Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! 2024 is almost over and we’ll soon embark in the Netflix era of Monday Night Raw and the return to a full three hours of the red brand. Before that, we’ll have the Semi-Finals of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament to wrap up. So who will advance to the Finals? And will either Liv Morgan or Rhea Ripley have the last laugh ahead of their title clash next week? Let’s get into it, and find out…
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties, including one with American Made with IVY NILE. Before she’d accompany Chad Gable to the ring as he faced Otis, accompanied by MAXXINE DUPRI. During the match, things broke down on the outside and Dupri would attack Nile with a Lou Thesz Press and punches. Later, Nile would provide a distraction that allowed Gable to lock in the Ankle Lock and ground it for a tainted win.
RHEA RIPLEY and LIV MORGAN got a hype video ahead of their title match next week with insults directed at one another.
Cracks in The Judgement Day continued to show in the clubhouse as RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ claimed she didn’t now if the absent Liv Morgan had a plan or not, and Finn Balor took advantage of the absence to mock Morgan.
Pure Fusion Collective of SHAYNA BASZLER, SONYA DEVILLE and ZOEY STARK were seen talking in a locker room. As would IYO SKY and DAKOTA KAI, who later would be interviewed as Kai said that PFC attacking Kairi Sane showed the group knew they couldn’t beat Damage CTRL. Kai claimed it would be an honour to face Sky in the finals, and Sky agreed that it would be great. Sky said that while she respected Lyra Valkyria tonight would not be her night.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match
DAKOTA KAI defeated ZOEY STARK w/h IYO SKY
Stark came out along and Sky only accompanied Kai to the entranceway. Kai hit a Pump Kick right from the bell and got some punches in but Stark reversed a whip to a corner before she hit some Shoulder Thrusts. Kai would reverse a whip and tried for a Monkey Flip but Stark impressively landed on her feet. She took too much time celebrating and ate a Clothesline before Kai used a slide to trip up Stark and set her up to hang off the apron for another Pump Kick. Both women tried for moves on the apron, with Stark nailing a Superkick in between attempts, before Kai slipped back into the ring to hit a Lucha Kick. Only to run the ropes and be nailed by Like A Sniper from Stark.
The match went to in-picture for adverts. Back to live action, and Kai rallied with House on Fire Clotheslines and soon after the Kai-Ropractor. The Kaio Kick set up a Facewash Kick for a near fall. Stark would hit an Inverted Slam and the a Low Knee Strike for a two count. Kai countered a Powerbomb into a Yoshi Tonic for a near fall. Stark hit her Rolling DVD then a Low Superkick for a two count. Kai set up Stark for the Springboard Stomp but Stark avoided the shot, but when Stark went for a Springboard Leap of Faith she got caught with a Superkick from Kai. Kai would hit Go-To-Kick and get the victory and advance to the Finals.
ZELINA VEGA was with the LWO as Rey Mysterio pumped up Otis, only for The New Day to mock him for it.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match
LYRA VALKYRIA defeated IYO SKY
Valkyria only got half of her entrance televised. The announcers said the finals for the tournament would be on the Jan 13th edition of Raw rather than part of the loaded Netflix debut. The women traded ground work with Headlock Takeovers and Headscissors counters, before they avoided moves and did flips. Valkyria used a Wheelbarrow into a Samson Clutch for a near fall. Kai was seen watching the match from high seats as Valkyria countered a Leapfrog attempt with a Dropkick to Sky’s knee. Valkyria applied the Mexican Surfboard and then tied up both legs for a couple stomp to work over both knees.
Valkyria hit her Dropkick through the ropes spot, and moments later countered Sky being sat up top in the corner with a Dragon Screw. The match went to in-picture for adverts. Back to live action, and Sky rallied with Shotei strikes then a Dropkick before she hit a Corner Elbow to Valkyria in a corner. Sky hit a Missile Dropkick for a nearfall. Sky tried for the Moonsault but Valkyria caught her up top, but an attempt at perhaps a Super Nightwing was countered as Sky tried for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb. Only for Valkyria to escape that and flip from the corner, hitting a Shotgun Dropkick and then the rope-run Tornado DDT.
Valkyria hit a Fisherwoman’s Buster for a near fall. Sky would escape a Nightwing attempt, and rolled from an O’Connor Roll into a Bridging German Suplex for a two count. Valkyria hit a Spin Kick to the head and then hit a Spinning Neckbreaker out of a Twist of Fate grip for a near fall. Sky would hit a Wheelbarrow into a Sunset Bomb from off the top rope to plant Valkyria down but only got a two count. Sky hit a Moonsault from the top to Valkyria on the floor, followed by the Bullet Train Attack in the ring.
Sky went for Over the Moonsault and when Valkyria rolled away, Sky landed on her feet but that jarred the bad knee worked over earlier in the match. Valkyria would counter another O’Connor Roll attempt into a Bridging Clutch pin to advance to the Finals. Facing Dakota Kai to decide the first Women’s IC Champion in two weeks.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Two great matches in the women’s tournament, although both were harmed by having adverts played during them. Going for an all-face final is a surprise but maybe there will be a story or a heel turn for whoever loses the finals. It’s good to see that much like the Women’s US title finals it’s two fresh faces who haven’t been champions yet on the main roster, which is what the title should be for. I’m not massively mad that we only got a promo video to hype up Ripley versus Mogan next week (which has been quietly changed to a Last Woman Standing Match during this past week). Let’s hope the women can deliver and things can move on for both as we enter Royal Rumble season.
That’s your lot for this week, and for 2024! Be sure to stop by in seven days’ time for the first edition of the RAW RECAP for 2025 and for the Netflix era! See you then!