The Aug. 18 episode of Raw had a lot going on once again for the ladies of the red brand!
For Naomi’s announcement you may click here.
The first women we see of the show are IYO SKY and The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane). A clip played of what took place last week when Asuka and Sane attempted to help SKY in her match against Roxanne Perez. This backfired, causing SKY to lose the match and in turn have a shouting match with Asuka backstage, leaving Sane stuck in the middle. This week, SKY was just about ready to head out for her match with Raquel Rodriguez when Asuka & Sane approached her. Asuka apologized for last week and both her and Sane agreed to always have SKY’s back. They once again wanted to join SKY at ringside, but SKY continues to say she has to do this on her own.
The match itself was a good watch. SKY and Rodriguez haven’t gone one-on-one since NXT. Rodriguez actually took the NXT Women’s Title off of SKY in NXT. The final moments had Rodriguez attempt the Tejana Bomb, but SKY countered out of it and landed double knees in the corner. SKY hit Over the Moonsault for the win avenging her loss from last week. After the match, both women of the Judgment Day went after SKY until Rhea Ripley’s music hit and Mami made her way out to the ring. Ripley took out Perez and Rodriguez as SKY and Ripley stood tall in the ring.
After the match and backstage, SKY was thanking Ripley for having her back. Asuka and Sane appeared and Asuka in particular was not happy. She isn’t understanding how SKY doesn’t want their help but was okay with Ripley coming out to make the save. This ends in Asuka and Ripley in a screaming match over SKY who then yells at them to stop fighting as she leaves in a fit of rage. Asuka then leaves after telling Ripley to stay out of their business as Sane remains, once again, stuck.
The second women’s match of the night was for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship. After giving Maxxine Dupri the “opportunity” last week, the champion Becky Lynch was set to take on Natalya. The match itself was okay, but definitely could have been better. Shortly into the match, Natalya landed shoulder first into the ring post which was a target for Lynch throughout the rest of the match. So much so that the match ended with a submission off of the DisArmHer, that Lynch didn’t want to let go. Dupri entered the ring to try her best to help out Natalya and get her free from the ring. However, Lynch went on the attack to both women as Akira Tozawa looked on helpless on the ring apron. As Lynch was locking in the DisArmHer on Dupri, cue Nikki Bella’s music.
Nikki rushed her way down to the ring to help as Natalya and Dupri are able to get out of the ring. Nikki and Lynch go at it with a fury of fist before Nikki catches the champion in the Rack Attack 2.0 to stand tall. Nikki will be at Raw next week.
Also next week, Ripley will be in action against Roxanne Perez.
Another Bayley vignette aired, which you can watch here.
What did you think of this week’s Raw? What will happen with the Women’s World Title next, now that Naomi has vacated? Will we get to see Nikki vs. Lynch at Clash?