Match
ASUKA, ALEXA BLISS & 24/7 Champion DANA BROOKE defeated DOUDROP, NIKKI A.S.H. & TAMINA
None of the women got a full TV entrance. Asuka and Ash started things off, as Asuka sent Ash down with the misdirection shoulder check. Ash rolled to the floor, and caught Asuka’s Baseball Slide attempt with her apron counter, clubbing away with big Forearms to Asuka’s face. Tamina took a cheap shot of a Headbutt before Doudrop crushed Asuka with a Splash. Dana Brooke used a Crossbody to wipe out Doudrop and Tamina, but was distracted when her ‘ex husband’ Reggie appeared at ringside. Despite 24/7 rules usually being suspended during other matches, Akira Tozawa came from under the ring with a ref and Rolled up Brooke to pin her and steal the 24/7 title.
Tozawa celebrated in the ring, and got hit by Nikki A.S.H.’s Twisting Neckbreaker as Ash became the new champion! Alexa Bliss showed she wasn’t above being involved in the 24/7 nonsense by hitting Ash with the Goddess DDT and pinning her to win the title for the first time. Doudrop hit a rough Running Crossbody ion Bliss to pin her to take the title. Only for Tamina to hit her with a Superkick and then pin her to become champion. Brooke then Rolled Up Tamina to take back her title before running off with the title as Tamina and the ref gave chase.
Meanwhile, Asuka hit a Head Kick on Ash then locked the Asuka Lock, getting the submission win for the actual match.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The WWE’s failure to prepare for what matches they’ll actually show in advance hurt the Women’s title match, as there was no real weight behind the sudden count-out stipulation. Had that been given real hype it would have had an effect but here it just looked like an overbooked mess. The match really just served to get Carmella out of the title picture. Thankfully Belair and Lynch have their over year-long history of their on-and-off feud as the hype for the match, otherwise they’d only have a week and some change to build this contest. The less said about the 24/7 title garbage hijacking a women’s match, the better.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven day’s time for the pre-SummerSlam edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!