RAW kicked off in a fashion that many fans missed and that was the noise of a crowd. For the first time in a couple of months we received a crowd reaction in the way of NXT and Performance Center wrestlers. The show started with the KO Show which featured first Asuka and then all three women in the Triple Threat match scheduled to determine her number one contender. These women included Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, and Natalya. The winner of this match is set to be her challenger at the upcoming Backlash pay-per-view.
The segment didn’t last too long as each woman only had something short to say before the next’s music would hit as they made their way to the ring. Last to enter was Jax who told Asuka to remember what she did to Kairi Sane because that is only a glimpse of what she will do to The Empress at Backlash. The four would then go at each other, Asuka focusing on Jax and Natalya and Flair going at it.
The match itself happened at the beginning of the third hour and was the only women’s match of the night. Sadly there could have been much more to do with the women’s roster as far as matches but it wasn’t there this week.
In what many expected from the match based on what has been brewing in prior weeks, Nia Jax picked up the win to become Asuka’s challenger for Backlash. For a review of that match you can click here.
Next topic to discuss for the women involve the Women’s Tag Team Championship. The IIconics made their way to the ring and addressed what happened last week. To refresh your memory, they had a match for the tag titles against the champions Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Peyton Royce ended up getting them disqualified as she unleashed Bliss numerous times into the ring post. Post match, Billie Kay became so frustrated she struck her tag partner and best friend. The two seemed to reconcile rather quickly and they each apologized to one another on this week’s show.
They seem to be determined more than ever to win back the tag titles seeing as they believe they should have never lost them in the first place. Bliss & Cross would make their way to the ring. Cross would cut her promo against the duo and to be honest it was probably one of her bests she has ever had. Instead of having that goofy aspect to her promo as she normally has she stuck straight to the seriousness of her relationship with Bliss and the championship they hold.
Cross would explain that she and Bliss bring the best out of one another. For instance Bliss keeps her grounded when she”bounces off the walls” and Cross has taught the true meaning of friendship to her partner. She states she has worked just as hard as Bliss has to get to where they are today.
The IIconics would then attack the champions and make a big statement by holding their titles above them showing them that they are still coming for the gold. They laid the titles down on top of both Bliss and Cross to end the segment. There is a very good chance we will see them face each other once again at Backlash.
Other than this there wasn’t much else in regards to the women’s locker room. Liv Morgan had another promo similar to last week’s. Last week she brought up that her mom isn’t a quitter so that makes her not a quitter. She is determined to become RAW Women’s Champion in the future.
This week’s she talked about joining WWE and how much it has meant to her and that she is living her best life. Her delivery isn’t bad to me, but I just don’t get what the purpose of all of this is. If she wants to go for the RAW Women’s Championship then she should have at least been in this Triple Threat.
Lana also appeared and continues to have her issues with MVP and her marriage with Bobby Lashley doesn’t seem too solid. She was seen throwing a fit backstage again this week.
Let’s get into the Winners & Losers this week:
WINNER: Nikki Cross
As mentioned above, Cross delivered a great promo this week. It was definitely a feel-good moment and made her and Bliss seem like such a solid team. Although I have enjoyed them together, I will admit at times they still seem like just a thrown-together team. Tonight though they have felt more unified more than ever after what Nikki had to say.
WINNERS: The IIconics
They bounced back this week. It seems as though they aren’t breaking them up, at least not yet. Breaking them up would make zero sense at the moment. A lot of singles competitors as it is are just floating around the division, so there isn’t a need to break up another tag team.
Their attack to Alexa & Nikki showed them in a strong light and that is what is needed now for them as they just returned recently. I am not crazy about their new finisher as it literally just looks like they pick their opponent up and just dump them. It definitely needs some work. Overall I am excited for them and see them as winners this week.
LOSER: Lana
It just isn’t working anymore, if it ever did. They need to just cut the cord with her and Bobby Lashley. It isn’t needed anymore. I miss the old Lana. The one who could kill it on the mic and could also still not be afraid to get in the ring. I was all for her moving on from Rusev, but they haven’t done her well since. So it is time to either put her with someone new that she has better chemistry with and can kill it again on the mic or she needs to get in the ring more.
LOSER: Natalya
I am not sure what they are doing with her and I don’t like that fact. Time and time again when they try to make Nattie go a different route there is so much confusion as to what they are doing at first. I understood her getting frustrated and losing it the past two weeks, however, now she is taking a random phone call from her husband and apologizing for what she did last week? Not sure what is going on. It was comical, but why?
What did you think of this week’s RAW? Who were your Winners & Losers? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
