Welcome to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
The year of 2025 is slowly ticking down with taped shows planned this week for over the festive period. For this week it’s still a live editon of Raw with two major Championship matches. First, Maxxine Dupri makes her first defence of the Women’s IC title with a battle against former rival Ivy Nile. Then Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer will defend against Raquel Rodriguez of The Judgement Day. Who will emerge victorious as we head towards 2026 and Royal Rumble season? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos featured Women’s World Champion STEPHANIE VAQUER and IVY NILE with American Made.
It was announced that for the new year on the January 5th edition of Raw, Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley will challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Championships against The Kabuki Warriors.
ASUKA and KAIRI SANE would have a promo video, subtitled in English even when they spoke in English, accusing Iyo Sky of betraying their family. Vowing to make Ripley and Sky feel nothing but pain and they’d retain the titles.
IYO SKY and RHEA RIPLEY went to the for a planned promo. However, as they made their way around ringside The Kabuki Warriors popped up from the other side of the barricade. Asuka blinded Ripley with the Poison Mist and as Sky went to check on her friend, Sane hit a Flying Forearm off the barricade. Setting up a Buzzsaw Kick by Asuka before the Warriors sent Sky into the ringsteps. Ripley took a Cutlass from Sane then a Sliding Kick from Asuka. In the ring, Asuka held Ripley as Sane went up top, and Sky bravely slid in to cover up Ripley to take the bullet when Sane hit the InSane Elbow to Sky’s back. Leaving the tag title challengers hurting as the champs gloated and left the scene. With Sky and Ripley having to be helped to the back by trainers and referees during a commercial break.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match
Women’s Intercontinental Champion MAXXINE DUPRI defeated IVY NILE to retain.
Nile pie-faced Dupri a couple of times then ducked a slap to get a Roll-up for just a count of one. Durpi hit a slap just to be tackled to the mat as the two traded mounted strikes. A takedown Slam got Nile a two count. Dupri tried to lock on an Ankle Lock as a counter to a counter boot in the corner by Nile, but Nile kicked her away. Dupri tried going up top but Nile swept the legs, but when she went up for perhaps a Superplex Dupri countered with a Minoru Suzuki Armbar over the ropes. However, Nile managed to turn that into a muscled up slam of sorts to drop Dupri onto the ring apron.
On the floor, Nile hit a Snap German Suplex and back in the ring, Nile focused on the back with clubbing blows and a Basement Dropkick for a near fall. Later, a Back Suplex got another two count for Nile. Dupri was worked over, briefly sent outside so that Nile could fix the straps on her leg of her ring gear, before Dupri tried to come back with a Chinbuster only to take a Superkick after she’d ducked a first one. On the apron, Nile was shoved back into the ring post but still managed to duck Dupri’s high Roundhouse Kick, leaving her open for Nile to sweep the leg and send Dupri into the apron.
Durpi got a Small Package for a near fall. The two traded Slam counters that led to Nile locking in a Dragon Sleeper. Only for Dupri to counter, using her height to flip back and take Nile down with an Island Driver-like roll through. Dupri got fired up after taking shots and went into House on Fire with a boot, Clotheslines then a Pump Kick. A Running Pump Knee followed then a unique Backside position Backbreaker over her own back before she kipped up. A corner Splash led to a Fisherwoman’s Suplex for a near fall. Nile would counter a Roundhouse Kick into a Demon Killer Powerbomb for a two count.
Nile paid for taunting as she hit some mount punches in a corner, allowing Dupri to walk her out of it and hit a Sitdown Powerbomb with an odd bridge back pin for a near fall. Right after, Nile locked in a back leaning Dragon Sleeper choke with both her and Dupri on the ropes, Tree of Woe style. Dupri was stuck in position as Nile hit a Running Kick. Dupri managed to pull herself up and tossed Nile off from the top rope before she pulled back up again and tried for a Crossbody but had to land on her feet from a flying nothing. Nile for a Roll-up for a near fall but Dupri grabbed the leg after the kickout to apply the Ankle Lock. Nile tried to kick away to escape the first time but Dupri held on, and when she was kicked off the second time Dupri just did a roll, picked the leg and locked it on again.
The third kick away sent Dupri into a corner but Dupri countered a boot with a turn into a Roundhouse Kick. Dupri locked the Ankle Lock on once again and this time grounded the hold to force the submission victory for the clean win and successful defence of the IC title.
