Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up: Saraya Makes A Statement, Damage CTRL Gains Momentum

Saraya makes a statement on AEW Dynamite. Damage CTRL continues their path of destruction. Liv Morgan and Ronda Rousey brawl, and much more! Let’s break it down on this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!

Saraya Makes A Statement

On the September 21st edition of AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam, Saraya shocked the wrestling universe when she arrived in Queens. There, she prevented Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, and Serena Deeb from unleashing a further beatdown on Athena and Interim Women’s Champion, Toni Storm. The trio would then retreat, as the former WWE Divas Champion hyped up the crowd and came to the aid of Storm and Athena. 

The week following, Saraya officially made her first statement in All Elite Wrestling. First, Saraya recognized that she’s “damaged, but not broken”, in reference to her previous career-ending injuries. Despite her unclear in-ring status in AEW, Saraya then promised to make change and uplift the company’s women’s division. 

Eventually, former AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker would interrupt, alongside Jamie Hayter, Rebel, and Penelope Ford. Baker proceeded to testify her status as the face of the division, before making a sly remark about Saraya’s history with neck injuries. Saraya and Baker would go on to exchange a battle of words before Serena Deeb appeared for her Interim AEW Women’s Championship title shot against Toni Storm.  

Storm would go on to successfully retain her title, securing the pinfall victory over Deeb.

A recap of the full in-ring segment can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page.

In-Ring Segment: Saraya

Saraya comes to the ring and says she has chills. She says she’s back, and it feels fantastic to be back in the ring. Saraya says she’s damaged, but she’s not broken. She vows to create change in this division because she is the revolution. She admits that she’s nervous but says AEW is her house. Saraya says she’ll leave the ring when she’s ready. She calls the women’s division to come to the sage, and she’s answered by Toni Storm, Willow Nightingale, Skye Blue, and Madison Rayne.

Saraya hypes up Storm and calls her the best fighting champion AEW has seen. She says she’s honored to be in the ring with Toni. Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, Penelope Ford, and Rebel interrupt. Baker says that AEW has seen plenty of new toys come and go. She says she’s the face of the division, as she put her blood, sweat, and tears in her division.

Baker notes that she put her neck on the line, and unlike Saraya, hers is strong enough to handle it. Baker notes that people don’t even know how to say Saraya’s name. Saraya says Baker’s name rhymes with s—. Baker says she respects Saraya, but she says she’s the victim of a conspiracy. Baker hypes up Serena Deeb while fans chant for Jamie Hayter, Baker says Hayter will get her shot after Deeb.

RELATED: Saraya Reflects On Her AEW Dynamite Appearance This Week

WWE Extreme Rules Preview: Damage CTRL Rides Wave Of Momentum

Damage CTRL continued their path of dominance heading into Extreme Rules this weekend. On Saturday, October 8th, Bayley will go one-on-one with RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair in a ladder match. Last month, Bayley became the first person in nearly a year to pin Belair. Now, the two will meet in a grueling ladder stipulation match with the RAW Women’s Championship at stake. Before the match though, Bayley and Bianca Belair sealed the deal with an official contract signing.

Last night on RAW, Corey Graves officiated the contract signing between the two competitors. Bayley arrived without the backup of IYO SKY and Dakota Kai, as she previously promised. Both Bayley and Belair went on to sign the contract with an exchange of fierce words before a backstage brawl ensued. Bayley’s allies SKY and Kai unleashed an assault on Belair’s recent partners, Alexa Bliss and Asuka. Accordingly, Asuka fell to a steel chair, while Bliss challenged IYO SKY to a match later in the evening. Back in the ring, Bayley and Bianca traded blows before Belair launched Bayley into the LED board alongside the ring.

Earlier in the evening, Dakota Kai battled Candice LeRae. LeRae returned to WWE the week prior, defeating Nikki A.S.H. With some help of Bayley and SKY, Kai managed to gain the pinfall on LeRae.

A brief recap of the match can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page.

