Alexa Bliss RAW
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Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up: Alexa Bliss Is Back, Mia Yim Makes An IMPACT, Ronda Rousey Wins Gold

By Ella Jay

Alexa Bliss returned to Monday Night RAW. Mia Yim confronted Deonna Purrazzo at IMPACT’s Under Siege, plus Ronda Rousey won the Smackdown Women’s Championship and more. Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!

Alexa Bliss Returns To RAW

Last night on RAW, Sonya Deville was met by a mystery opponent. Before that opponent was revealed though, Deville was met with some bad news.

WWE Official Adam Pearce emerged to inform Deville that her position as a WWE Official had been terminated. Deville was prior under an investigation for her abuse of power. Although she is no longer a WWE official, Pearce did note that Deville would still be an active WWE Superstar and competitor on the roster.

Then, Pearce revealed Alexa Bliss as Deville’s mystery opponent. Alexa Bliss arrived to a massive pop from the crowd, and her original main roster theme song, “Spiteful”. Bliss appeared to mostly be back to her former self, despite Lilly the Doll accompanying her.

Alexa Bliss dominated Sonya Deville throughout the short match, landing the Twisted Bliss for the victory. This match marked Bliss first appearance in WWE programming since Elimination Chamber on February. What does Alexa Bliss’ return mean for the RAW Women’s Division?

Also on the Monday Night RAW Card, Rhea Ripley officially joined the Judgement Day faction with Edge and Damien Priest, followed by a victory over Liv Morgan. Then, Sasha Banks and Naomi defeated Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop in a non-title tag team matchup. Lastly, Bianca Belair defeated Asuka via disqualification after Becky Lynch launched her into a set of steel stairs.

READ MORE: WWE RAW Results (5/9/22)

IMPACT Under Siege: Mia Yim Returns, Championships On The Line

IMPACT Wrestling held their Under Siege event over the weekend with a truly impressive lineup, including two women’s championships on the line.

Firstly, Taya Valkyrie defended her newly-won AAA Reina De Reinas Championships against the former titleholder, Deonna Purrazzo. Unfortunately for “The Virtuosa”, Purrazzo headed into and out of the match empty-handed.

The former “Champ Champ” also competed last Wednesday on AEW Dynamite in a Ring of Honor Women’s Championship Unification Match against the Interim Champion, Mercedes Martinez. Purrazzo officially made her AEW debut in the matchup, however, the outcome was not in her favor. In the main event of Dynamite, Martinez forced Purrazzo to tap out. Therefore, Mercedes Martinez is now the Undisputed ROH Women’s World Champion.

The following Saturday, Purrazzo returned to the IMPACT Zone in hopes of regaining the AAA Reina De Reinas Championship. Though it was a hard-fought effort from both competitors, Taya Valkyrie ultimately gained the victory.

After the match, Purrazzo unleashed a vicious attack on Valkyrie, striking her with the championship belt before applying the Venus Di Milo on the champion. However, this onslaught was interrupted by former Knockouts Champion, Mia Yim.

Yim emerged to save Taya Valkyrie from Purrazzo’s attack after engaging in an intense staredown with “The Virtuosa”. This marks the first time since 2017 that Yim has been in IMPACT Wrestling, where she has reportedly signed a short-term deal with the company.

Mia Yim is also set to compete at Prestige Wrestling on May 28th against Maki Itoh in Portland, Oregon.

Another highlight at Under Siege saw Tasha Steelz successfully retain her Knockouts World Championship against Havok after hitting the Black Out. In addition, Gisele Shaw racked up a victory over one-half of the Knockouts Tag Team Champions, Madison Rayne.

New Smackdown Women’s Champion Crowned At WrestleMania Backlash

The Smackdown Women’s Championship was on the line in a brutal “I Quit” over the weekend at WrestleMania Backlash. There, “The Queen” Charlotte Flair defended against “The Baddest Woman on the Planet” Ronda Rousey.

These two rivals collided in their most intense bout yet, an “I Quit” Match. In a match filled with kendo stick strikes, throwing a professional camera, a steel railing submission, and pure bitterness, Flair and Rousey certainly cranked up the intensity here.

In the end, Rousey met Flair in the center of the ring with a steel chair, reeling her arm through it with an armbar. Flair was then forced to quit. Therefore, Ronda Rousey is the new Smackdown Women’s Champion.

Courtesy of WrestleZone, a recap of the closing moments of the match can be read below.

Flair blasts Rousey with Natural Selection on a chair. Flair yells for the referee to ask her. Rousey says no again. Flair slaps on the Figure Eight. Rousey refuses to quit. Flair screams for Rousey to quit as she ratchets up the pressure in her patented submission hold. Rousey screams, “never, bitch”. Flair grabs a chair and tells Rousey “happy mother’s day”. Rousey grabs Flair’s arm and pulls it through the chair. The referee asks Flair if she quits. Flair refuses. Rousey asks the referee what Flair said. Rousey says she was “hoping you’d say that bitch”. Rousey drops down and starts kicking the chair. Flair’s arm is bent in a way it shouldn’t be. Flair cries as she screams she quits.

