Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
Crown Jewel is just over a week away, but ahead of that the WWE has loaded up this edition of Raw with three advertised matches. Iyo Sky against Raquel Rodriguez (now seemingly non-title), Bayley versus Lyra Valkyria in a No DQ Match, and a number-one contendership match between Becky Lynch and Stephanie Vaquer. Who will emerge on top in these important bouts? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos featured BAYLEY, LYRA VALKYRIA, IYO SKY and BECKY LYNCH.
General Manager Adam Pearce started the show, stating a bait-and-switch that despite having been advertised as cleared to compete, Stephanie Vaquer was declared medically uncleared ‘this afternoon’. He instead announced that Becky Lynch would face Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship. The segment then moved on with men’s division storylines.
The troops were assembled in The Clubhouse of The Judgment Day, with ROXANNE PEREZ and RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ with the boys before a clearly worried LIV MORGAN stormed in. Complaining about being put into a title match that she wasn’t prepared for. Rodriguez vowed to set the tone and deal with Iyo Sky, and Perez tried to reassure Morgan but her words were dismissed. Morgan ranting again and vowed to win anyway despite the odds being against her. Storming off as Mysterio went after her.
No Disqualification Match
BAYLEY defeated LYRA VALKYRIA
A hype video played before the match to cover the feud. NXT Women’s Champion KELANI JORDAN was in the crowd to watch the match, hyping up the NXT Halloween Havok special that’s upcoming. Bayley tackled her rival and got mount punches, before sending Valkyria through the ropes for the Stunner. Bayley went to the floor, sliding chairs into the ring (accidentally bouncing one back into her face in her rush), a broom and some Kendo Sticks. Bayley called out the spot, saying she was ready, as Valkyria took advantage of Bayley setting up a table and hit a Running Crossbody on the floor, then tossing Bayley over that table on its side. Baykey was roughed up around ringside as Valkyria used a belt from her entrance jacket to whip Bayley around ringside. A whip of the Irish kind sent Bayley into the ring steps before Valkyria rearranged the steps, but Bayley ended up using a Flapjack to drive her into them.
Bayley put Valkyria in a chair at ringside, and jumped off the steps for a Flying Clothesline to drive Valkyria down. She went for it a second time, this time off the crowd barricade but this time Valkyria swept the leg to drive Bayley into the barrier. Valkyria performed her apron-aided Backbreaker, and then hit a Shotgun Dropkick that sent her rival backwards into the ring steps. Back inside, Valkyria got a near fall before she went back out, putting the table that Bayley had brought out to lean it against the announce table. Bayley immediately hit a Suicide Dive that drove Valkyria and herself through the table!
The show was in a ‘commercial break’ as Bayley went for her Dropkick through the corner sides spot, but Valkyria hauled up the ring skirting, trapping Bayley against the apron to hammer away with Forearm shots. Driving Bayley’s head into the ring post then hitting a Basement Dropkick along the apron to hit another ringpost shot. A stomp off the apron then a headshot to it before sending Bayley back in. Valkyria used a Kendo Stick for a hat trick of strikes then a choke, leading to a Backstabber aided by the Stick for a near fall as the show returned to ‘live action’.
Another Stick choke as Bayley escaped, tossing Valkyria over but she took a shot to the stomach. Valkyria went up top with the stick, but Bayley cut her off just to get knocked down with a Stick strike. Trying for another choke, Valkyria ended up taking a Deadly Drive, hauled down by the Stick. Bayley hit the Elbow Drop across Valkyria’s back before the two fought over a stick, leading to Bayley landing two shots before she took off her belt from her gear to get in some whips. Using the belt to tie up Valkyria’s wrist for some short-arm shots before she set up a chair stuck in the ropes at a corner. Valkyria hit an Enzigiri, and tried for a Roundhouse Kick but Baykey blocked, using an overhead throw of a Back Suplex. That set up the Sunset Flip Bomb spot in the corner, but it sent Valkyria into the wedged chair for a two count.
Encouraged by the fan chants, Bayley struck Valkyria with the broom twice before tossing it out, then going outside to pull out another table, setting it up on the outside. Valkyria cut her off and sent Bayley back in, but inside Bayley slammed Valkyria onto a chair. Going up for the Elbow Drop from the top rope, Valkyria used the chair to block the shot, and then planted Bayley onto that chair with her Sit-Out Doctor Bomb for a near fall. Valkyria set up two chairs in front of each other, forcing Bayley across them and going for a Moonsault from the middle rope onto them, but Bayley moved and Valkyria hit a chair gut-first. Bayley pounced with a Running Knee Strike, followed by locking in a Crossface but Valkyria raked the eyes, legal in a No DQ match, to escape quickly.
