Monday’s RAW didn’t just signify the go-home show for the red brand when it comes to Money in the Bank but it was the last show of the ThunderDome era. This show was pre-taped and fans will be returning regularly to WWE shows starting with this Friday’s SmackDown.
With that being said, a Fatal 4-Way match took place between the four women representing RAW in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match which will take place this Sunday, July 18. Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, and Nikki A.S.H. all wanted to get a leg up heading into the event by pulling out a win.
A match that started out as a Fatal 4-way became a Triple Threat after Bliss disappeared. Earlier in the night, Eva Marie and Doudrop came to Alexa’s Playground. And although Bliss and Doudrop seemed friendly, Bliss wasn’t keen on the fact that Eva tagged along when she wasn’t invited.
During the Fatal 4-Way, Doudrop and Eva made their way out to the ramp. A distraction caused Eva to be scared by Bliss and she tried to use her shoe to shoo her away. Doudrop then dumped Bliss over the barricade and that is where she disappeared from the match.
Now with only three women left, things really picked up in the match and it was Nikki who picked up the win after she pinned Asuka. Leading up to the pin, Naomi hit a swift kick from the ring apron to Nikki over the top rope. Asuka then delivered a codebreaker to Naomi in the ropes causing Naomi to fall to the outside taking her out of the equation. After a few pin attempts by Nikki, Asuka tried to lock in the Asuka Lock but Nikki had a unique roll through in order to get Asuka’s shoulders on the mat for the three count.
Elsewhere on RAW, we saw the build continue towards the RAW Women’s Championship match between the champ Rhea Ripley and challenger Charlotte Flair. The two will battle it out at Money in the Bank with the gold on the line and with Ripley trying everything she can to best The Queen. Flair has been using Flair’s tactics against her for a number of weeks now. In fact, it helped her retain against Flair at Hell in a Cell when she disqualified herself in order to keep the title.
In a refreshing match, Ripley faced one-half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Natalya. The two put on a stellar match that highlighted both women. Natalya was added to the Money in the Bank Ladder Match by WWE Authority Sonya Deville on social media prior to RAW taking place.
Prior to Nattie’s match with Ripley, she and Tamina continued to have issues with Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke backstage. The verbal assault turned physical after Tamina shoved Brooke before the tag champs walked away. Rose and Brooke are still gearing up to take the tag titles from the champs, they are just waiting for the match to be set.
Ripley ended up pinning Natalya and as to be expected, Flair jumped Ripley from behind with a chop block to the knee. Flair made sure that the champ and her opponent come Sunday wasn’t going to walk out of the last ThunderDome easily. She continued delivering the pain to Ripley’s knee as she wrenched it on the ring apron.
In a backstage interview with Flair, she makes an emphatic statement that she will become RAW Women’s Champion and that it is game over for Ripley. As Ripley tries to continue her championship reign since dethroning Asuka at WrestleMania, Flair will try to win the RAW Women’s Champion for the first time since 2016.
What did you think about this week’s RAW? Are you excited to get fans back?
Check back in with Diva Dirt for all your news on the women of WWE and coverage for Money in the Bank this Sunday on July 18.