Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw the Women’s World and Crown Jewel Champion Stephanie Vaquer confronted by The Judgement Day. Despite recent losses, especially to Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, will Roxanne Perez or Raquel Rodriguez be next in line for a title shot? And will Becky Lynch make an example of Maxxine Dupri in their match for the Women’s IC title, or will we get the upset shocker of the year? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Today’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos included MAXXINE DUPRI with Alpha Academy, and Women’s World Champion STEPHANIE VAQUER.
In the clubhouse of The Judgement Day, RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ hyped up ROXANNE PEREZ about her match against Vaquer tonight. After there was more tension between the men, Perez sweet talked Dominiki Mysterio, praising him for keeping gold in the group. Before Rodriguez scolded Perez and told her to get her head in the game.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match
MAXXINE DUPRI defeated Women’s Intercontinental Champion BECKY LYNCH by DQ – Lynch remains Champion.
Lynch easily overpowered Dupri with the opening lock up, backing Dupri into a corner before she took a cheap shot and then clubbed away with shots then stomps. Shoulder thrusts followed and Lynch took up most of the five count before she mouthed off at the official – the same ref who had made the quick count out that cost Lynch her match weeks before. Lynch tried for a Man-Handle Slam but Dupri countered with a Wheelbarrow into a Samson Clutch for a near fall. A Cradle pin got Dupri another two count before Lynch decked her with a Big Boot then tossed Dupri out of the ring.
Dupri was tossed into the Timekeeper’s area and Lynch demanded a count, playing off the events of the last match as she complained about the count being ‘slow’. Dupri got back in at eight but got stomped when she got in and Lynch mouthed off at Dupri’s hometown fans before she hit a couple Bex-Ploders. Dupri (after Lynch audibly called the spot) avoided a corner charge and hit some punches before Lynch blocked a German Suplex attempt and countered to go behind and hit an Eye of the Hurricane-like move for a near fall. Dupri was tossed to the floor again and was out of position so Lynch hit a messy looking Baseball Slide. Followed by the Jumping Forearm off the apron.
Lynch roughed up Dupri with a barricade shot right in front of Dupri’s family and Lynch threwback to the previous match, breaking the count and mocking the ref. Dupri got back in at nine but faked out Lynch to roll back out and avoid a Legdrop. Back inside, Dupri hit a Chinbuster and got a near fall from a Roll-up. Dupri countered a Man-Handle Slam with a Stundog Millionaire but couldn’t capitalise right away. Dupri would go House on Fire with Velvet Sky-style Clotheslines then a Pump Kick which set up a new move of a step-up Legdrop across the back of Lynch’s head for a near fall.
Durpi hit a Release Fisherwoman’s Suplex, kipped up then hit a Pump Knee Strike for a two count. The women traded blows before Lynch hit a Bang Kick, tried for another Man-Handle Slam but Dupri countered and hit a Roundhouse Kick. Dupri went for an Ankle Lock, but Lynch countered with the roll through that sent Dupri into the ropes. Lynch hit the Double Underhook Suplex into an Arm Bar but Dupri flipped back and escaped with an Ankle Lock but Lynch escaped that. Later, Lynch tried for a Superplex but was tossed down with a Super Gordbuster that set up a Top Rope Crossbody by Dupri for a near fall.
Lynch tried to take her title and leave but Dupri went after her. Lynch was tossed in but with her title, and still had it when Dupri got a Sunset Flip after Lynch tried to hold the ropes for another two count. As Dupri pleaded with the referee, Lynch decked Dupri in the back of the head with the title belt, clear in front of the referee who had no choice but to DQ Lynch. Awarding the win to Dupri but, because of Champion’s Advantage, Lynch is still the Champion.
After the match, Dupri was tossed into the ring post and then stomped away. Lynch pulled down a kneepad and hit a Knee Strike in the corner, then planted Dupri with a Man-Handle Slam.
ASUKA and KAIRI SANE had a hype video where Asuka bragged about what they did to rivals Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. Asuka praised Sane for her use of a Kendo Stick last week. They said they needed a ‘new challenge’ and wanted gold around their waists, and sent a warning to the tag division that they were back. With less-than-subtle imagery of when the Warriors were the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Backstage, Becky Lynch would confront Paul Heyman about what The Vision did against her husband Seth Rollins. She rejected his ‘snake oil salesman’ speech and claimed Rollins knew Heyman would turn on him, and vowed that Rollins would get revenge on whoever he aligned himself with.
