Just one month out from WrestleMania and the March 16 episode of Raw continues to build to the big event.
AJ Lee defended the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Bayley, a match that was 13 years since their first and last one together. This was also Lee’s first match on Raw since 2015.
As if she had not missed any time in the ring, Lee understood the importance of retaining the Women’s Intercontinental Title so close to WrestleMania, and she accomplished exactly that. Setting their friendship aside, Lee and Bayley gave everything inside the ring. In the closing moments, Bayley went to the top rope for an elbow drop, but Lee avoided it. Lee then applied the Black Widow, wrenching back on Bayley’s arm to secure the submission. Bayley tapped out, allowing Lee to retain the title. The two embraced following the match.
As Lee was leaving and on the stage, she was ambushed by Becky Lynch. Lynch, still not over losing the Women’s IC Title to Lee last month has returned with a vengeance.
Lynch took Lee and continuously drove her into the barricade all the way down the ramp on both sides. Finally, officials came down to try and gain some control, but Lynch took the IC belt and nailed Lee with it, knocking her out.
Next up, we had a match between Maxxine Dupri and Nattie. This is their third encounter with their previous two being stopped due to a double count out and a referee stoppage. This time, a finish took place as Nattie came out of the affair with a victory. The final moments of this match had Dupri going up top, but Nattie moved out of the way. Despite Dupri rolling through, Nattie landed a discus lariat. She locked in the Sharpshooter to get the submission.
Dupri did come out to new music, or rather music she used prior to Alpha Academy.
In a backstage segment, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria were talking, well rather yelling, about Bayley’s loss to Lee and where that leaves them for WrestleMania. Behind the two was Dupri on the floor when The Vision (Logan Paul and Austin Theory) came to check up on her?
The Kabuki Warriors interrupted Bayley and Valkyria:
Asuka: “How dare you two mess up my chance at becoming the Intercontinental Champion! I would’ve beaten AJ Lee tonight if I won last week. I’ll never forget that you two cost me the championship!”
Kairi Sane: (in Japanese) Ah, big sister! But we’re aiming for the tag belts…”
Asuka: “(in Japanese) What are you saying? Shut up, you idiot.
Hey Bayley, Lyra. Don’t underestimate us, you idiots.
You are not ready for ASUKA!”
Kairi Sane: “Stay away from us!”
Asuka: “KAIRI!”
After Kairi left to join Asuka, Bayley and Valkyria agreed to go find Adam Pearce about getting into the tag team title hunt.
The last women’s match of Raw this week was Raquel Rodriguez vs. Stephanie Vaquer in a non-title match. Man, Vaquer’s new entrance music is terrible. Liv Morgan accompanied Rodriguez to the ring and used this opportunity to get into Vaquer’s head before the clash next month at WrestleMania. Earlier in the night, a vignette of Morgan aired where she discussed Finn Balor’s exit from the Judgment Day. She said this has been her plan all along.
As for the match, Vaquer was able to continue her undefeated singles streak on the main roster by picking up a win. However, this did come with some drama. As the match was reaching its end, IYO SKY emerged. She was seeking some revenge from last week when Rodriguez destroyed her after SKY eliminated her from the number one contender gauntlet match. SKY was then easily pinned by Ivy Nile.
Before SKY could reach Morgan, Rodriguez drove her through and over the announce table. Vaquer then neutralized Morgan, sending her into the timekeeper’s area. Back in the ring, Rodriguez attempted the Tejana Bomb, but Vaquer countered into a pinning combination to secure the victory.
What did you think of this week’s Raw? Discuss below.