Bayley hit the Bayley-to-Bellyfor a near fall. Bayley set up two chairs again for a similar platform, bringing her rival up onto them but Valkyria scooped Bayley up, tossing her with a version of Nightwing. An overhead toss by the head led to the Last Breath Choke but Bayley rolled them both under the ropes and outside to escape. Bayley shoved Valkyria into the ringpost and hit a Bayley-to-Belly on the outside. Bayley brought out a trashcan and Valkyria did a good job faking she was sorry, even kissing her rival’s foot in an exaggerated manner, before grabbing her ring jacket out of the Timekeeper’s area to toss it into Bayley’s fact to stun her. Followed by a Roundhouse Kick then setting up Bayley on the can, looking for her Legdrop across the bat but Bayley countered, Powerbombing Valkyria mid-flight down through the trashcan!
Bayley set up Valkyria on the table on the floor, and hit the Elbow Drop from the middle ropes off the corner to drive Valkyria through. Back inside, Bayley used a Kendo Stick to assit with a Crossface and forced Valkyria to submit to win an absolute war. Bayley would pose, holding up a Kendo Stick while having a foot up on a chair that was over Valkyria’s fallen body.
Iyo Sky got a promo video, criticising Rodriguez for thinking she can do what she likes and bragging about her win last win and vowing to remind her of who she is.
Non-title Singles Match
IYO SKY defeated Women’s Intercontinental Champion RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ
Rodriguez tossed Sky down off a Waistlock and then another after hauling Sky from the mat. Sky escaped a Suplex, hit a kick then applied a Back Sleeper. Misdirection led to Sky’s flips, a leg trip but going for a low Running Crossbody, Rodriguez powered through with the Mark Henry spot. Sky fought out, using a form of Arm Drag to set up a Buzzsaw kick that sent Rodriguez out. Sky hit a Suicide Dive and then a Crossbody off the crown barricade. Back inside, Sky went up top but a punch sent Sky tumbling down to the floor as the show went to a ‘commerical break’.
Rodriguez hit a Snake Eyes to the apron then sent Sky back in for a two count. Moments later, Rodriguez got another near fall off a Shoulder Check. Roughing up Sky with shots into a couple of corners before Sky blocked a third to drive Rodriguez in. A wild swing of a Clothesline got Rodriguez a two count, followed up be a trio of Elbow Drops for a near fall before a rest-hold Cobra Clutch was applied. Sky escaped with a Stunner counter, but Rodriguez used a hair pull Slam to get a two count.
Back to ‘live action’ Sky escaped from a Backbreaker over the shoulder into a Back Sleeper, getting tossed over to the canvas but Sky rolled away to avoid an Elbow Drop. Sky hit a couple of Shotei strikes then a Dropkick to the knee, setting up a Basement Dropkick. Moments later, Sky hit an Armbreaker over the top rope but a flying nothing ended up allowing Rodriguez to goozle her, but Sky countered the Chokeslam attempt with a DDT to get a near fall. Sky couldn’t muscle Rodriguez up for a Double Underhook move, but flipped to her feet off the Back Body Drop and that led to the Wheelbarrow-Double Stomp spot. Sky went up for the Moonsault but Rodriguez rolled away, then hitting a Running Crossbody to get a near fall.
Rodriguez hit the Diesel Elbows in a corner, then a Fallaway Slam but going up a corner for the Vader Bomb Elbow, Sky got up and swept the leg to haul her opponent down to the canvas. Sky hit a Flying Headscissors from the middle rope, but right after Rodriguez landed a Big Boot for a near fall. Sky countered a Powerbomb with a Headscissors to send Rodriguez into a corner. Setting up the Missile Dropkick, the kip ups and DOING THE THING, leading to the Bullet Train Attack. The Moonsault was countered with feet up, but Sky then countered the Tijana Bomb with a Samson Clutch to get the win over the IC Champion.
After the match, Roxanne Perez attacked Sky from behind, sending her back into the ring so Rodriguez could deck her with a Clothesline. Perez and Sky hit their Russian Legsweep-Big Boot tag team Double Team to stand tall over Sky to end the segment.
Becky Lynch had a promo video, gloating about her words about Vaquer being injury-prone being true, Lynch claiming that Morgan can’t win a fair fight and using old words about Morgan about having gone to bat for her in the past and would hold her feet to the fire.
Women’s World Championship Match
BECKY LYNCH defeated Women’s World Champion LIV MORGAN via DQ – Morgan retains the title
Lynch backed Morgan to the ropes from the first lock-up, and tried for a Man-Handle Slam but Morgan escaped. Lynch hit an Arm Drag, keeping hold of the arm to get jut a one count from a La Magistral. The women exchanged one counts with Lynch bridging up from it, hitting two more Arm Drags but Morgan used a hair pull for a mat slam. Morgan charged for ObLIVion, but Lynch used the ropes for a Pendulum swing counter with her feet, just to take a Knee Strike on the apron anyway. Morgan tried for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the apron, but Lynch stomped free and then hit a Legdrop across Morgan’s chest. The Forearm off the apron followed as the show went to a ‘commercial break’.
