Cattie’s Catch Up – Week Beginning May 1st 2023 (May 7th 2023)
Welcome all to this weeks Cattie’s Catch Up, detailing all things womens wise from a pretty big week. Not only did we get the last lot of build to WWE Backlash in Puerto Rico on the WWE side, but IMPACT’s next major acquisition was revealed, a big and glowing get for the Knockouts Division.
WWE RAW
Firstly, its over to RAW, with the go home episode being the conclusion of the very latest WWE draft. In the beginning of the episode, we found out Rhea Ripley would be the latest title holder drafted, as the Smackdown Womens Champion is now set for Monday Nights. Meanwhile, Smackdown acquired Charlotte, who stays on the brand as a result.
Later, along comes the first bit of womens action, as Dakota Kai and Bayley of Damage CTRL, minus Iyo Sky, challenge Womens Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to a non title match. Bayley secured the sneaky win for Damage CTRL as she rolled up Liv coming off a sunset flip to pin the reigning champion. Dakota and Bayley win.
Out are Booker T and his fellow Hall of Famer and Wife, Queen Sharmell, announcing the latest draft picks during their guest spot moment. With the rest of the Judgment Day selected for RAW, their opposing foes, the Latino World Orders Santos Escobar, Zelina Vega, Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde are allocated to Smackdown.
Some more draft picks are made later. Asuka is announced to be on Smackdown from Post Backlash onward, while RAW gets the Womens Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan.
Even later in the night, a video package airs highlighting the contender to the RAW Womens Championship, Iyo Sky, who challenges Bianca Belair officially for the championship at Backlash.
We then later have Rob Van Dam and Eric Bischoff on site for a new round of draft picks. Officially eligible for the draft, Trish Stratus is picked to officially be a part of Monday Night RAW, as are Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey, originally Smackdown superstars. Smackdown keeps Scarlett alongside her husband, Karrion Kross.
Molly Holly and Road Dogg also emerge to announce another set of draft picks. Smackdown keeps one of their superstars, as Shotzi is announced to remain on Smackdown.
Following on from a Judgment Day promo, we also get a mixed tag team match, as Rey Mysterio, Zelina Vega and Santos Escobar take on Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and Smackdown Womens Champion Rhea Ripley. This was a momentum grabber for Priest pre Bad Bunny Match, delivering the finishing South of Heaven to Rey to take the win for the Judgment Day. Damian, Rhea and Dominik win.
RAW Womens Champion Bianca Belair is also on hand to discuss her upcoming match with backstage interviewer, Byron Saxton. Bianca shares her love for RAW, even if now a part of the blue brand, but shes promising to send Iyo over to Smackdown empty handed. A laughing Dakota Kai and Bayley walk into the scene, accompanied by Iyo. Bayley quizzes Byron on why Bianca is getting the interview time, considering she and Dakota are about to be the new Womens Tag Team Champions and Iyo is going to give Bianca a reason to be blue when she takes the RAW Womens Championship. Bianca is sad for Bayleys remarks, because shes actually always been excited for Iyo and saw her as the unique talent when she emerged at Summerslam. However, she believes Iyo let herself be influenced by two women who do nothing but hold her back. She hopes Backlash will be a taste for Iyo of what its like to step out on her own and shine. Iyo remarks back with fighting words towards Bianca in Japanese. Dakota tries to translate, but Bianca doesnt want to hear it. She already understands Iyo.
Then it looks like Damage CTRL arent the only pairing womens wise to be talked about on the night, as its announced that, through the draft, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are coming to RAW.
WWE NXT
Then its over to everything black and gold, over to NXT to see the implications the draft has for some on the NXT brand. Despite both being called up through the draft itself, NXT Womens Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn are set to defend their titles against former champions Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. Early in the show we get a promo from the title clad dark duo, as Alba declares that the spirits have been allowed to direct them, and they are off to Friday Night Smackdown. Isla acknowledges its their final night in NXT, but theres one last thing. Alba calls Katana Chance and Kayden Carter the long standard bearers of the division, but tonight, they extinguish their final flame. Isla promises they will take their titles to Smackdown, setting the fate for not just Smackdown, but all three brands. They leave NXT not in light, but in darkness.
Speaking of fated clashes, GiGi Dolin finally gets her one on one match with Jacy Jayne, and as promised, GiGi’s brother is at ringside to witness GiGi’s clash with the former tag team partner. However, theres no prevailing for the babyface in this occasion, as Jacy pushes through having a bloodied face to deliver a flattening roundhouse to GiGi for the sudden victory. Jacy wins the match.
Even post match, Jacy carries on the brutality, and ups the heat between the two once partners, attacking GiGi after her victory. She even overly rams GiGi into the steel steps, then beats down on GiGi near the barricade whilst mocking GiGi’s brother. Officials flank to GiGi while demanding Jacy out of the scene.
Then, a little later is the rekindling of a tag team, as Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen reunite at Fallon’s bar. Brooks shows how thankful he is for Briggs and Fallon, and some women try to approach him also, but he respectfully declines and continues on his reunion.
