Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We’re still not long removed from WrestleMania and the fallout from Rhea Ripley capturing the Raw Women’s Championship. This includes Charlotte Flair making an impactful return as she made a quick statement, both verbally and physically, to wanting back in the title hunt. But will she get her wish? Or has she simply made two enemies in the one night? Let’s get into it, and find out…
CHARLOTTE FLAIR went to the ring for a promo for the second week in a row. It was another more of the same as she bragged about being the star of the division, and called the other women ‘rats’ amongst other lamely written insults. ASUKA eventually came out right down to the ring. RHEA RIPLEY then walked onto the stage before Asuka could speak. Ripley ignored Flair’s insults and said she’d watch the match. Flair repeatedly cut off Asuka, until Asuka snapped and yelled that she’d beat Flair “bitch!” much to Flair’s anger and Ripley’s amusement.
Non-Title Women’s Tag Team Match
LANA & NAOMI defeated Women’s Tag Team Champions NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER
Jax and Naomi started off, with Naomi using her quickness and kicks to stagger Jax early. A quick tag to Lana led to an attempt at the Tilt-a-whirl into the Side Russian Legsweep but Jax blocked. A blind tag by Naomi set things up for a Lana Chop Block then a Naomi Clothesline to finally knock Jax down. Quick tags were the name of the game as Lana came it and hit a Sweeping Kick to Jax’s head, then tagging out as Naomi hit a Legdrop for a two count.
Lana was tagged, but Jax blocked a Double Team Suplex to hit a Suplex on both opponents at the same time, even if Lana more too the mood to the side then straight back. Baszler got the tag and hit the kneeling Lana with the Knee Strike for a two count. Lana countered a Kimura Lock to get a Roll-up for a two count. Baszler knocked Naomi off the apron, then hit the Arm Stomp.
DANA BROOKE and MANDY ROSE came out onto the stage as they showed a ‘low light’ reel of the events of last week with Jax being humiliated numerous times. The announcers putting over how the blondes were stepping up to the bully despite them, you know, kind of acting like mean girls. Jax has seen enough and refused to tag in as she stormed up the ramp after Brooke and Rose. That left Baszler alone as Lana tagged out, the faces hitting Double Team Kicks to then hit a Double Team X-Factor to get the non-title win! Jax looked shocked on the stage but Baszler was fuming.
MARYSE was with her husband The Miz for Miz TV. It led to Maryse booking her man into a match against Damien Priest, much to Miz’s confusion. Maryse would attempt to get Miz the advantage in the match later on, but Priest would still win regardless.
ALEXA BLISS had her Playground backstage with a bunch of early childhood photos that had been photoshopped to have new doll Lily be with her. Bliss ended with a threat to the other women on the roster that her dolly doesn’t like any of them.
Backstage Brooke and Rose were interviewed by SARAH SCHREIBER as they tried to justify their actions by saying they weren’t bullies. They were chased of by Jax, before Baszler confronted Jax and told her to get her head back in the game “or else!”. But before Jax could chase after her, Angel Garza appeared to ask Jax what he saw in that ‘circus clown’ Regenald that seemingly left Jax confused. Maybe because we’ve all forgotten about Regenald already.
Women’s Singles Match
ASUKA defeated CHARLOTTE FLAIR
Rhea Ripley would indeed be ringside as she took a chair to sit at the bottom of the rampway. Asuka’s misdirection knock down didn’t sent Flair down, but Asuka caught Flair with a kick as she rolled back to take her down. A Hip Attack to Flair on the apron hit only rope as Flair hit the Queen’s Boot. Flair hit a Neckbreaker onto the apron but it seemed to hurt both women just as bad.
Flair was in control after the commercial break, but Asuka came back and hit the Missile Dropkick off the middle ropes. A Dropkick then the Pop-Up Knee Strike, setting up for a Hip Attack in the corner. Flair blocked a kneeling Kick, but couldn’t follow up as a Queen’s Boot was ducked as Asuka then hit a German Suplex with extra slap to it. Asuka just hit the Sliding Kick for a two count. Asuka tried for the Arm Bar but Flair turned in it and forearmed her way out. Flair hit a Facebuster onto her own knee, but Asuka came back with what looked like the Double Knee Attack but she didn’t hit it as perfectly as she usually would.
The women traded strikes, before Flair hit the Spear for a two count leaving Flair enraged. Flair tried for the Figure Four but Asuka kicked her way free. Flair managed to apply a leg hold to Asuka through the ropes for the count of four. Asuka managed to pounce and get the Asuka Lock but Flair rolled to the ropes. Flair hit a rough Chop Block to the front of the knee. Setting up the Figure Eight but Ripley reached in and swept Flair’s arms away to force a break of the hold without the referee seeing her. Flair reached through the ropes to grab at Ripley, leaving her open to take a kick then a Crucifix Pin Hold got the victory!
After the match an insanely furious Flair attacked the referee, tossing him across the ring then stomping away. Firing away strikes before more referees charged the ring to stop the attack, but Flair attacked the official again and got one last soccer kick in before Raw went off the air. On the post-show Raw Talk it was announced that because of the attack Flair had been fined $100,000 and suspended until further notice.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Another fine match between Flair and Asuka with a fitting outcome that gives heat back to both Asuka and Ripley. It will be interesting to see if Flair’s attack was for the benefit of a storyline going forward or if this and her being suspended (on screen) is punishment for Flair having her PR team speak to wrestling media about her not being at WrestleMania. We’ll wait and see what happens next week with those three.
Meanwhile, I’m not sold on the tag titles storyline. Sure, I’m no fan of Jax because of her past of injuring opponents but I’m certainly not a fan of this storyline based on making fun of Jax in this fashion. And the teasing of breaking up Baszler and Jax might have been interesting if it hasn’t already been teased since, well, the day they won the titles. And Angel Garza with Jax? They teased that before and nothing happened but perhaps this will be different.
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!