In an electrifying encounter on December 22, Rhea Ripley finally met her match as Asuka ended her undefeated streak in singles matches, defeating the Eradicator. Heading into the match, Ripley had maintained a dominant record of 7-0 against Asuka, but the tides turned significantly this time. Prior to the bout, Ripley made the strategic decision to go solo, instructing her tag team partner IYO SKY to remain backstage, a move that turned out to be disadvantageous as Kairi Sane was present ringside to support Asuka.
During the match, as Ripley attempted to gain the upper hand by climbing the ropes, Sane intervened, knocking her off and causing havoc. Although SKY, despite her back injury, rushed out to offer support, she found herself in a confrontation with Sane, resulting in her being swept off the apron. This distraction allowed Asuka to capitalize on the moment, rolling up Ripley for the win with a handful of tights. This intense rivalry isn’t over yet, as the teams will clash again on January 5 with the tag team titles at stake.
In another thrilling match that night, Bayley faced Roxanne Perez amidst an atmosphere charged by chaotic outside interference. Raquel Rodriguez added to the frenzy, inadvertently costing Perez the match as she tried to distract the referee. This led to a series of distractions that culminated in Valkyria, who was ringside for Bayley, taking out both Morgan and Rodriguez with a spectacular crossbody. Ultimately, it was Bayley who emerged victorious with a decisive elbow drop from the top rope.
Additionally, Becky Lynch made her much-anticipated return to Raw, coming back to the spotlight after losing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship to Maxxine Dupri at WarGames. Lynch engaged the audience with her signature bravado, claiming the title of the greatest of all time. However, Dupri quickly challenged this assertion, reminding the crowd that she had beaten Lynch multiple times as a rookie and vowed to do so again. In an unexpected turn, after Lynch attempted to attack Dupri, it was the champion who had the last laugh, locking in an ankle lock that forced Lynch to tap out. Both competitors are set to face off again on January 5 with the championship title on the line.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues as Stephanie Vaquer prepares to defend her Women’s World Title in a highly anticipated Triple Threat match next week against Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez. The competitive spirit is palpable, promising fans a thrilling night in the weeks to come.