(4) BIANCA BELAIR (c) vs. ASUKA – Raw Women’s Championship match
Asuka went to lock up with Bianca Belair, the Raw Women’s Champion hit her with a quick dropkick. Asuka shot to her feet and ate a second one. Belair whipped Asuka to the corner. She mounted the challenger and delivered a quick series of right hands. Bianca hit a Suplex, then held on for a second. Asuka slid down her back, stumbled to the corner, and then caught the champion with a quick kick to the face.
The challenger exploded with her signature flurry of back fists, chops, and kicks. She covered Belair for a quick two count. Asuka grinned at her opponent. She kicked Belair in the chest a couple times, then headed to the middle turnbuckle. Belair rose quickly to meet her. The champion set Asuka up for a Superplex as the camera peeled back for a neat wide shot. Asuka blocked. She leapt down and charged at Belair, but the champion caught her with a Spinebuster for a cover and a two count.
Belair looked for a springboard standing Moonsault, but Asuka caught her and tried to transition into the Asuka Lock. Belair blocked it initially, leading to Belair catching her in a cover for two. Asuka kicked out, and, with Belair’s flail, grabbed the Asuka Lock. Bianca was too close the ropes and quickly used them to pull herself to the floor. Asuka quickly slid to the outside to meet her. Belair hoisted Asuka into the air and delivered an incredible sit-out Powerbomb onto the floor. Graves said it was undoubtedly over. Belair slid Asuka back in the ring and covered her for a two count.
Bianca set Asuka up in the corner and charged. Asuka side-stepped, sending the champion crashing into the ring post as the match crossed 5:00. The two women crawled to each other in the center of the ring. Belair shoved Asuka to create separation. She pulled her in and lifted her by the arms, but Asuka rolled through it and picked Bianca’s ankle. Belair used her raw strength to dead-lift Asuka into the air, forcing her to let got of the ankle. She slammed her to the mat and looked for the standing springboard Moonsault again. Asuka picked the ankle a second time, locking in an Ankle Lock. Bianca rolled through it again, launching Asuka toward the turnbuckle. Asuka telegraphed, leapt onto the top rope, and caught Bianca with a missile dropkick.
Both women rose to their feet slowly. Asuka toyed with Belair, kicking her in the ribs repeatedly. Belair tried to toss the challenger to the outside, but Asuka caught herself on the apron. She pulled Belair out with her. Asuka threw a trio of kicks. Belair caught the third and delivered a hard forearm to the chin. Asuka shook it off and dropkicked Belair into the ring post. Belair rolled back into the ring. “Whenever Belair delivers her best shots, Asuka takes them and smiles,” Corey astutely mentioned.
Asuka grabbed onto Belair while still on the apron. Bianca turned it around and ran her into the ring post. Asuka lay draped on the turnbuckle. Belair deadlift-Superplexed her over the ropes. She crawled over for a delayed leg hook for a two count at 9:15. The two women turned themselves to face each other on the mat. They rose to their knees and fired off quick forearms. Asuka gained control briefly, but Belair followed her to the ropes and caught her with a knee to the stomach. They engaged in quick roll ups for alternative two counts. Asuka stopped the run with a kick to the head and a cover for two.
Belair and Asuka jockeyed for position with Belair’s braid as a focal point. Bianca managed to pull Asuka into a roll up for a two count. When Asuka popped up, the champion was waiting for her with a Codebreaker. Asuka wasn’t phased. Belair hit the ropes and connected with a Blockbuster. She immediately went for, and finally hit the springboard standing Moonsault for a cover and near fall. Asuka rose slowly, drawing Belair in. She popped her up into the air and hit a knee strike to the face. Belair used the ropes to stand. She climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Asuka cut her off. She climbed up to the top rope, but Belair pulled her into position for the K.O.D. Asuka elbowed free, but they remained in precarious position on the top rope. Asuka used Belair’s braid to pull her off the turnbuckle and into a Codebreaker. Asuka hooked the leg for a near fall.
The champion dragged herself to the opposing corner. Asuka charged at her for a hip check, but Bianca absorbed it and hoisted her up by the arms. She dumped Asuka haphazardly into the turnbuckles. Belair lifted Asuka for the K.O.D., but Asuka held onto the ropes. Belair put her down. Asuka spit mist, but missed Belair. Asuka went for a kick, but Belair ducked it. She hoisted Asuka into K.O.D. position. She tossed her up, but Asuka turned it into an arm drag. She held onto the arm and applied a full Arm Bar. Belair screamed in pain.
With the hold still applied, Belair began rolling onto her stomach. She lifted Asuka up, breaking the hold and returning to vertical base in the process. With Asuka in position, she finally managed to hit the K.O.D. for a cover and three count.
WINNER: Bianca Belair in 15:59 to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
(Really good match. Like last night’s Women’s title bout, Belair vs. Asuka suffered from a relatively poor build. In execution, though, it was aided by having two women who the crowd seems to genuinely love. This did exactly what it needed to – give Belair another impressive title win on a big stage against a high-end challenger. Asuka never felt like a serious threat to end Belair’s now year-long run, but she did feel like someone who could have a great showing in a marquee match at WrestleMania, and I felt they delivered on that well.)
-Miz and Snoop Dogg were in the ring again to announce night 2’s attendance as 81,395. He added that the two night total is 161,892. Miz told Snoop he has something to get off his chest. He claimed they’re supposed to be friends, yet Snoop put him in a match while he was wearing a $10,000 suit. “So you want to do it again?” Snoop Dogg asked. The crowd cheered. Miz said no. “You almost ruined my suit, and you tried to embarrass me,” he added. “My bad,” Snoop concluded. Miz wasn’t pleased. He said L.A. is his city. Snoop Dogg said it’s “our” city. He pointed to the stage.
“Here Comes the Money” hit and Shane McMahon danced onto the stage to a massive pop. He trotted to the ring. Miz looked furious. Snoop Dogg said he’s in trouble. Shane grabbed a microphone. He said the reaction means a lot to him, and thanked Los Angeles. Snoop Dogg told Shane to “take care of” Miz. Miz said tonight’s suit is even more expensive.
(5) THE MIZ vs. SHANE McMAHON
Shane McMahon popped Miz in the mouth. He hit the ropes and dropped Miz a couple of times before attempting a leap frog. He landed, but then twisted awkwardly and crumpled in a heap. Jessika Carr backed Miz to the corner and the camera cut away from Shane. They helped him out of the ring quickly. Snoop Dogg returned to the ring. He punched Miz in the face. Miz stumbled back to his feet, and Snoop punched him again. He mimed the People’s Elbow, then dropped it on Miz and covered him for a three count.
WINNER: Snoop Dogg in 2:10
(Yikes. What a mess. Shane McMahon elicited a massive pop, but that plant didn’t look good. Snoop Dogg was quick on his feet to get back in there and “save” the segment from being a total disaster. That was a little too reminiscent of Vince at Royal Rumble 2005.)
