Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The new era of Monday Night Raw has begun in the New Year with it’s debut on Netflix. Kicking things off with a clash between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship. Will it be the end of the feud or just the beginning of another chapter in the over-year-long rivalry? And what other surprises will we see as Raw returns to a three-hour broadcast? Let’s get into it, and find out…
LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ along with the rest of The Judgement Day got the ‘arrived earlier today’ video treatment as did RHEA RIPLEY.
JACKIE REDMOND handled interview duties. One of those included when SCARLETT and Karrion Kross confronted The Miz to force him again to help the fight against the Wyatt Sicks.
In a backstage party, KAYDEN CARTER, KATANA CHANCE, NXT’s KELANI JORDAN, ALBA FYRE, ISLA DAWN and ZOEY STARK were all seen. MAXXINE DUPRI would be seen later on in a different party, and then later alongside Alpha Academy when they confronted The New Day.
During the show, various Superstars were shown watching in the crowd at points. Including Women’s Tag Team Champions BIANCA BELAIR and NAOMI, new WWE Women’s Champion TIFFANY STRATTON, LYRA VALKYRIA, and Damage CTRL of DAKOTA KAI and IYO SKY. Also some legends in MICHELLE MCCOOL, NIKKI BELLA and STEPHANIE MCMAHON.
Women’s World Championship Match
RHEA RIPLEY defeated Women’s World Champion LIV MORGAN w/h RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ & Dominik Mysterio to become the NEW Women’s World Champion
The match started off with punches before Rhea hit the foot stomp to a Knee Strike combo, soon followed by a double-handed choke into a slam. Morgan bailed to the floor, and Ripley hit a Con Hilo off the apron which wiped out Rodriguez. When Ripley went to get back into the ring, Morgan distracted the referee while Mysterio grabbed Ripley’s leg and that brief distraction allowed Morgan to knock Ripley off the apron with a High Knee Strike. Morgan tried for a Flying Headscissors off the apron, but Ripley’s power blocked it and she drove Morgan into the announce table with a Powerbomb! Ripley got a near fall back inside the ring.
Morgan scurried away, and eventually caught Ripley with a Codebreaker on the apron and this time Morgan snapped off the Headscissors off the apron. Ripley was tossed into the crowd barricade a couple of times before Morgan got only a count of one back in the ring. Ripley was choked on the ropes and when Morgan backed off, the ref didn’t see Rodriguez land a cheap shot punch but even so, Ripley still kicked out at one. Ripley tried to fight back, but moments later Morgan hit a Wheelbarrow into a front face slam for finally a two count. After a rest hold, Morgan hit another Codebreaker and then stomped away at Ripley in a corner.
Morgan jumped from the corner to hit a modified Facebuster for a near fall. She would rough up Ripley but made the mistake of hitting back slaps then ones to the face that only fired her rival up. Ripley hit Short-Arm Clotheslines then a Ripcord into a Bang Kick, followed by Kingdom Falls. A Running Low Knee Strike followed then a somewhat overly complicated grip to flip into a Suplex. Ripley would counter another Wheelbarrow attempt by Morgan and powered up into a Half-and-Half Suplex. Morgan would escape a Riptide attempt and hit a Backstabber.
Morgan ran the ropes for a Tornado DDT for a near fall. Ripley hit a Headbutt, and Morgan answered with her Step-up Enzigiri. Ripley would use a slide through the legs to set up and hit Riptide, but Morgan managed to kick out at two! Ripley was left in disbelief but soon The Judgement Day distracted when Mysterio slid the title belt into the ring, and when that got the ref’s attention Rodriguez slid in a chair on the other side. Ripley knocked Rodriguez down but soon ate ObLIVion onto that chair but Ripley managed to kick out at two!
Morgan hit Mysterio’s Three Amigos and then a Frog Splash but only got a near fall. Morgan went for ObLIVion again but this time Ripley held her on the ropes, and slammed her down. Ripley then planted Morgan with one Riptide followed by a second to pin Morgan clean and win the Women’s World Championship.
After the match, Mysterio tried to ‘make up’ with his ex and wanted a hug, but Ripley kicked him between the legs and then hit him with a Riptide. After that, Ripley’s celebration on the entranceway was cut off when The Undertaker appeared to drive his motorcycle around the ring, but shared the spotlight when he and Ripley did the fist raise taunt together.
CATHY KELLY would get a comment from Adam Pearce after he was seen talking with Smackdown Superstar BAYLEY. That was interrupted by American Made with IVY NILE.
Rhea Ripley, alongside Damien Priest, would be interviewed about her title win. Ripley bragged about getting her win.
Already previously announced, the finals of the tournament to crown the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion will happen next week between Dakota Kai and Lyra Valkyria.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A clean victory in a fantastic match for Ripley to once again become World Champion and hopefully the match ends the feud once and for all. Morgan had a good reign which included becoming Women’s Crown Jewel Champion but it’s high time for both to move on as we enter Royal Rumble season and the Road to WrestleMania. There were no big surprises or debuts in terms of the women’s division tonight, but that might change next week. We will see the Women’s IC title decided next week which will be a major chance to continue the momentum for the Women’s division following Tiffany Stratton’s cash in last week and this victory for Ripley. Let’s hope that Kai and Valkyria get the time to deliver a great match to put the IC title firmly on the map.
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!