Hello one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Things are heating up now after WrestleMania with Charlotte Flair attempting to force her way into the title conversation alongside Asuka and Rhea Ripley. However, Flair’s plan backfired last week as she was robbed off a match versus Asuka thanks to Ripley’s unseen interference. That caused Flair to snap and attack a referee, leading to a (on TV) suspension. So will Flair defy the ruling and storm Raw regardless? Or will Ripley and Asuka focus on one another? And will the WWE continue with the lame duck of the clumsy Jax storyline? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Maryse was not at the side of her husband tonight like the previous weeks.
SONYA DEVILLE made her return to WWE TV, being named as WWE Official rather than just an assistant. She opened a door backstage so CHARLOTTE FLAIR could walk in, as the two headed off.
The reasons why were explained as Deville was in the ring and introduced Flair. They even brought the referee who was attacked last week and showed a replay of the attack footage. Flair then gave a clearly fake apology for her actions. The referee, looking like he was being forced into this, accepted it and admitted he should have awarded Flair the match if he’d seen Ripley interfere. Deville said that because of that and Flair paying her fine, Flair’s suspension was lifted. Flair showed her true colours however by ordering the referee to apologise for his mistake. The other lead WWE official Adam Pierce confronted the two backstage, and clearly called out Deville for acting on her own on this.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed Raw Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY backstage. Ripley mocked Flair’s fake apology and vowed that she’d focus on staying champion while Flair roughed up referees.
Backstage the Women’s Tag Team Champions NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER (sadly with Reginald back) complained about Flair’s return. Baszler started off some bickering by saying their team needed no distractions, including Reginald. Of course, when Baszler left Jax was instantly distracted as Angel Garza had flowers delivered much to Reginald’s annoyance. Jax would walk off with them, but used the flowers to wallop MANDY ROSE in the face as she and DANA BROOKE were sat at a make-up table.
ALEXA BLISS was briefly seen swinging on her Playground with her doll Lily a couple of times, before she had a segment. Bliss saying it was time to unleash her onto the rest of the WWE.
Six Woman Tag Team Match
Raw Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY & Women’s Tag Team Champions NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER w/h Reginald defeated ASUKA, LANA & NAOMI
Asuka and Baszler started off, as Ripley had no interest in starting against rival Asuka. Asuka and Baszler traded counters and arm holds, but Ripley only tagged in when Asuka was knocked down. Ripley tossing Asuka but soon taking the Pop-up Knee Strike. Naomi got a tag to hit a Jumping Splash to Ripley in the corner, and Lana tagged in so Ravishing Glow could do a Double Team Rolling Snapmare into hitting front and back Kicks at the same time. Lana barely got a one count, but got a near fall off a Roll-up counter to a Wheelbarrow. A Ripley Headbutt soon shut Lana down, and a Suplex got Ripley a two count.
Lana was worked over by a Legscissors Dragon Sleeper, and during that Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose walked out. Baszler went to contront them, and got a bucket of water tossed onto her for her trouble. No, seriously. Oh, and then Jax (continuing her clumsy storyline) then slipped on all the water.
After a commercial things were reset as Lana was worked over by Ripley before Baszler took over duties. Lana hit her Tilt-a-whirl into the Russian Legsweep, and got the tag to Asuka who took Ripley off the apron with a Hip Attack. Asuka hit Jax with the Double Knee Attack as she tried to come in, and hit a Sliding Hip Attack on Baszler for a two count. Asuka hit some Kawada Kicks, and managed to block a Baszler Knee Strike but Baszler got the second. Jax was tagged in, as Asuka was sent in for a Body Slam then a Running Elbow for a near fall. A corner Splash followed then the Samoan Drop but a second Splash hit nothing but corner.
Naomi tagged in, and hit a Crossbody for barely a one count. Jax no sold some Flying Elbows, but a Disaster Kick finally dropped Jax to a knee. Setting up a Headscissors Driver but Baszler broke up the pin. Reginald distracted Naomi, allowing Jax to clobber her. Ripley was tagged and she hit Kingdom Falls but Asuka broke the cover up. Lana got a blind tag, so Ripley didn’t see as she hit Riptide on Naomi, and turned around to eat a Crossbody from Lana for a near fall. Jax decked Asuka on the floor to wipe her out, while Lana tried to steal a win off a Crucifix but only got two. Lana soon took the Riptide, and Jax was tagged to hit a Running Legdrop for the three count.
Backstage Rose and Brooke were confronted by Deville as Deville announced that Rose would face Flair next.
Women’s Singles Match
CHARLOTTE FLAIR defeated MANDY ROSE w/h DANA BROOKE
The women traded cartwheel counters, and then more counter work before a Clothesline took Rose down. Flair trying to use the ropes to steal the win early but Brooke pointed it out. Rose hit some Shoulder Thrusts to the corner, but soon ate the Queen’s Boot. Rose hit a Missile Dropkick after being set up on top for a two count. Rose hit a round of strikes, but when Rose sent Flair across to a corner she almost hit the referee who she had attacked last week. Flair hit another Queen’s Boot, and when she didn’t get the three count she blamed the referee and ranted. Rose got a Roll-up but only a two count, then the Pump Knee Strike for another two count. Flair hit her corner combo, and that set up Natural Selection for the victory.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
There’s a lot to take in from this week. Sonya Deville now being the heel authority figure and clearly biased towards Flair. A potential referee storyline harking back to Flair’s father having a personal referee who would call matches in his favour. Jax now having two love interests, while there’s two tag teams who keep suffering losses yet are pitched as the leading challengers (at least on Raw). Not forgetting that Ripley and Asuka are still at odds over the Raw Women’s Championship. Oh, and whatever spooky stuff is going on with Alexa Bliss. Aside from the corny nature of Jax being clumsy, it’s all actually headed in an interesting direction. Granted we still don’t know what title matches we’ll get for the Raw women at WrestleMania Backlash but at least at this junction it all appears to be looking positive. Both the matches themselves were good (aside from the water bucket nonsense) with Rose and Flair being short but sweet.
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!