Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The Hell in a Cell Premium Live Event is approaching this Sunday, but we’ve got a loaded stop before we reach the weekend. A big non-title clash between Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and Asuka, ahead of Becky Lynch added into the mix for the Triple Threat Match at the PLE. Plus, after more than a month of hype and videos, Lacey Evens has been advertised to be making her in-ring return this week. So who is gonna come out on top ahead of Hell in a Cell? Let’s get into it, and find out…
BECKY LYNCH came to the ring to kick off the show. Ranting at the fans for wishing for her downfall and claiming she was fuelled by coffee and spite. Shutting down an attempted chant for her by continuing to rant as she claimed she collected enemies, not friends or fans. Lynch recapping how two years ago she handed over her then Raw Women’s Championship after the 2020 Money in the Bank. ASUKA soon interrupted and using her Big Time Baby insult, and saying no one was ready for her. BIANCA BELAIR then came out, and a typical weak promo seemed to be being padded out by the production truck pipping in gasps and ‘ooohs’ of fake crowd noise. Belair claiming she did all her talking in the ring (she hadn’t completed the last two weeks) and even with the odds against her she’d leave with her title.
Lynch hit Belair with a cheap shot, kicking off a brawl that saw Asuka and Belair shoving one another away to try and get a piece of Lynch, before Lynch escaped out of a KOD attempt to land on the apron. Only for Asuka to knock her off with a Hip Attack.
Non-Title Women’s Singles Match
Raw Women’s Champion BIANCA BELAIR defeats ASUKA
Lynch stuck around to be on guest commentary as the competitors traded mat work then shoulder checks which Belair got the better of. Lynch ranted on commentary about being crafty as the Superstar in the ring traded flips before Asuka made Belair pay for being too cute, giving a kick to the gut when Belair did a handstand. After more flips, finally Belair hit a Single Leg Dropkick before kipping up. Belair, despite being a babyface, tossed Asuka by the hair a couple of times across the ring before Asuka used a Drop Toe Hold counter to catch Belair coming in.
Belair hit a Suplex but trying to roll through Asuka countered the second, rolling through with the leg picked to apply an Ankle Lock. When Asuka grounded the hold, Belair managed to turn it into a Wheelbarrow position but Asuka switched up into a Front Choke. Belair powered out it to hit a Suplex then the Handspring Moonsault for a two count. Asuka went for an Arm Bar, but turning it into a Triangle Choke Belair powered her opponent up and onto the ropes, leading to both women tumbling over and down to the floor.
After a commercial break, Belair got control with a Fallaway Slam then kipping up. Belair absorbed a Clothesline but got rocked with kicks before a Spinning Backfist set up a Release German Suplex. A low Running Hip Attack got Asuka a near fall while Lynch raved that while these women were beating each other up she could pick up the scraps on Sunday. Asuka took too much time going up top, letting herself be distracted by Lynch as she mouthed off at the women not even in the match (or had even been provoking her) as Belair caught her up top. Belair tried for a Superplex but Asuka blocked, and while Belair avoided a strike with a backflip to the mat it left her open for Asuka to hit a Missle Dropkick to get a near fall.
After avoiding a Hip Attack to corner and slamming Asuka’s head into the top bad a few times, Belair went for a KOD but Asuka fought out but seemingly tweaked her knee on the landing, having to roll to the floor for a break. Belair went to the floor and sent Asuka back in, but taking a moment to mouth off at Lynch gave Asuka break enough to hit the Pop-Up Knee Strike for a near fall. Belair powered out from an Asuka Lock attempt, hitting the Glam Slam but Asuka rolled away from another Handspring Moonsault attempt. Asuka tried for a La Magistral pin but Belair countered into a sloppy looking pin of her own to steal the win.
Immediately, Lynch stormed the ring as tossed Belair out before hitting a Bex-ploder Suplex on Asuka. Then hitting a she
Women’s Singles Match
ALEXA BLISS defeated DOUDROP w/h NIKKI A.S.H.