DAKOTA KAI W/DAMAGE CTRL VS. CANDICE LERAE

LeRae gets a quick two-count after a roll up. Kai misses a boot and is sent into the ring post. Baseball slide by LeRae. LeRae slingshots herself into Kai outside the ring. After the break, Kai is working over LeRae. LeRae fires up and lands a flurry of strikes. Step up senton by LeRae. Kai kicks out. Octopus hold by LeRae. Kai escapes. LeRae hits a German suplex off the second rope. After a distraction from Bayley and Sky, Kai pins LeRae with a roll up.

Winner- Dakota Kai

In the main event of the evening, IYO SKY squared off with Alexa Bliss. Both competitors brought out their best moves, but the numbers game managed to be too much for Bliss to overcome. With Asuka rendered helpless for the evening, Bliss arrived with RAW Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair. On the other hand, SKY entered with an extra number in her corner, in the form of Bayley and Dakota Kai.

In the end, a referee distraction prevented Bliss from capturing the pinfall victory. Belair attempted to even the odds, but Bayley and Kai proved to be too much for her on the outside. This interference allowed SKY to land her signature moonsault for the win.

READ MORE: WWE Raw Results (10/3/22)

Liv Morgan vs Ronda Rousey

On the Smackdown side of things, Liv Morgan and Ronda Rousey further fueled their rivalry. Following Rousey’s submission victory over Natalya, Smackdown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan rushed to the ring with a baseball bat. The two Extreme Rules opponents would engage in a series of brutal blows. Rousey would land Piper’s Pit, forcing Morgan to fight back. Eventually, security would break up the brawl.

A full recap of Ronda Rousey vs Natalya and the post-match brawl can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page:

RONDA ROUSEY VS. NATALYA

Natalya double legs Rousey and tries to lock in the Sharpshooter. Rousey kicks Natalya away. Rousey and Natalya trade submission attempts. Natalya avoids Rousey’s step-up knee in the corner. Rousey gets hung up in the ropes. Nataya powerbombs Rousey off the ropes. Rousey kicks out. After another series of counters, Rousey walks right into a discus clothesline from Natalya. Rousey kicks out. Natalya tries a slam but Rousey reverses it into an ankle lock. Natalya tries to crawl to the ropes. Rousey drops down. Natalya kicks out.

Winner – Ronda Rousey

After the match, Liv Morgan walks to the ring with a bat. Morgan almost takes off Rousey’s head with the bat. Rousey drops Morgan with Piper’s Pit out on the floor. Rousey avoids another bat shot, Rousey tosses Morgan into the timekeeper’s area. Security runs down to ringside. Morgan charges Rousey. Security eventually separates Morgan and Rousey.

INTERVIEWS:

IMPACT Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace spoke with WrestleZone’s own Bill Pritchard about competing in an Elevation X Match, meal prepping, Masha Slamovich, Bound For Glory, and more.

IMPACT Knockout Masha Slamovich spoke with Denise Salcedo about her time with IMPACT Wrestling, how she made a name for herself in pro wrestling, how she’s preparing for Bound For Glory, and more.

Former Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley joined The Five Count to discuss coming back after being out for a year with an injury, being a member of the new wrestling faction Damage CTRL, and being part of the WWE for almost a decade.

“The First Lady Of Professional Wrestling” Maria Kanellis-Bennett appeared on Women’s Wrestling Talk to discuss starting Women’s Wrestling Army, her hopes to take it overseas, being a mother, and more.

“The War Hammer” Lilith Grimm appeared on Kickin’ Back with Kat Podcast to discuss tag teams, fitness, bodybuilding, and more.

“The Submission Queen”, Persia Pierce chatted with A Wrestling Gal to discuss cartoons, a white-water rafting incident, her experience in powerlifting, balancing motherhood and training, and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

IMPACT Wrestling: Bound For Glory – October 7th

• IMPACT Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Masha Slamovich
• IMPACT Tag Team Championship: Honor No More (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett w/ Maria Kanellis) (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
• IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship: VXT (Deonna Purrazzo & Chelsea Green) (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie & Jessicka (w/ Rosemary)
• Call Your Shot Gauntlet: PCO, Gisele Shaw, Rich Swann, Heath, Steve Maclin, Bhupinder Gujjar, Bobby Fish, Moose, and TBD
• Mickie James vs. Mia Yim

RELATED: Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up: IWGP Women’s Title Tourney Shapes Up, Candice LeRae Returns

Capital Championship Wrestling: Misery – October 15th

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