Cattie’s Catch Up – Week Beginning April 3rd 2023 (April 9th 2023)
Hello to all, and welcome to this weeks Post WrestleMania recap on all things WWE AND IMPACT. While the usually exciting week did start off with a controversial episode of RAW (side eyes you know who..) it soon picked up with this weeks NXT, along with the aftermath of Multiverse United over at IMPACT with an in ring debut and major heel turn. Plus the official celebration for Smackdown Womens Champion Rhea Ripley over on the blue brand, and additional momentum for some newly set contenders.
RAW
Late on comes the first sight of the women on the Post Mania RAW, in the form of RAW Womens Champion Bianca Belair, resurfacing for the first time since her splendid win over Asuka. Interrupting her is not a set challenger in this case, but her fellow champion and fellow NXT Alumni, Rhea Ripley, labelling her the luckiest woman in WWE considering Rhea turned her attention to Charlotte at Mania instead of the EST. She vows, however, that at some point they will revisit their history, and when they do, she will beat her like she had with Charlotte. Bianca bites back that Rhea made her WrestleMania decision for a reason and as shes the Smackdown Womens Champion, she should stand on that and that alone. Bianca is about getting in the ring with the best, including Rhea, so one day, when Rhea is ready, they will see who really is the best of the best. Rhea backs out, leaving that challenge in mind for the future, but as she departs, down to the ring for in ring competition come Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Raquels eyes meeting Rhea’s for a moment before she finishes the stern staredown to follow her partner to the ring.
Raquel and Liv take on Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, the pair mysteriously without the presence of Bayley coming out of the WrestleMania loss. The match is set as a number one contenders match despite Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey seemingly cementing their number one contenders spot at WrestleMania with their win in the Womens Tag Team Showcase. If things werent bad enough for the Bayley-less Damage CTRL, they are thwarted just days on from their WrestleMania loss, as Raquel shoves Dakota into Iyo, knocking Iyo off the apron, before driving Dakota down into the canvas with a Tejano Bomb, leaving the newly tagged in Liv Morgan to finalise with ObLIVion to Dakota for the victory. Liv and Raquel win the match, becoming the number one contenders to the Womens Tag Team Championships (currently held by Becky Lynch and Lita).
Speaking of the champs, Lita and Becky Lynch, alongside Trish, are interviewed a little later by Byron Saxton backstage. Commenting on the victory at WrestleMania, Trish chimes in firstly that it was amazing for them to be in a multi generational face off, and it was amazing for the fans too, just like it was also amazing to beat Damage CTRL. Lita adds that she is still riding the high from that match, and, linking up with Trish, she feels like they are just getting started. Becky concludes that with her chapter with Damage CTRL being over, its back to their goal of raising the prestige of the Womens Tag Team Championships, and she cant think of anything better than to beat Liv and Raquel next week. They depart, but not before Trish declines a polite gesture from Byron.
WWE NXT
Then we jump from the seemingly Vince McMahon booked RAW to the Black and Gold brand of NXT, with the aftermath of Stand and Deliver. That event saw the crowning of a new NXT Womens Champion in Indi Hartwell, while Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre captured the NXT Womens Tag Team Championships. We get the first insight into the new champions reigns, beginning with Indi, as the title clad Aussie opens the episode. The You Deserve it chants are welcomed by Indi, who has waited a long time to hear that, and Indi Wrestling chants follow. It still doesnt feel real to Indi that she is champion, and originally she had no plan on what to say if she became champion because she never thought it’d happen, having slipped down despite the momentum she tried to gain. Holding the title was a pipe dream, but who never doubted her was the WWE Universe, who stood by her, picked her up when she was down and chanted for her when she needed it most. The love she received makes the current moment even more sweeter. She has two things to get to, first Roxanne Perez because if it wasnt for her, there wouldnt have been a ladder match and she wouldnt stand today with the title if it wasnt for her. She believes Roxanne should have the title shot first but the fans arent accepting, nor an appearing Zoey Stark. She acknowledges Indi is now champion, and she holds a title held by legends, and the most disgusting part is that she is the champion, because those before her elevated the title she brings to a level below the lowest. She views Indi as a very beatable champion, and Roxanne, seeing as she hasnt been seen, should go to the back of the line behind her. She suggests Indi defends the title against her tonight, seeing as she was willing to hand a shot to Roxanne. Indi ends up accepting. Zoey warns her, however, that shes about to become the shortest reigning champion point blank, period.
Theres a vignette not too long later featuring Jacy Jayne, who made a surprise return at Stand and Deliver, costing GiGi Dolin her shot at the NXT Womens Championship. She calls her former tag team partner pathetic for believing she would have her hollywood moment, taking the title after overcoming adversity. She recalls GiGi climbing up the ladder, inching towards the title, thinking she was going to win only for delusion to be a disease. Within a second, she pushed all that away. GiGi was never going to win, and she was going to make sure of that. She broke her face, her heart and now all thats left is to break GiGi’s will.
Thea Hail is present for Chase University’s celebratory moment, having overcame the Schism at Stand and Deliver, with thanks too to Tyler Bate of course. Its revealed that next week Duke Hudson will receive an MVP ceremony.
Speaking of celebratory, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn bask in their own win, having become the new NXT Womens Tag Team Champions. Alba boasts that what was written is now set, they have seized power and now the new champions sit on their throne. Isla reminds all they vowed to burn their opposition to the ground at Stand and Deliver. They defeated their opponents, they seized the championships but they did not scorch the earth. Alba knows nothing in NXT is that simple, for ashes will be left smoldered. Isla senses they are not through with their troubled foes, the former champions. But now their Unholy Union was materialised and risen, all challengers beware, as they are merely beginning, and havent cracked the surface of just how perilous they can truly be. She curses any team who dares to test them. Alba finalises that they will save their energy for when that time comes, but, with glass in hand, for now, they celebrate.
Not too long later came the NXT Womens Championship defense for Indi Hartwell, defending against Zoey Stark. Indi ended up retaining via a sudden pinfall reversal, defeating Zoey.
Post Match, the champ was met post match with the presence of Tiffany Stratton. She stares down the victorious champion from the ramp, but with Indi now having a large target on her back, she receives not just the presence of Stratton, but a returning Cora Jade, who attacks Indi from behind. Cora, with a slightly altered look, DDTs Indi into the mat, posing with the title then taunting Stratton from the outside.
Following from that, Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs are backstage with the now former NXT Womens Tag Team Champions Kiana James and Fallon Henley. Briggs and Fallon walk in on Kiana scolding Brooks for not letting her utilise her bag back at Stand and Deliver, and Fallon, mad that Kiana is guilt tripping Brooks for not following her demands, outs her for cheating, and this time Kiana isnt hiding her truth. She admits to dating around, but they never called themselves an exclusive couple anyway. But, “that changed” when she kissed him, until they lost the championships. She cannot trust Brooks, and while a hesitant Brooks tries to tell Kiana they did have something special, Kiana just walks away. Fallon and Briggs try to get through to Brooks on what Kiana is trying to do, but Brooks yells at them. He blames himself for losing Kiana and demands Fallon and Briggs to stay out of his relationship situation.
Then back to the Cora situation, as Cora’s actions have been noticed by another, as Lyra Valkyria steps up to Cora in the NXT parking lot. She welcomes back Cora after Cora tells an interviewer that the world will have to wait for her comments on her return until next week. Lyra then adds that she isnt dwelling on the past, but she wants to remind her of the future. Cora cannot escape fate.
Then following is a short grudge match between Ivy Nile and her former tag partner, Tatum Paxley. In a match that starts heated, but ends too soon, Ivy submits Tatum with the Dragon Sleeper for the redemptive singles victory.
IMPACT Wrestling
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8jvh8y
The Post Multiverse United, Post WrestleMania weekend episode of IMPACT hails from Canada, and, in turn, features an in ring debut from new Canada based Knockout, Jody Threat. Jody takes on fellow Canadian Taylor Rising, dubbed as Tara Rising on this occasion. The former AEW Dark Standout defeats Tara with the F4-16, her finisher that follows up from behind double knees and a release german suplex to get the squash victory in her debut match.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8jvhnf
A little later, Gia Miller speaks backstage with the recently returned Tasha Steelz. In walks Gisele Shaw, with Jai Vidal and Savannah Evans flanking her. Gisele warns Tasha that she hasnt taken care of all her problems as professed, because Gisele is still standing. Tasha quizzes Gisele on if she has beef, and Gisele clarifies she has. She accuses Tasha of being jealous that Savannah left her and upgraded. Tasha responds that she ditched Savannah, and Sacrifice was about sweeping the debris underneath, and she doesnt mind doing that with anyone else. Gisele acts like shes at the top, but if she wants to deal with some business, they can do that next week. Gisele ponders if Tasha can really handle them all, but Tasha is unbothered and suggests Gisele brings as many goons as she likes. Gisele warns Tasha that for someone who talks about “Flava” she should know when shes bitten more than she can chew.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8jvi0j
Bully Ray and his associates of John Skyler and Jason Hotch also took on Yuya Uemura, Tommy Dreamer and Darren McCarty in a special tag team match. McCarty, a guest star in this match, got the win for the babyface side, and a new Knockouts feud was seemingly introduced post match, as Killer Kelly, along with Frankie Kazarian, ran down to aid the babyfaces against Bully, Skyler, Hotch, Kenny King and Masha Slamovich.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8jvi8p
Theres also a vignette from Deonna Purrazzo, who emerged victorious over Gisele, Miyu Yamashita and Masha Slamovich back at Multiverse United in a Number One Contenders Fatal Four Way Match, in turn becoming the contender to the Knockouts Championship alongside Jordynne Grace, who has already qualified for Rebellion per being the original challenger for an injured Mickie at Sacrifice. Deonna comments on how the past eighteen months have been a rollercoaster. She went from being a multi time Knockouts Champion, to holding the Knockouts Tag Team Championships with her best friend to having absolutely nothing. For some people, thats a bad thing, but for the Virtuosa, nothing means a blank canvas upon which she can create. She had a blank canvas coming into IMPACT, and she built from that and carved the age of the Virtuosa. With that knowledge and experience she has gained, what she can create is limitless. She wasnt expecting a Championship match at Rebellion, but that doesnt mean shes not prepared. She proved she was prepared at Multiverse United, but the question remains. Is she facing just Jordynne Grace? or will she get her as well as Mickie James? The dynamic is that Jordynne has never beaten her, but the Virtuosa has never defeated Mickie James. What she knows for sure is that with the blank canvas she will create a new age of the Virtuosa. At Rebellion, the world will see her be a three time Knockouts Champion.
Then the biggest Knockouts event of the night takes place in the shows main event, as Eddie Edwards is made to take on PCO alone when Kenny King, revealed to have not been the driver who aided him previously in knocking down PCO, declines to aid him. Instead, Alisha runs down late on into the match, not to get a closer glimpse, but to instead sneak a kendo stick shot to PCO. With PCO taken down per Alisha, Eddie capitalises with retaliating offense, including Boston Knee Party to win in the main event, exiting with the newly heel Alisha, though the couple are pursued by PCO to end the show.
WWE Smackdown
Then its back to WWE, more specifically the blue brand for more Post WrestleMania fallout. On the same episode that saw Triple H reveal the return of the WWE draft that sees ALL Superstars eligible for drafting, we also see the Post WrestleMania aftermath for the Viking Raiders. Having fallen short in the Tag Team Showcase, Ivar, with Erik and Valhalla in his corner, takes on Ricochet, but falls flat as Ricochet snags the win after a shooting star press.
Later comes tag team action coming out of the Womens Tag Team Showcase, as Shotzi and Natalya take on Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan, the new contenders to the Womens Tag Team Championships as set on RAW. Its another win for Liv and Raquel, this time as Raquel works to break up a Hart Attack set up, with Liv following with ObLIVion to Shotzi for the three count.
Then later is an official celebratory moment, as Rhea Ripley, flanked by Finn Balor, Damian Priest and a highly booed Dominik Mysterio, heads to the ring to brag on becoming Smackdown Womens Champion. Rhea calls April 1st 2023 the night Sports Entertainment changed forever, as she did the impossible by destroying and dethroning fourteen time womens champion, Charlotte Flair. Its time that everyone rises for Mami, for the most feared woman and the greatest champion in WWE, which leads to a mixed reaction. Following are reactions from the rest over WrestleMania, Dominik, as noted, highly booed by the audience. Damian Priest also reflects on laying out Bad Bunny on RAW, then out comes Rey Mysterio, along with Legado Del Fantasma.
Rey and Santos take on Dominik and Priest, with Rhea Ripley and Zelina Vega interacting amidst it all. Legados leader, Santos, falls to Priest, who secures the win for the Judgment Day.
WWE NXT: LVL Up
Before getting to the womens match on the Post Mania NXT LVL Up, Ava Raine, still a part of the Schism despite GYV’s attempts to depart WWE, found herself suspiciously lurking around ringside during the athletic Dante Chen’s match against the newly cleared and freshly returned Boa, formerly of Tian Sha. She watched the two clash in a few minute showdown which ended with Chen picking up the singles victory.
Then its onto womens action, and there was also a reunion on the Post WrestleMania NXT LVL Up, as Lash Legend finally teamed again with Jakara Jackson against hyped NXT newcomer Dani Palmer and the much praised Sol Ruca. Sol and Dani even seem to have a tag team entrance, highlighted as best friends by the commentary team. Jakara and Lash also get a full entrance as a team, in what is their second match overall as a team. With Jakara having her back turned to the legal Sol Ruca, hurling Dani out of the ring instead, Sol takes advantage, dashing to the ropes, leaping and performing Sol Snatcher to Jakara for the crowd popping victory.
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 