READ MORE: WWE WrestleMania Backlash Results (5/8/22)

AEW Owen Hart Cup Bracket Revealed

Seven of the eight competitors are officially confirmed for the inaugural Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

Last week on AEW Rampage, Riho defeated Yuka Sakazaki in the last qualifying matchup. With that victory, the brackets for the tournament were then revealed, with a surprise addition being added to the tournament.

All Elite Wrestling revealed that a “Joker” will receive the eighth and final entry into the respective tournament. That mystery competitor will battle former AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker in the first round.

Officially beginning this week, Jamie Hayter and Toni Storm will collide in their first-round matchup on the May 11th edition AEW Dynamite. Additionally, Riho will battle Ruby Soho on Rampage this Friday in their first-round matchup.

The official quarterfinal matchups can be seen below:

  • Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter
  • Dr. Britt Baker vs. “Joker”
  • Riho vs. Ruby Soho
  • Red Velvet vs. Hikaru Shida

Triple Threat Match Set To Determine Number One Contender For NWA Women’s Championship

Tonight on NWA Powerrr, three women will compete to become the number one contender for the NWA Women’s World Championship. The winner will go on to face current champion Kamille at the National Wrestling Alliance’s Alwayz Ready pay-per-view on June 11th.

Accordingly, KiLynn King, Jennacide, and Chelsea Green will compete tonight in a high-stakes triple threat match to determine who will go on to face Kamille. Green last competed for the NWA Women’s Championship in March in a triple threat match with Kylie Rae and Kamille but fell short in capturing the championship. Jennacide and King have yet to contend for the NWA Women’s Championship.

NWA’s Alwayz Ready show will feature another championship matchup. The NWA Women’s Tag Team Championships will be put on the line. The Hex (Allysin Kay and Marti Belle) will defend against The Pretty Empowered, Ella Envy and Kenzie Paige.

INTERVIEWS:

RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair spoke with Ring the Belle about her WrestleMania 38 win, the memorable entrance, the ‘Holy Trinity’ with Sasha Banks and Naomi, the story behind her iconic braid, and more.

AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa appeared on Women’s Wrestling Talk to discuss Serena Debb, AEW Double or Nothing, The Forbidden Door and the AEW Locker Room.

“The Pink Dream” Alex Gracia chatted with A Wrestling Gal about her move to California, Scorpio Sky’s TNT Championship win, Alex Gracia Land, finding her “home” in professional wrestling, and more.

“Unbreakable” Savanna Stone joined The Hot Tag Hooligans to discuss about buying a house, finding her voice in wrestling, moving from the Midwest to Cali, teaming with James Brady and more.

Former ROH Women’s Champion Deonna Purrazzo spoke with Tru Heel Heat Wrestling about her ROH Women’s Championship Unification Match against Mercedes Martinez, what the title means to her, what makes IMPACT Wrestling’s Knockouts Division stand out and more.

RESULTS:

Pro-Wrestling EVE: 12 Year Anniversary – May 7th

SHE-1 Qualifying Dark: Laura Di Matteo defeated Nina Samuels

Nightshade (w/Skye Smitson) defeated Rayne Leverkusen

SHE-1 Qualifying: Rhia O’Reilly defeated Debbie Keitel

SHE-1 Qualifying: Kasey defeated Clementine

Fatal Four Way: Rhio defeated Charlie Morgan and Debbie Dahmer and Skye Smitson (w/Nightshade)

SHE-1 Qualifying: Emersyn Jayne defeated Alexxis Falcon

SHE-1 Qualifying: Jetta defeated Lizzy Evo

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Women of Hardcore: Queen Of The Cage – May 28th 

STARDOM: Flashing Champions – May 28th

Black Girl Magik – August 19th

Ella Jay
Ella Jay

Ella Jay is a writer, podcaster, interviewer, and host in the wrestling space.
Her love for professional wrestling sparked at the age of 11, finding Friday Night SmackDown while scrolling through channels. Ella watched and attended numerous wrestling events growing up, captivated by the likes of Jeff Hardy, Mickie James, and Shawn Michaels. 

Ella currently resides in Buffalo, NY and has a Bachelor's in Psychology and minored in Creative Writing at Canisius College. She also highly enjoys reality television and crime shows, specifically: Survivor, Big Brother, Law & Order: SVU, and NCIS.
Follow Ella on Twitter: @itsellajay

EMAIL: ellajayofficial@gmail.com

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