Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Money in the Bank is just days away and the event will not only feature the high-stakes Ladder Match (the field seemingly set after a planned match for Bayley’s spot in the match was cancelled from Smackdown). Now the Women’s Tag Team Championships will be defended as a returning Liv Morgan now means that she and Raquel Rodriguez will get a shot at the titles they never ‘lost’ against the now unified Tag Champs of Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. So will make the big statements as we make the final stops before the major event? Let’s get into it, and find out…
World Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY and Dominik Mysterio kicked off Raw. Ripley having to take over to speak due to the usual loud booing Mysterio received. Only for Cody Rhodes to interrupt as Mysterio hid behind Ripley again before backing off with Ripley in toe. Later in the show Ripley and Mysterio stormed into Adam Pearce’s office to demand Mysterio get a match on Raw.
Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion RONDA ROUSEY w/h SHAYNA BASZLER defeated RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ w/h LIV MORGAN
There was a recap of the event from Smackdown as Rousey and Baszler unified the WWE and NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships, then Morgan’s return. Rousey was shoved down early before she hit a Bang Kick. Trying for a Judo Throw but Rodriguez’s power blocked it. Another Bang Kick led to a Rousey Front Choke but Rodriguez countered into a Delayed Suplex. Rousey avoided a corner charge, hitting a messy Knee Strike and then locking on the Armbar over the ropes.
Rousey managed to muscle Rodriguez up on her shoulder but Rodriguez escaped, and flattened Rosuey with a Shoulder Knockdown. Moments later Rousey rolled Rodriguez down and applied an Ankle Lock but Rodriguez kicked her off. Rousey managing to counter the Rewind Clothesline into an Armbar attempt but Rodriguez’s power again blocked the move, tossing Rousey back and over. Rodriguez hit a corner Splash then a Fallaway Slam, but going for the Twisting Senton Baszler pulled her partner further into the corner in full view of the ref.
Liv Morgan jumped off the ring steps to tackle Baszler and lay in shots. In the ring Rousey used a takedown into a modified Cradle and got the three count on Rodriguez. Rousey having to flee the ring as an enraged Morgan tried to get her.
Rhea Ripley accompanied Dominik Mysterio as he defeated Akira Tozawa. Ripley as usual providing a distraction to help aid Mysterio to victory.
VALHALLA had a spooky promo video with The Viking Raiders.
The Women’s Money in the Bank Summit saw TRISH STRATUS and ZOEY STARK, BECKY LYNCH and Smackdown’s BAYLEY, IYO SKY and ZELINA VEGA all in the ring. Bayley quickly bragged about being the only woman in the ring, something that got a clear glare from Sky. Sky spoke in Japanese before, with a bit of sarcasm to it, said she hoped the best woman would win. Zelina Vega objected to Damage CTRL dismissing the other competitors before mocking Lynch about her new obsession with having not won the Ladder match. Vega called Stark a ‘groupie’ and noted that Stratus had never been in this kind of match before, as Vega claimed she was the future Miss Money in the Bank much to Bayley’s laughter.
After a bit of bickering between Damage CTRL and Vega, Stratus mocked the women for being ‘little girls’ and said this proved why the Women’s Division needed her to save it. Stratus turning her insults to Lynch, asking if she’d be ‘Man enough’ to say “Thank You Trish”. Lynch just socked Stratus, leading to a brawl with Stark and Stratus going after Lynch while Damage CTRL beat down Vega. Lynch managed to toss her rivals out of the ring before Damage CTRL worked her over. Vega using her flip flop to smack Sky and stun her before sending Bayley into a ladder then hitting a Knee Strike to dump her out. Sky sending Vega out before Sky took out the rest of the women on the floor with a Springboard Moonsault. That left Lynch to easily climb the ladder for a symbolic unhooking of the briefcase.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties. This included NATALYA who continued her sympathy story saying her biggest battle as in her mind and had a fear of giving up. Wanting another match against Rhea Ripley for next week.
There was a backstage confrontation between Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley. Ripley warning preemptively that if Lynch tried to cash in on her it’d be the last thing she did. Lynch countered by pointing out that Ripley has become a main event sidepiece and claimed Ripley wasn’t defending her title (she did so at Night of Champions).
MAXXINE DURPI and Alpha Academy addressed The Viking Raiders.
Rhea Ripley along with Dominik Mysterio would go to ringside as Damien Priest lost to Mysterio’s rival Cody Rhodes. Ripley distracting at one point so Mysterio could get a cheap shot in.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Rousey continues to be clunky in her matches, proving why she needs Baszler to half the load in tag matches. I would be surprised if they took the titles off of them so quickly but you could easily ask what else would they do with either side of this match when they lose since the division lacks so many tag teams who are currently a threat. Meanwhile, the ‘summit’ was painless insult-slinging. Lynch having the final moment seems to scream she’s not winning, and especially after the face-off with Ripley later in the show to set up perhaps a SummerSlam clash. Money in the Bank will be very interesting to see who comes out on top.
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!