Summary:
Charlotte and Becky watch this week's episode of Monday Night Raw, the one after Fastlane
Notes:
I know, I know, I am very behind right now in terms of the current timeline.
Anyway, Leaving Kudos and Comments would be really appreciated
After a somewhat productive morning and afternoon, Charlotte sat on the couch with her phone in her hand and Becky next to her, while Seth spent time with Roux upstairs, as Monday Night RAW was about a couple minutes away from starting. Becky kept her hand on Charlotte's shoulder to comfort her and to keep her company, as commercial after commercial went by on the TV screen. Charlotte then looked down at her phone, before turning it on to go onto Twitter, being on the screen to post something. Becky looked down at Charlotte's phone, before looking back at her.
"You should probably tweet something now," Becky suggested.
"Yeah, I will," Charlotte responded. "I'm just worrying how people will feel that's all."
"Don't." Said Becky. "Don't worry about a thing, Char."
"Alright." Said Charlotte. "Though I did see this . . ."
Charlotte showed her phone to see that Andrade's release had been granted.
"I'm so sorry, Char." Said Becky.
"Don't . . . we're done and over with." Said Charlotte.
Charlotte and Becky then smiled at one another, as the RAW intro began to play.
After a quick recap of Fastlane, the screen showed the JumboTron and the stage, as well as the virtual audience in attendance.
"Hello everyone, and welcome, to Monday Night, RAW." Said Tom Phillips.
Shane McMahon's theme began to play, as he made his way onto the stage.
"And we kick things off with the one and only, Shane McMahon." Said Byron Saxton, as Shane continued shucking and diving for a moment, before walking down the ramp.
"Shane McMahon in a pretty good mood, considering how he felt last night." Said Tom. "I want to take you back to last night, where Charlotte was . . . I guess you could say, jumped backstage, before the Fatal-4-Way match to determine who faces Asuka at WrestleMania."
The screen cuts to what happened last night, with Charlotte knocked out backstage and being attended to.
"Yeah, and Shane said he had a feeling this would happen, and he had this to say." Said Samoa Joe.
"As you can see, Charlotte is not cleared to compete tonight, but . . . I got a sneaky suspicion about this . . . after all, I don't believe that Charlotte just . . . slipped and knocked herself out, just before this match, as a matter of fact . . . I know each, and every, one of you, as well as the women in the back . . . have a vendetta, against the Queen, I know it, and everyone in the ThunderDome knows that . . . so, who attacked Charlotte, huh? Which one of you did it, 'cause I know someone did. . . Alright, alright, I'll check on this later, but now we have a match to get going right now . . .But like I said on RAW, this will be . . . a fatal-four-way match . . . here . . . is my replacement for Charlotte, Flair . . ."
"And it was then, we were introduced to the one and only, the Nightmare herself." Said Tom.
"Rhea, Ripley!"
"Yeah, and Rhea Ripley would take full advantage at this, opportunity, after minutes of grueling pain these four women handed to each other, Rhea showing us all that black and yellow still pumps through her veins with this HUGE Riptide from the top rope onto Shayna Baszler." Said Joe, recapping the last spot in the match.
"What a way to make a statement, Joe." Said Tom. "But the question remains . . . who attacked Charlotte?"
"My guess is as good as yours." Said Byron, as the camera cut back to Shane, who was now in the middle of the ring.
Eventually, Shane's music stopped, and after a few "Shane-O-Mac" chants, Shane moved his microphone up to his mouth.
"Now . . . as you all may know, I'm in a bit of a pickle right now." Said Shane. "First I have to deal with the man child that is Braun Strowman, but after last night . . . I need an answer to something . . . You see, last week, I had eight women compete for a chance to fight amongst one another in a fatal four-way match where the winner would face Asuka, at WrestleMania . . . I had my four women for that match . . . I had my four women earn their opportunity . . . but . . . but it seems like somebody took matters into their own hands . . . you see, before the match, one of my competitors, The Queen, Charlotte Flair, was attacked backstage and was unable to compete, but as you all know, I am smart, I do plan ahead, if things were to go awry, and I had a replacement for Charlotte, and that being Rhea, Ripley . . . but I stand . . . with what I said last night . . ."
Shane stopped for a second to pace around. "I know . . . that every, single . . . female superstar, in the back, whether on RAW, Smackdown, NXT, wherever, I know . . that every, single one of them, has a vendetta against Charlotte, something that makes them not stand Charlotte Flair, not only for a second and . . . well, let's just say that you all got your wish, since Charlotte, not only has to recover from her injuries . . . but from COVID as well . . . but hey, you people seem happy, 'Yay, Charlotte's not in the title picture anymore, woo!' right?"
