Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION!
WrestleMania is only days away and there’s still uncertainty about whether we’ll see a clash between Iyo Sky and Asuka on the show, or if the Kabuki Warriors will be swapped for The Bella Twins if Nikki Bella’s injury is too severe. That’s all alongside the other teams in that Fatal Four Way Match, and the singles rivalries for the Women’s World and IC titles. Who will get the last laugh ahead of the biggest PLEs of the year? And will there be any final twists and turns? Let’s get into it, and find out…
This week’s Arrived Earlier Today videos featured Women’s World Champion STEPHANIE VAQUER, and ALEXA BLISS and CHARLOTTE FLAIR.
Singles Match
LYRA VALKYRIA w/h BAYLEY defeated CHARLOTTE FLAIR w/h ALEXA BLISS
Valkyria managed to turn the opening lock-up into a Headlock Takeover, but Flair quickly escaped, trying for the Figure Eight set-up early but was easily kicked away. Flair turned around right into another Takeover but countered it with the grounded Headscissors. Valkyria did a headstand and walked back with her hands to escape, leaving Flair to kip up before she landed a Waistlock Slam and then used misdirection to hit a Shoulder Knockdown. Valkyria pie-faced Flair a hat trick of times, got punished by a Chop but ducked the second and ran the ropes for a Crossbody. A Spinning Heel Kick by Valkyria got the first near fall of the match.
Valkyria did a counter flip at a corner, and hit a counter boot right after but was caught with a kick to the face by Flair. Flair did her counter corner tumble to the apron, but trying for her Boot through the ropes Valkyria countered, swinging the leg back through before knocking Flair down with a Legsweep under the ropes. Valkyria hit her Dropkick through the ropes, but took too long playing to the fans so when she went for a Plancha, Flair moved out of the way and decked Valkyria with a Big Boot.
During a ‘commerical break’, back in the ring Flair roughed up Valkyria with a trio of face-first Slams by the head for a two count. A Snapmare set up Flair’s grounded Figure Four Headscissors into the hat trick of flip slams. Flair missed a Big Boot at the ropes, and Valkyria got a two count off a Roll-up from it. Valkyria hit a Legsweep then a Basement Dropkick, followed by a Northern Lights Suplex for a near fall. Moments later, Flair got her Boot through the ropes spot and then went up top, hitting a Crossbody that messily rolled through after the impact but not for the usual counter. Flair hit a round of Chops then her front-flip Clothesline.
Back to ‘live action’, Flair went up top for a Moonsault but Valkyria yanked her down. Allowing Valkyria to hit her Legdrop across the back for a near fall. Valkyria went for a Moonsault off the middle rope but Flair got the knees up, but Valkyria countered the Figure Four set up with a Small Package for a two count. Valkyria hit an Enzigiri but Flair would more of a kick to the face than just a Big Boot. Flair hit the top rope Moonsault but only got a near fall. Valkyria would counter Natural Selection into a Crucifix pin for a two count. Valkyria hit a round of strikes, shut down by a Flair Chop but Valkyria countered a boot attempt into a Fisherwoman’s Buster for a near fall.
Flair would escape a Nightwing attempt, and hurled Valkyria through the ropes which sent her seemingly intentionally into Bayley at ringside. Back inside, Flair ducked an Enzigiri and used an O’Connor Roll for a pin attempt, but a furious Bayley swept the leg without the ref seeing it. Allowing Valkyria to bridge back with a European Clutch to steal the win. Rightly furious, Flair kicked off a shoving match between the two teams after the bell and Bayley taunted by throwing up the Four Horsewoman sign as Flair and Bliss relented and finally left the ring to end the segment.
Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer went to the ring to be interviewed by CATHY KELLEY. However, right away LIV MORGAN attacked Vaquer from behind, sending Vauqer crashing into Kelley for what was her first ever ‘bump in WWE. The two exchanged mounted blows before referees and agents broke it up, forcing Vaquer out of the ring. Morgan took advantage of the free space to talk trash, insulting Vaquer’s mother and calling Vaquer a ‘little bitch’. Vaquer stormed the ring, only briefly getting some of Morgan as the fight was pulled apart again before Vaquer broke free and hit a Running Forearm that dropped Morgan, making her bail. The segment ending with Vaquer holding the ring while Morgan was forced away, screaming at her rival, and they showed Kelley selling the moment being helped to the back and sobbing.
