[APPLAUSE] >> Introducing the challenger,
accompanied to ring by Kairi Sane, she is one half of
the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions of Kabuki Warriors, Asuka!
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> And her opponent,
she is The Raw Women's Champion,
The Man, Becky Lynch!
>> [APPLAUSE] >> You see that?
Asuka looking to become Asuka two belts here tonight.
>> Becky, Becky!
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Listen, on the surface,
I even doubted this decision from Becky Lynch.
Was it smart to accept a rematch against Asuka this close to WrestleMania?
But you look at the career of Becky Lynch, you look at she's been through, and
it really shouldn't surprise you.
Becky wants no doubt, no question, about the legitimacy of her championship reign.
>> We know a superstar like Brock Lesnar he defended WWE championship with
Super Showdown two weeks from Thursday is not through defending the title.
So close to WrestleMania, Becky Lynch couldn't wait for
this match because she said last week, quote, Asuka's been ducking me for
a year and now she wants to go again?
>> Hey think about the resume for Becky Lynch.
If she can say that she defeated Asuka twice and then go on to WrestleMania.
>> Well, this is just 15 days after Becky Lynch defeated Asuka at the Royal Rumble,
and here she is back in with the title at stake again.
>> Absolutely right, 308 days as champion for Becky Lynch,
dating back of course to the main event of WrestleMania last year.
>> Asuka's got to accept that this is the situation that she's in and
if she doesn't deliver, then where does Asuka go?
>> That's the point, Byron.
Again, there's one half of the women's tag team champion.
She was so frustrated after the Women's Royal Rumble match,
the women's Royal Rumble Pay-per-View.
She went right after the Queen Charlotte Flair,
was trying to get herself back into title contention.
>> Listen, we got to remember this was- >> This is Becky's decision.
Becky didn't have to do this,
Becky didn't have to defend the World Women's Championship.
But she wanted this match so
badly to prove that she truly is better than the others.
Yeah, so you kinda have to question her wisdom.
>> Goodbye.
>> [LAUGH] Whoa!
>> And a shot right there and, King, well, wait a minute, for that set it up for
the disarmer there early, and King, it looks like the mind games of Asuka
that worked in the past, not working here on Lynch.
>> Well, you're right about that.
But Asuka, you see always with that same look of supreme confidence on her face,
and I think part of that confidence comes from the fact,
we haven't mentioned it too much lately.
Is the fact that she has Kairi Sane in her corner, on her side at all times.
>> Yeah, but that could also hamper Asuka's ability to win this match, King.
If Kairi Sane gets involved- >> Wait a minute,
now Lynch was trying to set up for a pinning predicament, and
they get into this side headlock as Asuka down here on the canvas.
>> Becky needed that victory at the Royal Rumble.
She needed that victory to prove that she is as talented as everyone else
knows she is.
And just imagine, you add a second victory to that, Becky would be on Cloud Nine.
>> Well, I'll tell you, whoa!
>> Look out, now Asuka trying to pick up the pace.
Becky Lynch!
Keeping up with her and drives the Empress into the canvas.
>> [INAUDIBLE] The peaks, the power of The Man.
>> She's feeling good about herself now but you gotta admit, nobody,
not Charlotte, not even- >> Whoa, look out there.
Listen, you gotta love the attitude of Becky Lynch right now.
Oozing confidence, controlling the tempo of this match.
>> Yeah, but nobody, as I was gonna say,
has never challenged Becky Lynch like Asuka.
>> Watch out, watch out!
>> Look at, see, look at it!
>> While Kairi Sane, Kairi Sane trying to offer a distraction there-
>> Asuka with a Hip Attack, and
it pays dividends!
The Raw Women's title on the line, here live on Raw.
>> We are back live, and the Raw Women's Championship is on the line.
Becky Lynch defending Asuka to this 55 days away from WrestleMania that was
a risk for Becky with coming into this, and now Asuka making The Man pay for it.