Becky heard her phone buzz, prompting her to look at her phone to see Charlotte tweet that she has the virus, turning her head to smile at her and getting one in return before they both looked back at the TV.
"I . . . I . . . need . . . answers." Said Shane. "I don't care, if I have to wait until WrestleMania, I will . . . find out who did this . . . so Charlotte, if you're watching . . . I just wanna know that the people here in WWE wish you a speedy recovery, and I hope the WWE Universe is praying for you as well . . . and I promise you, I promise . . . that I will find who's responsible . . . for putting you on the shelf . . . but, I don't want to take too much time, so allow me to introduce to you . . . the woman who will face Asuka at WrestleMania . . . Rhea . . . Ripley!"
" . . . THIS IS MY BRUTALITY!"
The camera cut to the stage, seeing the word "RIPLEY" shine on the TitanTron, before cutting to the stage, where Rhea Ripley walked out in confidence.
"And there she is, Brutality . . . has arrived . . . to Monday Nights." Said Tom, as Rhea stomped onto the stage to cause her pyro to shoot off camera and the stage behind her to flash white.
"The woman, who will face, Asuka, is here, on Monday Night RAW!" Said Byron.
"Last night, Rhea was chosen as the replacement for the now-injured Charlotte, and she showed us what she was capable of, brutalizing Naomi and Peyton and Shayna for her chance for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania." Tom pointed out, as Rhea clutched onto her sleeveless jacket, as she walked down the ramp.
"Rhea said that she was sick of all the dreamers and that it's time . . . for Nightmares." Said Byron, as Rhea got up to the apron to pose.
"You must be real proud of yourself for that one, Byron." Said Joe.
"I am," Byron noted.
"But yeah, one of the most dominate female superstars NXT has ever seen and made her mark on the grandest stage of them all last year, in the lead up to WrestleMania." Said Joe, as Rhea entered the ring.
"What do think is running in the mind of, not just Asuka, but for every other female superstar in the back?" Asked Byron, as Shane handed Rhea his mic, before exiting the ring to have Rhea have it for herself.
Rhea's music stopped, as she stood in the middle of the ring and looked at the side where the Hard Cam was.
" . . . Last night . . . I entered that Fatal-4-Way match, and I . . . I showed everyone single woman in that ring, exactly what they were getting in Rhea, Ripley." Said Rhea. "Last night, I beat Naomi, Peyton . . . and a former rival in Shayna Baszler . . . and now I stand in this ring as the one who will fight, for the RAW Women's Championship . . . against . . . Asuka . . . Asuka . . . she's one of the greatest women's champions, in WWE history . . . she has proven that point, day in, and day out . . . now . . . if I recall a few weeks ago, Charlotte Flair stood in this ring and challenged her for the RAW Women's Championship . . . while . . . while she was recovering . . . from having her teeth knocked out?
Rhea put her free hand on her hip, as she pondered over what she had just said. ". . . But, but now Charlotte Flair is not here . . . you know, not only . . . was she attacked backstage, before the match . . . she's now recovering, from COVID . . . but this . . . this is not, the Charlotte show, no, no, no, this is Monday Night RAW . . . so . . . Asuka . . . I'm going to need an answer . . . because I will tell you now . . . and I will tell you right to your face . . . that I am ready for Asuka . . . but . . . are you . . . ready . . . for me?"
Rhea looked right at the hard cam, when Peyton Royce's music began to play, making Rhea turn her head to look at the stage, where Peyton herself made her presence.
"Well seems like someone has something to say." Said Byron.
"Exactly, Peyton Royce, one of the competitors in the Fatal-For-Way match last night at Fastlane, and she is not in a happy mood right now." Said Tom, as Peyton crossed her arms and walked down the ramp.
"Yeah, and from the looks of it, I think she has every right to." Said Joe. "While Rhea was given the chance to fight at Fastlane, Peyton, along with the rest, had to earn that opportunity to fight. If anything, I can understand why Peyton has that look on her face.
Peyton made her way up on the apron, before going in through the second rope, walking past Rhea to be handed a microphone, before she walked back to face Rhea, as her music stopped.