Doudrop controlled early with a Clothesline then a corner Splash. A Short-arm Clothesline for a Doudrop a near fall. Bliss avoided another corner splash, hitting a Headscissors then bringing Doudrop down for a Knee Strike, then two Low Dropkicks. Doudrop caught Bliss coming off the ropes, countering a Crossbody into a Front Slam but missed the following Senton attempt. Doudrop shut Bliss down with a Shoulder Check, but again missed a big move when the Vader Bomb attempt hit only canvas. Ash tried to distract when Bliss went up top but just got kicked down, and Bliss then hit Twisted Bliss for another victory.
The 24/7 Championship nonsense interrupted Miz TV with the Street Profits as DANA BROOKE had to run around ringside to avoid Akira Tozawa before she got into a fight with TAMINA in between other men fighting and The Street Profits taking them out. Eventually the women tried for moves, with Brooke missing a Handspring Elbow before Tamina hit a Samoan Drop to pin Brooke and win the title. However, in celebration, Tamina smooched her ‘ex’ husband Tozawa, only for him to use a Backslide and pin her to run off with the title! Is this the end of the women being in the 24/7 picture?
Women’s Singles Match
LIV MORGAN defeated RHEA RIPLEY
It was announced before the match that Liv Morgan, Finn Balor and AJ Styles would face off in a six-person Mixed Tag Team Match against The Judgement Day at Hell in a Cell. Morgan hit a Dropkick early but Ripley came back with a Headbutt. Morgan tried for a roll-up but Ripley blocked, missing a stomp but again using a Headbutt to stun Morgan. Morgan got tossed across the ring but countered a Powerslam attempt into a Sleeper Hold, keeping the hold applied even after being driven into three corners. A dropback counter allowed Ripley to get a near fall.
A Drop Toe Hold sent Ripley into the ropes, setting up a Dropkick to the back. Moments later, the women did counters at ringside and to the apron which led to Ripley blocking a Headscissors by Morgan off the apron, swinging Morgan into the barricade instead. After a commercial break, Damien Priest and AJ Styles were out ringside in their respective corners as Morgan avoided one Kingdom Falls attempt but got slammed with the second. Morgan getting locked in restholds before bridging back for a pin attempt, but getting shut down with a Clothesline right after.
Ripley bad-mouthed Morgan, only firing her up as Morgan blocked a Headbutt attempt then hit her trio of kicks. Morgan hit the Knee Strike in the corner but missed the Back Elbow, but managed to dodge the incoming charge as Ripley hit the ringpost shoulder-first then tumbled to the floor. Morgan then going up top, and hitting a huge Crossbodyall the way to Ripley on the floor. Sending Ripley back in, Morgan tried for ObLIVion but similar to last week, Priest held onto Ripley’s ring gear to prevent the move. But this time Morgan kicked out of the stacked pin that followed. AJ Styles took out Priest on the outside. A slight distraction that allowed Morgan to escape out of a Riptide attempt before hitting a Backstabber and then getting the win off a stacked, Ripley-like press pin. The referee didn’t actually hit the mat for the three count but Ripley’s shoulders stayed down and didn’t kick out, so the match ended anyway.
After the match the numbers game worked against The Judgement Day as Finn Balor appeared as the men got payback on Priest before Morgan hit a Missile Dropkick on Ripley to make a statement.
Despite having previously been advertised, Lacey Evans did not get any match on the show.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A tough break for Lacey Evans as even on Memorial Day in the US, which would have held a place in her heart for pre-WWE careers, she had her match cut so we got more pointless promo sessions and the 24/7 Title nonsense. The Asuka-Belair match was a good one once they got past Belair’s flips and gave Lynch heat with the post-match brawl. While Morgan finally got a well-deserved win but still one that Ripley could take since it’s likely her side will win at Hell in a Cell. With the rumours that Brooke and Tamina might form a team for the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament coming up, I wouldn’t be against them being removed from the 24/7 title garbage.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days’ time where we’ll have all the fallout from Hell in a Cell in the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!