Here we go, kicking off our beloved show with the iconic theme “Then. Now. Forever. Together.” Our favorite Rhea Ripley is walking through the backstage area, heading down the tunnel to the Gorilla Position and making her entrance to open the show. The video rolls and we see that nine days ago, at WWE Bad Blood, Raquel Rodriguez attacked Rhea and caused her to lose the Women’s World Championship. This past Friday on SmackDown, Ripley struck back at Rodriguez before taking on Liv Morgan.
Rhea says she’s not done with either Liv or Raquel. This isn’t over until she gets back the one thing she’s never lost: her Women’s World Championship. If Morgan and Rodriguez are done hiding, they can come to the ring so she can teach them a lesson.
Then the “Tiffytime” theme kicks in! Ms. Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton struts her way to the ring. She says she knows she’s not who Ripley was expecting. She’s here with a big message from WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax. Jax warns Ripley to stay out of her business, or things are gonna get real messy. Ripley retorts that she gets it; Stratton thinks it’s Tiffytime, but it’s not. She ain't got time for that. Either she gets her hands on Morgan or Rodriguez, or it’ll be Stratton.
Things start to heat up as they push each other until Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez attack from behind. Rodriguez slams Stratton to the mat and takes Ripley down with a big boot. Morgan grabs the Money in the Bank briefcase and smacks it across Stratton’s back. Morgan and Rodriguez stand tall.
Not exactly the most thrilling opening, if I’m being honest! Did not see Tiffany coming! And don’t they remind you of the two stars from Wednesday? Can’t wait to see how this plays out!
Now, it’s time for the first match of the night: a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match featuring Damage CTRL against our beloved champs, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. But first, let’s take a look at a backstage scene that I totally love!
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is busy texting when Rhea Ripley approaches him. With a challenging tone, she asks to face Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Pearce agrees but reminds her that she needs a partner. Ripley looks less than thrilled about it. Just then, Tiffany Stratton jumps in, complaining about how she’s been treated on the show. Pearce gives her a look and then turns back to Ripley. Ripley sighs, accepts the situation, and walks off, leaving Stratton confused. Pearce, with a mysterious grin, tells her she’ll understand soon enough. What’s he up to?
Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson from NXT are watching from ringside, still bummed out over not snagging the titles from the champs last time.
The match kicks off with Jade Cargill against IYO SKY. They lock up, and Cargill, strong as a freight train, powers her down. SKY, quick as a cat, rolls into a headlock, but Cargill pushes her off. SKY responds with a dropkick, but Cargill stands tall and tackles her down. Bianca Belair tags in, and they hit a double-team slam for a two-count. SKY, desperate to recover, retreats to the corner. Belair delivers some shoulder thrusts, but SKY tries for a roll-up, only to be lifted like a feather by Belair. Kairi Sane tags in and sneaks a shot at Belair, while SKY and Sane execute synchronized dropkicks. Sane knocks Cargill off the apron, but Cargill dodges a baseball slide and superkicks SKY. Sane then decides to dive onto Cargill. Nice move, Kairi!
Back from the break, we see SKY trying to apply a crossface on Belair. But Belair, showing off her strength, rolls her over for a two-count. SKY comes back with some uppercuts and a double stomp, but like a true superhero, Belair takes her down with a spear.
Cargill and Sane trade blows next. Sane dodges a big boot and hits a combo of strikes. But Cargill, looking like she’s got the strength of Hulk, manages to throw her down with a backbreaker. Things are heating up! Cargill goes for the cover, but SKY breaks it up. Belair, fed up, tosses SKY out of the ring.
In a moment of chaos, Sane manages to hit Cargill, but then SKY comes flying in with a missile dropkick. The tension is real! SKY tries an Over the Moonsault, but Cargill, with a ninja-like move, pulls Belair out of the way. Sane attempts to hit Cargill but ends up crashing into the barricade.
Finally, Belair catches SKY perfectly and seals the win with a KOD.
Winners by Pinfall and still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair.
Damage CTRL is furious with Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson. I wonder if things are gonna get more interesting next time!
Now, let’s go back to the backstage scene where the Tag Team Champions, Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh, approach Adam Pearce. Bálor asks when he’ll get his rematch against Damian Priest. Pearce, with a serious look, says they have obligations to the titles they hold. He gave them a break while Bálor dealt with Priest, but that’s over. Pearce is setting up a tournament to determine their next challengers. Bálor, clearly unhappy, storms off.
