Welcome to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
Last week saw the implosion of the former Damage CTRL allies when Asuka showed her true colours and attacked Iyo Sky before directing Kairi Sane to do the same after they’d laid out Rhea Ripley. All signs point to a Tag Team Match at Crown Jewel: Perth but will we get new twists and turns before then? What’s next for Bayley’s split personality antics this week as her issues with Lyra Valkyria and The Judgement Day continue? And will there be any confrontation between Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton ahead of their clash for the Women’s Crown Jewel title? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos included ROXANNE PEREZ and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ with The Judgement Day.
RHEA RIPLEY went to the ring for a promo. She addressed Sane and Asuka and admitted she wanted to just settle things in the ring. She said what they did to Sky crossed the line and called them out for calling Sky ‘family’. She called out the Kabuki Warriors but IYO SKY was who came out first, looking sad and conflicted. Sky said it broke her heart to admit it, but she said Ripley was right about the Warriors. Sky tried being emotional and claimed she still loved the Warriors, which got loud boos from the fans.
The lights went out and a video, with subtitles even when clear English was spoken, played of ASUKA and KAIRI SANE. Sane spent the time obediently nodding as Asuka mocked Sky, saying she taught her everything and paved the way. Asuka objected to Ripley being treated like family and claimed that Sky forgot about her once she became a Champion. Asuka arrogantly claimed she could forgive Sky if she apologised to her. Sane encouraged that they could all still be a family again, but Asuka said it was too late for Ripley.
After the vid, Ripley said Asuka could go to Hell and tried to talk sense into Sky, saying she can’t go back to the Warriors. Sky got emotional again, acting like she was going to cry and claimed she ‘needed time’ before she left the ring. Immediately, Ripley was jumped from behind by The Kabuki Warriors who put on a beating. Sky was conflicted at first as the Warriors stomped and choked Ripley in a corner, but eventually ran in and pulled Asuka away. Sane got between her ‘family’ and tried to plead with Sky but it was just a distraction so Asuka to spit the Poison Mist into Sky’s face.
Ripley got the better of a strike fight with Sane and went for Riptide but Asuka ‘hit’ a Head Kick (swing and a miss but Ripley sold it anyway). Ripley was tossed into the ring posts at opposite sides before Sane hit a Cutlass and Asuka landed a Spinning Backside. Asuka used a takedown-style Asuka Lock to trap Ripley to take the InSane Elbow. Asuka gloated while Sky was still blinded before the Warriors left the scene. The aftermath of Sky howling in pain being attended to was shown during the ad break, with Ripley eventually checking over Sky at ringside before she helped walk Sky to the back.
Backstage, BAYLEY, in a Valkyria IC Champion shirt, approached LYRA VALKYRIA and was all smiles but Valkyria didn’t buy it and snapped about Bayley shoving her last week. Bayley admitted she’d been going through a lot lately and apologised for Valkyria always ending up being caught in the middle of things. Valkyria said she was done giving Bayley second chances and stormed away, and Bayley rather symbolically took off the Valkyria shirt and dumped it to the ground as she headed to the ring.
Singles Match
BAYLEY Vs RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ w/h ROXANNE PEREZ
Bayley got a Headlock to start with, but Rodriguez blocked two attempts at the Takeover before she shoved Bayley away. Bayley hit some strikes and tried for a Running Crossbody but was caught, yet managed to fight out of the grip with some Elbow shots. Bayley would be decked with a Shoulder Knockdown. Bayley would avoid a corner charge and hit the 10 count of punches, followed soon after by a Chinbuster. Bayley tried to run up a corner with a Headlock applied, maybe thinking for a Bulldog but Rodriguez countered with her strength for a toss Powerbomb.
Rodriguez controlled with Shoulder Thrusts in a corner. Bad mouthing Bayley about being alone before she hit a hard Whip, then soon after a Corner Clothesline in a different turnbuckle followed by Diesel-style Back Elbow shots. Bayley managed to lure Rodriguez in with some strikes and ducked a charge to send Rodriguez through the ropes for the Stunner spot. Bayley hit a Suicide Dive then the Baseball Slide at the corner, but going for a wild Flying Headscissors off the apron Rodriguez held with her power and swung Bayley around a few times before she slammed her into the crowd barricade.
Back in the ring, Bayley was choked on the ropes before Perez hit a cheap shot slap, Rodriguez hit a Spinning World’s Strongest Slam for a near fall. Bayley would be choked on the ropes again but tried to steal the win when Rodriguez mouthed off at the ref. Only getting a two count from a Roll-up, then taken down with a Shoulder Knockdown before Rodriguez applied a rest hold of a Cobra Clutch variation. Bayley fought out and hit an Enzigiri to send Rodriguez to the floor. A Leap of Faith off the ring steps by Bayley sent her into Rodriguez’s hands, but she kicked free and hit, of all things, a Twist of Fate on the floor complete with Hardyz taunt!
