Following the surprise news of Sasha Banks and Naomi leaving the May 16 episode of WWE Raw, a Number One Contender’s Match was set as tonight’s main event, and saw Asuka earn a WWE RAW Women’s Championship match at WWE Hell in a Cell.
Initially, WWE announced a Six-Pack Challenge for the main event bout; the match would have featured Asuka, Becky Lynch, Banks, Naomi, Doudrop, and Nikki A.S.H. After Banks and Naomi abruptly departed the show, the contest switched to a singles clash between “Big Time Becks” and “The Empress of Tomorrow.” Asuka came out on top after she was able to get some inadvertent help from the champion, Bianca Belair, who was ringside for the bout.
Late in the match, Belair began getting into a shouting match with the referee, and Lynch capitalized by grabing a weapon and going after Asuka. Before she could use it, though, “The Empress of Tomorrow” quickly caught her right in the face with her green mist followed by a massive kick to the head for the win.
With the victory, Asuka earned the right to challenge Belair for the gold at WWE Hell in a Cell.
.@WWEAsuka punches her ticket to WWE #HIAC to battle @BiancaBelairWWE for the #WWERaw Women's Title! pic.twitter.com/9417VEAetb
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2022
?#WWERaw @BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/DahzeIvKFK
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2022
For a recap of how the match ended, check out below courtesy of our live play-by-play coverage:
Asuka misses a spinning back fist. Lynch lands a kick in the corner. Asuka responds with a hip attack on the apron. Lynch suplexes Asuka into the barricade. After the break, Lynch is working over Asuka. Asuka surprises Lynch with a head kick. Asuka fires up and lands a series of strikes. German suplex by Asuka. sliding knee for a near fall by Asuka. Asuka counters the Manhandle slam with an arm drag. Asuka misses a hip attack and gets tied up in the rope. Guillotine leg drop by Lynch. Asuka kicks out.
Lynch rolls up Asuka. Asuka reverses it into the Asuka Lock. Lynch floats over into a pin. Asuka kicks out. Lynch runs right into a flying armbar. Lynch gets to the ropes. Outside the ring, Lynch gets in Belair’s face. Lynch tosses Asuka into Belair. Belair gets into with the referee. In the confusion, Lynch grabs a weapon. Before she can use it, Asuka spits the mist in Lynch’s eyes. Head kick by Asuka. Asuka pins Lynch.
Winner- Asuka
RELATED: WWE RAW Results (5/16/22)