Meanwhile, the Women’s World Champion, Liv Morgan, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, and Carlito approach. Morgan suggests they focus on keeping their titles and introduces Raquel Rodriguez, who steps into the scene. Carlito looks like he’s seen an angel; he’s totally mesmerized. This bit was pretty funny!
Next up, we get the “American Made” promo. Chad Gable talks about greatness, while Ivy Nile says this is the land of opportunity. Yep, anyone can get their shot at being knocked out by these great athletes. Gable announces that the country needs a hero and promises to be that for the fans. Who doesn’t love a little patriotism?
Another video rolls, and Bron Breakker explains why he turned his back on Jey Uso. It’s not that complicated: Uso hit the jackpot by beating Breakker for the Intercontinental title. After showing respect with a handshake, Uso threw it right back in his face. Breakker, with a superior tone, says he doesn’t need his family’s help, and when he surpasses them in success, he’ll earn their respect. Because who doesn’t love a little family feud, right?
We roll into another video where Adam Pearce met with “Big” Bronson Reed last Saturday. Reed asks to talk business. Pearce praises him for making a name for himself but warns him that his recent actions went too far. Reed apologizes but insists no one could stop him during that match. He wants a shot at Seth Rollins to prove he’s a top guy. Pearce is hesitant but Reed warns him not to keep him waiting too long. Who doesn’t love a little veiled threat in a business meeting?
The Alpha Academy heads to the ring for the first round of the Tag Team Championship tournament. Who will their opponents be? Drumroll, please!
In the First Round, we see Alpha Academy (Otis and Akira Tozawa) w/ Maxxine Dupri vs. War Raiders (Erik and Ivar).
Ivar starts against Otis. He kicks him in the face, but Otis turns the tables. Ivar rolls over him and cartwheels around. Otis ducks a strike and hits a clothesline. Tozawa tags in, but Ivar quickly takes him down. The War Raiders have fun beating up Tozawa while Otis gets mad and rips Erik's shirt off. Ivar tries to stop him, but Tozawa hits a missile dropkick. In the end, the War Raiders take the win with a devastating combo.
Winners by Pinfall: War Raiders. A bit of a snooze-fest, honestly! Nothing too exciting!
Now, we pass back to Adam Pearce, who meets Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Rollins asks if he’s got a match with Bronson Reed yet. Pearce hesitates, reminding him that Rollins has had six matches this year, all with injuries. Rollins fires back that injuries are part of the game, and he needs this fight to stay at the top. Who wouldn’t want to see a battle between titans? I can’t wait for this match! Here’s hoping Rollins is really back and can give it his all like we’ve seen him do before!
And the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, makes his way to Raw! Rhodes steps into the ring to a warm welcome from the fans. He starts talking about his story and the importance of tradition in wrestling while the crowd cheers him on.
But wait, here comes Gunther! Usually brutal, he compliments Rhodes, but of course, he can’t help but throw a little jab. He reminds him not to get too caught up in friendships, especially with Kevin Owens. What a gentleman, right?
Rhodes responds that friendships don’t weaken him; he’s used to bouncing back, even after the toughest hits. Gunther, clearly a bit uncomfortable, tries to keep his tough guy act going. But Rhodes doesn’t hold back and warns him that he’s already taken down legendary champions. The crowd eats it up because who doesn’t love a bit of drama?
Last week, Jey Uso defeated Xavier Woods to retain his title. But the drama’s not over yet, as Bron Breakker attacks Uso from behind while Kofi Kingston tries to help.
Now, we roll into another match of the night: Kofi Kingston vs. Bron Breakker.
The match kicks off, and Kingston comes in with a dropkick, but Breakker isn’t fazed. After a series of exchanges, Breakker ultimately wins with a devastating Spear.
Winner by Pinfall: Bron Breakker! Another match that was just okay, honestly! It was nice but nothing special!
After the match, Breakker goes for Kingston, but Xavier Woods jumps in to save the day. Jey Uso, the Intercontinental Champion, runs in and delivers a superkick for the rescue. The crowd goes wild because who doesn’t love a bit of justice in the ring? Now that was interesting to see! Let’s just say “Yeet!”
Following this match, there’s a significant moment where Jimmy Uso tries to make peace with his brother Jey Uso. After a series of tensions and conflicts, Jimmy realizes the importance of their family bond and approaches Jey backstage—let’s call this a first step!
