Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The title reign of the Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley may be in serious jeopardy after it was announced that at the Crown Jewel event she will defend in a Fatal Five-Way Match. Facing off against the mash-up of rivals between one another in Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriquez, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark. What’s next for these competitors ahead of the title match? And will we get the expected result when Becky Lynch defends the NXT Women’s Championship against Indi Hartwell? Let’s get into it, and find out…
World Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY and Dominik Mysterio arrived as back up for The Judgement Day to attack Cody Rhodes’s ankle with a steel chair.
MAXXINE DUPRI was ringside as The Alpha Academy lost to The New Day. Yet again leaving Dupri looking fuming about another loss.
JACKIE REDMOND interviewed BECKY LYNCH about her upcoming title matches for the NXT Women’s Championship. Claiming her title was all about giving people an opportunity but nothing too much of value was said.
VALHALLA was part of a Viking Raiders hype video.
Backstage Rhea Ripley seemingly tried to convince Seth Rollins to join The Judgement Day, claiming that her group tried everything to take his title from him. Rollins didn’t buy it, saying that her remarks showed she no longer believed that Damien Priest could cash-in successfully.
CANDICE LERAE and INDI HARTWELL were backstage getting hyped for Hartwell’s title match. NATALYA showed up to wish LeRae good luck, and casually mentioned that Tegan Nox was injured and was ‘looking for a replacement’ tonight. Nothing else of value was really said.
NXT Women’s Championship Match
BECKY LYNCH defeated INDI HARTWELL
LYRA VALKYRIA was shown in the front row to watch the outcome as she’d face the winner at NXT Halloween Havok Night One this week. LeRae accompanied Hartwell to the stage but went to the back. Lynch went for a Man-Handle Slam early but Hartwell escaped, and after a Roll-up attempt managed to deck Lynch with a Clothesline to make her bail out. A brief stare-down with Valkyria at ringside before Lynch got to the apron, catching Hartwell between the ropes with a kick and then another to the head from the apron.
Back in the ring Hartwell hit a couple of European Uppercuts but a third was countered into a Backslide for a near fall. LeRae was shown watching from backstage. In the ring, Hartwell escaped a Dis-Arm-Her attempt with a leg trip. Soon after hitting a version of Snake Eyes then a Side Slam for a near fall. Lynch came back with a Heel Kick, sending Hartwell to the floor but Hartwell would avoid a Baseball Slide. Using a Waistlock to slam Lynch front-first into the crowd barrier.
After a commercial break, Lynch tried for her trio of strikes through the ropes but Hartwell blocked the Bang Kick, using the leg to bring Lynch through the ropes instead to get a European Uppercut then a boot to the head. A Top Rope Elbow Drop by Hartwell to Lynch’s back got a near fall. Valkyria had seemingly been moved to a different part of the crowd to keep watching the match, while Lynch countered a Suplex into a Small Package to get a near fall.
Lynch hit a Final Cut for a two count. Lynch went for a Man-Handle but was countered, leading to a Big Boot by Hartwell for a near fall. Moments later Lynch hit a second rope Superplex and went right for an Arm Bar. Hartwell managed to counter into the deadlift Powerbomb for a near fall. Lynch tried to catch a break with a somewhat cheap shot into the ropes but Hartwell hit a Spinebuster for a two count. Lynch escaped a Full Nelson attempt, leading to a quick exchange of pinholds.
Lynch sidestepped a Big Boot, finally locked in the Dis-Arm-Her and got the expected victory. After the match, Lynch mouthed off with Valkyria at ringside.
Backstage, LeRae was jumped by XIA LI who hit a throat thrust cheap shot. Claiming the attack was a message for Hartwell too. Later in the show a match between them was announced for next week on Raw.
Adam Pearce hosted an in-ring Contract Signing for the Crown Jewel Fatal-Five Way Match. RAQUEL RODRIQUEZ was out first, followed by SHAYNA BASZLER, ZOEY STARK then NIA JAX. But when Pearce claimed she’d get Ripley’s signature later, Ripley instead came out herself. Ripley complained that this match was a conspiracy to try and control her. Vowing to make Pearce’s life a living Hell and saying she’ll make the division have four less women in it after the match.
