Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We’re just days away from the Night of Champions Premium Live Event but before that, we had confirmation of unfortunate news. Liv Morgan’s injury that was announced last week turned out to be legit, and as a result she and Raquel Rodriguez have been stripped of the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Next week on Raw we’ll see a Fatal Four Way Match to decide the new champions, but Rodriguez must select a new partner to compete in the match with. Will we get confirmation of that this week? And what will go down when rivals Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus meet in a contract signing ahead of Night of Champions? Let’s get into it, and find out…
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties. That included attempting to interview Apollo Crews when RHEA RIPLEY and Dominick Mysterio interrupted. Ripley vowed to make an example out of Natalya at Night of Champions (finally confirming that the title match was happening) and end her legendary career. The segment finished with an outraged Ripley setting up Mysterio with a match against Crews.
Singles Match
ZOEY STARK defeated CANDICE LERAE
Stark jump started things right off the bell with a charge into Shoulder Thrusts in the corner before stomping away. A whip across leading to a Running Back Elbow then a Lucha Kick, before Stark hit a Half and Half Suplex to toss LeRae. A low Running Knee got a near fall, leading to strikes. NIKKI CROSS invited herself to the ring, rallying the fans as LeRae escaped a resthold with a Jawbreaker. LeRae coming back with a kick counter to a charge at the corner then a Low Dropkick. Moments later hitting a corner Back Elbow, then a Snapmare to set up the step-up Senton.
A Dropkick to Stark on the apron sent her down, before LeRae used the ropes for a Springboard off the apron to hit a Crossbody. Unfortunately, Cross was over excited to see her ‘friend’ in control, stopping LeRae from reentering the ring to hug her much to LeRae’s confusion. That left both women open as Stark charged, knocking over Cross and sending LeRae into the ring steps. Before getting LeRae back into the ring and easily hitting Z-360 for the win.
Our weekly dose of MAXXINE DUPRI fawning over Otis saw Alpha Academy take on The Viking Raiders, accompanied by VALHALLA. Valhalla pulling Ivar out of the way of an Otis splash at one point, and that led to Dupri confronting Valhalla, only to be freaked out as Dupri ran off. But that all distracted the Raiders, allowing Gable to take advantage and steal the win with an O’Conner Roll.
Singles Match
RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ defeated SONYA DEVILLE w/h CHELSEA GREEN
Green tossed her sunglasses into the ring, as Rodriguez stomped on them to smash them. A moment of distraction that allowed Deville to hit a Chop Block then club away with strikes. A Knee Strike getting a two count for Deville and moments later a wild one from off the middle ropes also getting a near fall. Rodriguez got pummelled with body shots and strikes, but not long after came back with a Big Boot to a corner charge. Setting things up perfectly for the Twisting Vader Bomb Senton, and right after the One-Armed Powerbomb to wrap things up quick and get Rodriguez the win.
After the match Green booted Rodriguez in the head, holding Rodriguez for a Deville Knee Strike. SHOTZI charged down to the ring, taking out Green with a kick from the apron before Rodriguez booted Deville down. Shotzi then instructed Rodriguez to hold the ropes open as Shotzi did one of her wild EVOLVE dives to wipe out the heels.
TRISH STRATUS interrupted Adam Pearce backstage, but he refused to put in place a no-touch clause for the contract signing tonight.
The in-ring contract signing between BECKY LYNCH and Trish Stratus took place. Lynch signing the contract before Stratus even came out. Stratus mocked Lynch for being eager to sign here, but not to come back to Raw after Stratus had kicked her head off. Stratus deliberately stalling as she said this was her first-ever contract signing. Mocking Lynch as she claimed Lynch was only used to contract signings because of the work Stratus had done in the past, and saying she’s been number one since the start and didn’t need a broken nose in order to get there.
Lynch refused to be provoked by the insults as Stratus claimed Lynch was her own worst enemy. Stratus finally signed after saying this was her first but it would be Lynch’s last. Lynch claimed that Stratus was scared of not just her but being forgotten about. Lynch claiming she was thankful that Stratus was everything she didn’t want to be. Even making reference to when Stratus had to bark like a dog in an Attitude Era segment, saying that was stuff that would give Lynch nightmares. “Welcome to the Big Time, Bitch! Woof woof!” Lynch finished with. But Stratus got the last laugh, turning the tables literally to flip the contract desk into Lynch. Leaving Lynch furious as Stratus walked away.
Backstage Shotzi said she had respect for Rodriguez and had her back, before Rodriguez officially said Shotzi was her tag partner for next week.
Rhea Ripley accompanied Dominick Mysterio as he faced Apollo Crews. Yet again Ripley’s interference leading to a victory for Mysterio when she shoved Crews into the ring post.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
There’s been little to no build for Natalya and Ripley which just screams how much of a throwaway match this is for the PLE. A shame as it should have the potential to be a great match. Shotzi might be polarising with her wild in-ring style but she’ll do fine to fill out the numbers in what could be just a match to hand Rousey and Baszler the tag titles. Elsewhere Stark gets another showcase win but with her being heel and the top champion on Raw right now also aligned that way, could she end up hitting a ceiling too soon? And yes, this was yet another week where no one acted like it was odd the Smackdown Women’s Championship was still on Raw. The contract signing was fine, even if Lynch’s reference to the dog barking felt a bit out of place considering she’s supposed to be making people forget about the Divas era instead of bringing it back up.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days’ time for the post-Night of Champions edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!