Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
With weeks to go until the Survivor Series event, pieces might be falling into place for a potential Women’s WarGames match with The Kabuki Warriors picking fights with everyone else in a tag team. Alongside the new friendship between Nikki Bella and Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer to battle the women of The Judgement Day. Will we see anyone truly step up and challenge for a title? Or will it be a case of more slow build? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos included ASUKA and KAIRI SANE.
Tag Team Match
The Judgement Day (RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ & ROXANNE PEREZ) defeated Women’s World Champion STEPHANIE VAQUER & NIKKI BELLA
Perez and Bella started off as Perez got cocky with a shove after she’d won the initial lock-up, then rolled to avoid another tie-up to taunt on the ropes. Bella would block a slap and controlled the arm, eventually hitting a Firewoman’s Carry into an arm lock. Despite being a face, Bella used a hairpull to shut down Perez’s attempt to escape with a the classic roll then kip up combo. Perez would stomp Bella’s foot to get the brief advantage, only for Bella to counter and then hit a standing Monkey Flip. Rodriguez got a tag and easily shoved Bella down from a lock-up, and soon after sent Bella hard into a corner before she hauled her up and hit the Diesel Elbows in the corner.
Bella escaped a Body Slam attempt and backed to her corner so Vaquer could tag in and after a staredown, Vaquer ran right into a Shoulder Knockdown. Vaquer used misdirection but whatever spot was planned after a Tilt-a-whirl was botched, and Rodriguez had to lift Vaquer for a Suplex to cover as Vaquer escaped and hit a Superkick. The blow sent Rodriguez back enough for Perez to tag in but she quickly took a Suplex, before Rodriguez took another Superkick and then a Disaster Kick from Bella. Perez took a Back Suplex and Vaquer looked for Devil’s Kiss but Rodriguez pulled Perez from the ring. The faces went to the apron and hit Crossbodies from it to take down both opponents.
After a commercial break, Bella and Perez were legal as Rodriguez hit the Tully Suplex to set up Perez’s Double-Bounce Lionsault that drove more knees into Bella’s gut than hit the move for a near fall. Bella hit a messy Chinbuster and it sent Perez back to make a tag. Rodriguez tried to stop a tag but eventually took a Tornado DDT before Bella tagged out. Vaquer turned a Tilt-a-whirl into a 120% Roll-up for a two count. Vaquer hit a round of strikes finished with a Headbutt and moments later, avoided a corner charge that left Rodriguez’s leg caught in the ropes at a corner to set up the Dragon Screw spot.
Vaquer hit a Running Corner Meteora and then tried for the OG SVB but couldn’t muscle Rodriguez up. Moments later, Vaquer hit a Crossbody from the top for a near fall. Vaquer tried for the SVB 2.0 but Rodriguez powered out and hit her Rewind Clothesline to the back of Vaquer’s head. Perez tagged in and hit her European Uppercut to the back spot, but going for another Double-bounce she was caught on the ropes and pulled out for a Back Suplex. Leading to the Devil’s Kiss for nine shots. Bella got tagged and hit Rack Attack 2.0 but Rodriguez barely managed to break up the pin at the last moment.
Vaquer went for a Springboard Crossbody on Rodriguez but was caught, but managed to counter that with a Hurricanrana over the top rope spot. Vaquer tried for a Devil’s Kiss on the apron but Rodriguez blocked and dropped Vaquer onto the apron with an Alley Oop. Bella blocked a Roll-up attempt by Perez with a drop down pin, but off the kick out was sent into the ropes and took a cheap shot from Rodriguez. Perez would hit PopRox to get the win over Bella, beating her for the second straight week even with a tainted win.
After the match, the heels left the ring when Vaquer came back in to check on Bella. The heels celebrated in the aisle while the faces seethed in the ring.
The Kabuki Warriors got a subtitled hype video. Threatening to tear apart the tag division until they got a tag title shot.
Backstage LYRA VALKYRIA confronted BAYLEY about last week’s lost, accusing her of being weird and making a point about how the Warriors didn’t attack her last week. There was a lot of back and forth yelling but the two claimed to be good and did their tag team hand shake and hand slaps but it didn’t leave Valkyria looking reassured after Bayley left.
BECKY LYNCH interrupted the show and cut a promo out in the arena. Ranting about recent events and levelling insults at Maxxine Dupri and blamed the fans for making Dupri thinks she belongs. Lynch threatened that Dupri’s next shot at her would be her last. As Lynch left the arena, The Kabuki Warriors made their enterance at had a stare down with Lynch at the entrance way. Perhap a tease for an alliance for WarGames?
Tag Team Match
The Kabuki Warriors (ASUKA & KAIRI SANE) defeated BAYLEY & LYRA VALKYRIA
Asuka and Valkyria started off and Valkyria got the edge with a Wristlock counter into a Snap Arm Drag. Valkyria would again get the better of Wristlock work until Asuka used a hairpull to shut her down. Asuka peppered Valkyria’s back with kicks but didn’t even get a count of one from a cocky foot on the chest pin. Valkyria hit a couple of Bang Kicks, did a Cartwheel evasion, the Legsweep then a Basement Dropkick for a near fall.