Morgan was sent into the barricade then back inside for a near fall. Morgan avoided a corner shot, took a counter book but yanked Lynch off the ropes by the foot as Morgan hit some mount punches. Morgan tossed Lynch to the floor and pounded with shots to the back when she got in, before tossing her out again but going outside to send Lynch into the barricade. An apron shot before Lynch came back with one of her own, sending Morgan back in and catching her with kicks over the ropes. Morgan cut off Lynch going up, sending her on a Deadly Drive then locking in a Chin Lock after a two count.
Back to ‘live action’, Morgan had been sent into a corner shoulder-first, allowing Morgan to lock in a Half Crab in the corner, followed by a leaping Facebuster from the corner for a near fall. Morgan went for Three Amigos but the third was countered after Morgan taunted, allowing Lynch to hit a Suplex instead. Lynch rallied with clotheslines, a round of Bang Kicks then a Running Jumping Forearm. A corner Forearm led to a Bex-Ploder then a Legdrop off the second rope for a two count. Morgan hit a glancing blow of her Side Codebreaker off the ropes for a near fall. When Morgan lept up at a corner where Lynch was, trying for perhaps another Sunset Flip Powerbomb, Lynch blocked and delivered a Super Side-Russian Legsweep for a near fall.
Another ‘commercial break’ as at another corner, Morgan was set up top as the two traded blows, a spot called as Morgan slipped down, carrying Lynch out for a Powerbomb for a near fall and right off the kick-out, Morgan applied the Single-Leg Crab. Lynch had to counter with a form of Sunset Flip but barely got a one count. Lynch hit a Release German Suplex, then did the Double Underhook into an Arm Bar. Morgan countered with the pinhold for two, then hit a running DDT for a near fall.
‘Live action’ again as Lynch hit a second rope Superplex, rolled through into a DDT for a two count. Lynch hit a Baseball slide to Morgan on the floor then cleared off the announce table but Morgan took advantage, slamming Lynch’s head into the top of it before climbing up herself. A mistake as Lynch hit a Man-Handle Slam onto the top of the desk that didn’t break. Morgan was sent back in but she rolled out of the ring at another side to get a break. Morgan tossed Lynch over the ring steps, and jumped from them to finally hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb on the outside. The women got back inside at the nine count and traded strikes, Lynch getting the better of it but when she ran the ropes, Morgan rushed and hit ObLIVion as Lynch was right at the cables but Lynch managed to kick out.
Lynch would hit a Man-Handle Slam out of nowhere but Morgan kicked out at two. Morgan sent Lynch into a corner and got a two count from a Roll-up, but Lynch applied the Dis-Arm-Her off the kick out, dragging Morgan off the ropes to deny a break. Lynch was distracted when Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez ran down, allowing Morgan to properly get to the ropes to force the break. Morgan tossed Lynch out and distracted the ref, and Perez would hold up Lynch but Rodriguez’s Big Boot would deck Perez instead.
Lynch would take out Perez and Rodriguez with a Cannonball and back inside, she blocked an ObLIVion attempt at the ropes and planted Morgan with a Man-Handle Slam. Only for Morgan’s girls to hit the ring, breaking up the pin and attacking Lynch to get the match thrown out, with Morgan remaining Champion due to the DQ.
After the match, Rodriguez hit a deadlift Tijana Bomb to Lynch. CHELSEA GREEN ran out, cutting off a Suicide Dive from Perez with a Forearm at the ropes then sending her into the ring post, and dodging a Big Book from Rodriguez. When Green went for I’m Prettier, Morgan pounced and hit a Codebreaker. Then Iyo Sky ran out, hitting a Hot Shot to Rodriguez and a Lucha Kick to Morgan before hitting both with a Top Rope Crossbody, then an Asai Moonsault to them both. Back inside, Green hit I’m Prettier to Morgan but was hit by an Enzigiri by Perez.
TIFFANY STRATTON ran out with a referee and her Briefcase, hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to Morgan first before saying she was going to cash in. However, Dominik Mysterio appeared and pulled Morgan out of the ring, carrying her to the back flanked by the women of The Judgment Day to deny the cash-in. Stratton fuming in the ring to end the show as the heels fled to the back.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Three fantastic matches on Raw which you love to see. There might be more to the Vaquer situation than just an injury but we’ll wait and see. The overbooking finish and aftermath with so many people involved screams a set-up for Women’s WarGames in the future to build sides for Team Judgment Day against Team ‘everyone else’. It was a great main event, but there was no way the title was dropping ahead of Crown Jewel and the DQ finish leaves the door open to continue the rivalry after Crown Jewel wraps up. Iyo Sky got the expected non-title win to set up a future title clash in a good match. The Bayley-Valkyria match was an amazing war, putting weapons and gimmicks to great use. There’s been a lot of speculation about Bayley’s future in WWE, and the win might not confirm things either way so that’s still a wait-and-see. It’s tough to see how the feud could continue after this decisive win, and for Valkyria it’s another big loss in an important match but she’s taken so many over her career since her IC title run, it’s almost sadly expected at this point to lose. Now we will see if the WWE has plans for either of them moving forward.
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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