Non-Title Singles Match
Women’s World Champion STEPHANIE VAQUER defeated ROXANNE PEREZ w/h RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ
Perez rolled to avoid doing a lock-up but would be taken down with a waistlock. They did counters and mat work before Perez used rolls to escape a Wristlock. Perez would eventually hit a Knee Strike then a waistlock slam, but Vaquer instantly came back with kip up Arm Drag. Using the legs for a cradle takedown into a Front Facelock that Perez countered into her La Magistral into a European Clutch, only for Vaquer to kick out at one and then use one of her own for a two count. Perez would roll from being whipped to the ropes but Vaquer ducked a slap. It led to a Jackknife Pin by Perez and Vaquer tried the bridging out spot but couldn’t get all the way up, so just rolled over in order to pull Perez up. Trying for the OG SVB but Perez pushed away and bailed from the ring.
Back inside, Vaquer would Tilt-a-whirl herself and get a 120% Roll-up for a near fall. Perez hit a slap but took a Back Suplex, but when Vaquer went for Devil’s Kiss Perez rolled them both all the way to the ropes to block. Perez was pulled back in but held the ring skirt and when the ref was distracted to put it back in place, Perez poked the eye which then sent Vaquer back enough to take a cheap shot punch from Rodriguez. Perez sent Vaquer shoulder-first into a corner with a Hammerlock then did the Arm Stomp spot across the turnbuckle connector. A drop-down shot on the arm by Perez got a near fall before she used an arm rest hold but Vaquer escaped a second drop-down spot. Vaquer tried for a Sunset Flip but Perez blocked and would hold the hurt arm to slam it into the mat before an Arm Snap got Perez a near fall.
Vaquer ducked a strike and hit a Suplex, and soon after a flurry of strikes finished with a Headbutt. Vaquer hit a corner Meteora, then the Dragon Screw out of the corner. Another Back Suplex landed before Vaquer hit the Devil’s Kiss for the full ten shots to get a near fall. Vaquer again went for OG SVB but Perez flipped out of it and hit an Arm Breaker across her knees. Perez hit La Mistica, then the Satomura Special for a near fall. Vaquer countered a Crossface and soon after avoided PopRox to send Perez to the ropes for a 619.
Rodriguez provided a brief distraction that allowed Perez to whip Vaquer’s arm on the top rope. In the ring, Perez hit her European Uppercut to the back spot and went for the Double-bounce Lionsault but Vaquer shoved her over the ropes and it would have been a scary landing since Perez’s knees hit the apron but Rodriguez was there to catch the rest of her. Vaquer hit a Plancha to wide out The Judgement Day, and back in the ring Vaquer hit the new SVB, that the commentators this week called Angel’s Wings, to get the win.
After the match The Judgement Day decked Vaquer. NIKKI BELLA made her return and raced down to dump Rodriguez and hit a Clothesline on Bella, but got decked with a Rodriguez Big Boot. Vaquer botched a Springboard Crossbody and slammed hard into Rodriguez, favouring her knee when she came up and hit strikes. She hit a DDT on Rodriguez before Bella hit a Nikkisawa Elbow to deck Perez and send her out. Both Bella and Vaquer hit Dropkicks to dump Rodriguez out. The Judgement Day stewed on the floor while the faces hugged to end the segment.
Backstage, LYRA VALKYRIA spoke to Adam Pearce about having goals she wanted to achieve and said her and Bayley were just different people. BAYLEY showed up in her overly happy mode and promised that she had a surprise for Valkyria for next week. Something that didn’t thrill Valkyria one bit.
Backstage, Stephanie Vaquer thanked Nikki Bella for her help, and Bella said she wouldn’t let losers jump her and overly flattered Vaquer. Perhaps shadowing future events, warning Vaquer that ‘anyone could jump her’ now she had a target on her back. Vaquer said she owed Bella, and Bella noted that now she had two enemies (The Judgement Day), she’d soon take her up on that.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Two great matches from Raw. Vauqer and Perez showed off a lot of technical stuff early on and there were a couple off moments but overall a good showing. The post match stuff sets up a tag match but I wonder if Nikki Bella’s words backstage are a hint of what’s next between them. Elsewhere, with AJ Lee seemingly not coming back any time soon, they’ve left the door open for another match between Lynch and Dupri with likely a ‘No Champion’s Advantage’ stipulation to it. Dupri had her best showing yet here against Lynch, a world removed from their first clash earlier this year, but did need to be guided through the contest by Lynch and the called-out spots. Another match wouldn’t be so bad between these two but we’ll see if they can keep the momentum going and if Dupri can still hang in these big moments. Lastly, The Warriors being moved on from the Iyo fued might be only a break because of an injury Ripley suffered on the Japan tour but it wouldn’t be a bad thing if they went after the tag titles to give Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss some new competition.
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!