Jax got the mic, being boo’d out of the building just for speaking and claiming Ripley wanted her to squash the other women. The fans rightly trashing Jax’s speech as she repeated the line about squashing other women. Rodriquez finally had her enough, kicking off the brawl (but Ripley dropped from the apron to avoid taking part) before security rushed the ring. Proving not too helpful as they got tossed before Baszler hit Rodriguez with a high Knee Strike while Stark hit a Superkick to Jax. Before Rodriquez would deck Baszler with a Big Boot before Stark took a Headbutt from Jax. Rodriquez and Jax went at it, briefly broken up by security before going at it again, just for Jax to hit a Samoan Drop. Ripley laughing from a distance as Jax stared her down.
Ring announcer SAMANTHA IRVIN‘s real-life relationship was used in a segment with boyfriend Ricochet, Logan Paul and Dominik Mysterio
Maxxine Dupri would be left anxious backstage when Akira Tozawa picked a fight with Bronson Reed, which wasn’t seemingly the plan that had been left for him to get a match.
Non-Title Tag Team Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions CHELSEA GREEN & PIPER NIVEN defeated NATALYA & NIKKI CROSS
Cross slowly walked to the ring rather than the usual chaotic run, looking like she was in a stoic state. Natalya and Green started off. Natalya and Green did some rope work while Cross stood statue-like on the apron without even holding the tag rope. Natalya got a pin hold for a near fall, leading to exchange of one counts of pins. The camera focused on Cross staring unblinking before Natalya got a near fall with a Small Package counter.
Niven distracted Natalya, allowing Green to club her in the back before hitting a Big Boot. All as Cross just stared off into the distance. Niven got a tag to hit a Corner Splash, dropped down onto the back then locked in a Cobra Clutch before bringing Natalya back for a tag. A club to the back by Green leading to a Short-Arm Clothesline by Niven for a near fall.
Seemingly disinterested, Cross finally left the apron and slowly walked away from ringside. That ended up distracting Green more than Natalya, as Natalya hit a Release German Suplex. Natalya did the rope-bounce Atomic Drop, then her step-over run leading to the Basement Dropkick. Natalya managed to knock Niven off the apron with a Rolling Elbow and got a nearfall on Green after the Discus Clothesline.
The numbers game became too much as Niven got a blind tag, and Natalya tried to fight but eventually Green snuck up and hit I’m Prettier. Leading to the Basement Crossbody by Niven for the easy win.
Backstage Rhea Ripley interrupted The Miz and Adam Pearce’s conversation to sign the Fatal Five-Way contract. Before she tended to Mysterio and made a remark that they’d deal with Ricochet next week.
Ripley would again appear during a match between the recent target of her ‘interest’ Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn. Intentionally distracting Zayn to allow McIntyre to get the instant advantage and the win. McIntrye however walked right past Ripley as he headed to the back without giving her look, but Ripley looked very smug at what she’d done.
Backstage Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis was talking to KATANA CHANCE and KAYDEN CARTER. Something that Adam Pearce didn’t approve of, and seconds later he got freaked out when Nikki Cross walked by still in that trance.
Maxxine Dupri would accompany Akira Tozawa as he lost to Bronson Reed. Yet again being left distraught by another Alpha loss.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A whole lot of Rhea Ripley on this should with a lot of segments and appearances. She’s essentially become the leader of The Judgement Day at this point and the group is managing to be a part of many storylines at once. It’s both a good and bad thing as it could end up being too much of a good thing all at once. Alongside the fact that Ripley’s Championship and the Fatal Five-Way Match feels secondary to everything else that’s going on.
Elsewhere Becky Lynch got the expected win in a solid match. Hartwell got a chance to shine and I think faired better than Tegan Nox did in the same opportunity a few weeks ago, but even so a loss is still a loss and Hartwell is back to square one. Meanwhile, Cross got some TV time and made the most of it, while Natalya suffers yet another loss. The tag team storyline is doing no one any favours here right now.
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!