Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Money in the Bank event is fast approaching, with Bianca Belair defending the Raw Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley advertised for the show. While the Women’s Money in the Bank match is slowly shaping up with Raw’s Liv Morgan and Alexa Bliss joining Smackdown’s Lacey Evans and Raquel Rodriguez. Who else will join the mix, and what’s next between Ripley and Belair? Let’s get into it, and find out…
BIANCA BELAIR kicked off the show, and made the surprise (but typically vague for the WWE) announcement that Rhea Ripley “would not be medically cleared to compete” for Money in the Bank. Belair saying that five Superstars would compete to decide her next challenger in a Fatal Five Way for the title shot at MITB. BECKY LYNCH then interrupted, claiming she was the only contender and claiming she’d never gotten a rematch. Ranting about being robbed before ASUKA came out and mocked her rival for crying again, but Lynch countered that Asuka was more concerned with making Simpsons memes than winning matches.
The interruptions continued with LIV MORGAN out next, taunting her former rival about not even having qualified for MITB this year yet. Claiming she’d happily trade in her spot in the Ladder Match to get a direct title match. CARMELLA was next out and mocked Morgan for being the only woman in the match to have never won a title, but Morgan countered that Carmella hasn’t been on the show for weeks. Finally ALEXA BLISS was out with easy, but accurate, insults about Carmella loving to name drop and only won MITB before because of “some guy with a chin”. Belair ended the segment saying the time to run your mouth was over and the WWE Universe wanted to see some action.
Fatal Five Way Match for Number One Contedership to the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
CARMELLA defeated ALEXA BLISS, ASUKA, BECKY LYNCH & LIV MORGAN
Lynch tackled Asuka as they rolled to the floor in a brawl. Leaving Carmella, who didn’t have her old face mask gimmick on, to get hit with Bliss strikes, setting up a Dropkick from Morgan. Leaving the two apparent friends to face up, trading mat and rope work before Morgan turned a Sunset Flip into the Tumbleweed spot to eventually get a two count. Bliss countered a Pop-Up attempt into her Lucha Cradle, and then the two women rolled around with another Tumbleweed spot with a Small Package for another eventual two count (and who knows which woman would have gotten the pin!).
Bliss and Morgan hit each other with strikes at the same time to knock one another down. Carmella tried to steal the win, pinning both Morgan and Bliss twice each in turn but only getting two from both. The announcers claimed Carmella has taken out an ‘expensive insurance policy’ on Carmella’s face, hence why she no longer has a mask on. Carmella avoided taking the German Suplex from Asuka, but got eventually hit with the Spinning Backfist. Lynch pulled Asuka out when she tried to follow up, booting Asuka on the floor. Bliss hit her new low Blockbuster on Carmella for a near fall. Lynch lured Bliss in, hitting strikes through then above the ropes but going for a Legdrop off the middle rope hit nothing but canvas.
Bliss took out Lynch with strikes then a Headscissors before being rolled up by Carmella for a two count. Later, Carmella hit the Reverse X-Factor for a near fall. Morgan used the shove off spot to send Carmella into the middle turnbuckle, but going up top Carmella shoved Morgan off and down to the floor, taking out the other Superstars. Back after a commercial break, Lynch hit Bliss with a Bex-Ploder Suplex to take her out. Morgan coming in to get her spots with the Hat Trick of kicks leading to a Corner Knee Strike, then the Dropkick from the middle rope. A wild, and not in a good way, sort of Float Over DDT got Morgan a two count.
Becky avoided a charge in, and tried to steal the win with a Roll-up with a foot on the ropes but only got two. Moments later, Carmella hit a Stratusfaction that sent Lynch crashing down into Morgan with Morgan eating a face-full of hip from the move. Carmella tried pinning both but Asuka broke the pin up. Carmella hit a Savat Kick then a Low Superkick to Asuka but only got two. Asuka went for the Asuka Lock but Bliss broke it up with a Double Knee Drop, only to be tossed out of the ring by Lynch. Morgan hit a Second Rope Dropkick to Asuka, but got tossed out by Lynch who was trying to keep herself and Asuka only in the ring. Getting a Small Package for her trouble but Asuka just got two. Lynch hit the Man-Handle Slam on Asuka but Bliss came off the top rope with Twisted Bliss to break the pin. Her own pin broken up by Carmella and Morgan.
Asuka hit Bliss with a Head Kick that was meant for Lynch, before Lynch tossed Asuka out. Leaving Morgan to come in and hit the Springboard Side Codebreaker but Lynch held the ropes to avoid ObLIVion. Hitting the Man-Handle Slam on Morgan but Asuka pulled her out to the floor. Bliss tried for Twisted Bliss on Morgan who brought the knees up. Carmella then nailed a Superkick and with all the other women down on the floor Carmella got the three count to become the upset Number One Contender. Belair and Carmella talking trash to one another while Carmella celebrated.
Becky Lynch complained to WWE Offical Adam Pierce about being robbed, as he reinstated an advertised match between Lynch and Asuka as a MITB Qualifying Match to happen later tonight.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed Bianca Belair about her new challenger, but got decked from behind by Carmella who mocked her for not being quite ready for that cheap shot. But fled the scene before a furious Belair got back up.
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifying Match
ASUKA defeated BECKY LYNCH
Lynch attacked Asuka as she made her way out, before the two got in the ring and the match officially began with the two brawling. Asuka going for an Arm Bar but Lynch turning it into a pin for a near fall. Asuka avoided the Dis-Arm-Her and moments later got the better of a Shoulder Check clash. After roughing Asuka up on the outside, Lynch was caught with a series of kicks when she tried to step through the ropes before a Running Hip Attack sent Lynch down. Later, Asuka tried for a Superplex but got shoved down, and moments later caught a charging Lynch with a Codebreaker for a near fall.
After a commercial break Lynch missed a Leg Drop, then eating a Sliding Kick from Asuka. Asuka hit a flurry of palm strikes but the Backfist was blocked, before Asuka got a Small Package for a near fall. Asuka hit a Neckbreaker Drop that set up a Corner Hip Attack, but Lynch blocked the German Suplex attempt. Only to eat two Spinning Backfists, more strikes then the German Suplex. A Hip Attack getting a near fall. Lynch tried to lock on an Asuka Lock onto her rival, only for the hold to be countered into an Ankle Lock. Lynch eventually rolling through the hold to send Asuka into the corner.
Lynch missed her Leg Drop off the ropes, before Asuka applied the Asula Lock on the ropes. The Missile Dropkick getting Asuka a near fall. Moments later, Lynch countered Asuka going for a Powerbomb on the outside with a Legdrop to the chest, but Asuka caught a leaping Lynch off the apron with a Knee Strike. Both women beating the ten count to get back in. Asuka countered the Man-Handle Slam only for Lynch to sit down on the pin for a near fall. Moments later, Asuka hit a Head Kick and got a three count from it. The updated match graphic implying there were only two spots left in the match. While Lynch was furious at ringside, wrecking the announce table.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A tough break for Ripley but is it a legit injury, or the WWE deciding to hold back on the match until SummerSlam? The Fatal Five Way match was one for the best in recent memory so hats off to all involved. Carmella as the challenger seems to indicate an obvious winner at MITB but at the very least it’s something different even if it’s rushed. Meanwhile, Asuka gets the win over Lynch and they seem to be playing something long term with Lynch. Will she get into MITB or will she invade the match to cost Asuka the win at the show? We’ll wait and see as there’s still two spots left, one of which might still go to a Smackdown Superstar.
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!