Back from the break and we get a video of Dana Brooke and Kelani Jordan. Jordan is mad at herself for losing to Cora Jade last week. Brooke says Jordan is just getting started, so it’s OK. Brooke suggests they do something only they can do. They start training gymnastics now. Brooke says Jordan is about to break out, so Jade wishes she could do what they do, and that’s why she carries the kendo stick everywhere. We cut to Jade watching backstage. She says… gymnasts, really? Jade says Brooke will lose next week. She hits the wall with her kendo stick to end the segment.
Cora Jade vs. Kelani Jordan (with Dana Brooke)
They lock up and Jade with a waist lock take down. Jordan with a hammer lock. Cora with a side head lock and take down. Jordan with a rolling arm drag and a Tiger Feint arm drag. Jordan with a drop kick but Jade blocks a second one and she catapults Jordan into the bottom rope. Jade with a kick. Jade with a springboard double stomp to the back for a near fall. Cora chokes Jordan in the ropes and connects with an elbow to the back for a near fall. Cora kicks Jordan. Cora sends Jordan to the apron and hangs her in the ropes and connects with a chop followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Jade with a chin bar and arm bar combination. Cora with a kick to the midsection.
Jade misses a back elbow and Jordan with a rollup for a near fall. Jordan with forearms. Jordan with a flying forearm or two. Jordan with a cartwheel back elbow. Jordan with a kick to the midsection and she tries for a Playmaker but Jade escapes. Jade kicks Jordan as she goes for a springboard move. Cora with a DDT for the three count.
Winner: Cora Jade
Jordan avoids the kendo stick and so does Dana. Dana with a drop kick and clotheslines. Dana gets the kendo stick and cora gets to the floor.
When we return from the break, we see Dana Brooke is getting checked on by the trainers in a behind-the-scenes segment from last week’s show. A fellow gymnast and growing NXT Superstars gushes over their common history as gymnasts. They agree that they’d like to share the ring one day.
Cora Jade vs. Dana Brooke
Cora initiates the confrontation by pushing Dana, but Dana quickly retaliates by backing Cora into the corner and delivering shoulder strikes. Cora attempts to escape by slapping Dana and running away, but Dana stops her from leaving the ring and lands punches while slamming Cora’s head into the mat. Dana follows up with a hip toss, a cartwheel, and a back heel kick, nearly securing a pinfall. She then executes a snap mare and an elbow drop, coming close to another near fall. Cora fights back with forearm strikes and slams Dana’s face into the mat. She sends Dana into the turnbuckles and delivers kicks, targeting Dana’s ribs before slamming her head into the mat. Cora continues with kicks in the corner, but Dana evades when Cora goes for a springboard kick. Dana counters with a handstand head scissors, followed by a kick that sends Cora to the floor.
Dana avoids Cora’s attack from the apron, but Cora capitalizes with a running knee as Dana reenters the ring, causing Dana’s leg to get caught in the ropes. Cora secures a near fall and begins focusing her offense on Dana’s injured leg. Despite the injury, Dana manages to deliver shoulder tackles, but her knee gives out when attempting a roundoff splash into the corner.
The referee checks on Dana, and medical staff enters the ring to assess her condition. They bring a knee brace, and Dana says something to Cora. A stretcher is brought to the ring, but Dana resists being taken out and refuses to leave the ring. Cora appears pleased with Dana being stretchered, and an air splint is applied to Dana’s leg.
The medical staff continues to attend to Dana, bringing a knee brace to the ring. Dana exchanges words with Cora, and a stretcher is brought in, indicating the seriousness of Dana’s condition. However, Dana refuses to be taken out of the ring and shows resistance to being stretchered. Cora appears satisfied with Dana being stretchered, while an air splint is applied to Dana’s injured leg. Additional officials arrive to keep Cora away from Dana as she is being transported backstage. However, Dana unexpectedly slaps Cora and gets off the stretcher, displaying her determination to continue the match.
Dana retaliates with forearm strikes and sends Cora face-first into the apron. She attempts a rollup for a near fall and goes for a slam, but Cora manages to escape and clips Dana’s leg. Cora slams Dana’s leg into the mat and Dana responds with a kick that sends Cora into the turnbuckles. Dana follows up with a clothesline and attempts a flapjack for another near fall. However, Cora counters with a kick to Dana’s knee when she tries to execute a suplex. Cora then sends Dana into the turnbuckles, but Dana manages to counter with an elbow strike. Dana misses a Vader Bomb, giving Cora an opportunity to slam Dana’s leg into the mat and apply a single leg crab. Cora pulls Dana towards the center of the ring, and the referee ultimately stops the match.
Winner: Cora Jade
Rhea Ripley vs. Dana Brooke
Now we shoot back inside the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville where the SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley emerges and makes her way down to the ring for our next match of the evening.
Ripley settles inside the squared circle and her theme music dies down and Dominik Mysterio takes his place at ringside. Now we shoot to a split-screen “earlier today” interview, which shows Dana Brooke vowing to show her “untapped potential.”
From there, we hear the theme music for Dana Brooke as the women’s wrestling star makes her way down to the ring to challenge the champ. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this one.
We see Ripley dominate straight out of the gate. She dominates for the first two minutes or so of the bout and then Brooke connects with a DDT. Right after that, however, she leaps off the top-rope and is caught and Donkey Kong’d into the mat by Ripley.
Ripley follows that up by hitting a Rip-Tide. She then grabs up the legs of Dana and slaps a prison lock submission on her for the tap out victory.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
Related Links:
Gallery > WWE Related > Digitals > Monday Night RAW > 2023 > May 8th
Gallery > Screen Captures > World Wrestling Entertainment > RAW > 2023 > May 8th