In the clubhouse of The Judgement Day, LIV MORGAN was fawning over Dominik Mysterio with ROXANNE PEREZ there too being all smiles. Morgan put over RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ and her title challenge tonight, but when Rodriguez politely turned down the offer for help in her corner tonight Morgan’s fake smile quickly vanished to one of her cold stares. Snapping back on the smile when Rodriguez looked back. Perez would vow to take care of Bayley next week to kick her and Valkyria out of the title picture.
Women’s World Championship Match
Women’s World Champion STEPHANIE VAQUER Vs RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ ended in a no-contest.
Rodriguez easily held her ground in a lock-up, turning it into a Standing STO shove down. Soon after she blocked a Sunset Flip attempt by muscling up Vaquer who fired back with Forearm Strikes. Shut down when Rodriguez hit a Running Shoulder Check. The two would trade hitting shots in a corner before Vaquer turned a Headscissors into a roll through into the 120% Roll-up for a near fall. Moments later, Vaquer tried for a top rope Crossbody but Rodriguez caught the move, turning it into a Reverse Suplex for a two count.
Rodriguez hit the Diesel Elbows in a corner, then after mouthing off at the fans she hit a hat trick of Elbow Drops for a near fall. They worked the advert break with rest holds before Vaquer applied a Back Sleeper, only to be tossed off into another rest hold of the Japanese Stranglehold. Vaquer escaped, used misdirection to slide between the legs and then hit a trio of strikes, finished with a Headbutt. A corner Splash, then another Headbutt, led to the rope-aided Dragon Screw. Rodriguez blocked a Back Suplex attempt then hit Shoulder Thrusts in a corner. In a nice spot, Vaquer tried for the Suzuki Arm Bar over the top rope but Rodriguez used her power to counter, muscle Vauqer all the way back up and drove her with a Powerbomb for a near fall.
Rodriguez went for the Vader Bomb but landed on her feet when Vaquer rolled away. Vaquer hit a Superkick then the short Back Suplex, setting up for the full ten blows of Devil’s Kiss. Vaquer hit a Running corner Meteora but couldn’t lift up Rodriguez for an SVB, and soon got decked by the Rewind Clothesline. Vaquer would get the Arm Bar over the ropes and tried for a Crossbody off the apron, only for Rodriguez to catch the move but Vaquer would counter that and sent Rodriguez into the ring post.
Right after that, NIKKI BELLA appreared and shoved Vaquer into the ring post to get the match thrown out. Tossing Rodriguez into the ringsteps then Vaquer into the barricade. Bella hit Rack Attack 2.0 on Vaquer in the ring then paraded around the ring before she left the scene to end the segment.
Rhea Ripley stormed into Adam Pearce’s office, demanding a match with Asuka and it was granted for next week.
After JACKIE REDMOND had conducted an interview, Nikki Bella stormed up to run her mouth. Gloating about putting ‘people beneath her in their place’ and ranting that she was a legend and that women like Rodriguez and Vaquer should be shining her boot.
Bayley versus Roxanne Perez was confirmed for next week, as well as another confirmation that Asuka would face Rhea Ripley.
Backstage BAYLEY hyped up Maxxine Dupri to congratulate her but when she left, LYRA VALKRIA showed up and Bayley admitted that her loss to ‘someone less experienced’ (Sol Ruca at the SNME show) left her unsure, referencing Asuka’s social media speech about Bayley over the weekend. Valkyria deliberately taunted her tag partner, shoving her in the shoulder a few times and calling her an idiot to intentionally snap Bayley into Role Model mode, yelling back that she’d destroy Perez next week, something that Valkyria couldn’t do. Valkyria was smug about it all, saying ‘there she is’ about Bayley’s change of mood.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Two fine matches on Raw. Dupri continues to show vast improvement even compared to months ago and had a solid match with Nile, even if the bout lacked a bit of crowd energy behind it without any belief that Nile had a chance of winning. We’ll now see what Dupri’s next title bout is to see if the momentum stays high or if it will be lost during Rumble season. The no-contest for the World title match was a slight surprise since Rodriguez has lost before to Vaquer and no one believed here that she’d win anyway. Perhaps three-way match involving Bella will be a way to ease the load that Bella has struggled with in singles matches but we’ll see how this story unfolds into the New Year and beyond. Especially with how furious Morgan was about her ‘bestie’ taking the title shot she wanted.
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!