Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! The build towards Clash in Paris has seen Nikki Bella step up against Becky Lynch with a vicious war of words. But before that, Lynch got herself into a match against Maxxine Dupri in what on paper looks like a very one-sided affair. Elsewhere, a planned title match between Naomi and Iyo Sky seems to have been axed after Naomi was ruled ‘medically unable to compete’. What other twists will we get ahead of the Clash? Let’s get into it, and find out…
The WWE confirmed at the start of the show that Naomi wasn’t able to compete and the title match with her and Iyo Sky was cancelled.
In The Judgement Day’s clubhouse, Finn Balor tried to play his usual mind games with RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ and ROXANNE PEREZ about ‘backstage rumours’ but Dominik Mysterio bringing in ‘El Grande Americano’ ruined the mood.
Backstage, IYO SKY complained to GM Adam Pearce about her title match being cancelled. Perez and Rodriguez appeared and mocked Sky, saying she should be greatful because she would only lose again if the match happened. Sky cut in and said she wanted to fight, and wanted to face Perez tonight. Pearce made the match official much to Perez and Rodriguez’s outrage.
Before Iyo Sky’s match, backstage she was stopped by ASUKA and KAIRI SANE and once again the Warriors offered to help Sky and be in her corner, but Sky politely turned them down.
Singles Match
ROXANNE PEREZ w/h RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ defeated IYO SKY
Perez got the better of a collar-and-elbow lock-up but when she went for the cheap shot after the break on the ropes, Sky ducked and got a go-behind. They exchanged wristlocks before things got grounded and Perez used a bodyscissors to roll into a Gedo Clutch-style pin for barely a count of one a couple of times. Sky rolled back for a counter pin and a two count to escape before Perez applied a Headlock with the Takeover. Sky would counter with the Headscissors, but Perez used a headstand and bridged herself out of it. Paying for being cocky with a pie-face as Sky applied an aggressive Headlock with theatrics.
Sky would escape a grounded Headscissors with a handstand of her own, right into a Shotei strike. Perez would duck a Buzzsaw Kick attempt and got a two count off a Roll-up, and shut down Sky with a hair-pull slam right after. Perez drove Sky’s head into a couple of corners and moments later, hit a slap to the face after a cartwheel. Perez went for the Whirly-bird Headscissors after a backroll, but Sky flipped out of it to avoid damage. Another Shotei led to misdirection then a Dropkick that sent Perez to the floor. A Suicide Dive by Sky took out both women, but Perez still got up and decked Sky from behind and sent her into the ring steps.
Back inside, Perez hit the European Uppercut to the back, then the double-bounce Lionsault for a near fall. Perez hit the corner combo of Back Elbow, roll out then a European Uppercut. A flying nothing by Perez was countered with a Dropkick by Sky. Sky rallied with Shoteis and a Dropkick, but slipped a bit trying to vault through the ropes before she hit a Lucha Kick from the apron to Perez. Sky hit the Missile Dropkick, kipped up and DID THE THING with her taunt. The Bullet Train Attack got a near fall.
Sky went up top for the Moonsault but Perez rolled to the apron, and when Sky reached down to grab her Perez yanked the arm to drag Sky down. Perez snapped off a Frankenscreamer, followed by a Satomura Special for a near fall. Perez tried for a Sunset Flip but Sky flipped out of it and hit a Buzzsaw Kick. Sky went for another Bullet Train Attack but Perez got out of the way and held onto the skirting of the ring when Sky pulled her back in. As the ref fixed up the ring, Perez raked the eyes and hit a Shining Wizard for a two count.
Perez hit La Mistica into a Crossface hold, but Sky would escape and hit the Double Underhook Backbreaker for a near fall. Perez bailed to the outside, and Rodriguez tried to get involved but Sky jumped over an attempt to cut her legs off and hit a Mule Kick. That set up a Moonsault off the ropes to both Rodriguez and Perez before she sent Perez back in. Perez tried to counter Over the Moonsault with feet up, but Sky still came crashing down with a knee right into Perez’s head.
Perez tried to undo the turnbuckle pad when Rodriguez distracted the referee. The Kabuki Warriors, despite being told not to help Sky, rushed out and grabbed Perez at the ropes. Sky charged but Perez broke free and ducked, and while Sky stopped herself from hitting her former friends Perez shoved her from behind to knock both Warriors from the apron. A Roll-up with tights grabbed stole Perez the victory right after.
JACKIE REDMOND handled interview duties.
Backstage Iyo Sky was rightly furious and yelled at Asuka and Sane, saying they didn’t help her because she lost. Asuka got angry and shoved Sky before storming off and Sane, visable torn, hesistated before she rushed away after Asuka which didn’t set well with Sky either.
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match
Women’s Intercontinental Champion BECKY LYNCH defeated MAXXINE DUPRI w/h NATALYA & Akira Tozawa to retain
Lynch easily got the better of a lock-up and bullied Dupri with repeated shoves. Lynch continued to make it look like a joke with basic takedowns, a Headlock escape then a Shoulder Knockdown. She yelled at Dupri to get out of her ring, and Dupri faked doing so just to hit an Arm Drag. Lynch swatted down a Dropkick attempt then decked Durpri with a Big Boot. Lynch hit some corner Stomps then a Running Forearm. Three Bex-Ploder throws in a row followed, and even the fans weren’t behind Dupri with a Becky Lynch chant.
Dupri woke the crowd up with a Stunner counter to a Man-Handle Slam. Both women dodged corner shots, before Dupri countered the Spingboard Kick spot by Lynch and turned it into an Ankle Lock. Lynch rolled through and Durpi flipped to her feet from the momentum and hit a Clothesline. Dupri hit punches and kicks in a corner, then a Baseball Slide when Lynch bailed to the floor. In the ring, a Crossbody off the top rope by Dupri got a near fall. She tried for a Sharpshooter but Lynch kicked away, but Durpi hit a Roundhouse Kick.
Lynch rolled back out of a pin with one of her own and tried to steal the win with a rope grab but the ref saw it. Durpi tried for a Roll-up but Lynch escaped and locked on the Dis-Arm-Her for the victory.
After the match, Lynch decked Natalya with a cheap shot boot and gloated up the aisle about her victory.
BAYLEY had a video package. Getting emotional about being lost right now in her career, saying she wanted more but now felt less. Admitting it was her fault that she’s stuck in a rut. The video curiously ended with a wicked laugh, similar to Bayley’s heel unhinged era.
LYRA VALKYRIA was interviewed. Valkyria played the victim and said it had nothing to do with Bayley’s current state and blamed her for being unable to challenge for the IC title.
Backstage, STEPHANIE VAQUER confronted a still-hurting Iyo Sky, remarking that she is also owed a title match. Vaquer left, only for RHEA RIPLEY to approach Sky. Trying to comfort Sky about tonight’s events but when Ripley asked bluntly if Sky could trust the Kabuki Warriors Sky took instant exception, and told Ripley to stay out of it. Which didn’t sit well with Ripley.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Naomi being medically out was a major blow to the division. One can only hope it’s a short-term issue otherwise the plans for Clash in Paris could be out the window. Perez and Sky put on a fine match with a solid heel, cheap victory. There’s an interesting story with Iyo Sky and her former team-mates. Will it lead to a team with Rhea Ripley or something else? Elsewhere, the match between Lynch and Durpi was passable but did neither woman any favours. It brought back memories to me of the matches that Lynch had against the likes of Tegan Nox and Xia Li. So called opportunities, only for those women to be released not that long after. Sure, Dupri got in some moves but was clowned and still easily beaten and if she and Natalya are sent to the back again like they’ve been for months, then what was the point?
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!