Welcome to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLUTION! The Elimination Chamber event is soon upon us, and we’ll have the last qualifying match to decide who will go to the PLE for a chance to challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania when NXT Superstar Roxanne Perez makes her proper main roster debut against Raquel Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Ivy Nile and Dakota Kai will clash to crown the Number One Contender for the Women’s IC Title. Who will emerge on top in these all-important matches? Let’s get into it, and find out…
ROXANNE PEREZ was part of the night’s ‘arrived earlier today’ videos as were LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ with The Judgement Day. Also involved were DAKOTA KAI and IVY NILE with The Creed Brothers.
In the Judgement Day clubhouse, once again there were issues with Finn Balor and the rest of the group, especially when Balor implied that Rodriguez would be embarrassed if she lost to Perez later on.
After a video recapped her busy week from last week, BAYLEY was interviewed about Elimination Chamber, bragging that she had experience in winning Chambers and said she had still more to prove.
Ivy Nile gave The Creed Brothers a pep talk, before Kai approached so Kai mocked her opponent and said she’d end her Cinderella story, but Kai dismissed Nile as a ‘young whippersnapper’ and said she’d earn her rematch against Valkyria.
Number One Contendership for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship
DAKOTA KAI defeated IVY NILE
LYRA VALKYRIA came out before the match to watch from ringside. Nile easily got the better of a lock-up, just being turned at the last moment to a corner when she climbed up to the middle ropes and kicked Kai away. Kai hit a couple of Arm Drags, then a sliding Leg Trip that lead to Nile being hung from the apron for a Pump Kick. Back in the ring, Nile countered a Flying Mare attempt and dumped Kai over the ropes to the floor. Nile followed her out and hit a kick to the leg, then she worked over the out and in the ring. Kai was trapped in a Tree of Woe to take some stomps then a running kick to the leg that got Nile a two count.
Nile tried for an Ankle Lock but Kai escaped and hit both boots to Nile while still on her back. Kai rallied with strikes, a Discus Forearm, Clotheslines and a Dropkick. The Facewash kick followed then the Running Corner Kick, before Kai hit the Kai-ropractor for a near fall. Nile avoided the Springboard Kick and moments later avoided a Suplerplex when she slipped back into the ring, yanked Kai to the hit the corner and then Powerbombed Kai after she’d marched out. Kai got a two count from a Roll-up but from the kick out Nile applied an Ankle Lock. Nile had grounded the hold but Kai still fought to the ropes.
Nile managed to block a Scorpion Kick before she hit a round of kicks, but Kai answered with a Pump Kick. Nile countered misdirection with a Spin-out Uranagi for a near fall. Nile would counter Kai again, and hit a German Suplex but going for another, Kai countered with a Samson Clutch for a near fall and then hit the Scorpion Kick. Kai tried for Go-To-Kick but Nile countered to a pin that itself was countered, but only for Nile to again get an Ankle Lock out of the kick-out. Kai rolled through and the momentum sent Nile through the ropes. Kai pulled her for a wicked Springboard Stomp that spiked Nile’s head into the mat. Before Kai hit Go-To-Kick and scored the clean win.
After the match Kai and Valkyria faced off, but they didn’t come to blows.
CATHY KELLEY interviewed Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez about the footage from Smackdown that implies that they could have been the ones who attacked Jade Cargill months ago. Morgan dismissed the claim, and pointed out that the footage didn’t show them attacking Cargrill. She hyped up Rodriguez and said she’d squash Perez in minutes. When the duo were pressed again they didn’t straight up deny attacking Cargill, but didn’t help themselves when they said that if they were the ones behind it, they wouldn’t have felt bad.
Dakota Kai was interviewed about her victory and the title match for the IC gold was announced for next week. Kai bragged that she always picked herself up after missteps and injuries. Kai said this was all about proving that the journey was worth it.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
ROXANNE PEREZ defeated RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ w/h LIV MORGAN
Perez came out in her usual heel attitude even against The Judgement Day. Perez tried to use her speed but Rodriguez soon caught her for a Mat Slam then an elevated Wristlock just to roughly dump her down. Perez got too cute with more quickness when she rolled and cartwheeled, but when she slapped Rodriguez across the face she soon ate the Rewind Clothesline. Rodriguez used her power with a choke toss to a corner, a couple of corner Elbows then a big toss across the ring.
After another slap, Rodriguez chased Perez around the ring but Perez hit a Dropkick as Rodriguez tried to climb back in. Rodriguez easily caught the Suicide Dive attempt and prove Perez with a Lawn Dart into the ring post. A Military Press got Rodriguez a near fall off a cocky cover. Rodriguez hit Snake Eyes but Perez escaped a second before Rodriguez swung Perez around with a Front Choke. Finally Perez hit a move when she countered a Powerbomb with a Headscissors Takeover, then a Hot Shot followed by a Chop Block that set up a Running Corner European Uppercut. Rodriguez countered a second but Perez turned the Wheelbarrow into a Samson Clutch for a near fall.
Perez locked on a Back Sleeper, just to be backed into a corner. Soon after Rodriguez countered a Crossbody from the middle rope to hit a Fallaway Slam and then the corner Vader Bomb Spinning Elbow for a near fall. Perez escaped a Tijana Bomb attempt, and soon after Rodriguez wildly hit the ring post with a charge aimed at Perez who was down in the corner but moved. Perez hit two Suicide Dives in a row, but back in the ring Rodriguez’s power blocked a Tilt-a-whirl into a Russian Legsweep attempt. Perez countered a Powerslam into a DDT, and hit the double-jump Lionsault for a two count.
Rodriguez shoved off a Pop Rox attempt and hit a Big Boot for a near fall. Unprovoked, and despite being babyfaces, BIANCA BELAIR stormed out as she and NAOMI cornered Liv Morgan at ringside, attacking her and tossing her into the crowd barricade. Rodriguez was distracted as Perez hit Pop Rox and scored the upset victory.
As Perez quickly left, in the ring, Belair and Naomi tried for a double-team on Morgan but Rodriguez pulled her to safety and fled the scene while the tag champs held the ring.
SCARLETT stood by as Karrion Kross ranted about events on Raw.
IYO SKY got a hype video.
Along with the confirmation that next week will see Lyra Valkyria defend the Women’s IC title against Dakota Kai, we will also see Bianca Belair and Naomi defend the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Belair and Naomi were interviewed but seemed a little too eager to face off against one another at Elimination Chamber, but did hype up the fact that Iyo Sky might be the champion going into WrestleMania.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Kai and Nile put on a solid match. Going with Kai after Nile had been set up as the challenger for weeks now is a very odd choice and it makes me wonder if plans have been suddenly changed for the IC title feud as we head closer to WrestleMania season. No doubt they’ll put on a good match. Meanwhile, Perez and Rodriguez had not to much a match but a drawn-out beatdown as Perez had the Hell beaten out of her, just to steal a win thanks to the tag champs. It wasn’t exactly the most stellar debut for Perez on the main roster so hopefully she can rebound at Chamber and beyond. Having a title match next week for the tag belts might indicate Jade’s return will be after Chamber and we might see Beliar and Naomi implode at the PLE, especially if they lose the tag gold next week.
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!