" . . . Congratulations, Rhea . . ." Said Peyton, a hint of sarcasm coming out of her mouth, which only made Rhea smirk. "No seriously, congratulations . . . you won at Fastlane, you get to face Asuka, at WrestleMania, wow, I am so proud of you, for what you did . . . but . . . but there's just something . . . that doesn't sit right with me . . . let's see . . . first, you didn't earn your way into that match . . . you were handed that opportunity, while I had to scratch and claw my way to get in that match . . . and also, why is so . . . interesting . . . that . . . you just so happened to get in that match . . . the second that Charlotte . . . was taken out?. . Hmm-"
"Alright, alright, I know what you're getting at." Said Rhea, as she moved closer to get into Peyton's face. "You think I'm responsible for what happened to Charlotte, right?"
"Oh no, no, no, no, no, I don't think that at all." Peyton sarcastically remarked. " . . . I know you did it."
Peyton had a grimace on her face, as she looked up at the Nightmare that dawned over her.
" . . . Peyton . . . you say you have respect . . . for Charlotte . . . but we all know that's a lie." Said Rhea. "Unlike you, I do . . . have respect for the Queen . . . last year, I defended my NXT Championship against Charlotte at WrestleMania . . . and I lost . . . but that didn't stop me from respecting her any less, so let me tell you something, Peyton . . . if you think for a second that I weaseled my way into that match by taking out Charlotte, I swear to you, I will smack those lips off your face, that I will make you stay quiet, permanently."
Rhea moved her arm down as she got a pop from the 'crowd' before Peyton moved her arm up.
" . . . Why don't you try right now?" Asked Peyton. "How about I fight you tonight . . . and if, no, when, I ruin your little welcome party . . . I get my chance . . . to face Asuka, back!"
All Rhea could do was just smile, as Peyton kept her grimaced look, out in full display.
" . . . Is that what you want, huh?" Asked Rhea, speaking through her mic.
"You're damn right." Said Peyton, Rhea's mic picking up her voice.
" . . . Fine . . . you're on." Said Rhea, getting another pop from the 'crowd'."
"Alright." Said Tom.
"Is that a challenge from Peyton?" Asked Byron.
"She's not backing down, that's for sure." Said Joe.
"And it looks like I got the update." Said Tom, as Rhea's music began to play. "This match is confirmed. Later on, tonight, Rhea Ripley makes her RAW debut against Peyton Royce, and if Peyton wins, she will replace Rhea as Asuka's opponent, at WrestleMania."
Later into the night, Sarah Schreiber was backstage, facing the camera and holding a microphone in both of her hands.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome my guests at this time: Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke." Said Sarah.
The camera panned to her left, as Mandy and Dana appeared on people's screens.
"Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, unfortunately, both of you lost your qualifying matches last week for a chance at Asuka, but tonight, you two face Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax tonight, how would you two feel about a future match for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships?"
"While yes, we both lost last week, and yes, we won't have a shot at the RAW Women's Championship, but Dana and I are not only strong physically, but mentally as well." Said Mandy, as Sarah moved her microphone towards her. "We won't let our losses last week keep us down."
Sarah then moved her microphone towards Dana.
"Exactly." Said Dana. "We have worked so hard to get to where we are, and we're not going to let one loss for both of our careers devalue who we are as, not just single competitors, but also as a tag team."
"So as for a match for the Women's Tag Team Titles . . . I think that's a great idea, Sarah." Said Mandy. "What do you think, Dana."
"I-"
"Hold up, hold up, wait just a minute." Called out a familiar voice.
Sarah, Mandy, and Dana looked to their right, as the camera panned over, allowing Naomi and Lana to get in the frame.
"Ladies, with all due respect, but . . . out of the women here . . . I won my match to compete at Fastlane, so if anything, . . . Lana and I, deserve a shot at the Women's Tag Team Championships, we deserve our rematch for those titles." Said Naomi.
"Mandy, Dana, with all due respect . . . it is our time to shine, ladies." Said Lana. "And now that I think about it-"
"Well, well, well, looks like we have a little party going on here." Said another familiar voice.
As Sarah walked away to not be a part of this, the camera panned out and a little towards the left, as the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, along with Reginald, made their presence.
"So, it seems like everyone wants a shot at our titles, just giving up for a RAW Women's Championship match just like that, huh?" Asked Shayna. "But that's fine, I'm used to getting the spotlight."
"It's almost like they don't wanna talk about the elephant in the room, don't you think, Shayna?" Asked Nia. "After all, after last night, none of y'all has uttered the name 'Charlotte', which makes me think . . . um . . . here, Reggie, help me with this . . . don't you think that Mandy and Dana are just a little bit bitter about losing last week to the point where one of them, possibly both of them, attacked Charlotte last night?"
"That seems like a plausible outcome." Said Reginald.
