Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We are on the road to WrestleMania, but we still have no clarity about what the future for the women’s division on Raw will have on the biggest show of the calender year. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler retained the Women’s Tag Team Championships at Fastlane, thanks to distractions by Regenald. While Asuka was nowhere to be seen on the event. But Asuka will be in action tonight as Peyton Royce gets her wish in a one-on-one clash. Can Royce pull off an upset and book herself a future title shot? And what will happen when The Nightmare Rhea Ripley finally makes her full time debut on Raw? Let’s get into it, and find out…
There was a recap of the feud of Alexa Bliss and Randy Orton, and the return of The Fiend at Fastlane.
Non-Title Singles Match
Raw Women’s Champion ASUKA defeats PEYTON ROYCE
There were recaps of Asuka’s injury and return, and Royce’s comments from Raw Talk. The women traded Headlocks and counters to start off, then an Asuka misdirection sent Peyton down with a shoulder knockdown. Royce tried for an Ankle Lock but Asuka got to the ropes, and not long after Royce managed to slip out of an Arm Bar as she applied a Bridging Leg Hold. Royce sent Asuka into the middle turnbuckle, the floated over from a Suplex for a near fall.
The women did some nicely planned out vault over and counter spots on the apron and over the top rope. A Spinning Backfist stunned Royce but not enough as Royuce avoided the Hip Attack, allowing Royce to hit a Back Hook Kick to Asuka’s back as she was on the ropes. Royce yanked Asuka by the hair, perhaps trying for some sort of Neckbreaker to the apron spot but Asuka just tumbled down instead.
After a commercial break both when were down and struggling up as replays from the action during the break was shown. Asuka hit her German Suplex then the Sliding Knee for a two count. Royce avoided the Missile Dropkick and countered a Spinning Backfirst into her version of Widow’s Peak for a two count. Asuka tried for the Asuka Lock but Royce countered into a pin hold for a two count. Asuka ducked the Roundhouse Kick and hit the Double Knee Facebuster for a near-fall.
Royce was set up on top, but shoved Asuka down. Hitting a Double Stomp to Asuka’s back as she was bent over but only got a two count. Royce was frustrated with the ref, and when she tried to hook Asuka’s leg she got rolled down into an Arm Bar, then switched into the Asuka Lock for a quick tap out.
After the match RHEA RIPLEY made her long awaited debut to the full time main roster, much to Asuka’s annoyance. Ripley got to the ring and grabbed a microphone. “You proved your point.” Ripley said, and then mocked Charlotte Flair for challenging Asuka while Asuka was out. But Ripley said Flair was out of action recovering from COVID, and then boldly challenged Asuka to a title match at WrestleMania. Asuka said Ripley wasn’t ready, and accepted the challenge. The match was made official with a match graphic later on.
Non-Title Women’s Tag Team Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER w/h Regenald defeated DANA BROOKE & MANDY ROSE
LANA & NAOMI were doing guest commentary. Rose started off with Baszler with shoulder thrusts then a Slam, as Brooke was tagged in to hit a Handspring Moonsault for a two count. All as Jax seemed more interested in flirting with Regenald. Baszler hit her Twisting Backbreaker on Rose, and tried to tag Jax but she was distracted with Regenald. Rose came in to break up the Clutch, and it sent Baszler into her team’s corner as Jax tagged in.
Brooke hit an Enzigiri then the Handspring Elbow, but Jax shut her down a charge. On the outside Rose bad mouthed Regenald which somehow led to him getting in the ring and doing a messy sort of flip, apparently getting some sort of approval from Lana. Brooke slipped down from a Slam attempt and hit a Chop Block, tagging in Rose who hit a Facebuster, then knocked Baszler down before getting her Pump Knee on Jax for a near fall. Brooke was tagged, going for her Senton as Regenald distracted, leading to him again doing flips for no reason before Baszler took Rose out on the outside. Jax then hitting a Samoan Drop on Brooke to steal the win. What the Hell did I just watch?!
ALEXA BLISS had her playground backstage, taunting Randy Orton about Fastlane. Later Bliss would ‘summon’ The Fiend to further torment Orton.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A tale of two matches. Firstly, Royce versus Asuka was a fantastic match that showed how much Royce has been wasted over the past few months. Really good stuff and it’s a shame that Royce won’t likely get any benefit after such a contest. Ripley and Asuka being a fallback plan with Flair perhaps not making it to Mania isn’t too shabby and is a dream bout many will be looking forward to, myself included. And there’s hopefully enough time for some nice build as well for it.
Then there was the stinking garbage of Regenald flipping around during a WOMEN’S tag team match. Urgh. The WWE can’t help but shove a man into storylines with women and have him steal the heat and spotlight. It’s bad enough Rose and Brooke are used as job fodder, and then keeping Lana and Naomi around as a duo as well. But then to have the idea of the women’s roster having a crush on Regenald? Yuk. The women’s division deserves so much better than this.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven day’s time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!