Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
The Road to WrestleMania continues with eyes on the Women’s World Championship clash between rivals Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan after Vaquer scored a win over Raquel Rodriguez. What’s next for those two? And what will be the aftermath of Becky Lynch’s sneak attack to her nemesis AJ Lee? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos featured LIV MORGAN and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ with The Judgement Day, BAYLEY and LYRA VALKYRIA.
BECKY LYNCH went to the ring for a promo. Lynch objected to fans booing her but cheering for someone who ‘abandoned them for a decade’. Ranting about being appreciated by her family and making the Women’s IC title the most relevant in all of WWE. Lynch claimed that her daughter was going around the home singing Lee’s song and skipping around.
Lynch claimed she killed the Divas era before AJ LEE finally interrupted, storming the ring as Lynch fled the ring like a coward and fled through the crowd. Lee stood on the announce table to fire back her response, saying every time they’ve met she walked Lynch like a dog. Lee vowed to humiliate Lynch one more time at the grandest stage of them all, Lee versus Lynch at WrestleMania. Lynch bragged that Lee fell for her trap, said a line about the last time Lee was at Mania she quit the next day, and said she’d end her career at Mania. The segment ended with a face-off before the show moved on.
THE BELLA TWINS got a hype video.
Tag Team Match
BAYLEY & LYRA VALKRIA defeated The Kabuki Warriors (ASUKA & KAIRI SANE)
Bayley and Asuka started the match, but Sane provided a distraction that allowed Asuka to pull the hair for a Mat Slam. Bayley would counter being whipped, holding the ropes and hitting a boot to a charging Asuka then hitting Sane with a Forearm shot when she came in. A quick tag to Valkyria saw her hitting her round of strikes, then a rough Snapmare before tagging in Bayley so she could hit the Running Back Elbow to Asuka’s back. Bayley’s Sliding Clothesline got a near fall.
On the outside, Bayley tried for the Dropkick at the corner spot but Sane pulled Asuka out of the way. Asuka still yelled at her lackie like they weren’t on the same page before hitting a Pop-Up Knee Strike to Bayley. Sane decked Valkyria with the Cutlass before the action went back inside, with Sane being tagged in so the Warriors could hit their Double Team strike combo, finished by a Sane Basement Dropkick.
During a ‘commercial break’ Sane worked over Bayley with stomps and a choke on the ropes, before distracting the ref so Asuka could get some cheap shots in. Sane would hit a version of Walk the Plank with Bayley half up in the corner before Asuka was tagged in. Bayley took some Kawada Kicks, finished with a kick to the back. Sane got a tag, as Asuka whipped Bayley in to take a boot to the face from Sane sat up top, who then locked in her Figure Four Necklock on the ropes to choke Bayley. Breaking it and, far from the first time she’s done this, forgetting she’s a heel and high fiving fans ringside. Sane hit the Flying Forearm off the top for a near fall.
Back to ‘live action’, Bayley fought her way out of the Warriors’ corner, kicking away Sane when she tried to block it. Asuka seemingly was out of position as Sane went rolling back, didn’t actually touch Asuka but Asuka ranted at Sane like she messed up anyway. That yelling allowed Bayley to tag out so Valkyria could hit a Top Rope Crossbody onto both Warriors. Going House on Fire with a Enzigiri to Asuka then Clotheslines to Sane, and soon after a sharp Sit-Out Powerbomb for a near fall. Valkyria managed to duck a Cutlass strike, but going for a Delayed Suplex Sane countered into a DDT.
Asuka got a blind tag, coming in and hitting a Codebreaker to Valkyria, holding her in place for Sane to hit a Blockbuster to get a two count. Valkyria would flip from a corner to her feet, avoiding an Asuka charge and then hitting a Spinning Heel Kick. Bayley got a tag as Valkyria hit a Fisherwoman’s Buster, setting up for a middle rope Elbow Drop by Bayley for a near fall. Valkyria got tagged, but Asuka hit a Release German Suplex on Bayley. Valkyria knocked Sane off the apron, but got caught with a Head Kick and Sane would get the tag anyway as Valkyria was put in a Tree of Woe. Sane hit the Double Stomp to Valkyria but Bayley broke up the pin.
Bayley took a Buzzsaw Kick from Asuka, but on the outside Bayley landed a Bayley-to-Belly to send Asuka onto the announce table. Bayley went for an Elbow Drop off the crowd barricade but Sane pulled Asuka out of the way, leaving Bayley crashing into the table (that didn’t break). Valkyria nailed her Dropkick through the ropes to hit Sane who collided (barely) into Asuka.
Back inside Valkyria hit Nightwing on Sane for the clean victory.
JACKIE REDMOND interviewed Bayley and Valkyria right after the match, asking them if they felt the pressure to get to ‘Mania. Bayley said she felt good about the win, before Valkyria addressed the Women’s Tag Team Champions, calling them out. Bayley challenged Nia Jax and Lash Legend to face them next week on Raw.
TIFFANY STRATTON had a promo video talking about her NXT development days.
Backstage, Asuka berated Sane for the loss earlier on, ordering Sane to make it up to her. When Asuka stormed off, IYO SKY walked up, trying to talk sense into Sane and saying she doesn’t deserve to be treated like this. Hearing the ‘KAIRI’ yell made the torn Sane walk away. Sky had other problems to deal with when Raquel Rodriguez appeared, mocking Sky for being alone and objecting to her interference last week. Sky merely said she’d do it again, which led Rodriguez to challenge Sky to a match next week, which Sky accepted.
Liv Morgan accompanied Dominik Mysterio for his IC title match, but STEPHANIE VAQUER decked Morgan from behind, attacking with Headbutts before Mysterio pulled her off and got nailed with a Forearm for his troubles. Morgan took advantage of refs trying to hold back Vaquer, hitting a kick to the gut then slamming Vaquer into the video wall. The brawl continued backstage in the Gorilla Position, with Vaquer slammed into a wall then across chairs before Vaquer got a tackle that looked more like a Spinebuster from the thud. The fight was finally separated by referees and agents.
It was made official that the Women’s Tag Team Championships would be defended next week as Lash Legend and Nia Jax face Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, along with the clash between Iyo Sky and Raquel Rodriguez.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A fine tag team match, putting Bayley and Valkyria firmly on the map and giving at least the boost that explains a tag title match. The title scene is filled with Flair and Bliss along with The Bella Twins so all signs right now point to a multi-team clash as ‘Mania which wouldn’t be any bad thing. Elsewhere, the expected clash between Lee and Lynch that will likely end the feud has been confirmed. The first singles match was a great one, so hopefully they can deliver on an even grander stage. Sky’s interaction with Sane seems to hint we’ll get at least Sky versus Asuka at ‘Mania but we’ll see if Sane is added in too. Finally, the brawl between Vaquer and Morgan was simple and effective to keep their title feud going, so there’s no complaints there.
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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