IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship
The stakes are rising as IYO SKY faces Stephanie Vaquer for the vacated Women’s World Championship at Wrestlepalooza. Observers predict a victory for Stephanie, particularly given Asuka’s role in intensifying IYO’s challenges. As with all predictions in wrestling, there’s a significant chance the outcome will surprise fans.
Backstage Dynamics
In an unexpected turn, IYO encountered Asuka and Kairi Sane backstage, where they seemed to bury past tensions. IYO offered an apology, and Asuka responded warmly, declaring, “It’s all good! They’re family!” However, this display of camaraderie raises suspicions, as Asuka’s recent behavior echoes themes from thrillers like *Single White Female*—friendly on the surface but potentially sinister underneath.
Asuka also interrupted a lighthearted conversation between IYO and Nikki Bella, reminding IYO that Nikki is not her friend, asserting she has “ONLY TWO FRIENDS.” While Asuka assured IYO they would deal with Judgment Day, the situation remains tense.
Kabuki Warriors Make Their Mark
The Kabuki Warriors faced off against Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez, securing a decisive win. The match was entertaining, marred only by a missed kick exchange between Asuka and Roxanne. Surprisingly, Roxanne tapped out instead of Raquel, despite the announcers praising her skills. Many anticipate a future rivalry between Roxanne and Asuka, though questions linger about how this will impact IYO and Asuka’s relationship, especially with potential title challenges against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss looming.
Asuka’s exclamations of “KAIRI!” while addressing anyone associated with IYO provided a humorous touch, revealing the intensity of her emotions.
New G’Day vs. War Raiders & Penta
The New G’Day faced losses against the War Raiders and Penta in a match that showcased the talents of these six performers without significant storyline developments, while the New Day continued their less-than-enthusiastic narrative.
Finn Balor & JD McDonagh’s Collaboration
In the ring, Finn Balor teamed up with JD McDonagh, leading to Finn’s win over Dragon Lee. While they didn’t cheat, JD’s distracting tactics were effective. The ongoing rivalry between LWO and Judgment Day continues, raising hopes for a meaningful narrative to emerge in future matches.
Adam Pearce responded to JD’s antics by banning Judgment Day from ringside during Dom’s title defense against AJ Styles, prompting Finn’s joyous reaction.
Dom’s Title Defense
In a highlight encounter, AJ Styles and Dom delivered an exciting match that showcased Dom’s growth as a wrestler. Despite a strong performance, Dom received unexpected assistance from El Grande, who interfered to secure Dom’s victory. This brings into question the longevity of Dom’s Intercontinental Championship reign and whether Finn might pose a future challenge for the title, with speculation surrounding El Grande’s involvement.
Opening Segment with LA Knight and Jey Uso
Raw kicked off with LA Knight and Jey Uso, both expressing frustration over Seth Rollins remaining champion. LA found fault with Jey for missing a chance to eliminate Seth, while Jey reflected on the cost of loyalty to family over championships. Their confrontation was cut short by the entrance of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, who challenged them to a tag match.
This opening segment set the stage for Raw’s conclusion, hinting at deeper family dynamics overshadowing title aspirations.
