Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLUTION!
The WWE Evolution event is just days away and alongside the matches already announced for the show, the WWE confirmed yesterday that the Women’s Intercontinental Championship will be on the line in a Triple Threat Match as Becky Lynch defends against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Who will get the last laugh ahead of the PLE this weekend? And will we get any confirmation of names for the Battle Royal or the teams for the Women’s Tag Team title match? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos featured ROXANNE PEREZ and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ with The Judgement Day.
In The Judgement Day’s clubhouse, Rodriguez was furious about a ‘memorial’ with picture of Liv Morgan that Perez had arranged, and Finn Balor once again downplayed the chances of Morgan returning soon. Rodriguez warned Perez to do her job tonight and beat Sane, and wasn’t thrilled when Perez called her ‘partner’ either.
Singles Match
KAIRI SANE defeated Women’s Tag Team Champion ROXANNE PEREZ w/h RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ
Before the bell, the WWE casually announced that despite not having won a qualifying match or anything, NXT Women’s North American (And WWE Women’s Speed Champion) Sol Ruka and Zaria would be the NXT duo for the Fatal Four-Way Match at Evolution. Perez kicked the match off with clubbing blows, a messy hairpull slam then more mounted shots. Perez sent Sane into a corner then used the old school eye rake across the ropes trick. Trying for another turnbuckle shot, Sane blocked and sent Perez in instead before Perez ducked a Cutlass shot. Moments later, Perez used another hairpull slam to take control but after running the ropes, some apparent miscommunication led to an awkward pin spot for a two count.
Perez held onto the ropes to avoid another Cutlass, and would hit an awkward Hotshot on the cables. Sane would block being punched on the apron and slid in for a Sunset Flip that led to an exchange of pinholds and near falls. Perez got a two count from a La Magistral into a Clutch pin, but Sane used the kickout to lock on a form of Triangle Choke that made Perez scramble to the ropes. Perez would hit a slap but after some rope running, Sane snapped off her vault-back Headscissors. Sane finally hit the Cutlass and it set up a Sliding D on the bottom rope. That in turn led to a Flying Forewarm off the apron to Perez on the floor.
Rodriguez distracted Sane when she went up top, allowing Perez to roughly haul Sane off the ropes before she draped an arm across the bottom turnbuckle connector and delivered a stomp. Perez targeted the arm with a shot onto the ring steps then a stomp in the ring before she locked on a rest hold to stretch the arm. Sane escaped and hit a Chinbuster but a Sliding D attempt was blocked with a kick to the bad arm before Perez hit an Arm Stomp. Another resthold of a Bridging Hammerlock was applied, and Sane eventually fought out of it to counter with a Flying Mare.
Sane hit the Interceptor Spear but couldn’t follow up with a pin. Sane went House on Fire with Polish Hammers, a punch then a Headhunter Neckbreaker. Sane hit Walk The Plank but moments later Perez tried to steal the win with a Roll-up and grabbing the tights for a near fall. Perez hit a low Superkick to set up a Running European Uppercut to Sane’s back on the ropes. The double-bounce Lionsault (which landed across Sane’s face) got Perez a nearfall. Perez hit a version of Penta’s Sacrifice arm breaker but hit the corner when Sane dodged and took a glancing blow from an Axe Kick. Sane tried for a Waterwheel Slam but Perez blocked, holding the ropes and then hit a Divorce Court that set up the Satomura Special for a near fall.
Sane was set up on top but sent Perez down with a Headbutt and hit the Flying Forearm. Moments later she hit the Waterwheel Slam but Rodriguez pulled Perez out of the ring. Sane then hit a Crossbody to the floor and it wiped out Rodriguez but Perez attacked from behind. In the ring, Perez hit a Bang Kick and tried for Pop Rox but Sane countered with a Backslide pin and scored the victory.
