Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
After a terrible week that saw several Superstars from the main roster and NXT released or informed their contract wasn’t being renewed, the build towards Backlash and beyond continues. This week, Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky will take on newcomer to Raw Roxanne Perez in the week that saw Damage CTRL broken up off-screen with the release of Dakota Kai. With no allies right now and not being on the same page as Rhea Ripley, will Sky be at risk against Perez and her new ally Giulia? And what’s next between rivals Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria over the Women’s Intercontinental Championship? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos featured Women’s World Champion IYO SKY, ROXANNE PEREZ, and MAXXINE DUPRI with Alpha Academy.
CATHY KELLEY interviewed Karrion Kross with SCARLETT.
There were issues between The Judgement Day in the clubhouse (with RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ present) over earlier events in the show.
BECKY LYNCH went to the ring for a promo. She instantly complained about the fans booing her and claimed she was the victim. She called Bayley garbage and ranted about taking her out and demanded the fans thank her for it. She referred to Valkyria as recycled garbage and said she would be nothing without her and got personal when she mentioned Valkyria’s fiancé.
LYRA VALKYRIA interrupted and dropped a nice line about Lynch being the queen of recycling with the same moves and act for years and got the fans on her side with remarks about how she made herself a success and while Lynch was on ‘holidays’ everyone else got better. Then a great line that she’d defended her title more times than Lynch showed up to work this year.
Lynch claimed everyone else had a good year because they couldn’t compare themselves to her. Lynch tried to boast saying Sports Illustrated called her the GOAT but Valkyria mocked it and pointed out her history as the first Women’s IC Champ. Lynch tried for a cheap shot but Valkyria blocked it and hit a Roundhouse Kick, and then got the better of the brawl that followed. Referees broke it up but Lynch got back into the ring and ranted about disrespect but Valkyria stormed the ring again for another brawl. Lynch tried for a Man-Handle Slam but Valkyria escaped and then hit Lynch with Nightwing, before she stood tall with her title over Lynch to end the segment.
Non-Title Singles Match
Women’s World Champion IYO SKY defeated ROXANNE PEREZ
Perez cut a promo before the match, mocking the fans for not reacting to how she’s put the lockerroom on notice and called the people mediocre. The announcers stated that Ripley wasn’t on the show doing promo for the upcoming Australian PLE (but so was another Australian Superstar but he made the show this week!). Sky controlled with a Headlock the a Shoulder Knockdown before we got some rope work. Perez levelled a slap to Sky and bailed out of the ring to lure her into a chase. Back inside, she ran the ropes and hit a Whirlybird Headscissors but Sky flipped to her feet after the move.
Sky did more flips, hit a Dropkick then kipped up, but when she ran the ropes for a Suicide Dive Perez slid back in and hit a Basement Dropkick to Sky’s knee. The leg got targetted with stomps and moments later, Sky was caught on the ropes with a version of a Dragon Screw. Perez hit a Suicide Dive, only for Sky to hit one back when Perez took too much time on the floor. Sky tired for a springboard but Perez caught her with a punch, and then stomped Sky’s bad leg on the connecter of the ringpost.
Perez focused on the leg with stomps and driving her body down onto the limb. Sky fought her way up but Perez hit a Side Russian Legsweep for a near fall. Perez applied a Toe Hold but was kicked away, and later after being sent to the apron she used a Legsweep to take Sky down before she dragged her down and slammed the bad leg into the ring post. Perez made the mistake of going up top, and Sky cut her off to hit a Super Arm Drag.
Sky got the better of a strike exchange before she hit a Flapjack then a Buzzsaw Kick for a two count. The Missile Dropkick then flips followed but going for the Bullet Train Attack her bad leg played up and she couldn’t run. Perez tried to take advantage with a Wheelbarrow into a Samson Clutch but Sky rolled through and hit a Double Stomp for a near fall. Sky hit a Bridging German Suplex but held on and tried for a second, but Perez countered to land a Back Suplex. Sky hit the Double Underhook Backbreaker but when she went for the Moonsault she had to land on her feet when Perez rolled away, jamming the bad leg. That set things up for Perez to hit a delayed Headscissors Driver then a Handspring Knee Drop for a near fall.
Sky rolled through a Sunset Flip but a kick attempt was captured as Perez hit a Dragon Screw. An exchange of pin holds followed between the two for multiple near falls, but in the end Sky managed to pin Perez down for the three count and the clean win.
Post-match, Perez faked respect with a handshake and Sky fell for it, motioning to Perez when she left the ring but that just distracted her so GIULIA could deck her from behind. The two allies worked over Sky as Giulia held Sky in a Curb Stomp position so Perez could hit a Superkick before the two did it again with Giulia hitting the Stomp.
Maxxine Durpi and Akira Tozawa accompanied Otis as he lost to Rusev. NATALYA would come out to console Durpi when her men were beaten up after the match.
It would be announced that next week will see a tag team match as title rivals Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley team up against Giulia and Roxanne Perez.
In a backstage segment, Roxanne Perez was seen in the far background talking to Finn Balor of The Judgement Day.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Lynch and Valkyria had a good promo that kept the fans interested and put over Valkyria strong. The face standing tall makes me think Lynch will win at Backlash but this segment worked great to hype a match. It’s just a shame the WWE couldn’t invest this heavily in Valkyria during the rest of her title reign so far. A Women’s IC title match on a PLE has been long overdue though so we can be thankful it’s finally arrived after being skipped on Mania.
Perez and Sky put on a great match that showed Perez is long overdue for being on the main roster and needs to be dropped from still being billed as an NXT Superstar. A loss is still a loss however, and if the tag match next week is another loss then it isn’t a good start if the newcomers are seen as good hands but can’t get the job done. They’ll likely continue the fued to Money in the Bank if not beyond, depending on who gets put into the MITB match itself.
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!