Evolve – August 20, 2025: The Slow Process
Evolve
Date: August 20, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone
The big story around here is Keanu Carver coming after the Evolve Title, as he is smashing his way through the Vanity Project on his way to Jackson Drake. On the other side, Karmen Petrovic seems to be coming to after Kali Armstrong and the Women’s Title. Throw in Sean Legacy and Ridge Holland being on a collision course and we should be in for a good show. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
We open with a recap of the Women’s Title situation.
Opening sequence.
Kylie Rae vs. Chantel Monroe
Monroe takes her down by the arm to start and goes to cranking. Rae reverses into a wristlock of his own, followed by some armdrags into the armbar. That’s broken up so Rae gets two off a basement dropkick and the armbar goes on again. Back up and Rae kicks her in the head out of the corner, setting up a top rope armdrag.
Monroe gets in a knee lift though and a neckbreaker over the apron connects as we take a break. We come back with Monroe getting two off a Hennig necksnap and the neck crank going on. Rae fights up and knocks her into the corner, where Monroe is right back out with reverse DDT. Monroe sends her throat first into the top rope and a Codebreaker finishes at 9:28.
Rating: C. I’m not sure I get the appeal of Monroe as she feels like quite the one note character. At the same time, Rae won the ID Title a few weeks ago and loses clean here. It’s kind of a weird way to go and I’m not sure what is next for both of them. Monroe has been protected well enough though and if that’s who Evolve wants to push, even in a small way, it’s better than nothing.
Keanu Carver is ready to keep smashing through everyone and win the Evolve Title.
Jackson Drake is with the Vanity Project and is nervous about Carver. Zayda Steel is upset over her loss to Layla Diggs and Bryce Donovan tells her to be better. The team realizes things haven’t been going great lately and it’s time to fix it.
Kali Armstrong is ready for the next challenger. Stevie Turner says that Karmen Petrovic and Chantel Monroe have both won their matches and deserve title shots. Nikkita Lyons comes in to say that she deserves a shot too so Turner makes the four way title match for next week.
Swipe Right vs. Aaron Rourke/Marcus Mathers
Smokes takes Rourke to the mat with a headlock to start but Rourke is back up to send him into the corner. Mathers comes in with a step up tornado DDT and a nice kick to the face gets two. Baylor’s clothesline out of the corner gets two and a double belly to back suplex drops Mathers for two more. A big boot gives Baylor another near fall and Mathers is sent into the corner, allowing Baylor to get in a hip swivel.
Mathers manages to flip over though and it’s off to Rourke to clean house. Smokes Downward Spirals Rourke into the buckle though and it’s back to Mathers, who trades some loud kicks with Baylor. Mathers sends the villains into each other and Rourke drops them with a dive on the floor. A spinning powerslam gives Mathers two on Baylor but the Super Swipe finishes Mathers at 8:22.
Rating: B-. Nice match here, though I’m not wild on Mathers taking another fall. Swipe Right needed a win here, but both they and the Vanity Project seem to be in trouble. There is a very good chance that we are in the beginning of the end of the group, but they should be able to win a match against a makeshift team like Rourke and Mathers.
It’s Gal and Jamar Hampton train in the gym together and while Hampton seems to do better, they appear to bond a bit.
Kendal Grey is sick of Wendy Choo and is ready to fight her next week.
Jax Presley and Harley Riggins are ready to beat up Adrenaline Drip.
Here’s what’s coming next week.
Sean Legacy vs. Ridge Holland
The bigger Holland powers him down to start and drops an early elbow for two. Legacy slips out of a powerslam attempt and kicks him down, setting up a standing moonsault for two. We take a break and come back with Legacy chopping his way out of trouble. An overhead belly to belly suplex drops Legacy again though and Holland hammers him down.
Back up and Legacy manages a superkick into a rolling DDT to leave them both down. A German suplex gives Legacy another breather but Holland catches him on top. Holland’s kick to the face gets two but Legacy dropkick him into the corner. A moonsault into something like a side slam gives Legacy two more but Shambles is blocked. Holland is sent into the corner for a cannonball and a gutwrench powerbomb finishes for Holland at 9:18.
Rating: B-. The action was good but there was something missing here, with Legacy starting to feel as someone who should be moved up to the next level but seemingly stalling. Legacy certainly seems to have all of the tools, but he might need something to make them come together. On the other hand you have Holland, who could be getting somewhere if he can put things together, which might be when he’s doing with his focus on the rugby background.
Post match Legacy goes to the back and runs into Ice Williams, who is tired of Legacy being handed everything. Shoving ensues.
Overall Rating: C+. I wasn’t feeling this one for some reason, as it might be due to the idea of having so much of this show being about setting things up for later. Legacy seems to be falling down the ladder, while Carver is on his way to the title match in the near future. It’s not the worst show, but there was nothing here that had my interest.
Results
Chantel Monroe b. Kylie Rae – Codebreaker
Swipe Right b. Aaron Rourke/Marcus Mathers – Super Swipe to Mathers
Ridge Holland b. Sean Legacy – Gutwrench powerbomb
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