Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up: Bayley Has Backup, The Man Comes Around, New NXT Champs

A new stable emerges at WWE SummerSlam. Ronda Rousey finds herself suspended. New NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions crowned, and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!

SummerSlam Fallout: Lynch vs Belair, A New Stable Emerges, Rousey Suspended & More

The hottest show of the summer emanated from Nashville, Tennessee this year over the weekend.

There, SummerSlam kicked off the show with a year long rivalry, and breath of fresh air into the women’s division of RAW. “The EST” Bianca Belair defended her RAW Women’s Championship against “Big Time Bex” Becky Lynch. Although, by the end of the bout, Lynch would seemingly reemerge as “The Man”.

Belair defeated Lynch at WrestleMania 39 in April for the championship, but last year, a different story unfolded. At SummerSlam 2021, Bianca Belair walked in as the Smackdown Women’s Champion slated to face “The Boss” Sasha Banks. However, Banks ended up not medically cleared to compete. So, Becky Lynch stepped up to the plate after a 15-month absence from in-ring action.

Lynch then stunned Belair with a Manhandle Slam to capture the victory in merely 26 seconds. From there, Bianca Belair clawed her way back to the top of the WWE women’s division. At WrestleMania, she reversed her fate against Lynch, claiming the RAW Women’s Championship. Now at SummerSlam on July 30th, 2022, Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch settled their score an impressive performances between both competitors.

In the end, Bianca Belair struck victory this year at SummerSlam, landing a massive KOD for the pinfall victory.  After the match, both competitors showed signs of respect with a handshake and hug. That emotional moment abruptly ended though with the return of a familiar face: Bayley.

Grand Slam Champion Bayley emerged to confront Belair. However, she brought some backup as well. Dakota Kai and IYO SKY (fka Io Shirai) shocked the WWE Universe with their returns to WWE programming. Kai left the company in late April following her release from NXT. Shirai, on the other hand, suffered an injury in the midst of her complicated contract status with WWE.  Together, Bayley, Kai and SKY approached the ring to meet Bianca Belair.  In a surprise move, Becky Lynch stepped beside Belair in support of her former rival. The WWE Universe expected a brawl to ensue, but Bayley, Kai, and SKY retreated instead.

READ MORE: WWE SummerSlam Results (7/30/22)

The following night Monday on RAW, Becky Lynch announced she will miss a few months of action following a separated shoulder injury at SummerSlam. Moments later, the new trio of Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY targeted Lynch’s shoulder with a backstage assault. Bianca Belair would make the save, but the damage had been done.

The fascinating trio weren’t done just yet, though. During a high profile matchup between Alexa Bliss and Asuka, Kai, SKY, and Bayley once again beat down their fellow roster members. Bianca Belair would run to even the odds and challenge one of them to a matchup later in the evening.

IYO SKY would answer that challenge in a strong showing between herself and the RAW Women’s Champion. However, this match would follow suit as the previous match with a no contest result. After Alexa Bliss and Asuka came to ringside to even the odds on behalf of Bianca Belair, tensions flew high. A six-woman brawl then unleashed in the center of the ring before the match could conclude.

Despite the absence of Becky Lynch the next few months, the RAW women’s division seems in steady hands with the introduction of this new stable of Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY. This week also marks the official main roster call ups of Kai and SKY.

On the other end, the Smackdown women’s division definitely sits in the hands of Liv Morgan.

Also on the SummerSlam card, Liv Morgan defended her Smackdown Women’s Championship against “The Baddest Woman On The Planet”, Ronda Rousey. Although both competitors entered the match with outward respect and sportsmanship, the end result begged to differ.

As Rousey locked in the arm bar on Morgan, Morgan locked Rousey’s down onto the mat. At the time Morgan tapped, the referee counted three on the pinfall attempt. So therefore, Liv Morgan retains the Smackdown Women’s Championship.

Following the peculiar ending sequence, Ronda Rousey unleashed her wrath. Not only did she attack Liv Morgan, but a WWE official ate an armbar as well. WWE later announced the suspension of Ronda Rousey following her actions at SummerSlam, and a fine of an undisclosed amount.

The exact timeframe of Rousey’s suspension has yet to be announced. In the absence now of top stars like Charlotte Flair, Ronda Rousey, Sasha Banks, and Naomi on Smackdown, Liv Morgan’s next competitor seems uncertain. More answers will hopefully emerge this week on Smackdown, but the blue brand needs a shake up, and fast.

A full recap of Liv Morgan versus Ronda Rousey can be read below, courtesy of our play-by-play coverage page.

