Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Survivor Series is in the history books and Team Belair emerged as the winners of the Women’s War Games Match. But will that really be the end of issues between Belair and Bayley? And with many weeks now until the next Premium Live Event special, how will the Women’s Championship picture unfold as we head towards the new year and the star of the Road to WrestleMania? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Fresh off her return to action at Survivor Series, BECKY LYNCH kicked off Raw with an in-ring promo. Or at least, started there but playing up to the fans she went into the crowd to slap hands. Cutting more of her promo from the arena steps after asking fans (we’re sure they aren’t plants!) their names. Referencing how the landscape has changed a bit since she’s been out with injury but said she was ready to slap the faces off of anyone new and old on the roster.
Outraged, BAYLEY came out and mocked Lynch for hanging out with the ‘idiot peasants’. Ranting from the ring at Lynch (still in the crowd) that she wasn’t getting any respect for putting her body on the line for months, but the fans are cheering for Lynch just after one match. Lynch defended the fans and pointed out that Baylkey had been losing all those tough matches including War Games.
Bayley dared Lynch to come fight her, but approaching from the arena stairs were DAKOTA KAI and IYO SKY who started off the brawl. Fighting with Lynch up the stairs as Bayley rushed in to join the three-on-one but as the brawl went out into the arena hall Lynch still handled herself against the odds. The fight going to a gimmicked merch stand with Lynch using a necklace like brass knuckles before Bayley hit her in the back with a metal lunchbox. Lynch still managing to survive a three-on-one before security and referees finally stepped in to separate things.
Women’s Singles Match
RHEA RIPLEY w/h Dominick Mysterio versus ‘Michin’ MIA YIM ended in a no-contest
After the confusion from last week, Yim is being billed as Michin as a nickname rather than a new in-ring name. But Yim came out without her so-called friends in the O.C. Yim got the edge early, avoiding a Big Boot and hitting Arm Drags to force Ripley to bail out to the floor. Coming back in, Ripley took control with a Knee Lift to the gut, then a leg trip before charging Yim to the corner for Shoulder Thrusts. Ripley mouthed off a bit, only to get lured in as Yim countered a corner charge to lock on the Tarantula on the ropes.
Mysterio tried to act as a distraction, but Yim avoided a cheap shot from behind on the floor to instead strike Ripley and send her back in. Yim got a takedown and some grounded strikes in, only to be shoved off as Ripley came back with a combo. A shot to the gut, stomp[ing on Yim’s foot, then doing a Facecrusher to her knee before decking Yim with a Clothesline. Yim taking a couple of hard Irish Whips into opposite corners to leave her hitting the canvas. A delayed Suplex getting Ripley a two count.
Ripley paid for being too cocky and shoving Yim’s face down to the mat. Yim coming back with Knees to the head then a round of kicks before hitting a Shotgun Dropkick. Soon after vaulting through the ropes to hit a nice Tornado DDT for a near fall. Yim went for Eat Defeat but Ripley blocked it, and then tried for the Riptide only for Yim to counter with a spiking DDT. Ripley went to the floor, and when Yim tried to do a dive Mysterio climbed up onto the ropes to stop Yim from running the ropes.
So Yim yanked the ropes to make Mysterio tumble in. But Ripley decked Yim from behind as Mysterio cowered away. As Ripley clubbed away at Yim, AJ Styles ran down and went after Mysterio in the ring. Causing the referee to throw the match out thanks to the brawling men as Styles tackled Mysterio and the two men collided into Ripley to break up her attack. After a brief brawl between all the members of The O.C. and The Judgment Day it led to a challenge for a full on four-against-four tag match.
Eight-Person Mixed Tag Team Match
The Judgement Day (RHEA RIPLEY, Damien Priest, Dominick Mysterio & Finn Balor) defeated The O.C. (MIA YIM, AJ Styles, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows)
The ‘match’ just started with an all-out brawl with men going off against the men around ringside and on the stage, while Yim sent Ripley into the ring steps. The men handled most of the match but at one point Ripley was tagged in to get in a body shot on Anderson before quickly tagging out. At the late stage of the match Ripley broke up a pin attempt by AJ Styles, and moments later both she and Yim were tagged in to both be legal.