"And as for you, Lana, wanting the light shined down on her 24/7 . . . maybe you were the one who wanted to take that opportunity by taking out Charlotte." Said Nia.
"That makes sense as-"
"Oh, shut your mouth, Reggie." Said Naomi. "I can't speak for Mandy or Dana, but I know very well that Lana had nothing to do with Charlotte last night . . . and considering that y'all want to accuse us of what happened . . . what makes you think you guys are off the hook?"
"After all, both of you wanted a shot at Asuka's title." Lana pointed out.
"We had nothing to do with Charlotte last night." Said Shayna, after chuckling a bit. "We're not as desperate as you are, Lana, considering we have these titles around our waists . . . but enough about last night, you guys want a shot at these? Let's see what you got, Mandy, Dana."
Shayna, Nia, and Reginald then walked away, followed by Naomi and Lana walking the other way.
Later in the night, Peyton walked the halls backstage, where Kevin Patrick came up to her with a microphone in his hand.
"Excuse me, Peyton, is there a reason why you would challenge Rhea for this match tonight?" Asked Kevin, moving his microphone under Peyton's mouth.
Peyton stopped walking, before slowly turning to look at him and taking a deep breath in.
"Why?. . I already explain this earlier tonight, didn't you here?" Asked Peyton.
"Uh . . . uh, um, well-"
"Here's a quick refresher." Said Peyton. "I . . . qualified for the match at Fastlane by beating Mandy Rose, while Rhea . . . qualified by being handed the opportunity by Shane-O-Mac himself . . . so I'm here to take what is rightfully mine; my one-on-one match against Asuka, at WrestleMania . . . now, Rhea calls herself . . . the 'Nightmare' . . . hmm . . . like that's supposed to intimidate me?. . Right now, my career has been nothing but, a nightmare, and . . . I'm still standing on my feet . . . but I will not live this life the way others see fit . . . I will beat Rhea tonight . . . and when I do, I will beat Asuka at WrestleMania, and this . . . nightmare . . . will no longer be . . . my reality."
Peyton then walked away, still having that grimace on her face.
Fast forward to the main event, if RAW was only two hours long instead of three, breezing over Nia and Shayna beating Mandy and Dana, with Naomi and Lana on commentary, Peyton and Rhea's match was taking place in the ring. Rhea had her time to dominate in this match, but right now, Peyton was having her time on top. She had one of Rhea's arms up and over her head, as she hooked one of her hands into Rhea's leggings to hit a Snap Suplex on Rhea, flipping her over and crashing her down on her back. After that, Peyton went for the cover.
"1 . . . 2 . . ." Shouted the referee, before Rhea kicked out.
"Peyton aware of the pressure on her shoulders now, after challenging Rhea to this match." Said Byron on commentary.
"You don't deserve your match at WrestleMania." Said Peyton, shoving at Rhea's head. "You don't deserve it; you don't deserve to be here."
Rhea landed a punch right to Peyton's gut, but she retaliated with a wicked shot to Rhea's back.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's not wise to tick off the Nightmare, but right now, Peyton Royce is firmly in control of this match." Said Joe, as Peyton picked Rhea up to her feet. "But she got to be careful though."
Peyton held Rhea by her hair and walked towards one of the turnbuckles, but then Rhea's hand grabbing her head.
"And now Peyton Royce sent face first into the top turnbuckle." Said Tom, as Rhea did just that.
As Peyton rested against the corner turnbuckles, Rhea charged towards her, only to eat a boot to her face for her efforts. Rhea charged again, as Peyton slid out of the ring and onto the apron, but Rhea managed to stop herself just before hitting the turnbuckles. She swung her arm over towards Peyton, who managed to duck just in time. Rhea quickly got onto the apron and charged once more, just as Peyton slid quickly under the bottom rope and back into the ring. As Rhea enter back into the ring, Peyton had her opportunity to charge towards her opponent but got dumped back onto the apron by the Nightmare herself. Rhea then landed a forearm right on the money, making Peyton reel back and teeter on the apron. Rhea then ran towards the other set of ropes, rebounding herself off of them to land another forearm, but Peyton managed to sidestep away, landing a spinning kick to Rhea's head as she came closer. Peyton then grabbed Rhea's head, before jumping down at ringside, Rhea's neck pressing hard against the ropes, before she bounced back to the middle of the ring.
"What a counter by Peyton." Said Tom.
"Indeed, it was, Tom." Said Joe.
"Can Peyton finish the job against Rhea Ripley?" Asked Tom, before the screen faded to black.
