Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The rivalry between Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and the leader of Damage CTRL Bayley is still rolling on. This week sees a non-title clash between the two following the Ladder Match at Extreme Rules. Who will come out on top? And will this set the stage for yet another clash between the two with the gold on the line? Let’s get into it, and find out…
RHEA RIPLEY was out alongside the rest of The Judgement Day as they went to the ring for a bragging in-ring promo. It led to a match between Finn Balor versus Karl Anderson, during which Ripley clowned on ‘big’ Luke Gallows by giving him a Body Slam on the outside. A distraction by Dominik Mysterio allowing Ripley to hit a Low Blow on Anderson so Balor could steal the win.
CATHY KELLEY held a sit-down interview with CANDICE LERAE but after bland, gushing words DAMAGE CTRL invaded the scene. Bayley mocking for taking out Belair’s allies. LeRae took exception and unleashed insults, leading to Bayley shoving the camera away as we heard some off-screen violence, implying that LeRae took a beatdown.
BIANCA BELAIR was interviewed, vowing to end the feud with a win tonight. Claiming tonight was more than just about a title, it was about payback.
Non-Title Match
BAYLEY w/h Women’s Tag Team Champions DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY defeated Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR
The Main Event match of Raw started slow with an exchange of collar-and-elbow lockups before Bayley targetted Belair’s arm. Belair escaping with a Bodyslam. Belair got cute with taunting, and almost paid for being fancy as a lucha-roll back got countered into Bayley dropping down for a pin attempt and a near fall. Moments later Belair did a backflip escape just to get mowed down with a Running Forearm as Bayley got another near fall. Belair came back with a couple of pinholds for a one then two count, before flipping over a Bayley charge to the corner. Catching Bayley with a Suplex and going for a floatover for a second but Bayley countered, taking Belair down with a Just Facelock but Belair powered her way up and out with a Backbreaker.
Belair hit a Plancha to the outside to take out Bayley. After a commercial break, Bayley was back in control hitting a Sliding Clothesline to a downed Belair. Bayley pulling Belair out to drape her legs onto the apron before hitting a Suplex to the floor. Getting a two count back in the ring. Later, Bayley almost paid for mouthing off at founds while hitting mounted punches in the corner. Belair slipping out to drive Bayley’s head into the corner before going for a KOD, but Bayley grabbed the top rope, escaping to the apron before hauling Belair’s hurt arm down against the top rope.
Later, Bayley missed a couple of Elbow Drops and ended up lured in when Belair was on the apron, as Belair vaulted over back into the ring while Bayley just crashed through the ropes to the floor. Bayley raced back in but took a Suplex before Belair rallied and hit about 13 or so punches in the corner. Bayley slipped out and grabbed the braid, but Belair won the tug-of-war and hit a Bodyslam. Going for the Handspring Moonsault but Bayley brought the knees up.
Belair countered the Bayley-to-Belly with a Roll-up for a two count. Moments later Bayley went for a Starstruck Elbow off the middle ropes but Belair got her knees up. Belair hitting the Handspring Moonsault for a near fall. Bayley went to the outside and Belair went after her, only for Belair to get sent over the timekeeper’s area. Dragged back forward as Bayley hit a Single Arm DDT-like move as Belair’s legs were draped on the barrier.
After another commercial break (yes the match went that long!) Bayley escaped from being Superplexed, dropping to the apron to yank Belair’s bad arm down onto the top rope. Bayley got back in and tried to hit Belair’s own KOD against her! Belair flipped out to her feet and deliver Bayley’s own Bayley-to-Belly against her! But Belair only got a two count. Bayley pulled the braid as the action went to the floor, sending Belair to the barricade but Belair counted herself right after to send Bayley into the ring steps. After exchanging blows Belair hit a Spinebuster for a two count.
Iyo Sky finally got involved in the match to distract as Belair went up top, allowing Bayley to catch her and hit a Super Bayley-to-Belly but only getting a near fall. Bayley ordered her girls to clear the announce desk but Belair managed to deck Sky and Kai, before caughting Bayley’s vault through the ropes. Hitting Baylay with a Powerbomb onto the announce table (it didn’t break) then sending Bayley into the ringpost off the Powerbomb clutch ending with an Ally-Ooop to the ring apron. Bayley was sent back in but Sky was able to charge Belair into the announce desk as Kai hit a kick to the head.
The referee only saw Damage CTRL sending Belair in and he went to the floor about to eject the Tag champs. However NIKKI CROSS, now without any of her A.S.H. gear suddenly flung herself off the top rope, taking out the official, Kai and Sky with a Crossbody. In the ring Belair hit the KOD on Bayley and had the match won but there was no referee. Cross sent Belair into the ringpost and hit her classic Fisherwoman’s Neckbreaker to Belair. Bayley dragging herself into a cover as a second referee ran down and counted the pin, handling Bayley a tainted victory.
Cross would return to the ring and deck Bayley from behind, pounding away with unhinged strikes to show she’s not on anyone’s side as Belair was out and lifeless in the ring as Raw went off the air.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A fantastic main event that shows what the women of WWE can do when given plenty of time. Although what was the point of Kai and Sky being out there if their involvement was minimal and they got taken out anyway. Nikki reverting back to her Cross character and ditching the superhero gimmick is long overdue as being A.S.H. was just leading her down to being future-endevoured. Cross in the title mix will be interesting but is she there to spice up the title picture, or just as a means to take the title off Belair without her being pinned in a Triple Threat Match? We’ll have to see if this is a serious push for Cross or not.
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!