Evolve
Date: February 11, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Robert Stone, Peter Rosenberg

We’re coming up on the season finale, which only means so much when the season premiere is a week later. The big result last week was Jackson Drake retaining the Evolve Title over Kam Hendrix in a bit of a surprise. Other than that, Karmen Petrovic is challenging Kendal Grey for the Women’s Title. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair recap the recent events in the women’s division in a way that no people would ever actually speak.

Opening sequence.

IMG Credit: WWE

Swipe Right vs. Eli Knight/Mike Cunningham

Tate Wilder is in the VIP section and Jackson Drake is here with Swipe Right. Smokes wrestles Cunningham down to start and it’s off to Baylor, who has to roll out of a wristlock. Cunningham dropkicks Smokes and sends Baylor outside, allowing Knight to come in off the top with a double stomp to Smokes’ arm. It’s back to Cunningham to stay on the arm and a running neckbreaker into a splash gets two.

Smokes manages to bring Baylor back in for a forearm to Knight, who easily rolls over for the tag back to Cunningham. Drake offers a quick distraction though and Baylor shoves Cunningham off the top as we take a break. We come back with Cunningham still in trouble but he hiptosses his way to freedom. Knight comes back in to clean house, including a nice tornado DDT/dropkick combination.

The moonsault doesn’t connect as Knight has to roll through, allowing Baylor to knock him down again. Cunningham breaks up the Super Swipe though and Baylor gets dropped with a hard German suplex. Everything breaks down and Baylor knees Knight in the face, setting up Super Swipe for two as Cunningham makes a diving save.

Smokes and Knight slug it out until Smokes catches him on top with a running knee. Cunningham is back in to pull Baylor off the top and fireman’s carry Smokes, allowing Knight to moonsault off Smokes’ back for two, with a big shove making the last second save. Knight’s Stundog Millionaire into Sliced Bread hits Baylor but a dive hits Cunningham by mistake. The top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination finishes Knight at 12:20.

Rating: B+. That’s on a bit of a sliding scale as these guys are still relatively new at this level, but dang this wound up being a heck of a match. It felt like they were being asked to go out there and show what they could do and then lived up to the challenge. They pulled me into this one and it’s easily the best match any of them have ever had.

Post match the Vanity Project brags about their win and Jackson Drake says Cappuccino Jones can have his title shot in three weeks at Succession II. This brings out Harlem Lewis to say he earned his title shot so he’ll just have to beat up all three of them. Brooks Jensen runs in to jump Lewis from behind, with the Project approving.

Arianna Grace and Nikkita Lyons are exhausted from trying to be nice. Masyn Holiday and Layla Diggs come in and ask to switch lockers with them, but Lyons snaps because that TikTok video did NOTHING for her personal brand. Diggs reveals that the psychic was her neighbor Doris and a match is made for next week. Grace: “Can we sue?” Thank goodness as this story was not working.

Team PC is mad about Kam Hendrix losing last week so Hendrix wants a PC vs. ID ten man tag.

IMG Credit: WWE

Aaron Rourke vs. It’s Gal

Tate Wilder and Trill London are in the VIP and Rourke jumps over Gal in the corner to start and hits some shoulders to the ribs. Rourke stomps him down in the corner and a headscissors sends Gal outside. The dive connects and Rourke throws in a few spanks, with Gal fighting back and hitting one of his own. Back in and a headscissors is countered into a hot shot, followed by a discus lariat to give Gal two.

Gal tosses him out of the corner and hits a big boot for two. He stops to pose though (again) and Rourke elbows him in the face a few times to start the comeback. The running hip attack connects in the corner for two but Gal’s double knees get the same. Rourke reverses a superplex though and hits Over The Rainbow (Molly Go Round) for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C+. Rourke continues to interest me as he is someone who would usually be treated as a comedy guy but he plays it seriously for the most part and it’s kind of working. He’s not a top star, but he’s a solid enough hand. Giving him a win like this is a good thing and I’m curious to see where he goes.

Tate Wilder isn’t happy with how the PC guys have been lately and is ready to stand up to them.

Video on Tyra Mae Steele.

Wendy Choo comes up to Kali Armstrong, who doesn’t seem pleased with the interruption. Choo suggests Armstrong go to therapy to fix her issues and gets punched in the ribs for her efforts. Bad talk.

We run down the Succession II card.

Women’s Title: Karmen Petrovic vs. Kendal Grey

Grey, with Wren Sinclair, is defending. Petrovic sweeps the leg for an early two to start and they stare at each other. An armbar takes Grey down but Grey flips around into one of her own. Back up and Grey kicks her down, only to get faceplanted out of the corner. We take a break and come back with a double collision leaving them down.

