Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
The Money in the Bank event is just days away and we’ll have the final qualifying match this week when Ivy Nile and Liv Morgan face off in a Triple Threat Match with the newest member of the Raw roster, the former NXT Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Who will book the last spot in the all-important Ladder Match? And will there be any final twists and turns between Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Backstage, ROXANNE PEREZ approached LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ and offered help, but Morgan instantly dismissed it. Morgan walked off and got confronted by IYO SKY, threatening Sky but that was in turn dismissed.
Triple Threat Match – Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
STEPHANIE VAQUER defeated IYY NILE & Women’s Tag Team Champion LIV MORGAN
Vaquer got a hype video before the match. The announcers noted that Vaquer could be doing double duty competing at the WWE/NXT Vs AAA World Collide and then MITB if she won tonight. Both heels kicked Vaquer through the ropes before Nile took down Morgan with a Shoulder Knockdown. Things got messy as Nile went for a roll back pin off the ropes but more stumbled back and took Morgan over with her. Morgan hit a Back Elbow to Nile but got hit with a Headbutt over the ropes by Vaquer. Vaquer hit a Springboard Crossbody to both opponents and used a Sunset Slip on Nile but rolled back so that Nile took a kick from Morgan.
Vaquer hit a Back Suplex to Morgan and then the full round of 10 shots of The Devil’s Kiss. Nile then took a Back Suplex but Vaquer could only hit 5 shots of the Kiss before Morgan broke it up with a Basement Dropkick. Morgan hit the Three Amigos on Vaquer with the third dropping Vaquer on top of Nile. Morgan hit running charges to opposite corners on both opponents until Vaquer dodged one and Nile charged back to hit her Running Corner Kick. Vaquer hit a Corner Meteora to Morgan and moments later, Nile used her strength to hit a German Suplex to Vaquer which also tossed Morgan over with the move too.
Vaquer hit Eat Defeat on Nile, then a Corner Meteora to Morgan but ate a counter Boot when she charged at Nile. Only to grab the boot and tie up Nile in the ropes to hit a Dragon Screw, but Morgan broke up the pin. Morgan and Nile traded blows and Morgan almost got the better of it with her trio of kicks, but the Jumping Enzigri was ducked and Vaquer hit one of her own. Morgan would block a Dragon Screw attempt at a corner but when she sat up top, Vaquer caught her up. The Tower of Doom spot saw Morgan take a Superplex while Nile Powerbombed Vaquer but the stack pin attempt only got Nile a near fall.
Nile went for her Spin-out Slam but Vaquer countered and it led to an exchange of pin holds. Nile blocked an Eat Defeat from Vaquer before both women were caught with a Codebreaker off the ropes by Morgan who only got a two count on both opponents. Morgan went for ObLIVion on Nile who held on just enough that Vaquer hit a Bang Kick to send Nile out, and pulled Morgan off the ropes for a Backslide, turned into the SVB Package Backbreaker finisher attempt but Morgan escaped. Morgan hit OvLIVion on Vaquer but Nile tried to steal the win, sending Morgan out only for her to rush back in and break up that pin attempt. Morgan pulled Nile to the floor and slammed her head into the apron a few times, only for Nile to shove Morgan into the ring steps.
Nile got back inside, only to be hit with the SVB as Vaquer not only won her official main roster debut but also qualified for the final spot in the Women’s MITB Match.
MAXXINE DUPRI and NATALYA were with Akira Tozawa as he got a pep talk from Sheamus.
During a tag team match between The Judgement Day and The War Raiders, Roxanne Perez got involved to distract to allow JD McDonagh to knock Ivar off the ropes, setting up Finn Balor stealing the win.
BECKY LYNCH got a hype video, ranting about her rivalry against Lyra Valkyria.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties. That included interviewing Stephanie Vaquer about her win. Just as Vaquer spoke in her native tongue RHEA RIPLEY interrupted to offer a perhaps condescending handshake, telling her she’d see her at MITB.
LYRA VALKYRIA went to the ring and looked furious right away. She yelled about Lynch’s video earlier, calling her a coward and telling her to come out and face her. Lynch did come out and Valkyria cut her off, calling her delusional and said her downfall needs to be studied. Valkyria said she’d become angry thanks her, and vowed she’d beat the crap out of her and make sure the Women’s IC title wouldn’t be poisoned here. Lynch bragged about hurting Valkyria physically and said Valkyria wanted an excuse to replace her. Lynch left the ring but Valkyria called out for a fight right now.
Of course, Lynch refused but Valkyria chased after her to brawl at the entranceway. Referees broke it up and got Lynch to the back while Valkyria yelled and tried to break free.
In The Judgement Day clubhouse, Liv Morgan confronted Finn Balor about Roxanne Perez. Balor denied there was a plan and claimed Morgan was imagining things. Morgan flatly stated that it wasn’t her man Mysterio that she had trust issues with, and turned down the offer of Perez being in Rodriguez’s corner tonight.
Singles Match
KAIRI SANE defeated Women’s Tag Team Champion RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ w/h LIV MORGAN
Rodriguez easily overpowered Sane to begin with, before Sane used her vault-back Headscissors counter to make Rodriguez stumble around. Sane hit a Wheelbarrow into a Stunner to set up the Sliding D into the ropes. Sane tried for a Headscissors off the apron, but Rodriguez swung her into the ring apron instead. Morgan took a cheap shot kick as Rodriguez distracted the ref but Rodriguez only got a near fall in the ring. Rodriguez hit a couple of close-range Clotheslines then the Rewind version for a near fall.
Sane tried to use her quickness but a Sunset Flip attempt was blocked. Rodriguez tossed Sane into a corner with a double choke then hit some Back Elbows. Rodriguez used a Backbreaker grip to drive Sane into the corner. After a slap, Sane tried for a Crossbody off the top but Rodriguez caught her for a Delayed Suplex attempt, only for that to be countered by a Sane DDT. Sane used misdirection to hit a rolling Chop Block that set up an Axe Kick to the back. Sane hit a series of chops, then later a Basement Dropkick that set up a low Blockbuster.
Sane hit the Sliding D to the corner but Morgan got onto the apron to distract. Only for Iyo Sky to run out and beat up Morgan. Rodriguez went after Sky and Sane took advantage with a boot that sent Rodriguez into the ring post. That set up the InSane Elbow as Sane got a victory over the other half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions to beat both champs two weeks in a row.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A great Triple Threat match with the expected outcome. The WWE obviously had high expectations from Vaquer when they gave her showcase matches after Mania and that’s only continued with the sudden callup. MITB is stacked with a great mix of established names and new faces, and it will be great to see who leaves as the winner. Elsewhere, in another good match, Sane has gotten a strong return even with victories that have been protected with outside interference. Perhaps it will set up a tag team title shot for Sane after MITB but will it be Sky as her partner or someone else? Or was it just used as throw away wins to fuel the Judgement Day storyline with no payoff?
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days’ time for the post-MITB edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!