Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We are on the final few days before WrestleMania, with this being one of the final shows before the major two-night event. So who will get the last pieces of momentum before the biggest show of the year? And which women’s tag team will claim the last spot for the Four-Way Showcase Match? Let’s get into it, and find out…
The Miz hosted Miz TV with special guests TRISH STRATUS, and the Women’s Tag Team Champions BECKY LYNCH and LITA. The Miz heeling it up, pointing out Lynch couldn’t get the job done on her own so needed reinforcements. After a couple insults, Lynch admitted her plan to end Damage CTRL at WarGames didn’t work out, and claimed that the two other women in the ring were Superstars she respected more than anyone else. Miz tried to provoke Lita, questioning why she and Stratus would come back and just be back-up but Lita pointed out she was half of the Tag Team Champions.
DAMAGE CTRL made their expected interruption. Bayley spitting venom, accusing the Hall of Famers of treating the Mania encounter like it was just another match, and insulting by saying they were only relevant 20 years ago. Bayley even using the crowd’s tired What chant against them while raging that Mania was now a different kind of ‘dream match’ for the three of them. Lynch yelled back her response, and it didn’t really work because all it amounted to was ineffective shouting, claiming Bayley and her ‘lackies’ weren’t doing anything. And after all of Lynch’s yelling the segment just ended with Lynch tossing the mic down and the two trios having a stare-down and some more yelling.
Singles Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion BECKY LYNCH w/h LITA & TRISH STRATUS defeated IYO SKY w/h BAYLEY & DAKOTA KAI
Lynch clubbed Sky down early then sent her to a corner for stomps, before hitting a Running Forearm to the corner then her Springboard Kick. Two Bex-Ploder suplexes followed before Sky was set up between the ropes with strikes. Lynch going for the Leg Drop spot but Damage CTRL pulled Sky to safety leaving Lynch to land on her feet. Stratus and Lita faced off with the others on the floor, and Lynch made the mistake of going after Bayley, leaving her open to take a kick from Sky.
Lynch took stomps in a corner then a vaulting Meteora smash, leading to a one count. Later on, the women traded strikes with Lynch getting the better of it. Sky countered with misdirection and a Shotei, but Lynch came right back with a Jumping Forearm Smash. Moments later Lynch rallied with a House on Fire combo of Clotheslines and a Single Leg Dropkick. Using a Baseball Slide to catch Sky on the floor, setting up a Jumping Forearm Smash from off the apron. Moments later, back in the ring Lynch countered a counter Slam to her Bex-Ploder attempt with a slightly rough-looking Reverse DDT for a two count.
Sky countered a Man-Handle Slam with a Samson Clutch before jumping out from the grip to nail a Double Stomp to Lynch on the canvas. Getting Sky a near-fall as the show went to a commercial break. Coming back as Lynch hit a Superplex but Sky kicked out at two. Sky countering a Dis-Arm-Her by shoving Lynch to the ropes, hitting a Delayed German Suplex but not able to keep the bridge held, so rolled through and her a perfect second one to get a near fall. Lynch blocked a Double Underhook attempt, and hit a Bex-Ploder. Moments later, Sky defyed gravity as she used the bottom rope to spring up to the top rope, just to hit a Springboard Dropkick to knock Lynch from the top down to the floor.
An Asai Moonsault from Sky to Lynch on the floor got Sky a nearfall once back in the ring. Sky went for the Over the Moonsault but only hit canvas. Lynch tried for the Dis-Arm-Her but Sky countered with a Roll-up, only to be countered with a Small Package for a two count. A Man-Handle Slam getting Lynch a clean win much to the fury of Damage CTRL.
Asuka got a hype video package with Superstars putting her over, including WWE Hall of Famer Molly Holly. Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair also got videos as well.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties.
CHELSEA GREEN once again infuriated WWE Official Adam Pearce backstage, angered about not getting her WrestleMania match. SONYA DEVILLE appeared and joined in to mock Pearce. Pearce quickly making the two of them tag partners, and put them into the last Showcase Qualifying Match tonight against Michin and Candice LeRae.
RHEA RIPLEY was interviewed backstage, mocking her WrestleMania opponent and vowing that she ‘must’ defeat Flair and become the biggest the star in the company. Saying it was Flair’s legacy against her destiny.
VALHALLA accompanied The Viking Raiders as they took part in an eight-man tag team match which involved Alpha Academy. So of course, MAXXINE DUPRI watched the bout from backstage and wasn’t too pleased seeing Alpha Academy being on the same page.
Former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler, who never won any championships in her career, was announced as being this year’s female WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
WrestleMania Showcase Qualifying Match
CHELSEA GREEN & SONYA DEVILLE defeated CANDICE LERAE & MICHIN Mia Yim
Michin and Deville started off with Michin using misdirection to build speed and hit a Dropkick. NIKKI CROSS being seen in the background in the crowd watching the match but the commentators not acknowledging it. Michin hitting a Running Boot to the corner, but Green provided a distraction so Michin missed a Cannonball attempt. Green getting the tag as the heels worked Michin over with boot chokes and slaps. Michin managed to counter a Double Team Suplex attempt, hitting dualling Neckbreakers instead.
LeRae got the tag and hit a messy Crossbody onto both opponents. Green tried for a Ripcord move but LeRae ducked and ran the ropes to hit a Jumping Clothesline. Soon following up with her Step-up Back Senton. Michin was tagged back in as the faces hit a double team, with a Wheelbarrow Suplex being used as LeRae swung the momentum of it to make Michin hit a Splash onto Green. Deville broke the pin up, and soon after hit the Eye of the Hurricane to LeRae. Michin hit a Dropkick to take out Deville, but only briefly as moments later Deville hit a cheap shot punch as Green distracted the referee. Leading to Green hitting The Unprettier to steal the win.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
It was really disappointing to see basic hype for the Raw (and Smackdown) Women’s Championship matches with only a hype video and a brief interview. If they are the big matches they should be, then they should have gotten a lot more than just this. It doesn’t bode well for the matches at Mania. And with the way it’s gotten all the attention, you’d think they were going to put the Six-Woman Tag as the Night One main event. It was another night of Damage CTRL being on the losing end (although Sky versus Lynch was a great match) and unless a massive swerve is pulled at Mania, the result will likely be the same of the Legends and Lynch going over. Meanwhile, Carmella is out and Deville is in, which seems to indicate that the people in power like what they see in Green’s character to make sure she got on the show no matter what.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days time for the always eventful Raw After Wrestling with the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!