>> They're goes decision from Becky Lynch but
it speaks to the character of Becky Lynch.
>> But I said this earlier, no one, no one!
Not Charlotte, not even Ronda Rousey!
Has put Becky Lynch to the test like Asuka.
>> [NOISE] >> And Asuka knows that!
That's boosted the confidence of Asuka.
That's why Asuka wanted this rematch because she knows she can defeat The Man!
>> And right now this rivalry tied 2018
Royal Rumble event Asuka was able to outlast Beck Lynch that evening.
>> Look out!
>> And now Asuka with a hip attack!
Can Asuka become a double champion here tonight?
And now sending off Asuka, for Becky Lynch creates a little bit of breathing room.
>> Aah!
>> And now Becky Lynch fired up the ropes, and this is where The Man is at her best!
>> Was just exactly Becky needed here,
tapping into a second win in this Raw Women's Championship match.
>> Look out, Asuka.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Zap right to the midsection,
now Becky Lynch on the move and puts Asuka on her back to retain the title.
>> This is it, and a kickout by Asuka.
>> Come on!
>> Becky knows it too, she felt she had Asuka beat.
>> And still to come later on tonight,
Ricochet goes one-on-one with Bobby Lashley.
Of cause in our main event last week Ricochet earned himself a WWE opportunity
at Super Showdown two weeks from Thursday, against Brock Lesnar.
>> I remember this, of Drew McIntyre.
You've won the Royal Rumble match, you have a guaranteed WWE Championship match
at WrestleMania, but you don't know who your opponent could be.
Is it going to be Brock Lesnar or could it be Ricochet?
>> And could Ricochet shock the world?
Now, meanwhile Asuka, trying to shock the world.
>> No, no!
>> Becky Lynch, here's the cover, Asuka trying to win the title and a kickout.
>> Now Becky Lynch all tied up, Asuka thought about the German Suplex,
[CROSSTALK] on her.
>> Becky trying to ground Asuka- >> Trying to bring Asuka down to the mat.
Two very talented submission superstars.
Now Becky Lynch, [SOUND] between the eyes!
Could Asuka be closing in on the Raw Women's championship?
>> Aah!
>> Cover by Asuka to win the title, and a kickout by Lynch.
>> Barely, just barely, Becky able to survive.
>> Just jumping Becky Lynch, but The Man staying alive in this matchup.
>> There's no question coming into this match,
Becky knew it was going to be a fight.
Becky knew it was going to be a struggle.
>> That was all the tricks of Asuka,
Kairi Sane one half of the Women's Tag Team Champions to
compete the Warriors has gotta be among them on the outside.
>> Asuka with that permanent smirk on her face.
She always look, look out.
>> And there goes Asuka, a little overzealous.
>> Becky was playing possum.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And
a drop kick sending Asuka into the barricade.
>> No, I don't know if this is a good idea.
>> And, [CROSSTALK] >> Kairi Sane wiped out, and
Asuka attacking Lynch from behind.
>> Well, this temporarily takes care of the Kairi Sane problem.
>> [NOISE] >> And you can see this here,
watch this again, shoved Asuka out of the way and absorbed this for her team mate.
>> Kairi taking one for the team.
>> Hopefully that's the last time Kyrie gets involved in this match.
>> Wouldn't bet my house on that.
>> Meanwhile Asuka has an advantage, and
try to close in now on the Raw Women's title.
>> Man!
She ran right into that foot.
>> Boot right to the face.
>> Becky off the- >> Middle rope, gets caught!
Double knees to the face, can Asuka do it?
Hook to the leg on and a kickout.
>> What a match!
>> What a match is right, King.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> And Kairi Sane can't believe it,
neither can Asuka.
Becky Lynch keeps on fighting.
>> [NOISE] >> With nothing else, Becky is desperate
to prove to herself that she can put the Empress down one more time.
>> With the WWE Universe kind of getting behind Becky, uh-oh.
