On the Dec. 15 episode of Raw, we were treated to two championship matches. Both had the champions retain.
First, Maxxine Dupri has officially defended the Women’s Intercontinental Championship for the first time. It was against her former tag team partner, Ivy Nile. The two women have been under the tutelage of Chad Gable in their careers, and up until this episode, Dupri had never defeated Nile. The match was given plenty of time and flushed out a more intense character in Dupri. This is a result of her training videos with Nattie.
Nile showed her own grit in the match as Dupri pulled put a couple of fun moves. In the end, the champion locked in the ankle lock, which caused Nile to eventually tap out.
Moving on to the Women’s World Title. Raquel Rodriguez received her second shot at the title against the current champion, Stephanie Vaquer. Ahead of the match, Rodriguez tells Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez that she wanted to do this herself and chose not to have them at ringside with her.
Turns out, Raquel could have used the help. The match ended in a disqualification when the woman Rodriguez attacked last week, Nikki Bella, interfered. Nikki made her way into the ringside area and first attacked Vaquer. She tosses Rodriguez into the steel steps and Vaquer into the barricade.
Nikki continues to focus on Vaquer as they get back into the ring. The Hall of Famer lands Rack Attack 2.0. To end the segment, Nikki heads up the ramp demanding to be treated as the legend she is.
Moments later backstage, Nikki finds Jackie Redmond to send a message. She says that she isn’t going to apologize for putting people beneath her in their place and is tired of not getting the respect she deserves for the road she has paved. The longest reigning Divas Champion adds that she is a legend in this industry and that Stephanie and Raquel should be shining her boots.
With a welt formed on her head, Raquel issues her own statement to Nikki. She says she isn’t just coming for Stephanie anymore, she’s going to finish with Nikki.
Coming off a loss against Sol Ruca, Bayley finds out she will face Roxanne Perez next week. She let’s the thought of what Asuka had said to her previously sink into her brain as she doubts herself. Lyra Valkyria is with her and fires her up, clicking into her Role Model voice.
Liv Morgan’s solo Mania video aired.
For more on what took place between the Kabuki Warriors and RhIYO, you can read here.
Raw – Dec. 22
- Bayley vs. Roxanne Perez
- Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley