As new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions are crowned, Trish Stratus turns on Becky Lynch. IYO SKY guarantees herself a future title shot. AEW presents two big title defenses. Janai Kai speaks with WrestleZone, and more! Let’s break it down on this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Trish Stratus Betrays Becky Lynch; New Women’s Tag Team Champions Crowned
Heel Trish Stratus has returned.
Becky Lynch and Lita were slated to defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez on Monday’s episode of RAW. Unfortunately, things didn’t exactly pan out that way. Before either team even had the chance to step in the ring, the camera panned to reveal Lita had been attacked backstage. Morgan and Rodriguez quickly tended to the injured Hall of Famer before WWE officials arrived on the scene.
As Lita was rushed to a Seattle medical facility, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus stepped up in her place to defend the tag team titles alongside Becky Lynch. The title match saw excellent teamwork from both pairs, but Trish Stratus had something more sinister brewing.
After evading Stratus’ signature Chick Kick, Liv Morgan soon trapped her in the roll-up position and secured the three count. As Stratus sat in shock, Morgan and Rodriguez stood in celebration, as they were crowned as the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. For Morgan, this marks her first set of tag team gold, while Rodriguez begins her second reign on the main roster.
After their surprise loss, Lynch pulled Stratus to her feet before the two hugged. As Lynch turned her back, though, Stratus unleashed a vicious attack on the former RAW Women’s Champion. Lynch staggered back to her feet but she was soon met with a follow-up Chick Kick to the head. Through the shocking betrayal, Stratus walked away, unphased, as the WWE Universe awaits some answers.
READ MORE: WWE Raw Results (4/10/23)
New Number One Contender Named For RAW Women’s Championship
Coming off her victory over Asuka at WrestleMania 39, Bianca Belair was in need of a new challenger. As a result, WWE ordered a triple threat match to take place last night to determine the number one contender for the RAW Women’s Championship.
After conversing with Adam Pearce, Bayley was marked to compete, but after some persuasion from her Damage CTRL stablemates, IYO SKY took her place instead. Bayley and Dakota Kai later accompanied SKY to the ring. Along with SKY, “Michin” Mia Yim and Piper Niven competed to secure the future title shot.
All three women fought valiantly against each other. While SKY displayed her high-flying aerial abilities, Niven countered with her pressing strength. As Yim looked to land the pinfall on Niven after hitting Eat Defeat, Yim broke it up with her signature moonsault. With Niven now out of reach, SKY capitalized and covered Yim for the win.
A brief recap of the match can be found below, courtesy of our RAW live coverage page.
Number One Contender’s Match: Iyo sky w/Bayley and Dakota Kai vs. Mia Yim vs. Piper Niven
Yim tries to slam Niven. Yim can’t get Niven off the mat. Sky floors Niven with a missile dropkick. Niven and Yim end up outside the ring. Sky takes down Niven and Yim with an Asai moonsault. Bayley golf claps for Sky as Sky celebrates.
After the break, Niven flattens Yim and Sky with a splash. Niven launches Sky up top. Sky sends Yim flying with a top rope ranna. Springboad dropkick by Sky to Niven. Yim breaks up the pin. Yim hits Eat d’feet on Niven. Sky breaks up Yim’s pin with the Over the Moonsault. Sky pins Yim.
Winner and NEW Number One Contender, Iyo Sky!
Jamie Hayter Defends Her AEW Women’s Championship
Last week was a true battle for the belts of All Elite Wrestling. Accordingly, both of the company’s women’s championships were put on the line.
Firstly, AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter defended her title AEW’s inaugural champion, Riho. Heading into AEW Dynamite, Riho was on a six-match winning streak, with her last loss occurring back in October, at the hands of Hayter herself. Hayter and Riho were each 1-1 in their previous singles encounters, so they met again to settle the score.
Prior to last Wednesday, Riho’s last title opportunity happened over a year ago, where she challenged Britt Baker in January 2022 at AEW Battle of the Belts. Now, Riho squared up to face Baker’s ally, Jamie Hayter. The match itself proved to pretty evenly made, as Hayter and Riho battled back and forth. In the end, though, only one competitor would emerge victorious, and that was Jamie Hayter. After nailing Riho with a kick to her head, Hayter delivered her signature Hayter-ade finisher to secure the pinfall. As Hayter celebrated her victory, the two exchanged a gesture of sportsmanship and shook hands.
A recap of the match can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page.
AEW Women’s World Championship: Jamie Hayter (c) (with Britt Baker) vs. Riho
Hayter goes for an early Hayter-ade, but Riho counters. Riho and Hayter go back and forth early on. Riho dives onto Hayter at ringside. Hayter and Riho battle on the apron, and Hayter wins the exchange. Riho and Hayer keep battling. Hayter takes control and grounds Riho. A Tiger Feint Kick rocks Hayter, and Riho gets a two count off the top rope. Riho gets a two count with a suplex. Hayter gets a two count of her own with a lariat. Riho counters a suplex with a DDT, and both women are down. Riho and Hayter trade blows. Riho blasts Hayter with a running knee strike. Hayter drills Riho with a boot to the head. Hayter drills Riho with a lariat for a two count.
Hayter gets the win with another lariat.
Winner and still AEW Women’s World Champion: Jamie Hayter
RELATED: AEW Dynamite Results (4/5/23): MJF Day, Tag Title Match, More
Billie Starkz Steps Up To The Undefeated Jade Cargill
Following Hayter’s successful title defense, TBS Champion Jade Cargill stepped up to defend hers. During Friday’s edition of AEW Battle of the Belts VI, Cargill laid her championship down on the line against “Space Jesus” Billie Starkz.
Since making her AEW debut last December, Starkz has competed in several contests for the company, with notable matches against Red Velvet and Toni Storm. Starkz has also ventured over to AEW’s sibling promotion — Ring of Honor — for a pair of appearances. Last week, though, Starkz faced her biggest challenge yet: the undefeated Jade Cargill.
Cargill controlled the match early on with her strength, but Starkz fought back, reversing a Jaded into a hurricanrana. Starkz’s rally continued, hitting Cargill with a Flatliner and evading another Jaded. but Cargill soon seized control once again. In the end, Cargill finally got the win after successfully landing her finisher on the third attempt.
As Cargill stood victorious, Taya Valkyrie emerged. Cargill charged Valkyrie with her title belt, but Valkyrie ducked and struck the silver-haired superstar to the ground. Valkyrie then rolled Cargill back into the ring, setting her up for the Road to Valhalla, but Cargill managed to escape, rolling back out of the ring to safety.
RELATED: AEW Battle Of The Belts VI Results (4/7): TBS Title Match And More
INTERVIEWS
Ladies Night Out Champion Janai Kai spoke with WrestleZone‘s own Ella Jay about her experience at Women’s Wrestling Army, her trip to Japan, her music taste, what her high school self was like, and more.
Former WWE Diva Natalie Eva Marie joined WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard to discuss her WWE career, being open to a return, her new partnership with TYR, becoming an avid hunter and more.
AEW star Saraya chatted with Superstar Crossover about her career-ending neck injury, her comeback, fashion in wrestling, Cody Rhodes and more!
RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair appeared on Women’s Wrestling Talk about creating her ring gears, the design process, her WrestleMania match with Asuka, and more.
Former SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya spoke with Fightful‘s Joel Pearl about the new Hart Dungeon, Bret Hart, Montreal, her WWE Career, and more.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Capital Championship Wrestling: Dead-Zone – April 15th
Maryland Championship Wrestling: Ladies Night 2 – April 22nd