Tags were made on both sides and Bayley took advantage of Sane trying to plead with her to get a Roll-up for a two count. Sane got some orders from Asuka and then used evasion to slip through the ropes but recoil back in to hit two boots to Bayley’s gut. The vault-back Headscissors spot soon followed but a Sliding D attempt was countered into a Crucifix for a near fall. Moments later, Sane hit a Flying Forearm from the top for a near fall. Sane went for a tag but Asuka refused and barked orders, and that allowed Bayley to hit a Back Suplex before she tagged in Valkyria who hit a Legsweep that set up a Bayley Elbow Drop to give Valkyria a two count.
Valkyria hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a near fall. Sane would escape a Suplex attempt and while Asuka got a blind tag, Valkyria took out both Warriors with a Crossbody. Valkyria went for the Dropkick through the ropes but only hit the floor when the Warriors moved, before Asuka hit a Head Kick then a Release German Suplex on the floor! After a commercial break, Asuka and Valkyria were legal as Asuka hit a Release German then tagged in Sane as an Asuka Codebreaker set up a Sane Blockbuster. A combo of a Asuka kick and a Sane Northern Sliding D gave Sane a near fall.
Valkyria ducked a Cutlass attempt and then muscled up Sane to hit the Sit-Out Doctor Bomb. Tags on both sides as Bayley went House on Fire on Asuka with Clotheslines then a Thesz Press with punches. The Stunner through the ropes set up a Running Knee Strike, then the Elbow Drop across the back for a near fall. Sane got a blind tag but Bayley didn’t see it, so when Bayley chased after Asuka on the outside it left her open to take a Flying Forearm off the apron by Sane. Sane tried for a Forearm off the top but Bayley avoided it, and countered a Sunset Flip and muscled up Sane to plant her with a Bayley-to-Belly for a near fall.
Sane pushed away a Rose Plant attempt before Bayley knocked Asuka off the apron and hit a Lucha Arm Drag on Sane that set up a Sunset Flip Bomb to send Sane into the faces corner. Valkyria got the tag and hit the Top Rope Legdrop but only got a near fall. Valkyria set up Sane up top, but a distraction allowed Sane to shove the legs and leave Valkyria draped for a Double Stomp. Bayley and Asuka had a shouting match during that spot but Bayley managed to lean through the ropes to break up the pin.
Sane tried for a Crossbody off the middle rope but Valkyria caught it, and Bayley got a tag before Valkyria hit a Backbreaker and held it for Bayley to hit an Elbow Drop. Asuka pulled Bayley off the pin. Asuka tried distracting Bayley but took Valkyria’s Dropkick through the ropes. Back inside, Sane tried to steal it with a Samson Clutch but only got two. Valkyria got a tag but was hauled off the apron by Asuka before she could get in. Bayley took a Cutlass and was sent out, before Sane brought Valkyria back in to tag in Asuka. The Warriors went for the Double-Team finish but Bayley hauled Sane from the ropes. Asuka escaped a Nightwing attempt and shoved Valkyria to knock Bayley off the apron, and got a near fall from a Roll-up.
A backwards leaping nothing off the ropes by Valkyria was caught into the Asuka Lock and with Bayley still down, Valkyria tapped out.
After the match, the Women’s Tag Team Champions ALEXA BLISS and CHARLOTTE FLAIR stormed to the ring but the Warriors fled the ring. Taunting from the aisle and motioning for the titles while the Champions held up their titles.
In the Clubhouse of The Judgement Day, Perez boasted to Balor and McDonagh that Rodriguez would face Stephanie Vaquer next week for the Women’s World Championship. Things turned sour when Dominik Mysterio entered and ranted about the night’s events but after Balor and McDonagh left, Perez manipulated Mysterio and buttered him up with sweet talk, convincing him to go help his teammates later on.
Backstage as Stephanie Vaquer was leaving the arena, Nikki Bella stopped her to say sorry for the loss earlier. Vaquer reassured Bella but Bella admitted she’s been on a losing streak, but again Vaquer pumped her up. However, Bella seemingly didn’t have a fully happy look once Vaquer had left.
It was announced that next week the Women’s Tag Team Championships would be on the line as Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair defend against The Kabuki Warriors. Along with the confirmation, for the third time on the show, that Vaquer will defend the World title against Rodriguez.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Another week and another dose of two fine tag team matches. The Warriors got another win and get the tag title match right away. We’ll see if there’s a title change next week or if events will continue towards Survivor Series. Elsewhere, Bella getting yet another loss and admitting to it, and the way she looked at Vaquer backstage all heavily indicates a heel turn coming for a title clash between Bella and Vaquer. Bella has been hit and miss so it might be the last shot she gets to remain part of the main active roster if she challenges Vaquer.
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!