Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw the new heel trio of Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai attempt to stamp their brand of Control of Raw and the Women’s Division. But after Becky Lynch was written off of TV with her (legit) arm injury, the trio found they’d made enemies quick in not just Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. Asuka and Alexa Bliss joining forces after Bayley’s crew interrupted their match last week. So who will emerge on top this week, and what news will come after the WWE announced a tournament to crown new Women’s Tag Team Champions would begin this week? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Right at the start of the show, the WWE announced the full brackets for the tournament to crown new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. On the Raw half of the bracket, 24/7 Championship title rivals Dana Brooke and Tamina would join forces to face Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai. While Asuka and Alexa Bliss would face Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. in the other first-round clash. Over on Smackdown, makeshift teams are in full force with Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah teaming to face Xia Li and Shotzi. Sonya Deville and Natalya will team up and battle a duo of NXT Superstars in former NXT Women’s Tag Champ Zoey Stark and social media favourite Nikkita Lyons!
BAYLEY along with IYO SKY and DAKOTA KAI kicked off Raw. Bayley mocking the fans and claiming that the WWE and its ‘uninspired’ Women’s Division needed them. Taking exception to the fans cheering for Bianca Belair and claiming she would be nothing without her. Ranting that their actions were merely trying to light a fire under the other Superstars. Bayley even managing to turn around getting Kai’s name wrong into mocking the fans for yelling too much to make her not think. Kai vowed that she and Sky would enter the tournament and win the Women’s tag titles.
The trio’s enemies of ALEXA BLISS, ASUKA and BIANCA BELAIR then marched down to the ring. Bliss reminding the heels that even if they win tonight, they’d have to face her and Asuka in the next round. Belair said she had unfinished business with them. Bayley one-uped the faces however, challenging them to a three-on-three at the Clash at the Castle event. Belair then kicked off a brawl, going after Bayley while the other women paired off. Leading to a brawl ringside and then into the crowd where Bliss jumped off the barricade to hit a Crossbody on everyone. Officials and referees separated the brawl as the segment ended going to a commercial break.
RHEA RIPLEY continued to aid The Judgement Day. Hauling out Dominik Mysterio with the implication she’d beaten him up to act as a distraction to cost Rey Mysterio a match against Finn Balor.
SARAH SCHREIBER interviewed DANA BROOKE and TAMINA as Brooke claimed she wanted to be a double champion with her familiar rival. Bayley and her crew then rolled up to mock the fact Brooke couldn’t become a tag champ before. Tamina didn’t back down and reminded Bayley she is a former tag champion and dared them to try their luck. Kai mocked her, saying ‘see you later champ’ before Sky taunted in Japanese before simply saying ‘I don’t like you’ as the heels left.
Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament – First Round Match
DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY w/h BAYLEY defeated 24/7 Champion DANA BROOKE & TAMINA
Kai and Brooke started off with Brooke getting the edge first with a Hip Toss counter before hitting a Cartwheel Stomp to get a count of one. Tamina was soon tagged in and showed off her power, hitting strikes to Kai then knocking Sky off the apron before planting Kai with a Suplex. Kai went to the floor to recover but Tamina tagged to Brooke, allowing Brooke to fly off the top rope to the floor with a Crossbody to take out both Kai and Sky.
After a commercial break Kai was in control of Brooke with a seated Surfboard, before Brooke tried to sneak a roll-up getting a near fall but then taking a Head Kick. Sky tagged in as the heels showed off double teaming with a whip sending Brooke into a Big Boot, staggering her and Sky hit a low dropkick to sent Brooke down for an Axe Kick from Kai. A Low Dropkick from Sky getting a near fall. Sky worked over Brooke in the heel corner with a Running Crossbody-like charge to the gut, then hitting the Spring out Meteora to Brooke seated in the corner. Still only getting a near fall as Kai was tagged in to work over Brooke while the fans chanted ‘Bayley Sucks!’. Kai tried for a Headscissors but got Powerbombed by Brooke for a two count.
Kai and Sky tried to prevent a tag even after Sky was tagged in, but Brooke still got it as Tamina grabbed Sky while on the apron to run Sky along to drive her head into the top turnbuckle a few times. Dropping Sky with a Clothesline when Tamina got into the ring and stopping Kai from coming in with a Side Kick before charging into Sky in the corner. Sky came back with strikes and a Shotei palm strike, only to eat a Superkick to set up a Samoan Drop. Kai broke up the pin attempt and that led to Brooke and kai going to the floor. Bayley pulling Kai out of harm’s way as Brooke’s Handspring Elbow ended up hitting the barricade.
As Tamina and Sky fought up top, Kai sneaked in a blind tag. Tamina going for the Superfly Splash but managed to land on her feet when Sky brought the feet up. But this left Tamina open as Kai hit a Scorpion Kick to set up her Running Big Boot in the corner. Sky tagged in and hitting the Over The Moonsault to pin Tamina as ‘Control’ advanced.
DOUDROP and NIKKI A.S.H. had a promo as they claimed they’d win next week, and crush Asuka and Alexa’s Bliss’ dreams. Asuka and Bliss tried to count with their own promo but they ended up interrupted by Bayley’s crew who taunted about Asuka being Bliss’ new ‘doll’ toy.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Brooke and Tamina got in a surprising amount of offence in the match, considering both how much of a joke the 24/7 title is along with how the new heel trio, unofficially called Control, has been pushed. It did make for a fine match with the right outcome, even if next week’s match result appears obvious. Going with a six-woman tag at Clash at the Castle is a different match than the expected title defence but perhaps they are saving Belair versus Bayley until Kai and Sky get the tag titles? It’s also a nice surprise to see NXT Superstars called up for the tournament but will the national audience take to Nikkita Lyons as much as the Internet has?
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!