>> Trying to set up, thought about the Asuka lock,
Becky Lynch- >> Shoulder first into the post!
>> [NOISE] [APPLAUSE] >> And
this could be catastrophic for Lynch- >> Watch out here, watch out!
>> Missed her! >> Hip attack caught up with the ropes.
>> Look at this!
>> Look at this, the disarmer within the ropes!
>> Incredible, not gonna be able to hold it long.
>> Becky Lynch only had a count of five to inflict damage.
>> Becky about to inflict more damage, Tom.
>> Are you kidding me?
>> Wait a minute.
Now, Becky Lynch, looking for a Suplex here on the apron.
>> Right to the back of the neck, now Asuka's got Lynch tied up in the ropes,
just wildly firing away.
What a match, what an incredible matchup!
>> First action of the night here on Raw.
Now Becky!
>> No. >> No
>> [INAUDIBLE] into the apron!
[NOISE] >> The Raw Women's title is still on
the line here tonight!
>> [APPLAUSE] >> A sensational match to kick of our
night on Monday Night Raw, the Women's Championship at stake,
Asuka going to the top turnbuckle, against the champion Becky Lynch!
>> This may be really bad for Becky!
>> Can Asuka dethrone The Man's run to WrestleMania?
Off for- >> Off for the Superplex!
>> And now Asuka into the cover, to win the title!
[INAUDIBLE] on the Royal Women's champion.
>> The Man has still got life in this match.
>> Aah!
[SOUND] >> And [CROSSTALK] right to the face!
>> That could be it here, cover, cover to win the title!
Kickout by Lynch.
>> And now with an armbar!
>> And the way it's twisted!
>> In the center of the ring Becky trying to [SOUND], cover,
cover, and a kickout by Asuka.
>> No.
>> Asuka relentless here, not relinquishing the hold of,
King, Becky, my fate!
>> Telling you, just feel like Asuka may have Becky Lynch's number tonight!
>> Maybe not.
Look at- >> [NOISE]
>> Becky on her feet,
trying to muscle up Asuka.
>> Becky Lynch trying to battle out of the triangle.
>> Unbelievable.
>> Using all the power she's got.
>> Dumping Asuka high on the shoulder blades.
>> Cover!
>> Cover and a kick out by Asuka.
>> [NOISE] >> Is that the last gasp
from the Raw Women's champion?
Take another look at this again, Asuka >> Unbelievable!
>> In the triangle, and then dumped by Becky Lynch.
>> It's by pure instinct Becky able to hook the leg but
certainly unable to get any significant leverage on that cover.
>> And you're right, Byron.
How much more can Becky Lynch have in the tank?
But the same goes for Asuka, but these superstars have,
I mean they're spent, they've given it all here tonight.
>> It's how much this rivalry means to Becky Lynch, how much it means for
her to make a statement on her road to WrestleMania.
>> And how much it means to be Raw Women's Champion.
>> That's right.
Now going up to the top turnbuckle, could she put away Asuka?
>> Yes! >> [CROSSTALK]
>> With the Asuka lock!
>> [CROSSTALK]
>> Asuka to bounce off of the bottom rope!
And then cover, cover by Asuka for the title!
Turnaround by Lynch, cover, kickout!
>> Aah!
>> Watch it.
>> Asuka went for the kick, and cover by Lynch!
And a!
>> Can barely keep up with this back, trying to get Asuka down for the disarmer,
cover, kickout.
What a match.
>> These women can wrestle faster than we can talk!
>> Cover! >> One, two!
>> You got it!
[SOUND] >> Puts away Asuka!
[MUSIC]
>> Here's your winner, and
still the Raw Women's Champion, The Man, Becky Lynch!
>> Becky Lynch earned every inch of that victory, gentlemen.
>> Right about that.
[MUSIC]
>> A fight til the end, a battle of wills, but
The Man is still your Raw Women's Champion.