Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
We’re gradually heading towards the Elimination Chamber event and the line-up is already stacked for the Women’s Chamber Match. Tiffany Stratton, Rhea Ripley and Alexa Bliss are already in the match with another qualifying Match happening on Raw this week between Asuka, Bayley and Nattie. Who will bag their ticket for the all-important match to get a Championship Match at WrestleMania? And what will happen when the new challenger for the Women’s IC title, AJ Lee, comes to Raw? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos included BAYLEY and LYRA VALKYRIA, LIV MORGAN (advertised for a sit-down interview) and AJ LEE with CM Punk.
It was announced that next week’s Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match for Raw would be a Triple Threat Match between Women’s Tag Team Champion Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane and Raquel Rodriguez.
ASUKA, Bayley and NATTIE were all part of a hype video ahead of their Qualifying Match tonight.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties.
Triple Threat Match – Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
ASUKA defeated BAYLEY & NATTIE
After early strike shots, Nattie took Bayley down with a double leg tackle, then fired off not so much mount punches but closed fists to the head. Getting soon shoved out of the ring before Bayley avoided an Empress Impact in a corner. A Snapmare from Bayley set up for a Sliding Clothesline, but Asuka bailed to the ropes before a cover could be made. Natalya applied a Romero Special to Bayley, broken up when Asuka hit a Dropkick.
Nattie hit rather rough, wild strikes to Asuka and got a few slaps to the face in return before Nattie hit a Release German Suplex. Asuka would soon after hit a counter Head Kick, but she would then take a Sunset Flip Bomb from Bayley to send her into a corner. Bayley would hit her Baseball Slide at the corner spot to Asuka at one ringpost but trying for a second on Nattie was countered, with Nattie dragging her out and hitting a Slingshot to send Bayley into the post.
Nattie roughed up Bayley in the Timekeeper’s area then in the ring, trying to get cheap heat by mouthing off at the fans. A Snap Suplex followed then an Abdominal Stretch before Asuka broke it up and tossed Nattie out. Asuka hit Kawada Kicks to Bayley before things got a little sloppy with mistiming between strikes being thrown, before Nattie returned to break up an arm hold that Asuka did. Later, Bayley would get a near fall from a Sunset Flip on Asuka, hit Nattie with a Clothesline then a Neckbreaker to Asuka.
Bayley hit an Elbow Drop from the middle rope across Nattie’s back for a near fall, and then would hit a Springboard Elbow Drop to Nattie as she was hung up in a Tree of Woe. Bayley hit a Superplex to Asuka but Nattie broke up the pin. The women traded blows while on their knees before Bayley would get sent out, leaving Asuka and Nattie to exchange running shots at the ropes. Leading to Nattie hitting the Discus Clothesline on Asuka but Bayley hit her with a Back Suplex. Bayley hit the Top Rope Elbow Drop on Asuka but Bayley broke up the pin.
Nattie hit a Release German Suplex on the apron but pulled Nattie back into the ring with the Asuka Lock. Nattie countered with a pinhold to break it, and right after hit a rough Sitout Powerbomb for a two count. Nattie reverted to type and locked on The Sharpshooter, only for Bayley to break it with a Running Knee Strike. The rope-aided Stunner soon followed, before Bayley avoided an Empress Impact as Asuka instead knocked Nattie off the apron with it. The Bayley-to-Belly only got a near fall, as did a Backslide moments later.
Bayley tried for a Roseplant but was pushed off, hitting Nattie with a Running Knee to again knock her from the apron. Asuka used a Jumping Armbar, rolled into the Asuka Lock for the clean submission win.
After the match, MAXXINE DUPRI attacked Nattie on the entranceway, slamming her into the videowall and then some grounded punches before referees broke up the fight.
Liv Morgan, with Dominik Mysterio, had a sit-down interview. Morgan again refused to name who she’s picking to face at WrestleMania, claiming she enjoyed watching everyone else scramble about. STEPHANIE VAQUER interrupted, ranting at Morgan in her native tongue. Mysterio had to translate as Vaquer said she conquered the world. Vaquer said Morgan hid behind Mysterio and said she’d show her what a real champion looked like before she left, and Morgan for whatever reason turned on the waterworks after that to leave the interview.
The Women’s Tag Team Champions IYO SKY and RHEA RIPLEY were interviewed backstage about WrestleMania goals. Ripley admitted that she’s been in a battle on the Road to WrestleMania goes. KAIRI SANE and Asuka interrupted, as Sane claimed the Chamber match was already over since Asuka was now in it. Asuka corrected her with a threat before Asuka vowed that no one was ready for her. The segment, of course, ending with the off-screen yell of ‘KAIRI’.
Backstage in The Judgement Day’s Clubhouse, Morgan was still looking hurt over the earlier interview as RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ took her away for some ‘bonding’ time.
AJ Lee went to the ring for a promo. Lee bragged about getting under Lynch’s skin but said she’d been reminded that this was serious business when Lynch attacked her. Lee boasted that she made the Butterfly belt and she knew who the Hell she was and what she’s done for the business. Listing off Bayley, Ripley, Bliss and others as women she wanted to face before bring the topic back to Lynch, bragging that her merch sells better and the fans liked her more. Saying she gave Lynch a ‘ten year head start and she still hadn’t caught up’. Vowing to walk into WrestleMania as Champion.
Lee called out BECKY LYNCH who indeed came out, who acted offended that Lee thought this was a chance for a Lee title run, claiming this would be Lee’s retirement match. Lynch said she’s been making history while Lee made comic books but lost the crowd with the insults that didn’t register. Lee dared Lynch to throw hands in the ring to finally get the crowd reacting again. Lynch faked like she was going to fight, and then again when she got into the ring after Lee offered a free punch. Lee dared her to swing, mocking Lynch for not backing up her words and indeed, Lynch didn’t bite as Lynch ranted this was a plot to give Lee an excuse when she loses. Lynch backed away and left in cowardly fashion, rushing away to end the segment.
Maxxine Dupri would be interviewed. She said she gave Nattie a receipt for last week’s attack. She vowed to get vengeance on Nattie.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The Triple Threat Match was a big miss. There was clear timing issues between Asuka and Bayley, uncharacteristic for how great they are as veterans. While Nattie deliberately worked stiff and roughly, taking liberties a bit to desperately try and get her gimmick over. It all resulted in what should have been a great match turning out rough. Asuka winning was expected, adding a heel into the Chamber match and only adding to the star power of the women’s Chamber match. Elsewhere, the Morgan and Vaquer interview didn’t work with the odd, quiet translation gimmick by Mysterio element. The decision being delayed for so long feels like an unneeded drag of the expected match between Morgan and Vaquer and it’s not helping either of them for the feud and won’t work either in retrospect. Lastly, the Lee and Lynch segment was solid enough with a couple good insults in it. I fully expect a shenanigans finish at Chamber for a rematch, possibly with a gimmick stipulation, at ‘Mania.
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!
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