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are later backstage warming up for their title match. Katana hypes up how a RAW team has never faced a Smackdown team for the NXT Womens Tag Team Titles, making their match a first time ever thing. Kayden is also confident that Alba and Isla will not be taking the titles to Smackdown as promised. Katana is also confident, considering how much longer they have been a team, and considering the length of their own past title reign. They wholly believe they can go out on their last night in NXT as NXT Womens Tag Team Champions, and a hug ensues.
But theres another match to get through first, as Dani Palmer makes her main NXT brand in ring debut against Tatum Paxley. An impressively done Frog Splash late in gives Palmer the debut win over the former tag team partner of Ivy Nile.
Then its over to the next womens match, which is Katana Chance and Kayden Carter challenging for the NXT Womens Tag Team Championships. While Katana did look like she had momentum going for her side late on, it takes Alba blocking a headscissor and using Katana’s own body to knock off the entering Kayden for the heels to gain the momentum, and with Kayden out of the equation, a newly tagged in Isla works with Alba to lay out Katana, Alba also keeping Katana out of the way with a dive at ringside while Isla pins Katana. Isla and Alba win the match, retaining the NXT Womens Tag Team Championships.
The main event then features NXT Womens Champion Indi Hartwell, who not only prevailed recently in defending her championship against Tiffany Stratton and Roxanne Perez despite injury, but became a draft pick, announced to be officially heading to Monday Night RAW. Indi sports a crutch on route to the ring, showing signs of still being injured coming off the title defense. She admits to being injured in the match, but she refused to let her title reign end due to medical reasoning, therefore returning and powering through injury. Then Friday came, and she would be drafted to RAW, something she still cant believe. Monday will see RAW as her new home. With that in mind, she has to announce that a tournament begins next week to decide a new NXT Womens Champion, culminating at NXT Battleground. She is relinquishing the championship. But she wont cry that its over, but smile that it happened. Leaving the title behind on the mat, she ponders how shes going to leave the ring, considering her injury, but Dexter Lumis appears. He ever so sweetly helps Indi away from the ring and up the ramp to culminate her NXT farewell.
However, with her departure, comes Tiffany Stratton, in the ring and eyeing up the title, but so is Cora Jade. Lyra Valkyria enters the ring and takes both of them out, then a plethora of other women emerge, including Kiana James, Ivy Nile, Fallon Henley, Wendy Choo, Elektra Lopez, Tatum Paxley, Valentina Feroz, Dani Palmer, Thea Hail and more, all brawling over the championship. Officials struggling in dispersing the set of fighting women to end the show.
IMPACT Wrestling
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ko8x9
Then its over to a big episode of IMPACT. The first to come from the Chicago based tapings saw a big debut in the form of a new acquisition for the Knockouts Division, as well as some Under Siege build to go with it and more for the Knockouts. The first scenario to take place Knockouts wise is a match between Jody Threat and Alisha Edwards, coming off Jody saving Tara Rising from the newly heel a couple of weeks ago. Alisha is ruthless on plentiful occasions, but eventually Jody makes the comeback and utilises the F-4-1-6 for the singles victory. Jody wins the match.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ko98p
Meanwhile, despite recent defeat, Taylor Wilde and Kilynn King arent done dabbling in using magic to mess with Deonna Purrazzo nor Jordynne Grace. Kilynn is, at first, inquisitive on Taylor’s actions, before Taylor reveals that Jordynne and Deonna are messing with fate. Kilynn ponders what will happen to them, and Taylor puts it simply that once the candle disappears, so will they.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ko9be
Meanwhile, Rosemary, despite hesitance, ends up calling upon the services of Father James Mitchell. Rosemary tells James that someone is blocking their access to the Undead Realm, the very place they were going to enter in search of Taya, and Jessicka is straight to blaming the Coven, but James downplays the Covens abilities to cause that. Only someone more powerful could. But he has no problem, but welcomes them to come with him. Jessicka is ready to but Rosemary blocks her with an arm. Rosemary is sure James wouldnt welcome them into something without something in return. James tells Rosemary to come with her because it will take him a while for him to figure something out. Rosemary caves in and enters through a lit opening without a worrying Jessicka, who is left with a simple hourglass in the case of trouble.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ko9rl
Then, in the main event segment, the IMPACT Zone welcomes the debuting Trinity (formerly Naomi of WWE) who is the latest addition to the Knockouts Division. The energetic crowd welcomes Trinity to her new home, and Trinity thanks them for that welcoming, met with welcome back chants. It feels good for her to be in a ring, and in a place where she can glow. She is Trinity, and she has arrived in IMPACT Wrestling. She chose IMPACT because they have the most storied womens division in wrestling, and from the beginning, their division has been the place for fierce competition, and she wants a piece, namedropping names like Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, Mickie James, Deonna Purrazzo and Jordynne Grace. The fans have seen her win championships, but shes here to win more, so the Knockouts can get ready, because the brightest star in the galaxy is ready to shine. Shes here to make an IMPACT, and indeed shes here for the championship. On cue, out comes Deonna, the reigning Knockouts Champion. Deonna is, however, welcoming. Trinity invoked her name and her title, so she figured she’d be the first to come down to welcome her. Trinity knows if she wants opportunities and wants to make history, IMPACT is the place to be, but if shes done her homework, then she knows shes not walking into any IMPACT, but into the new age of the Virtuosa. Shes been where Trinity is, knowing how it feels to come to a new place, and its nerve wracking. If she gets a shot at her championship, which she hopes she does, she can only make one thing clear. When she steps into the ring with the Virtuosa, thats not something she can just walk out of. Trinity hears her burn, and retaliates, saying that if Deonna gets in the ring with her, shes going to wish she got fired again. Before Deonna can double down, out comes Jordynne. Jordynne does not doubt that the fans want to see Trinity and Deonna one on one, but she doesnt need to remind Deonna that she is her challenger, and she doesnt plan on losing for a fourth time. She will allow Trinity to fight Deonna, but if shes come for a title shot, she will have to come find her, because the title is hers after Under Siege. The crowd bellows for a Triple Threat, and Trinity sees Deonna and Jordynne have their own business to handle. It wont be a triple threat, but whichever woman is champion after Under Siege should know that they will dance with her next.
