Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP, presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Last week saw WWE Official Sonya Deville abuse her power, luring Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair to sign an open contract for a future title defence. Only for Deville herself to sign the contract herself. What will come next from this sudden development? And of course this week we finally will see Naomi and Sasha Banks defend the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley. After trading singles wins over the past few weeks, who will emerge as the champs? Let’s get into it, and find out…
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
NAOMI & SASHA BANKS defeated LIV MORGAN & RHEA RIPLEY to retain.
Before the match even started, the WWE production messed up by showing the graphic of the United States Championship, before finally showing the Women’s Tag soon after. Ripley and Banks started off as Banks missed a Dropkick before eating from one Ripley. Ripley driving Banks into her team’s corner so Morgan could tag in after a couple of Shoulder Thrusts. Ripley whipping Morgan in to hit a Back Elbow in the corner, then a Morgan Snapmare set up Ripley powering Morgan down off a Wheelbarrow into a Splash for a one count
Morgan couldn’t get a move in after a Springboard, shoved off before Banks hit her Counter High Knee Strike. Tagging in Naomi as the champs hit a Double Team Eat Defeat, then stereo Head Kicks to a kneeling Morgan for a near fall. Naomi tagged back out, holding Morgan so Banks could hit a Top Rope Crossbody for a near fall while Naomi knocked Ripley off the apron. Morgan went to the floor, but after tagging Naomi back in both champs went to the floor and drove Morgan into the ring post. Banks tried for a Crossbody off the apron but Ripley caught her, swinging Banks’ feet to knock Naomi down. Morgan then used her feet push spot to send Naomi into the ring post, while Ripley hit a version of Riptide to drop Banks into the Timekeeper’s barricade.
Back from commercial the legal women were Ripley and Naomi, as Naomi got shut down with a Clothesline. Mogan was tagged in but the two missed the timing as what should have been a Doomsday Device Facebuster just became Ripley hitting a Front Electric Chair with Morgan following down a second after. It only got a near fall. Morgan got her kick combo in, hitting the Enzigiri but couldn’t hit ObLIVion as Naomi countered, trying for a Backslide but Ripley blind tagged in. That allowed Ripley to grab Naomi when she went for a Springboard, setting up Morgan to hit a Powerbomb. Ripley came in and hit Riptide, but Banks slid in and hit a Backstabber on Morgan before breaking up Ripley’s pin.
Ripley was left alone, and ate a Disaster Kick from Naomi before Banks was tagged, hitting their Lungblower double team before Naomi hit a Full Nelson Bomb. A Jackknife Pin hold from Banks then scored the win after the combo of tag team attacks.
After the match Ripley was frustrated and seemed to blame Morgan, asking where she was and claiming Morgan failed. When Morgan walked off to let them cool off, Ripley attacked Morgan from behind! Hitting Morgan with a massive Riptide to a loud chorus of boos before leaving the ring. Soon after Ripley was approached by SARAH SCHREIBER backstage but Ripley offered no answers.
WWE Official SONYA DEVILLE went to the ring, trying to justify her actions claiming she’s always been a competitor and had been ‘forced’ to being an official. Deville said that it was just an opportunity for her when Belair became Champion. BIANCA BELAIR stormed out as now Deville claimed that since she was still an official there’d be punishments for touching her, and dared Deville to face her tonight. Deville instead made the match for Belair’s hometown, happening next week. Belair went for a KOD as Deville screamed to put her down, threatening fines as Belair indeed put her down, but just in a rather rough way before leaving Deville furious.
Backstage Deville ranted to fellow Official Adam Pearce about what happened, before Belair appeared to pay her fine for attacking an official – a total of one crisp American Dollar.
The double wedding, 24/7 Championship ceremony was held with DANA BROOKE and Reggie, and TAMINA and Akira Tozawa. But apparently it was just a ‘Commitment Ceremony’ so not actually even a wedding? Also featuring NIKKI A.S.H. in full costume but with a blue feather boa, and Sasha Bankls and Naomi there too because why not. After dragging out the ceremony and ‘completing’ the vows, Reggie betrayed his ‘new bride’ with a smooch kiss on Brooke to pin her and take the title. Before Tamina finally won the title after Superkicking Reggie (in her full dress no less!) and pinning her. Only for Tozawa to roll her up and take the title, before Brooke hit a Crossbody (yep, while in her dress) to pin Tozawa. Brooke escaping with her title, riding R-Truth with a piggie back to flee the ring.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Hot garbage as expected from the 24/7 nonsense. In terms of the actual match, a fine tag team contest with the expected outcome at least for which side won. Ripley taking the pin was a surprise but it worked with the sudden heel turn for Ripley being slightly delusional to blame Morgan when she got pinned. While sure, it’s sad that the WWE breaks up the popular duo and one of the few tag teams left in the women’s division. But it makes sense with Belair being the babyface champion so she’ll need heels to defend against. And it’s been a long while since Ripley has been in the singles title conversation. The segment with Belair and Deville was to the point and worked. I’m surprised they’re doing the match next week but there’s every chance to drag the feud out to WrestleMania Backlash so we’ll see if there are any shenanigans next week.
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!