The stage is set for a pivotal encounter at SummerSlam, as Lyra Valkyria will once again challenge Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Valkyria secured her opportunity by defeating Bayley in a grueling two-out-of-three falls match during the July 14 episode of WWE RAW, reigniting a rivalry that has defined her main roster journey.
The high-stakes match on WWE RAW was a back-and-forth contest designed to produce a definitive challenger. Bayley struck first, capturing the initial fall with a quick roll-up. Valkyria demonstrated her resilience by evening the score at 1-1, also with a roll-up. The brutal third fall saw Bayley execute a sunset flip bomb that sent Valkyria crashing into the steel steps. Despite the damage, Valkyria rallied, countering a submission attempt from Bayley into her Nightwing finisher to secure the victory.
This one-on-one confrontation was necessitated by the contentious conclusion to the championship match at the Evolution premium live event. On July 13, Lynch retained her title in a Triple Threat match against both Valkyria and Bayley. The champion capitalized on the chaotic environment to pin Bayley for the win, pointedly not defeating Valkyria in the process and leaving the question of superiority between them unanswered.
Following that victory at Evolution, a confident Lynch dismissed comparisons to wrestling legends.
“I ain’t Becky Hogan, I’m Becky Freakin’ Lynch,” Lynch stated.
With the win on WWE RAW, Valkyria now has a direct path to reclaim the title she lost to Lynch at Money in the Bank. After the contender’s match concluded, Lynch entered the ring for an intense staredown with her challenger, officially kicking off the build to their championship bout. The match will take place during the two-night SummerSlam event, scheduled for August 2 and 3 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.