WWE Smackdown
Then its back to the blue brand of Smackdown, serving up the very last build for Backlash. This Smackdown, live from Puerto Rico, opens with the crowd favorites of the Latino World Order, Zelina Vega included, and Rey Mysterio is with them too. The latter are interrupted by the Judgment Day, initially with Rey trying to set up a one on one rematch with Dominik, but when Rhea and Rey near get into it, Zelina steps up. It will be Zelina and Rey against Dominik and Rhea later on tonight.
Speaking of Clashes, the Viking Raiders, with Valhalla in their corner, take on Gallows and Anderson in tag team action, Mia Yim and AJ Styles also respectively in their teammates corner. Valhalla does try to get involved but Mia ends up taking her down, and in the end, the Magic Killer to Ivar scores the win for Anderson and Gallows.
Visiting the brand prior to her championship defense is now Smackdown superstar, and RAW Womens Champion, Bianca Belair. The EST of WWE puts over the audience at the European Tour, but is also hyped to be at Smackdown, and at Puerto Rico. She reminisces on when she past won the Smackdown Womens Championship, before putting over her upcoming challenger, Iyo Sky. No matter what brand shes on, she has proven she shows up and shows out, and after her title defense, she will officially be the longest reigning womens champion of the modern era. Out are Iyo, Dakota and Bayley to interrupt (Sorry Michael Cole). Bayley claims she made Bianca on Smackdown, before informing Bianca that her focus should be on Iyo, who will put an end to her title reign, and her history party. And when Iyo becomes champion, she and Dakota feel like becoming Womens Tag Team Champions, and when they do, Smackdown will belong to Damage CTRL. The trio fight Bianca, and arriving to aid the RAW Womens Champion are Womens Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. The champs aid Bianca in cleaning house, and stand tall. Liv and Raquel will defend their titles against Dakota and Bayley next week on Smackdown.
We then hear from Karrion Kross, his wife, Scarlett, alongside him. He talks about how people think they are so sure of who they are, up until something is taken away from them. The formalities and charades begin to crumble fast. Tonight, he plants another seed to be reaped. He wonders how much Shinsuke Nakamura’s worth truly means to him.
Later on in the evening comes that match, as Karrion Kross, accompanied by Scarlett, gets his one on one match with Shinsuke Nakamura. Kross is on the losing end for this occasion also, as a second kinshasa takes Kross down, with Shinsuke getting the pin of victory in the end over Scarlett’s fellow harbinger of doom. Shinsuke wins the match.
Then its off to the main event, as Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega battle Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley in Mixed Tag Team Action. Dominik nearly closes in on victory with a Michinoku Driver near the end, but Zelina makes the save amid the pinfall. Dominik later attempts Three Amigos, but gets caught up in a Crafty Rey’s Small Package pin which scores the babyface side the win. Zelina and Rey win the match.
Post Match, a pre Backlash brawl commences between the sides. Damian Priest also enters the fray in aid of the Judgment Day, but to an insane pop, out comes Bad Bunny, and Santos, Cruz and Wilde emerge with him to make the save. Zelina, Rey, Bunny, Santos, Cruz and Wilde stand tall to end the last main roster programming before Backlash.
WWE Main Event
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8knj1c
This weeks episode of Main Event, taped as always prior to RAW, saw a new dose of womens action, from two women whose brand allocation seems to be unknown post draft, Piper Niven and Dana Brooke. The finish comes when the Scottish Powerhouse, Piper, catches Dana following her leap off the ropes and levels her with a spinning slam for the three count to end the David versus Goliath esque match. Piper wins.
WWE NXT LVL Up
This weeks episode of NXT LVL Up also served up womens in ring competition, as Lola Vice again re-entered singles territory, this time to take on Thea Hail, in what is the Chase U members in ring return. Duke Hudson is in Thea’s corner also. Thea utilises her springboard back senton before planting Lola downward onto the mat to finish and take the win. Thea wins the match.
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 