Rousey comes out of the gates with a flurry of offense and she dominates the opening minutes. Morgan briefly locks in a submission hold and slams the challenger with a crucifix driver for a two count. Rousey traps the champion in an arm-bar, but Morgan reaches the ropes. “The Baddest Woman on the Planet” locks the arm-bar in again, but Morgan gets out of it. The medical official checks on Morgan, who’s favoring her arm. She keeps fighting, but Rousey puts her in the arm-bar again. Morgan turns it into a pin attempt, and she taps out while the official counts the pin.

Winner and still WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion: Liv Morgan

After the match, Rousey is furious. She attacks Morgan and slams the referee before she locks the official in an arm-bar. Officials come down to deescalate the situation.

RELATED: WWE Suspends And Fines Ronda Rousey For Attacking A Referee At SummerSlam

New NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Crowned

Following a forced title vacation, a fatal four way elimination match kicked off NXT 2.0 this week for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships.

Two weeks ago, Cora Jade threw her tag title in a trash can, and last week her fellow champion Roxanne Perez forcibly vacated her half of the tag championships. Then, a fatal four way would determine new champions this week. Amongst the competitors vying for the championships, former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne entered the fray. In addition, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance, Tatum Paxley and Ivy Nile,  Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leo participated in this high stakes matchup.

In the end, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter finally got a taste of gold after being the longest tenured women’s tag team on the NXT brand. Therefore, Chance and Carter now reign as NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.

A full recap of the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship match can be read below, courtesy of our play-by-play coverage page.

NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship: Toxic Attraction vs. Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance vs. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon

Paxley and Carter start the bout before Jayne tags in. Toxic Attraction gangs up on Paxley and gains the early advantage. Nile tags in and takes control. She drops Dolin with a clothesline and double-teams her with Paxley. Feroz enters the match and takes the fight to Carter. Feroz and Leom are rolling as they continue to ground Carter. A superkick gives Carter breathing room, and Chance dives onto Paxley and Nile at ringside. Leon throws Feroz onto everyone at ringside.

She dives onto everyone and rolls Carter into the ring. Nile tags in and drills Feroz with a stiff shot to eliminate her. Nile and Paxley continue to control the action by isolating Chance. Jayne sneaks in and manages to sneakily pin Paxley, eliminating her and Nile in the process. The two teams go back and forth. Jayne drills Carter with a stiff shot to the face. Toxic Attraction gets a two count on Carter with a double-team maneuver.

Chance gains the upper hand, but Dolin dumps her with a suplex. Carter breaks up a pin attempt, and all four women are down. Chance and Carter rally. Chance dives onto Dolin at ringside. A 450 splash earns Chance the win.

Winner and new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter

READ MORE: WWE NXT 2.0 Results (8/2/22): Two Title Matches

First Entrant Announced For NWA 74’s Burke Invitational

The first entrant in the NWA 74 Burke Invitational has officially been announced via NWA.

Last year, the National Wrestling Alliance introduced their inaugural Women’s Invitational. There, ten women competed at Empowerrr to earn a title opportunity against the NWA Women’s World Champion at NWA 73 the following night. “The Hot Mess” Chelsea Green would outlast all her competitors to emerge victorious, the going on to challenge reigning champion Kamille.

Now, the Women’s Invitational will fly under the name of The Burke Invitational, after NWA legend Mildred Burke. As revealed by the National Wrestling Alliance, “The Perfect Knockout” Samantha Starr becomes the first competitor added to the Invitational. In addition, her mother, Baby Doll, will accompany her to the match itself. Starr is the real life granddaughter of Grizzly Smith, and half-niece of WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts.

Starr will have a chance to win The Burke Invitational and go on to compete for the NWA World Women’s Championship the following night.

WrestleZone will keep you updated as more competitors for the match are announced.

INTERVIEWS

Former WWE Superstar CJ Perry (Lana) CJ Perry spoke with WrestleZone’s own Bill Pritchard about her wrestling career, when she will make her in-ring and managerial return, finding success with Brand Army, how Paul Heyman inspired her and more.

CCW Network Champion Vita VonStarr appeared on The Wrestling Independent about gothic Philadelphia, circus performing, how she joined The Righteous, and more.

“The Mafiosa” Valentina Rossi spoke with Steve Fall of SEScoops about her involvement with Women of Wrestling (WOW), wrestling on AEW Dark, her ring name, photoshoots, and more.

RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair spoke with Inside The Ropes and media about her history with Becky Lynch, SummerSlam, and more.

Smackdown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan chatted with Sports Illustrated about her SummerSlam match against Ronda Rousey, becoming a champion, her fighting spirt, and more.