Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP, presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
The issues between Liv Morgan, Becky Lynch and Stephanie Vaquer over the Women’s World Championship shows no signs of stopping. The same for Sol Ruca’s quest to regain the Women’s IC title as this week, she gets a rematch against Raquel Rodriguez. Who will emerge on top and leave with the gold? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match
Women’s Intercontinental Champion RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ defeated SOL RUCA to retain.
LIV MORGAN and ROXANNE PEREZ accompanied Rodriguez to the entranceway but went to the back. Before the match could properly start, Jacob Fatu hijacked the show to cut a promo about the Bloodline storyline. The match eventually got underway, and Rodriguez landed the Rewind Clothesline to deck Ruca. Rodriguez hit the Diesel Elbows, then an Arm Wringer. Ruca used a cartwheel to escape the second, then used a handstand walk evasion to send Rodriguez into the ropes with a Headscissors. Rodriguez was Clotheslined over the ropes to the floor, setting up for the Sasuke Special.
Back inside, Rodriguez ducked a flying nothing and wiped out Ruca with a Pounce before clubbing away at the challenger. Later, Ruca would use a vault out of the corner to avoid a charge, hitting a Dropkick to Rodriguez’s back but going for a Crossbody moments later Rodriguez’s power blocked, forcing Ruca to escape down the back. Moments later, Ruca hit a Springboard Crossbody for a two count. Ruca would counter a charge at the ropes, locking on a version of a Tarantula then kicking her to the floor. Ruca went for her corner-run Moonsault to the floor, but had to roll to her feet when Rodriguez moved, and Ruca got wiped out with a Running Crossbody on the outside.
With this episode having been taped, there was no action aired from during a ‘commercial break’ so back from a fade to black, Ruca was trying to fight back with strikes and body blows, only to be shoved to the ropes to take a Forearm to the chest. Ruca answered back with a Running Forearm and managed to duck a swing from Rodriguez before hitting a couple of wild Jumping Shoulder Tackles that didn’t take Rodriguez down. Ruca hit the feet-Backstabber spot but couldn’t hit a German out of the corner. Moments later, Ruca landed a Dropkick from the middle rope, then a Running Knee Strike for a near fall.
Ruca tried for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to the floor but Rodriguez blocked, trying for a Gorilla Press Slam from the apron but Ruca countered, snapping Rodriguez into the top rope and then hitting the Powerbomb. Roxanne Perez and Liv Morgan ran down, but Ruca cut them off and then hit a Springboard Corkscrew Crossbody onto all of The Judgement Day. Rodriguez was sent back in and Ruca tried to hit Sol Snatcher, but LYRA VALKYRIA appeared, shoving Ruca from the ropes, while Morgan distracted the ref, into the grip of Rodriguez who hit a Tijana Bomb to steal the win and retain the title. Valkyria gloated about her actions, and The Judgment Day bragged about the win as they left the ring.
A promo video hyping the debut of LOLA VICE on Raw in a few weeks aired.
Backstage, CATHY KELLEY tried to interview BECKY LYNCH but right away STEPHANIE VAQUER interrupted. Lynch claimed she didn’t help Vaquer, saying she just wanted a piece of The Judgment Day and then tried to frame it that she at least respected Vaquer trying to fight off three opponents at once. But when Lynch’s true colours shows as she said that Vaquer owed her, Vaquer quickly shut her down and Lynch did a version of her ‘not just me saying it’ line. Vaquer said she had started to trust Lynch, but now warned Lynch should stay out of her way and said she didn’t deserve the title, but it deserved her. That left Lynch fuming when Vaquer left.
In a different backstage segment, the women of The Judgement Day bragged about the night’s events, soon joined by the men. Morgan vowed that Vaquer wouldn’t take her title and Perez said that if Lynch tried to get involved again, she’d be there to stop her. Morgan claimed she wasn’t worried and promised to prove why she’s the greatest of all time.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The match between Ruca and Rodriguez was passable but certainly wasn’t the best they’ve ever had. No doubt they held back with the tainted finish. Ruca’s momentum has been completely shattered and this storyline does no favours to Valkyria either. It will lead to a lose-lose situation if Ruca and Valkyria have yet another singles match since neither will look good losing, but it’s not like the winner would get a boost either. Perhaps Rodriguez will hold the IC title until Lola Vice makes her debut and becomes the next challenger. Ruca you can easily see being a part of the Women’s Money in the Bank match at the upcoming PLE. As for the World title story, it’s still selling the issue of the numbers game and no doubt that will come into play in the inevitable Triple Threat Match that happens down the line between Morgan, Lynch and Vaquer. Only a matter of if, not when, it happens.
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!
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