They pull themselves up and trade running shots against the ropes with Petrovic getting the better of things. Petrovic grabs a Sharpshooter, which stays on for a good while until Grey makes the rope for the break. The cross armbreaker goes on but Petrovic stacks her up for two. Grey’s sitout powerbomb gets two more but Petrovic superkicks her out of the corner. A tornado DDT gives Petrovic two more and she goes up top, where Grey pulls her back down. Shades Of Grey retains the title at 8:16.

Rating: B-. While there wasn’t much drama about retaining the title, it was nice to see Grey having to work to get a hard fought win. Grey continues to be someone who feels like she’s planned for the top level one day and she looked solid here. Petrovic did well too, but this might be her ceiling in WWE and that’s not a great sign for her future.

Post match PJ Vasa comes out and challenges Grey for Succession II.

Overall Rating: B+. The opener was very good and this was a wrestling heavy show, which made for a strong week. Evolve is doing rather well right now and that’s a good sign heading into two of their biggest shows. I want to see where some of these things are going and the stories feel like they have been mapped out well from beginning to end. Now just get the payoffs right and everything works.

Results
Swipe Right b. Eli Knight/Mike Cunningham – Top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination to Knight
Aaron Rourke b. It’s Gal – Over The Rainbow
Kendal Grey b. Karmen Petrovic – Shades Of Grey

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: January 28, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s another case of the show before the big show as Evolve Champion Jackson Drake is in a three on one handicap match against a team of monsters. The idea is simple: have Drake get destroyed before next week’s title match, which is kind of a brilliant move. The other big deal tonight is Team PC is running the show and that should be interesting. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of how Team PC won control tonight.

Team ID is ready for anything tonight, but a referee comes up and says most of them aren’t booked tonight so they have to leave.

Jackson Drake panics about tonight but the Vanity Project insist they have this.

Opening sequence.

Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy are in the ring for a match but Kam Hendrix and Keanu Carver interrupt. They’re in charge tonight, with the rest of Team PC in the VIP area. Tonight they take over Evolve, then NXT, then WWE. We’ll start with Wilder vs. Legacy, but there are three stipulations. First, the loser has to clean the locker room. Second, the winner can face Hendrix after he wins the Evolve Title next week. Before we get to the third, here is Harlem Lewis (his chyron is switched to MEATHEAD) to interrupt. He wants in on this, with Team PC handling the less than positive introductions.

Tate Wilder vs. Sean Legacy vs. Harlem Lewis

The graphic showing the match has this as Tate Slower, Sean Legacy (with SUPER crossed out) and Meathead, as it’s nice to have the little touches like that. Lewis wrecks everyone to start and hits a double clothesline to take over, including a hard slam to Legacy. Wilder flips over them in the corner and Lewis is sent into the corner, leaving the other two to trade near falls.

Legacy’s big dive takes Lewis out and Wilder’s big dive takes both of them out as well. Hold on though as Hendrix gets to the third stipulation: weapons are allowed! Team PC gets a bunch of weapons out and we take a break. We come back with the weapons in the ring and Legacy superkicking Wilder. Team PC slides Legacy a chair but he can’t bring himself to use it, allowing Lewis to come back. He’ll gladly use the chair but the brainbuster onto said chair is reversed into a small package.

Lewis is sent face first into the chair and Wilder has to make a save. Wilder’s spinning suplex drops Legacy but Lewis is up to kick Wilder in the face. Some kendo stick shots have Legacy and Wilder in trouble but Wilder is back with a big chair shot. A springboard splash onto the chair onto Lewis connects and everyone is down again. Back up and Legacy and Wilder tease throwing each other through a table, with Legacy sending Wilder into a chair instead. Lewis sends Legacy through the table instead and the Boomslang finishes for Lewis at 8:26.

Rating: B. This was a nice showcase for all of them and I like the idea of Team PC actually messing with stuff. It’s not just them making matches but rather having them abuse their authority, which makes for a more interesting show. Other than that, you had Lewis looking like a monster out there and that has potential for him in the future. Legacy is gone to NXT anyway so let someone get another rub off of him on the way out.

After the replays, Team PC tells PJ Vasa to come get some.

PJ Vasa vs. Laynie Luck

Team PC says Luck’s entrance took place during the break because she’s a PC jabroni. The bell rings twice for some reason and Luck actually kicks her away to start. Vasa isn’t having that and crushes her, only to miss an elbow. A Rock Bottom plants Luck and a backbreaker does it again, followed by another backbreaker for two. The bearhug goes on to stay on Luck’s back but she manages to fight out and trips her down. Vasa charges into a boot in the corner but opts to just hit Luck in the face. The Issue finishes Luck at 3:19.

