Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! We’re fast approaching Survivor Series and what’s become a yearly tradition of the Women’s War Games Match. Both sides are stacking up with an apparent inter-promotional alliances. With the heels, it’s Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae. For the faces, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are being backed up by Naomi and Iyo Sky, but that still leaves them a member short for the five-against-five bout. What’s next in this rushed storyline? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Women’s World Champion LIV MORGAN along with RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ kicked off the show and we got a lengthy recap of the events from last week on both Raw and Smackdown. Morgan said that she knew the tag champs wanted a fight, but she didn’t come alone (obviously, she had Rodriguez there). That brought out WWE Women’s Champion NIA JAX accompanied by Miss Money in the Bank TIFFANY STRATTON and CANDICE LERAE (the Women’s Speed Champion but they only show that title on X). Jax said nothing off important and in fact repeated the same lines about not thinking about Rodriguez then to Morgan.
The Women’s Tag Team Champions BIANCA BELAIR and JADE CARGILL along with NAOMI interrupted. Belair brought out IYO SKY without any explanation why she’s teaming up with non-Damage CTRL members. Morgan mocked them being one woman down. RHEA RIPLEY then made her return in Crow-esk attire and a protective face mask. She yelled “WAR GAMES” in Morgan’s face then decked her with a Headbutt to kick off the mass brawl. Morgan fled through the crowd, and after some obvious editing, Sky hit a Moonsault to the floor to wipe out the opposing side. Before the faces stood tall in the ring.
Mixed Tag Team Match
The LWO (ZELINA VEGA & Rey Mysterio) defeated American Made (IVY NILE & Chad Gable)
Nile slapped Vega before the bell, leading to a hair-pull ‘brawl’ as they rolled out of the ring and the men officially started the match. Not too long after, Nile distracted Mysterio to allow Gable to yank him off the corner. Nile then entered the ring to swing at Vega, drawing her in to distract the ref so Nile and Gable could stomp away at Mysterio in their corner.
Later, Mysterio would get a hot tag to Vega to make both women legal. Vega hit Velvet Sky Clotheslines, then soon after a Spingboard Kick in a neutral corner. That set up a Corner Meteora for a near fall. Nile blocked a Suplex attempt and soon after blocked a Hiptoss to then hit a short-range Clothesline.
After a commercial break, the women were still legal as Nile locked on a front choke. A Gutwrench Suplex got Nile a near fall, before she locked on a rest hold Headlock that eventually lead to Vega countering with a Back Suplex. Vega was denied the tag but managed to counter Nile’s grip into the Tilt-a-whirl DDT. Gable came in to try and block the tag, but he took an Enzigiri from Vega before she tagged out to Mysterio to make both men legal.
Later on, Mysterio would toss up Vega so she could hit an impressive Frankenscreamer on Gable perched on the corner! Vega would use a Low Bridge to dump Nile out of the ring right after. Mysterio ended up pinning Gable after the 619 and Splash combo to win it for the LWO.
Backstage in the Judgement Day clubhouse Morgan lamented about her numerous enemies and Finn Balor used that to seize command of the group for the night.
DAKOTA KAI had a hype video. Later in the show LYRA VALKYRIA also got a video package.
It was announced that Bianca Belair would face Nia Jax next week on Raw with the winner earning their time the Advantage in War Games.
MAXXINE DUPRI was part of a backstage segment with The New Day and her Alpha Academy boys that set up a match between the teams for next week.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The piped-in crowd noises were very obvious for this taped edition of Raw. Especially evident for the opening segment that confirmed the War Games match. The build for this match has been super rushed and ignores storylines from the past year and even the month before Crown Jewel. Iyo Sky happily teaming with Bianca Belair after the beef Belair and Damage CTRL have had for years. Nia Jax and Liv Morgan are allies after they fought over the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. It’s a complete mess and all for a match that will be ignored right afterwards. So this was all a big miss for me. Elsewhere the Mixed Tag was harmless but only served to give American Made another loss and Mysterio a long overdue win.
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!