WWE Monday Night Raw rolls on. Our first match of the night will see Asuka take on Ruby Riott, the winner gets a spot in the Women’s Money In The Bank match.
Asuka vs. Ruby Riott (Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match)
Asuka offers a handshake. Ruby denies it and gets her into a side headlock. Asuka escapes and then gives her a shove. Riott responds with forearms, hits the ropes, so does Asuka but Riott ducks, clothesline and hook of the leg for a quick 2 count. Ruby isn’t happy that Asuka isn’t taking her seriously and stars shoving at her face, demanding the real Asuka. In response she gets taken down into an arm bar, Asuka stomping the arm down and re-applying the hold. Riott gets a foot on the ropes to break it. Ruby with a back elbow out of the corner, tries for a headscissor but it’s countered by a pop-up into a kick to the chest!
Drives her into the turnbuckle, grinds a boot against her face for the 4 count. Smacks her across the head and grinds her face into the ropes. Ruby escapes to the apron and tries to fight back but a charging Hip Attack takes her to the floor! Asuka pursues, charging knee to the face! Riott reverses a whip and sends her into the crowd area but the Kabuki Warrior lands on her feet out there. Ruby tries to leap over the barricade but a brutal looking roundhouse kick to the face quells that! Asuka leaps atop the barricade and starts dancing as we go to commercial. We come back and Ruby is being pelted with kicks, but avoids a Hip Attack, leaving Asuka stuck in the ropes. A kick takes her to the floor!
Riott pursues and tosses her back into the ring for a cover and a nearfall. Off an Irish Whip to the corner Asuka rebounds from a buckle and nails a charging forearm! Both fighting on their knees, exchange of forearms. Az wins out, sharp kick to the leg. Riott blocks a shot, spin kick, attempted Oklahoma Roll or something akin to it is botched pretty badly but gets a 2 count anyway. Asuka with an armbar but Riott stacks her up for 2. Tries for the Riott Kick but it’s countered into an Ankle Lock! Ruby fights up and hops on one foot but a German Suplex sends her flying! Shining Wizard for a nearfall! Ruby drives Az into the corner to break an Asukalock, knee lift to the face, charging kick!
Snapmare, hard lariat to the back of the head for a nearfall! Riott goes to the middle rope and tries something like a Coffin Drop, Asuka counters into the Asukalock! Ruby bridges for a 2 count and escapes. Ducks a clothesline, Flatliner, rolled through for 2 but turns it into a Double Chickenwing! Reverses it into the Asukalock however and gets the tap!
Winner: Asuka
Pretty cool to see Ruby getting a lengthy match like this. Unfortunately you can kinda tell it’s been a long time since she’s had this sorta opportunity, she seemed a tad rusty. Physical match though. In a post-match interview, Az yells in Japanese and signals that she wants the MITB briefcase, says nobody will be ready for Asuka.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