Bayley hit a Back Elbow in the ring across Rodriguez’s back and hit another Hardyz move (the show was in the Hardyz hometown) of a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. More familiar moves followed with the Bayley Shoulder Thrust, roll out, arm taunt then Jumping Back Elbow in a corner. A jump off the middle rope was caught by Rodriguez who tossed Bayley overhead for a form of Fallaway Slam. Setting up for the Vader Bomb Elbow for a near fall. Rodriguez went for a Blanchard Suplex but the Stunner counter was botched, so Bayley just hit another Stunner anyway.
Rodriguez hit a Clothesline for a near fall. Bayley took Rodriguez down and locked on a Figure Four Leglock. Rolled over towards the ropes, Perez tried to reach out to pull Rodriguez to the ropes but the ref saw it and put herself between the cables to prevent it. That just allowed Rodriguez to distract the official so Perez could sneak in at the other ropes and raked Bayley’s eyes to make the break happen. Rodriguez landed a Big Boot and then the Tijana Bomb for the tainted victory.
After the match, The Judgement Day attacked as Perez pummelled Bayley. Valkyria appeared and ran down and tried to fight the odds with Enzigiris for both heels, but Rodriguez pulled Perez out of a Nightwing attempt. The Rewind Clothesline from Rodriguez flattened Valkyria and set up for the Satomura Special by Perez. Bayley snapped into a fury and hit a Running Knee Strike to Rodriguez then a Back Suplex to Perez. Bayley Clotheslined Rodriguez out of the ring and turned her stare to Valkyria but started laughing manically and pulled Valkyria up. Yelling “Come on, you Idiot!” and trying to get them to go after The Judgement Day but Valkyria was just baffled once again.
Backstage, a still blinded Iyo Sky was being tended to by medics before Kairi Sane appeared. Pleading to Sane to just apologise to Asuka but Sky yelled at her to leave her alone. Sane would shove a picture of Asuka, Sky and Sane in happier times away from the ring into Sky’s lap before she left for a symbolic gesture.
Backstage MAXXINE DUPRI was walking with Akira Tozawa but got confronted by BECKY LYNCH who mocked Dupri about achieving nothing. Dupri teased Lynch by saying that everyone called Lynch the best, apart from AJ Lee. When Tozawa laughed about that, Lynch sucker punched Tozawa and faked backing away with Dupri got in her face. Lynch, of course, cheap shot attacked Dupri from behind and slammed her face into a table a few times before pummelling her. Eventually pulled off by officials before she walked away for a brief conversation with her husband Seth Rollins as he went to the ring.
Backstage, Iyo Sky was looking at the picture of her and her ‘family’ before Ripley came up to check on her. Sky again admitted that Ripley was right, and said she’d talked to GM Pearce to get a Tag Team Match at Crown Jewel – The Kabuki Warriors versus Sky and Ripley. Ripley was the one conflicted now, pointing out how Sky had talked with Sane earlier and questioned if she could trust Sky (a turn around from what they’d talked about last week). Sky was serious and said she couldn’t go back to them, and that had Ripley down to team up.
It was announced that next week Becky Lynch would face Maxxine Dupri one-on-one, while Lyra Valkyria would battle Roxanne Perez.
JACKIE REDMOND interviewed STEPHANIE VAQUER about the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship Match. Vaquer said she was ready for anyone and respected Tiffany Stratton. She vowed to win, but TIFFANY STRATTON herself interrupted to confront her opponent. Claiming she respected Vaquer but bragged about being Champion for over 200 days and wouldn’t let someone who has been ‘on top for two weeks’ upstage her. A couple more insults were thrown as Vaquer said Tiffy Time would be over, while Stratton said La Primera would get used to being in second.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
WWE didn’t waste time to race things along with the Kabuki Warriors and Iyo Sky story. The tag match for Crown Jewel was expected but I doubt it will settle the issues between the teams. Bayley against Rodriguez was a fine match. The Bayley split-personality story continues to be interesting and while it was a good wrinkle to have Valkyria turn down Bayley after last week, she still ended up helping out and looks like the bad egg here. She might end up coming out of this story the worst at this rate. The WWE loves long-term feuds and storylines right now so this will no doubt continue for quite some time.
After last week, with Lynch talking about making an example out of someone and Dupri wanting a match, the expected clash between the two will happen next week. A mere filler for Lynch before AJ Lee reappears to continue that feud. Lastly, the brief face-off backstage between Stratton and Vaquer was at least better than nothing or a promo video. I’m not a fan of these ‘bragging rights’ champ versus champ matches. We’ll see how the two move on to proper challengers after Crown Jewel.
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!