Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Elimination Chamber is on the horizon and this week there’s another qualifying match as Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria will take on the highly decorated Bayley to decide who advances. Who will punch their ticket? And who will make a statement in the tag ranks when Damage CTRL faces Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez? Let’s get into it, and find out…
LYRA VALKYRIA and BAYLEY were a part of the night’s ‘arrived earlier today’ videos.
CATHY KELLEY interviewed RHEA RIPLEY who mocked Charlotte Flair for stalling her announcement. IYO SKY and DAKOTA KAI interrupted as Sky vowed to come after Ripley and her title, to which Ripley coldly said that she’d be waiting.
IVY NILE hyped up The Creed Brothers backstage.
Tag Team Match
Damage CTRL (DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY) defeated The Judgement Day (LIV MORGAN & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ)
Morgan cut an in-ring promo before the match, bragging about qualifying for the Chamber and said she’d been in more matches than anyone else. Rodriguez spoke in Spanish, before Morgan vowed that Rodriguez would win her qualifying match next week against Roxanne Perez and would win tonight’s match too.
Morgan and Sky started off but Morgan cowardly fled and tagged out to Rodriguez, who mocked Sky for their height difference and patted Sky on the top of her head. Sky slapped Rodriguez and got a choke toss into a corner for her troubles. A blind tag by Kai allowed her to hit a Pump Kick to Rodriguez, before a trip by Sky set up duelling Dropkicks front and back to Rodriguez for a near fall. Kai avoided a corner charge by Rodriguez and hit the Flying Mare but when she tried for a second, Rodriguez tossed her away and then hit a Clothesline.
Morgan took a tag but Kai instantly hit a Scorpion Kick before she tagged out and Sky prevented Morgan from tagging out. Sky hit Forearm Strikes, did flips and hit a Dropkick but the momentum sent Morgan back so Rodriguez could blind tag in, and moments later Rodriguez hit a Big Boot through the ropes to deck Sky. Rodriguez did another Choke Toss to send Sky into the heels’ corner before Morgan was tagged to hit stomps. Another tag led to some elbow shots by Rodriguez, and another tag allowed Morgan to hit more stomps. The next tag led to the Morgan back elbow, roll-out to whip Rodriguez into a corner splash combo before Rodriguez hit a Powerslam for a near fall.
Morgan was tagged as she sat up top so Rodriguez could send Sky head-first into Morgan’s knees, before Morgan hit a Facebuster off the ropes for a two count. Rodriguez was tagged and hit a Clothesline, but a Powerslam attempt was countered into a Back Sleeper and moments later, Sky countered a Back Suplex by landing on her feet before she made the hot tag. Kai hit a Lucha Kick to Rodriguez running in, then peppered Rodriguez with strikes that led to a Buzzsaw Kick to the arm then a Facewash in a corner for a two count. Kai hit the Springboard Stomp to Rodriguez through the ropes and then tossed Morgan out when she tried to attack her, which set up for a kick along the apron. Kai tried for a Running Kick on the outside but hit the ringpost when Rodriguez moved, and then Kai got slammed into the post.
Rodriguez used a version of a Press Slam to send Kai into the apron and it got her a near fall in the ring. Kai got worked over with corner Back Elbows and a hard whip before a yank Powerbomb out of another corner. Morgan was tagged in and hit a cheap shot to kick to knock Sky from the apron before the Three Amigos followed then a Glimmering Warlock for a near fall. Rodriguez was tagged in to rough up Kai and apply a Cobra Clutch but Kai used a Roll-up grip to send Rodriguez through the ropes. Rodriguez tried to stop the tag but ate an Enzigiri before tags were made on both sides.
Sky hit Shotei strikes then a Dropkick, before she sent Morgan to the floor and knocked Rodriguez down too for a Suicide Dive on both opponents. A Missile Dropkick in the ring to Morgan followed with the kip ups, then the Bullet Train Attack for a near fall. Sky went for Over the Moonsault, Morgan tried to counter with her feet up but Sky landed on hers and grabbed the feet to block and pulled Morgan up for the Double Underhook Backbreaker to get a two count. Sky tried for another Bullet Train Attack but this time Rodriguez pulled her out of the way and then took a tag. Morgan hit a Corner Knee Strike before Rodriguez held Sky in a Flapjack position so Morgan could hit a Codebreaker off the ropes for a wicked double-team! Sky managed to kick out at two.
Rodriguez went for the Powerbomb toss spot with Morgan, but Sky brought the knees up to counter Morgan being tossed. Rodriguez was sent out with a Low Bridge (even if Sky held the middle rope but Rodriguez went over the top) before Kai was tagged and Sky hit a Release German Suplex on Morgan. The Kai-ropractor followed but Rodriguez broke up the pin. Rodriguez then swung Morgan wildly into both opponents and doing so busted open Morgan when she struck Sky. The Toss Powerbomb worked to send Morgan into Sky, but Rodriguez missed the corner Vader Bomb Elbow on Kai who rolled away. Morgan nailed ObLIVion on Kai but Sky broke it up with a Running Knee Strike.