Yim fired off chops then Dropkicks, then moments later hitting a sliding Kick to a kneeling Ripley. A Running Boot in the corner setting up a side-style Cannonball by Yim. Yim getting her dive this time with a Suicide Dive to Ripley on the floor. After the men fought it out a bit more, Yim returned to the ring a dropped Finn Balkor with a Bodyslam! She tried going after Dominick Mysterio but Ripley hit her from behind, before landing the Riptide to pin Yim relatively clean and win it for the Judgement Day.
CATHEY KELLEY interviewed CANDICE LERAE backstage. Before the interview, a recap was shown of how LeRae had been ‘injured’ by Damage CTRL last month. And even before Kelley approached LeRae, NIKKI CROSS appeared to be creeping peering out from behind an equipment case before vanishing. LeRae tried to be fired up about getting payback on Dakota Kai but it sounded super soft and not that believable.
Women’s Singles Match
CANDICE LERAE defeated Women’s tag Team Champion DAKOTA KAI
Because of the first hour of Raw being ‘ad-free’ we were forced to watch in-picture adverts as LeRae jumped Kai during her entrance, sending Kai into the crown barrier then the ring apron before the ringside barrier. The match finally starting in the ring what looked like scrappy shots by LeRae, before hitting a Suplex for just a count of one.
Bayley and Iyo Sky tried to come down to the ring but a pack of officials and referees blocked them just at the end of the aisle. LeRae distracted and even going out of the ring to dare Damage CTRL to get some of her. When the match finally went to full screen Kai hit a Pump Kick. Le Rae got a Sunset Flip in for a near fall and got more two counts off pin holds. A rather wild looking Clothesline got Kai a two count.
Later in the match LeRae hit a Perfect-Mare followed by a Jackknife Pin for a two count. Another Pump Kick by Kai put LeRae down. LeRae avoided taking a Facewash running boot, but moments later missed a Shoulder Thrust through the ropes as Kai booted her in the side of the head. Another rough looking spot happened LeRae attempting some sort of Complete Shot onto the apron but it looked very messy to leave Kai hanging up. The following Missile Dropkick looking far better but just getting a near fall.
LeRae tried for a dive but Kai counted with a big Kick. After a proper advert break Kai was hitting Kawada Kicks but LeRae came back with shops and strikes. Moments later LeRae hitting a Bridging Wrist-clutch Back Suplex for a two count. A Leap of Faith by LeRae just eating a Superkick to give Kai a near fall. Kair hit her Running Big Boot to the corner, but a follow up PK was ducked as LeRae got a near fall off a Roll-up. A Lionsault attempt by LeRae ate only canvas. After an exchange of blows, and again a less than perfect display of it, Kai hit the Scorpion Kick then the Go-2-Kick but LeRae kicked out at two.
LeRae was set up on top, and got hit with a counter kick but it almost made Lerae tumble right down so she had to be pushed back onto the corner again. LeRae blocking a Suplerplex attempt and hitting her Super Swinging Neckbreaker to get the upset win over half of the Tag team Champions.
Cathy Kelley interviewed ALEXA BLISS, ASUKA and Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR. The video screen behind Bliss flashed up the Bray Wyatt/Uncle Howdy static. As Belair bragged about ending the issues with Damage CTRL Bliss appeared to be off in her own thoughts even as Asuka chipped in in her native tongue. When Kelley finally pressed Bliss for any thoughts, Bliss snapped out of her stare and just brushed it off, putting on a smile and saying that adding Lynch was a great call. Clearly unsettling Belair and Asuka.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
From the announcers it seems like The O.C. and Judgement Day storyline will be continuing. That might be a little tricky after Yim took a relatively clean loss here tonight against Ripley but we’ll see what happens next. Meanwhile, Kai and LeRae did not put on a stellar match and all the fault has to go on LeRae there. She was not on point during the match at all and questions have to be asked about if it was a wise decision to bring her back to WWE if she can’t step up to the level of a Superstar. Obviously, the WWE is moving on storylines but I can’t say I’m, thrilled with the idea of Lerae being in a big spot or even title match after this performance.
Elsewhere Lynch against Bayley has some exciting potential and we got a more clear sign of Bliss showing off her more unhinged side this week after weeks of brief teases. Belair against Bliss should make for a great feud if that’s what they’re going with, but will the feud be too bogged down with supernatural stuff if it’s just going to be tied in with Bray Wyatt’s own ‘self’ feud?
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!
