Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! WrestleMania is only a short distance away but there’s still uncertainty about the women’s matches from the red brand. This week will see the Women’s World Championship defended as former title holder Rhea Ripley faces defending Champ Iyo Sky. However, Bianca Belair has been made the special referee for the important bout so will we see shenanigans and an uncertain finish? And will we get any title matches or even challengers confirmed for either the Women’s Intercontinental or the Women’s Tag Team Championships? Let’s get into it, and find out…
Today’s ‘Arrived Earlier Today’ videos featured RHEA RIPLEY, Damage CTRL’s DAKOTA KAI and IYO SKY, and BIANCA BELAIR.
CATHY KELLEY and JACKIE REDMOND handled interview duties.
Backstage with The Judgement Day, despite Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio being on the same page for now, Balor continued to have clear issues with both RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ and LIV MORGAN as Balor mocked Rodriguez for her loss last week. When the men left, Morgand and Rodriguez talked about dealing with the problem of Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Later, after Balor took all the credit for winning a tag match later in the show, Morgan manipulated Mysterio and said that she was go see Adam Pearce to get Mysterio an opportunity at the men’s Intercontinental Championship.
Backstage at Adam Pearce’s office, MAXXINE DUPRI wanted to discuss opportunities not just for her Alpha Academy boys but for herself and the absent Natalya for a Women’s Tag Team Title shot (a storyline that’s most played out on social media posts and clips and the occasional appearance in the background of videos).
SCARLETT was with her man Karrion Kross as he got interviewed.
Women’s Intercontinental Champion LYRA VALKYRIA was interviewed and once again she went on about how Bayley beat her a while back. She announced that next week she’d defend the title against Bayley.
Women’s World Championship Match – Special Guest Referee: BIANCA BELAIR
Women’s World Champion IYO SKY Vs RHEA RIPLEY ended in a double disqualification – Sky retains as a result.
Sky controlled with an aggressive Headlock to start off, but when the Superstars struggled to the ropes Belair applied a count but took it upon herself to back the two away, something that ticked off both competitors. Right after, Ripley charged Sky into a corner and hit a round of Shoulder Thrusts then some body shots before again, Belair got involved to force Ripley back before those two mouthed off. Sky pounced and jumped for a Front Choke on Ripley and then clubbed Ripley in another corner before she too got hauled back by Belair.
There would be an exchange of one counts between the Superstars before Sky would do her counter flips and got a glancing blow of a Dropkick but off the momentum Ripley nailed a Clothesline. Ripley got the better of a strike exchange and then some body shots in a corner before she hit the Basement Dropkick for a near fall. Ripley got some blows to the back in before Sky tried for an Arm Bar. Sky would use a Drop Toe Hold to send Ripley into the ropes to set up a Dropkick to the back for a near fall. Moments later, Ripley would hit some Short-Arm Clotheslines and the Kingdom Falls for a two count.
Sky hit a Chinbuster then a couple of Shotei strikes before a Basement Dropkick landed. The Missile Dropkick soon followed before she kipped up and hit a Suicide Dive. Sky tried for a Springboard from the apron but Ripley caught her and used a Front Electric Chair Drop to the apron. The next move was botched majorly as Sky went for seemingly a Poison Rana but Ripley just tumbled back. Both Superstars beat the count to get back in at nine and then traded strikes as Sky got the better of it. Ripley managed to duck a Buzzsaw Kick but right after Sky did her Wheelbarrow into a Double Stomp spot.
Sky went up top for the Moonsault but Ripley blocked her, and after some struggling it seemed that Ripley was hit with a Super Crucifix Driver off the ropes but it looked more like a Super Samoan Drop by Ripley since Sky hit the canvas instead of Ripley. Regardless, Sky got a two count from the spot. The Bullet Train Attack followed but when Sky went up top again, this time Ripley shoved her off to the apron. In a wild spot, Ripley countered a Top Rope Crossbody by Sky with a Headbutt but only got a near fall. Sky managed to counter a Riptide attempt but her try for a DDT was blocked. Ripley eventually turned it into a Razor’s Edge, followed by a Sliding Kick for a two count.
Sky countered Riptide once again with a Clutch pin for a near fall. After an exchange of go-behinds, a Thrust Kick meant for Sky instead wiped out Special Referee Belair and sent her to the floor. That meant that when Ripley nailed Riptide in the ring (after the Head Kick off the mat) Ripley got well over the three count in the ring but there was no ref to count. Belair refused to enter the ring even after she recovered and Ripley mouthed off at her, so when Belair finally returned to the ring Sky was able to kick out. Ripley struck Sky with shots as Sky held the ropes, and Belair forceably pulled Ripley away and this time Ripley purposely struck Belair with a slap.
Sky went for a Missile Dropkick but when Ripley moved, the blow hit Belair and sent her out of the ring. With a furious, rather heel-like expression on her face, Belair yelled that she had enough and called the match off. Being thrown out as a double DQ, so Iyo Sky retains the Championship. Fuming in her own right, Ripley stormed to the floor to brawl with Belair before they were both wiped out by a Sky Moonsault to the outside.
Sky went after Ripley in the ring, only to be clubbed by Belair who got in some shots. That left Belair open to take a Headbutt and then Riptide, before Sky took a Riptide too. Making a statement, Ripley muscled up Belair in a corner and hit a Super Riptide before she defiantly held up the Women’s World Championship to end the show.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The one big botch on the outside aside, it was a great match between Ripley and Sky. Obviously, the screwjob finish was expected to keep Sky as Champion and keep Ripley, for this week at least, still on the outside. All signs still point to a Triple Threat Match but the WWE needs to hurry up and pull the trigger on the announcement. Meanwhile, once again there’s no matches set in stone for the Women’s Tag Titles or the IC belt and with the announcement of Bayley versus Valkyria next week, I can imagine we’ll see interference to see that match thrown out when Morgan and Valkyria get involved. Keeping the tag champs in the IC title picture makes no sense where there’s a solid amount of Women’s tag teams who could get a match at ‘Mania. It’s a mess of a situation and with a short time left before ‘Mania weekend it’s not a good sign.
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!