Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! This week will see a Halloween-themed edition of Raw with Natalya going against Chelsea Green in a ‘Trick or Treat’ Street Fight Match. Along with a long overdue match on Raw for Xia Li as she faces Candice LeRae. With these matches on the show, will they overshadow the build for the Fatal Five-Way Match at Crown Jewel for the Women’s World Championship? And what’s next for Becky Lynch after the upset loss of the NXT Women’s Championship last week? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Women’s World Champion RHEA RIPLEY led Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh to the ring to kick off Raw. Bragging about The Judgement Day’s dominance of Raw. Ripley fired up the guys for their matches on the show and warned Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins that they needed to make a decision soon, and one that could decide which one of them walked out of Crown Jewel as the men’s World Champion.
Ripley then admitted she had the odds stacked against her at Crown Jewel. But claimed it was a chance for her to prove why she was the baddest women in all the WWE. Sami Zayn then interrupted the promo, leading to Ripley deciding to put Damien Priest in a match against Zayn.
That segment led right to a match between Ricochet and Dominik Mysterio, with McDonagh and Ripley staying at ringside for the bout. Ripley would provide a distraction that led to Mysterio stealing the win. Ripley also had to pull Mysterio to safety when Ricochet tried to get some payback after the match.
RAQUEL RODRIQUEZ got a hype video ahead of Crown Jewel. The same kind of videos would air for NIA JAX, SHAYNA BASZLER, ZOEY STARK and Rhea Ripley during the show.
MAXXINE DUPRI accompanied The Alpha Academy for their open challenge match. It was answered by debuting team from NXT The Diamond Mine of The Creed Brothers, accompanied by IVY NILE. Late in the match, Dupri got on the apron to try and motivate her team, leading to Nile pulling her from the apron so she could do the same, just to be yanked down as well. That led to Nile delivering a German Suplex to Akira Tozawa on the floor. A distraction that eventually led to the Creed Brothers getting the upset win.
Backstage in the Judgement Day locker room, Damien Priest objected to Ripley acting as a leader and deciding matches for the rest of them. Ripley tried to downplay that, claiming there were no leaders in the group. But there was a clear negative reaction from Priest after he buttered up the group but once Ripley looked away, he gave her a sour look.
Singles Match
XIA LI defeated CANDICE LERAE w/h INDI HARTWELL
Both Li and LeRae got hype videos before the match. Li tried for a Big Boot to kick things off but LeRae avoided it and pummelled Li with strikes into a corner. A Back Elbow in the corner led to a Snapmare then LeRae’s Step-up Senton for just a count of one. Li rolled out of the ring and lured LeRae in, tripping the leg and swinging LeRae to hang off the apron to deliver a chop. Covering LeRae with the apron skirting and hitting a Knee Strike to the side of the head.
Back in the ring Li ran into a Big Boot counter than a Back Elbow, before a Roll-up got another count of one. Li hit a Jumping Knee then her signature Tornado Kick she calls Sudden Impact. LeRae sold it like death and acted like she had a concussion, and the referee called the match off saying LeRae couldn’t continue. Awarding the match to Li who gloated as Hartwell, refs and a trainer checked on LeRae.
Adam Pearce was harassed backstage by Women’s Tag Team Champions CHELSEA GREEN and PIPER NIVEN who were dressed up for Halloween as The Hart Foundation. Complaining about the Trick or Street Fight but Pearce didn’t want to hear it. They left when VALHALLA and Erik showed up to talk about the Intercontinental title contendership.
JACKIE REDMOND interviewed BECKY LYNCH. Lynch briefly put over Lyra Valkyria before she bragged that in her short reign, she’d defended her title more times than either Roman Reigns or Rhea Ripley had. Xia Li interrupted, mocking Lynch for having been scared of her and then losing the title before giving her a shot at it. Lynch dared her to fight now, but with a grin Li declined, saying she’d do it on her time (once again). Something that outraged Lynch who ranted that she’s been saying that for three weeks now.
Trick or Street Fight Match
Women’s Tag Team Champion CHELSEA GREEN w/h PIPER NIVEN defeated NATALYA
Natalya came out in a Bunny Girl sort of costume but with a whip as well. The ring was set up with countless carved pumpkins and there were tables with sweets on the outside along with an apple bobbing bucket. Green hit a hairpull slam and then called for Niven to slide in a cream pie that she drove into Natalya’s face (probably triggering Toni Storm somewhere) before slamming Natalya’s face into the remains of it a few times. Green hit a Superkick to deck Natalya, giving a break so Green (and Niven) could chuck the bowls of Candy into the ring to leave the sweets scattered.
Natalya went to the outside and blocked a ‘Candy Corn’ Kendo Stick shot to then use it on Green. A Discus Clothesline sent Green over into the timekeeper’s area, but Green used a handily placed trashcan to use the lid of to whack Natalya. The heels positioned a table by the barricade, putting Natalya on it, and Green used Niven to walk along the barrier. A little too much time taken as Green crashed herself through the table with an attempted Senton when Natalya rolled off of it.
Moments later, Natalya dunked Green’s head into the apple bobbing bucket a few times. Soon after, she scooped both Niven and Green on the outside for an attempted Double Sharpshooter. Just to be kicked off and sent into a ring post as a plastic skeleton came crashing down. After that, Natalya tried to use a carved pumpkin as a weapon but Green blocked. Trying to do the same but when she lifted one off a table, NIKKI CROSS was there with her head poked through the table as she stared blankly. Freaking Green out so she dropped the pumpkin onto her head to mask herself. Stumbling around for a moment before Natalya drove her head (without the pumpkin) into the table.
Natalya got sent into the ring steps. Back in the ring Green dumped a pile of Candy Corn sweets into the ring, only to take a Sit-Out Powerbomb into them by Nataya for a near fall. Natalya locked in The Sharpshooter but Niven got onto the apron to distract. Trying to hold Natalya but she escaped, so a cream pie meant for her hit Niven in the face instead. Natalya hit a Discus Clothesline that knocked Niven from the apron, but Green hit a rough I’m Prettier to get the win. A nonsense gimmick match that was silly, harmless fun.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The Trick or Street Fight was typical WWE goofy holiday gimmick nonsense. No real harm done and we can forget all about it next week. After countless brawls, the hype videos were a solid, effective way to put over all the women in the Fatal Five-Way. Meanwhile, Xia Li’s sudden knockout win was a surprise and might be a good way to put her over as a threat. Especially against Becky Lynch who could be protected if she takes that kind of loss rather than a pin or similar.
That’s your lot for this week. Be sure to stop by for the next edition of the RAW RECAP in seven days’ time. See you then!