After the match Perez and Rodriguez beat down Sane with Sane being sent into a Big Boot from Rodriguez. ASUKA would rush down to even the odds, taking out Perez with a Shoulder Knockdown then peppering Rodriguez with strikes and kicks. Perez took a Spinning Backfist but Rodriguez hit a Clothesline to Asuka and tried for the Tijana Bomb but Sane made the save. It led to an Arm Bar on the ropes by Asuka before Sane dumped Rodriguez out and Asuka hit an Empress Impact on the ropes. Perez then took the Kabuki Warriors double-team finish of the InSane Elbow and Reverse DDT combo. The segment ended as Asuka hugged Sane for the apparent Warriors reunion.
JACKIE REDMOND handled interview duties. One of those included a brief appearance by SCARLETT who had watched her man Kross’ rival Sami Zayn walk off.
In Adam Pearce’s office, IVY NILE and The Creed Brothers were furious that the new El Grande Americano had requested a match without their approval. Nile was surprised to learn that she was already in the Evolution Battle Royal so her and the Creeds left. Asuka and Kairi Sane then stormed in and yelled about the Judgement Day. Pearce then made the two the representatives from Raw for the Evolution Fatal Four-Way Match much to their delight.
NIKKI BELLA got a hype video, announcing that she’d be a part of the Evolution Battle Royal.
Scarlett would accompany Karrion Kross as he attacked Sami Zayne from behind, handing him a pipe weapon to use. She’d do the same with a Kross interview later in the show.
BECKY LYNCH would go the ring for a promo (after she’d briefly comforted The New Day backstage). Lynch complained about how two ‘losers’ now had a title match against her and didn’t like the odds being against her. She complained that she didn’t get to pick her opponent like Iyo Sky and Tiffany Stratton did and claimed her rivals were working together against her. BAYLEY would finally interrupt and stormed to the ring but before she could speak LYRA VALKYRIA also stormed out and body checked Bayley to get in first. Valkyria mocked Lynch for being a bucket full of crazy and wanted her title back. Bayley objected and pointed out that Valkyria cost her title a couple weeks ago and then mocked Valkyria for not getting over WrestleMania.
Lynch mocked Bayley for ditching Valkyria and twisted the knife between the former friends. Valkyria claimed she’d rescue her title from two disappointments but Bayley said she watched Valkyria go from being a double champion into a little Bitch. A brawl kicked off and it saw Valkyria on top as she hit the Dropkick through the ropes to Bayley and then delivered a Nightwing to both Lynch and Bayley. Mockingly raising Lynch’s arm for the ‘last time’ afterwards before she posed and taunted the fans to end the segment.
RHEA RIPLEY and IYO SKY got a hype package ahead of their Evolution title match.
STEPHANIE VAQUER got a hype video and was announced to be in the Battle Royal. NXT GM Ava would announce competitors from NXT this week.
MAXXINE DUPRI, NATALYA and Akira Tozawa were interviewed and both women were announced for the Battle Royal. Durpi said that they planned to dominate to make sure that one of them secured the title shot at Clash in Paris. Natalya, however, tried to downplay the idea of the two of them fighting it out even at the end.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The match between Perez and Sane was a disappointment with a lot of botched spots and miscommunication. A shame that both seemingly had a bad night after great performances the past couple of weeks. The Kabuki Warriors reuniting was somewhat of a surprise as I’d assumed Dupri and Natalya would get the Raw team spot after weeks of hype about them being a duo, but I suppose the WWE wants to load the match with more star talent and it’s no bad thing to see Sane and Asuka back together. The IC title segment was hit and miss as they lost the crowd with the back and forth insults and backstory, but got things hot with Bayley’s ‘little Bitch’ line and then the brawl. Lastly, the multiple video packages on the show was a bit overkill. I understand it might have been the easy choice rather than interviews but it was a case of too many cooks and it spoiled things. The mystery around the Battle Royal hopefully will lead to more surprises and Legends in the match aside from Nikki Belle but we’ll wait and see what’s in store.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days’ time for the post-Evolution edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!