Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The TLC event is in the history books, and it saw new Women’s Tag Team Champions being crowned as Raw Women’s Champion Asuka revealled former rival Charlotte Flair as her surprise tag team partner. Dethroning the previously dominating tag champs of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler as Flair became the latest female to become a modern era Grand Slam Champion. But will the tag team between Flair and Asuka last, considering that Asuka holds the singles gold that every female on Raw wants? And how will the former champs respond to the loss? Let’s get into it, and find out…
CHARLOTTE FLAIR kicked off Raw and she seemed to still be in heel-mode as she hyped up herself before she brought out ASUKA. Asuka reveled in finally being double champion but Flair seemed to be making her true plans clear as she tried to ask about the Raw Women’s title. NIA JAX and SHAYNA BASZLER stormed out to cut Flair off. Jax mocked Flair for being injured thanks to her and the heels had some lame lines.
DANA BROOKE and MANDY ROSE then came out, and taunted the former champions and had poor jokes of their own against the heels. Flair manipulated the situation and called for a ref so the other teams could deal with one another.
Women’s Tag Team Match
NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER defeated DANA BROOKE & MANDY ROSE
Flair and Asuka stayed for commentary as Baszler and Rose started off. Asuka got in her Sexy Muscle Friends nickname for Brooke and Rose as Baszler easily toyed with Rose in the ring. Flair used an insider term of saying she’s had a ‘promo’ while Rose performed a Cartwheel into a kick for a one count. Asuka misunderstood a question from Flair about what kind of Champions they were going to be. “Tag Team Champions!” Asuka replied.
Brooke was tagged in as the faces hit a Double Team Suplex but Baszler tagged Jax in as she hit a Headbutt then a corner Splash to Brooke and kept control with a toss then another Splash but going for a third Brooke dodged. Brooke hitting the Handspring Elbow and then going to the ropes to Handspring into the Whirlybird Headscissors. A tag letting Rose and Brooke double team to get Jax out of the ring. The faces then hitting Crossbodies off the apron onto the heels. There seemed to be a misque as Rose pushed Jax back in, only for Jax to come right back out again and roughly send Rose into the crowd barrier.
Back from commercial Jax was in control over Rose. Baszler got the tag and focused on Rose’s leg with shots and a hold before Jax was tagged in and she stomped on Rose’s leg. Rose tried fighting back but a Jax Clothesline shut her down, but Jax missed a Legdrop. Jax still tagged out as Baszler cleared Brooke off the corner. Leaving Rose to go House on Fire herself with Clotheslines then a Suplex to Baszler. Brooke tagged in off of Rose coming off the ropes as she hit her Pump Knee Strike, and a Brooke Handspring Moonsault got a two count.
Brooke hit the Senton Bomb but Jax pulled her from the ring. Rose came off the apron to stun Jax, and Brooke hit her Handspring Elbow to just about send Jax into the post on the floor. A Baszler sliding kick took Mandy off the apron. Soon after Baszler got her Round-the-World Backbreaker onto Brooke in the ring, but missed the Arm Stomp as Brooke used a Roll-up to send Baszler into the corner. Baszler countered a stack pin into the Clutch for a near instant tap-out.
After the match the heels taunted Flair and Asuka, but the Sexy Muscle Friends attacked the heels from behind to dump them out and they took their turn to make their claim for the tag titles.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed Angel Garza as he of course put his sleezy moves onto her.
CHARLY CARUSO also handled interview duties on the show.
RECKONING as part of Retribution accompanied T-Bar as he defeated Ricochet.
ALEXA BLISS debuted her own ‘Playground’ of a giant swing set as she continued the storyline with Randy Orton and The Fiend. Sending a chilling threat about what The Fiend might be when he returns.
Non-Title Women’s Tag Team Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions CHARLOTTE FLAIR & Raw Women’s Champion ASUKA defeated LACEY EVANS & PEYTON ROYCE
Before the match Schreiber got some words with the heels who were still clearly far from on the same page. Asuka and Royce started off with counter work, leading to Evans blind tagging herself in and preventing the Asuka Lock being applied to Royce. Evans was sent to the apron but countered with a Legsweep but a Vaulting Stomp only caught canvas. Baszler and Jax were shown backstage watching as Royce off a blind tag of her own decked Asuka with a Spinning Roundhouse Kick for a near fall.
Back from commerical there was a funny spot as Evans went to the middle ropes, doing her salute taunt and Royce tagged herself in to try and steal the pin on Asuka. Evans would soon return the favour when Royce went up top as Evans hit a Vault-in Elbow for a two count. Bickering almost let Asuka tag out, but Asuka did the job herself after hitting the German Suplex. Flair got the tag and hit a nasty suplex that dangerously landed Evans onto her neck. Flair hit a backbreaker to Royce then the Big Boot.
Evans came in to distract but got an Exploder Suplex for her trouble. Royce locked on a Single Leg Crab as Evans tried to play defense but Asuka managed to get in to break the hold. Asuka soon taking care of Evans on the floor with a Head Kick. Royce almost got the win with a roll-up but soon Flair locked on the Figure Eight on Royce for the win. The announcers recapping that Flair and Asuka would make their first defense of the tag titles on this week’s edition of Smackdown.
Final Thoughts:
Early seeds sown here for the expected clash in the future between Flair and Asuka, with Flair as similarly expected heeling it up in full arrogance mode. A little boring, but considering how badly Flair has performed as a face in the past this might be the best move. It still says a lot about how badly Asuka has been handled as a champion for the later half of this year when her major storyline is in a tag team. We will have to wait and see if this keeps up as we head towards the Royal Rumble. The opening promo has some awful jokes in it, showing why Raw ratings are tumbling with writing of his low quality. The matches were solid enough but Flair seemed to have some ring rust with some wild suplexes and throws. The less of those the better. And Baszler finally got a win for once after being the fall taker to protect Jax for week after week!
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!