JACKIE REDMOND interviewed IYO SKY backstage. Sky said she didn’t regret fighting for her friend Rhea Ripley, but ASUKA and KAIRI SANE soon interrupted. Asuka mocked Sky with the usual insult about Ripley not being family, and pointed out that last year Sky was the Women’s World Champion going into ‘Mania but now was just a sidekick. Sky tried to plead with Sane, but Asuka cut her off and said that Sane would prove who the true Senpai was when Sane faced Sky tonight. Sane was conflicted but agreed, leaving Sky looking torn when the Warriors left (for once without the usual ‘KAIRI!’ yell).
Singles Match
KAIRI SANE w/h ASUKA defeated IYO SKY
The two started off with an exchange of mounted punches. Sane hit a wild Spear that was more of a running Shoulder Thrust to the gut, setting up a running Walk the Plank. The Flying Forearm off the top got a near fall. Sane would toy with Sky with kicks, then a Snapmare into a long Chinlock. Sane would counter a Hip Toss by rolling through, then used misdirection to go for her vault-back Headscissors but Sky flipped to her feet to counter. Sky would flip over Sane’s back, hit the Leg Trip then a Basement Dropkick. Sky looked ready for a move off the apron using the ropes, but Sane yanked her down to hit the apron. Sky would hit a Moonsault off the Timekeeper’s area barricade as the show went to ‘commercial’.
There was a literal tug of war performed by Asuka and Sky with Sane, trying to win her over before Asuka deliberately let go, shoving Sane into Sky to knock them both down. Sky was sent into the ring steps then took a chop at the barricade, giving Sane a near fall inside. Sane hit a Bodyslam then an Elbow Drop for a two count before locking on a Half Crab, forcing Sky to the ropes. Sane choked Sky on the ropes and distracted the ref so Asuka could get some cheap shots in, gifting Sane a near fall. Sky countered a Waterwheel Slam with a Sunset Flip for a two count, and countered a Sliding D attempt with a boot.
Back to ‘live action’, Sky rallied with a Backfist, two Shotei strikes then a low kick, and soon after the Springboard Missile Dropkick, the kip-up and flip before SHE DID THE THING! Sky hit the Bullet Train Attack and went up top, but Sane got up and shoved Sky down to the apron. The two fought for position at it seemed like Sky might have been thinking about a Superplex but to the outside, but Sane escaped and hit a Headbutt, leaving Sky trapped in a Tree of Woe but hanging outside of the ring. Sane was knocked back into the ring with a Shotei as Sky was still hung up. As the ref was distracted checking over Sane, Asuka got onto the apron and swung Sky into the ring post.
The match got overbooked as RHEA RIPLEY ran out, decking Asuka with a Headbutt. As Ripley went for Riptide on Asuka, JADE CARGILL attacked Ripley from behind. Sky hit a Suicide Dive that took out Cargill but Asuka dodged, and mouthed off at Sky but Sane couldn’t take advantage as pulling Sky up to the apron Sky ducked a Cutlass and hit a Lucha Kick. Sky went up for the Monnsault but Sane again distracted the ref, allowing Asuka to knock Sky off to hit the corner and Sane stole the win off a ROLL UP OF DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Asuka and Sane gloated at ringside with Cargill just seen in the far background while Ripley and Sky seethed in the ring.
There was a promo video recapping the rivalry between AJ Lee and Becky Lynch.
Liv Morgan’s new entrance music, Trouble, and its music video were aired.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Another week, another brawl between Morgan and Vaquer and it worked out with the callback of Vaquer being knocked into Cathy Kelley but nowhere near as violent as when Morgan took colliding into Roxanne Perez last week. It was a segment good enough to keep the hype going. No sight of part-time AJ Lee or Becky Lynch was a big set back, and I’ve said it enough that this rematch has been majorly hurt by the first contest being at Elimination Chamber. We can only hope that Lee and Lynch make up for this bad build with a stellar match. The Flair versus Valkyria match was a fine bout with a protected finish, perhaps hinting that the chaos of the match will determine who comes out on top. We’ll wait and see if The Bella Twins, specifically Nikki Bella, are good to go for ‘Mania but regardless, the Sky versus Sane match worked great to continue the long-running feud for Sky and Asuka. A match that works as hype for a match that either will be lodged into the Mania card or saved for the post-Mania PLE.
That’s your lot for this week! Enjoy WrestleMania week and we’ll see you back in seven days’ time for the always anticipated Raw After Mania edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!
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