Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! As we head towards the Royal Rumble event, Asuka’s Raw Championship reign has hit a potential major issue. An unexpected loss to Alexa Bliss, who tapped into a new ‘Fiend’ side in order to win, has given Bliss a championship shot just days before the Rumble. Will Asuka be able to fend off the darkness of the insane Bliss, or will Asuka’s title reign come to an unexpected, sudden end? And what’s next between Lacey Evans and Charlotte Flair? Let’s get into it, and find out…
The WWE rather casually announced during a match hype graphic that Asuka and Charlotte Flair would be defending their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler at the Royal Rumble event. Meaning that regardless of match outcome, Baszler, Flair and Jax would all be pulling double duty on the show.
CHARLY CARUSO interviewed CHARLOTTE FLAIR who put herself over. Flair was then pressed on Evans, but again tried to dismiss Evans like it wasn’t an issue.
Women’s Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion CHARLOTTE FLAIR defeated SHAYNA BASZLER w/h NIA JAX by DQ
The match started off with a little feeling out, before Flair hit an odd move of setting Baszler up in the ropes but just clubbing her down instead of going for a usual Knee Drop. Flair then used a Baseball Slide on Jax even though she wasn’t doing anything. Baszler pounced, looking for the Clutch but Flair managed to escape with a Snapmare. A Queen’s Boot followed as Flair managed to lock in a Figure Four. However, Jax returned the attack as she came in and hit a Legdrop on Flair for the DQ. The heels roughing up Flair before DANA BROOKE and MANDY ROSE ran out to attack the heels. But LACEY EVANS then appeared as she went after Flair.
Six Woman Tag Team Match
LACEY EVANS, NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER defeated Women’s Tag Team Champion CHARLOTTE FLAIR, DANA BROOKE & MANDY ROSE
After a commerical the match was started with Evans and Rose kicking things off. Evans tried to provoke Flair with a Nature Boy strut before she and Rose did some wristlock exchanges. This continued with Headlock and takeover trades, before Rose caught Evans with a kick after hopping over an Evans dropdown. Brooke got a tag as the Sexy Muscle Friends hit a Double Team Suplex to give Brooke a two count. A Shoulder check soon after got a two count as did a Cartwheel into a stomp.
Baszler and Flair got tags, avoiding moves before Baszler rocked Flair with strikes and a kick to the leg. A Running Knee avoided as Flair caught Baszler with chops before hitting a Fallaway Slam. Evans dropping off the apron to avoid being hit by Flair. Brooke was tagged back in, but then tagged Mandy so the two could do duelling Cartwheels into stomps, although Rose’s was a second behind her tag partner. Brooke was tagged to try doing chops, before Flair was back in. Baszler seemed to take a series of rough shots, with a Knee Strike through the ropes as Baszler seemed to tumble down, perhaps hitting the ring steps doing down. The referee was quickly counting, and while Flair was shoved in first Baszler didn’t beat the count and from the looks from the women that wasn’t the planned finish.
Back from commercial, the match had been restarted with Jax tossing Brooke across the ring. A cut-in video showing WWE official Adam Pearce restarting the contest. Brooke hit the Whirlybird Headscissors that sent Jax more stumbling into the corner than actually taking any sort of bump. Samoa Joe on commentary even dryly mentioning that the count out wasn’t the finish anyone wanted to see. Brooke hit the Handspring Elbow, but was soon flattened by a Jax Clothesline for a two count. Evans tagged in and hit an odd short Splash for a near fall. Stomping on Brooke’s hand before choking her on the ropes before tagging in Baszler as she hit a kick to the back for a two count.
Baszler hit the Arm Stomp as she tagged Jax in, before Brooke managed to fight out of a Cobra Clutch. Avoiding a Powerbomb, managing to slip out and sneaking away when Jax tried to squash with a sit down. Rose and Evans got the tags as Rose knocked Baszler off the apron. Going House on Fire on Evans with Clotheslines and a Flapjack. Hitting the Pump Knee Strike on Evans but Baszler broke the pin up. Flair hit a Spear on Baszler, but then was wiped out by Jax who dragged Evans over to her corner to get a tag.
Evans hauled Flair out, but only for Flair to start chasing her rival as they ran out of the arena. Rose was able to tag Brooke, as she avoided a Jax charge and then hit a Flipping Neckbreaker for a two count. Brooke went up top put was tossed off by Jax, who followed up with a really rough looking Chokeslam from a high position. Following a Legdrop down into a cover for the win.
RECKONING was back this week as part of Retribution as Slapjack lost to Xavier Woods.
Charlotte Flair confronted her dad Ric Flair backstage, but Ric wasn’t listening to it. It left Charlotte wide open to be hit from behind by Lacey Evans.
ALEXA BLISS had a backstage Playground, revelling in what she’s been doing to Orton and then recapping the events of last week with Asuka.
Raw Women’s Championship Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion & Raw Women’s Champion ASUKA versus ALEXA BLISS went to a non-finish/no contest.
Asuka soon tossed Bliss about, and went for an arm hold as Bliss remained smiling. Soon Asuka hitting her Missile Dropkick from the middle rope but a Hop Attack missed as Bliss sent Asuka down. Some creepy circus music started playing as, no doubt with the help of editing, Alexa suddenly was on a big rocking horse in the middle of the ring to leave Asuka freaked out.
Back from commerical Asuka was stomping away on Bliss, but missed another Missile Dropkick attempt. Bliss coming back with a Double Knee Drop followed with a Low Dropkick instead of the usual Insult to Injury combo. Bliss stomping and choking away at the Champion before going for a resthold with a grin. A hairpull slam getting a near fall before back to the resthold. Asuka escaped and hit a Kick to the head to get a break. Asuka coming back with the Misdirection knockdown then the Pop-up Knee Strike. Hip Attack to the corner, Sole Kick then the Release German set up the sliding Shining Wizard for a two count.
Another burst of music played, this time Alexa’s old theme song as now Bliss was in her old Goddess ring attire, seeming to be crying. Asuka wasn’t buying it as she tried for a charge but Bliss avoided it. The lights then went out as Fiend Bliss now hung out from the corner. Bliss blocked and avoided shots but the Pop-up Knee didn’t faze Bliss. Bliss fought off the Asuka Lock, but Bliss freed herself from it as she locked on a Manible Claw. Seemingly about to win the match, but Randy Orton (with bright red face and all) appeared. Hitting Bliss with a RKO before the show went off the air.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The WWE is going overboard with multiple forms of Bliss and edited moments and I love it. It’s cheesy and stupid to all Hell but I can’t get enough of it. The non-finish with Bliss taking an RKO was expected to continue the overall storyline between Orton and Bliss, so no complaints there. With the six woman tag, aside from the break with the count-out moment it did its job. Jax needs to work on that Chokeslam though, she’s already hurt enough women without adding a new unsafe move to the mix. Setting up the mess that could be in the Rumble match with multiple women, and carrying on Flair and Evans’ feud. And hey, we’re getting an Asuka match at the Rumble as well! It does seem to lean that none of the women who will be pulling double duty will end up winning the Rumble, unless the WWE is really out of ideas.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven day’s time and we’ll have all the fallout from the Royal Rumble with the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!