Breezing by the commercial break and a couple of minutes of the match, Peyton laid on her stomach in the ring, being picked up by Rhea by her head. Peyton was sent towards the turnbuckles, before being picked up to the top one. Rhea moved both of Peyton's legs outside the ropes, before climbing up. Peyton wildly swung her arms against Rhea's back, but Rhea still fought on, hooking one of Peyton's arms over her head, as Peyton stood up against her will. But a well-placed shot to Rhea's hip and a hard push sent Rhea off the ropes and back to the canvas. As Rhea reeled, Peyton stood up on the top turnbuckle, eyeing down on Rhea, before jumping off and landing a missile dropkick as Rhea turned around. Peyton then went for another cover.
"1 . . . 2 . . ." Rhea kicked out again, which made Peyton scream in disbelief.
"Man, Rhea's finding out what Peyton Royce is made of tonight." Said Joe.
"Near fall after near fall in this matchup." Tom recapping parts of this match, as Peyton sat in the ring and contemplated.
"A million-dollar question for Peyton Royce is, what else must I do to put Rhea away." Said Byron.
Peyton brushed some of her hair away, before slapping her hand against the canvas. She then got up to her feet to kick the bottom rope, before complaining to the referee a bit. After taking out her anger, she focused back on Rhea, who used the ropes to get back onto her feet. As Peyton came closer, Rhea landed a kick right at Peyton's gut, making her pedal back as she clutched her stomach. As Rhea walked over to Peyton, Royce landed a gut kick right back, making Rhea pedal back as well. Peyton had Rhea in place for her Déjà vu, and that was exactly what she had in mind. Peyton jumped up onto Rhea's outstretched knees and swung her leg, but Rhea backed away before she felt the pain of her Step-Up Enziguri, which caused Peyton to fall back on her stomach against the canvas. Before Peyton could process anything that was happening, Rhea turned Peyton on her back, before standing on top of her and hooking Peyton's legs into her arms, before pulling her up from under her. Peyton screamed in pain, her hands pressed against Rhea's legs, as her legs felt the pain of Rhea's Prism Trap.
"The Prism Trap! Rhea's got it locked in!" Tom shouted.
Rhea then proceeded to spin around, swinging Peyton by her legs.
"Oh my god, she's swinging Peyton!" Byron then shouted.
"The most painful of swings!" Joe added.
"Peyton looking like a ragdoll right now." Byron then added.
Rhea then swung Peyton up, before crashing down onto the mat, sitting her ass down on the canvas, as she sandwiched one of Peyton's legs with her other one.
"Rhea Ripley with her Prism trap . . . and Peyton Royce taps out after a great effort." Said Tom, as Peyton did just that, while the referee called to ring the bell.
Rhea's music then began to play, as she let go.
"Here is your winner by submission, Rhea, Ripley!" The announcer shouted.
Before Rhea had her chance to celebrate, Asuka's music then began to play. While Peyton rolled out of the ring to tend to her legs, Rhea looked up at the stage, to where Asuka herself made her presence. She dawned her robe and mask, and not to mention her RAW Women's Championship on her shoulder. Asuka then moved her mask away, showing the smile on her face, as she sauntered her way down the ramp. As Rhea got up to her feet, Asuka made her way up the steps and taking off her robe, before entering the ring. The two women walked towards one another, not taking their eyes off of one another as they got closer. Asuka had a microphone in one hand, as she looked up and over Rhea's shoulder. Rhea followed her gaze, looking up at the WrestleMania sign, before looking back down at Asuka, the dead-panned look in her eyes ringing into Rhea's thoughts, as Asuka raised her mic to her mouth.
"You . . . are . . . not . . . ready . . . for . . . Asuka . . . " Said Asuka, in her most calm and chilling voice that she could muster.
"I'm not ready?" Rhea asked as she smirked.
" . . . Rhea . . . see you . . . at WrestleMania." Said Asuka, before lowering her mic and raising her title belt.
As Asuka's theme played, the hard cam showed Asuka and Rhea eyeing one another, with the RAW Women's Championship on full display in between them.
"Oh, my God, I got chills." Said Byron.
"I'm ready for this." Said Joe.
"Now I can say this is made official; The Nightmare, vs The Empress, at Wrestle, Mania." Said Tom.
"Yes, please." Said Byron, before the camera faded to backstage, starting another men's segment.
Notes:
Like I said in the beginning, I am very behind in terms of the current timeline, and I'm trying to work as fast as I can, but I feel like I'm going to have chapters that are just very rushed, and not very good.
So let me know: Would you guys prefer faster updates or not?
Anyway, thanks for reading, and I'll see you guys next time.