Here we are, one night removed from Shayna Baszler essentially being handed a shot at the RAW Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. At Elimination Chamber, Baszler went through five other women and will be facing Becky Lynch at the biggest stage of them all. It came as to no surprise to anyone seeing as Baszler and Lynch were already engrossed in a heated rivalry. What did surprise many fans, myself included, was that no one even had a chance in that match.
Baszler eliminated Sarah Logan and Ruby Riott within seconds from emerging from her pod. She allowed Natalya and Liv Morgan to linger a little while longer but ultimately they would see the same fate to submit to the Kirifuda Clutch. Lastly, Asuka received perhaps the most time against the Queen of Spades which in the end still didn’t matter. Asuka would submit as well.
Where do we go from here after Baszler quite frankly buried the RAW women’s division? On RAW tonight we actually did receive some follow up from the other five that were in that match. In the only (in a three hour show) women’s match of the night, The Kabuki Warriors took on Natalya and Liv Morgan.
It didn’t take long for Ruby Riott to make her way down the ramp to watch the match. Sarah Logan followed suit a few minutes later. Both ladies standing across from each other at the bottom of the ramp. Towards the end of the match, Logan and Riott wouldn’t wait any longer and started brawling. Morgan would then get on the top turnbuckle and hit a crossbody off the top onto her former Riott Squad members.
This distraction left Natalya alone to fend for herself. Unfortunately the numbers game were too much for her. After a discus clothesline to Kairi Sane, she went for a pin but only captured a two count. Sane blind tagged Asuka. Natalya had Sane in a Sharpshooter but with Asuka being the legal woman she delivered a kick to the back of Natalya’s neck. That was enough for her to get the pin and the win for the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Other women of the night included a promo by Lynch to Baszler. She essentially explained that Asuka used to be the one to beat but now it is Baszler. With the Submission Magician taking out Asuka so quickly, she will be a force for Lynch to defeat. The number one contender did not come out to the ring but she sent a message in a WWE exclusive.
Who did come out to the ring was Rhea Ripley during Charlotte Flair’s promo. Flair was responding to the video package of Ripley visiting Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. the location of their WrestleMania match. The segment was nothing special much like the Lynch segment. Ripley literally came out to knock down Flair and leave.
Let’s get into the Winners & Losers of the week.
WINNERS: The Kabuki Warriors
The Kabuki Warrior’s promo prior to the match did it for me again. Their conviction in their deliveries are always on point. Of course they also won their match tonight and based on their promo they are focused on the tag titles finally for the first time in months. There appears to be an answer to Alexa Bliss‘ challenge she made on SmackDown. It is unknown if Natalya and Beth Phoenix will be involved now, but at least we are getting some momentum towards the possibility.
LOSERS: Becky Lynch/Charlotte Flair
Normally I would be okay with promos. After all, it is promos that help further storylines, however, tonight’s seemed to just be filler. I fully understand that they want to keep Lynch/Baszler and Flair/Ripley away from each other in a match until WrestleMania. If they are just going to continue talking for the next few weeks it is going to be rather boring. They could still have matches if creative would be, I don’t know, creative?
The former Riott Squad interacting was a win, but sadly I don’t see it continuing much longer. I rarely doubt they will give them a triple threat match at Mania. More or less they will just be a focal point to the Women’s Battle Royal. It would be nice to be wrong though in this instance.
What did you think of this week’s RAW? Who were your Winners & Losers? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