When Jimmy finds Jey in his locker room, he initially tries to talk things out and resolve their differences. However, Jey, visibly upset and hurt from their recent history, isn’t open to dialogue. With a cold tone, Jey tells Jimmy, “Get out of my face, man,” clearly showing he’s not ready to forgive or make amends.
In another backstage scene, we see Rhea Ripley warming up when Damian Priest joins her. They discuss their plans and titles, with a bit of tension brewing before the match. Maybe we won’t see the Terror Twins team up soon since Damian wants to reclaim his title, just like Rhea! Regardless of their respective commitments, they’ve promised to always be there for each other! Who doesn’t love a bit of friendship between champions?! And honestly, it’s clear that outside of their characters, Damian and Rhea are friends in real life!
Now, we hit the main event, which was definitely the weirdest we’ve seen yet.
A Tag Team Match featuring Rhea Ripley and “Ms. Money in the Bank” Tiffany Stratton vs. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
The match kicks off with Rhea Ripley facing off against Liv Morgan. With a mischievous grin, Ripley tries to intimidate Morgan, but Liv stands her ground and cleverly dodges a lock-up, slapping Ripley in the face. Ripley’s reaction is immediate; she counters with a headbutt to Morgan’s chest, making her hit the mat.
Ripley doesn’t stop there and lifts Morgan for a slam, but Morgan slides away and tags in Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez enters the ring like a powerhouse, and the two opponents size each other up. Just as they engage, Tiffany Stratton sneaks in with a blind tag, showcasing some handspring and kip-up moves to impress the crowd.
Rodriguez, however, isn’t impressed and grabs Stratton for a slam, but Tiffany slips away and rolls out of the ring. Ripley, frustrated with Stratton’s antics, tries to intervene, but Stratton points out that she’s not the legal competitor. This leads to some internal tension between them.
Morgan sees an opportunity in the chaos and throws Stratton at Ripley, sending her crashing into the ring corner. The intensity ramps up as Liv and Raquel coordinate a series of attacks, with Morgan hitting Stratton with a vertical suplex and a dropkick for a near fall.
Ripley, visibly furious, decides to step in, but Rodriguez is ready and catches her with a powerful backbreaker. Despite the pain, Ripley manages to dodge a pin attempt and retaliates, launching Stratton for a coordinated attack. The air is thick with tension as both teams exchange heavy blows and try to assert dominance.
At one point, Morgan goes for a high-flying attack on Stratton, but Ripley catches her and slams her to the mat. With a triumphant expression, Ripley hits Morgan with a powerful Riptide, but Rodriguez breaks up the count just in time.
The match continues with Ripley and Stratton trying to keep control, but Morgan and Rodriguez are not giving up. Morgan lands a jawbreaker on Stratton and prepares for a high-flying move, but Ripley stops her with a flapjack, sending her crashing down.
The climax hits when Ripley attempts another Riptide on Rodriguez, but is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Nia Jax. Jax attacks Ripley from behind, causing chaos to erupt. The situation escalates, with Jax hitting both Rodriguez and Morgan while Stratton watches from afar.
The final decision rolls in when Jax, after taking care of Rodriguez, prepares to hit Morgan with a devastating Samoan Drop. But Morgan manages to dodge at the last second and rolls out of the ring to escape the blow.
Things heat up even more when Jax tells Stratton to cash in her Money in the Bank contract on Morgan, but before she can do it, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio rushes in to save Morgan, pulling her out of the ring.
Confusion reigns as Rhea Ripley and Tiffany Stratton find themselves in a complicated situation, leaving a trail of drama and tension that promises to explode in the upcoming episodes.
Winners by Disqualification: Rhea Ripley and Tiffany Stratton! It’s like WWE’s version of Wednesday!
The crowd goes wild for the chaotic finish, as Rhea and Stratton exchange heated glares, symbolizing a rivalry that’s intensifying. Who doesn’t love a bit of drama and intrigue in the wrestling world?!
And that wraps up the episode! Overall, a decent show with some highlights, like Jimmy Uso’s first step toward Jey Uso, Rhea’s moment with Damian, the main event match, and of course, Seth Rollins! A solid lead-up to Crown Jewel!
Catch you on Saturday for my SmackDown recap where we’ll see the return of Roman Reigns!
Xoxo,
Selena
"PS: Due to issues with my Wi-Fi connection, I'm unable to upload photos and videos."
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