Sky was tagged in but took a Big Boot from Rodriguez, before Kai countered a Powerbomb from her into a Headscissors into the heels’ corner. Kai hit the Running Corner Boot to Rodriguez but then took a Codebreaker from Morgan. A Roll-up by Sky got a two count before Morgan hit a round of strikes, and after a series of counters Sky rolled through a Samson Clutch to hit a Double Stomp, followed by a Buzzsaw Kick. Over the Moonsault followed for the clean win over Morgan, as Damage CTRL defeated the ‘number one contenders’ for the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
JACKIE REDMOND handled interview duties.
Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
BAYLEY defeated Women’s Intercontinental Champion LYRA VALKYRIA
ROXANNE PEREZ was front row to watch the match as Bayley taunted her rival from the NXT storyline. Bayley controlled with a Wristlock to start before Valkyria countered with an Arm Drag, and the technical showcase continued as Valkyria got a Headlock before she escaped from the grounded Headscissors counter. Bayley would get the better of a Test of Strength spot, but when Valkyria pushed back up she got control with the arm into a Top Wristlock. Bayley got a Shoulder Check and soon after a leg trip before Valkyria got one of her own.
Valkyria would be sent to the apron but managed to shove away Bayley’s Stunner attempt and moments later inventively countered the spinning Back Elbow to the back with an impressing Backslide for a near fall. Both women countered the other’s finisher as Valkyria locked on a Clutch pinhold for a two count. Bayley shut things down with a Forearm Strike but moments later Bayley was sent to the floor and took Valkyria’s Dropkick through the ropes spot. Valkyria targetted Bayley’s arm with strikes but when she sent Bayley out again to go for the Dropkick, this time Bayley grabbed her to slam Valkyria face-first into the apron.
Back inside both women hit Clotheslines at the same time before Bayley hit a Back Suplex for a near fall. Valkyria made a comeback with a series of kicks and strikes, rounded off with a wild Enzigiri to the arm for a near fall. A Spin Kick got another two count but a Missile Dropkick from the middle ropes ate nothing but canvas, before Bayley took advantage to use a Sunset Flip to send Valkyria into a corner. Bayley went for the Top Rope Elbow Drop but Valkyria brought her knees up to counter, and then hit a Tornado DDT rolled through but Bayley countered that into the Bayley-to-Belly for a two count.
The women traded blows before Bayley ducked an Enzigiri and nailed a Running Knee Strike. Bayley hit a somewhat messy version of Victoria’s spin-out into a Side Slam and soon after Bayley hit her Stunner through the ropes. Bayley tried for a move with Valkyria draped on the apron, but Valkyria countered and hit a Tornado DDT using the apron, rolled through into a Fisherwoman’s Suplex on the floor! Back inside, another Fisherwoman’s Suplex got a near fall for Valkyria. Moments later, Bayley tried for a Super Bayley-to-Belly but it only led to Bayley being draped through the ropes as Valkyria hit a Legdrop to her back. Bayley escaped a Nightwing attempt but Valkyria countered another Bayley-to-Bell with a Samson Clutch for a near fall.
Bayley used a Roll-up toss to send Valkyria into the ropes but Valkyria countered a Rose Plant attempt and tried for La Magistral but Bayley used a counter pinhold to it and scored the victory. The two Superstars showed respect after the match with a handshake and hug.
Backstage MAXXINE DUPRI and Alpha Academy consoled Lyra Valkyria after her loss. Ivy Nile and American Made showed up to mock Valkyria and said that if Valkyria was being coached by them, it would make her job easier to take the IC title. Valkyria mocked that she wouldn’t lecture Nile about gym work, so she should stay away from her in the ring. Nile vowed to see Valkyria soon.
Ivy Nile would accompany American Made to the ring as they faced War Raiders.
Yet again there was issues within The Judgement Day in their clubhouse as Finn Balor ranted at his teammates and Morgan tried to keep peace.
Elsewhere backstage Rhea Ripley confronted Damage CTRL, and said she was giving Iyo Sky a World Championship Match in three weeks on the Raw after Elimination Chamber.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
We were treated to two great matches on Raw. Bayley and Valkyria put on a pleasant surprise of a technical match that would have been unheard of a few years ago and it was great to see. The tag match was super fun as well and Morgan can take a loss since she’s already qualified. That match could possibly set up things for a mass-team match at WrestleMania for the Women’s Tag Team Titles once Elimination Chamber has passed. Booking a title match for Raw well in advance is unusual but perhaps it will calm the fans who have been calling for Sky to get a ‘last chance’ opportunity to get into Elimination Chamber. It also keeps the title relevant and gives Ripley ring time who has been something very absent over the past year.
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!