Rating: C. It wasn’t quite a squash, but Vasa is clearly the new big monster around here. That’s the kind of abuse of power that works well for the PC guys and Vasa being on their side is a good way to go. Kendal Grey having to fight Vasa off would be a good way to go and this was an effective performance from the big bad.

Post match Team PC tells Cappuccino Jones to get out here because he’s up next.

Before that though, Chuey Martinez reads a prepared statement about the stupidity of the ID Program compared to the PC wrestlers.

Cappuccino Jones vs. Brooks Jensen

Hold on though as Jones (Mocha Jones) has to have his right arm tied behind his back. Hendrix says he and Braxton Cole have this so the other three go get ready to face Jackson Drake. Jensen knocks him into the corner to start and starts the slow beating, with Jones trying to go up. That’s fine with Jensen, who punches him out of the air and slams him down as we take a break.

We come back with Jones slugging away with the left hand but Jensen slams him down onto the tied arm. Jensen cranks on the arm and then chokes with a knee for two. Jones kicks his way out and actually knocks him into the ropes, with a bridging rollup getting two more. Jensen gets creative with a crossface chickenwing, which is actually reversed into a cradle for another near fall. A DDT of all things drops Jensen as Cole and Hendrix are getting worried. The Stundog Millionaire sets up a neckbreaker for two on Jensen but Jones can’t jump to the ropes. A Backstabber onto the knee brace finishes for Jensen at 8:35.

Rating: B. I don’t particularly care about either of these two and they had me cheering for Jones by the end. That is a sign they are doing something very right and it absolutely worked here. The PC continues their reign of dominance tonight and this was one of the more enjoyable matches Evolve has had thus far.

Keanu Carver/Jax Presley/Harley Riggins vs. Jackson Drake

Non-title and the rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake. Riggins shoves him into the corner to start and Drake realizes he’s in over his head. Drake gets sent flying into the corner, where Carver sends him flying right back out. A running clothesline turns Carver inside out to cut off a comeback attempt and the monsters start taking turns stomping away in the corner.

Riggins comes back in for the double arm crank but Drake’s rollup actually gets two. A missile dropkick sends Presley outside and a powerslam gets two on Riggins but Carver is back in to beat on Drake. Hendrix and Cole take out the Vanity Project and Carver hits the Pounce. Hendrix says hang on because he’s in this match too. Naturally he comes in and gets the pin on what used to be Drake at 4:53.

Rating: C+. While I don’t think this was a face turn for Drake, he was certainly wrestling as one here and it oddly kind of worked. Granted he’s a smaller guy so having him as the underdog against a bunch of monsters made sense. The match was little more than an angle rather than a match but it actually worked. Nice job.

Overall Rating: B. This show was a very good example of why I like Evolve: the show feels like it can go in different directions week to week. Rather than just doing the same stuff week to week, there are different kinds of shows, including this one. They could have played this safe but instead it came off like the PC guys were really running things. It worked very well and Hendrix has some impressive charisma. If he can keep doing that, he’s got a future in this stuff. Fun show here, with Hendrix hopefully winning the title next week.

Results
Harlem Lewis b. Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy – Boomslang to Legacy
PJ Vasa b. Laynie Luck – The Issue
Brooks Jensen b. Cappuccino Jones – Backstabber
Keanu Carver/Jax Presley/Harley Riggins/Kam Hendrix b. Jackson Drake – Pounce

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: January 21, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re coming up on a big show as Team PC is getting to run the show, with Kam Hendrix challenging for the Evolve Title. Before we get there though, Jackson Drake has to run a heck of a gauntlet match. That’s going to have Drake more than a big scared and he has some reacting to do. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Karmen Petrovic wants to start the new year by coming after the Women’s Title. She’ll start tonight by beating Kali Armstrong.

Opening sequence.

Here is Wendy Choo for a chat. She says it’s a new year and a new her, so she wants to be unbothered, unfiltered and unapologetic. The thing is it’s been almost a year since she didn’t win the Women’s Title and she never got a rematch. Therefore, she calls out Kendal Grey, who is willing to defend the title right now. And it’s on.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Wendy Choo

Grey is defending and wrestles her to the mat to start. The cross armbreaker is blocked but Grey stacks her up to escape the Dirt Nap. Choo hits some running shots in the corner but Grey is right back with a dropkick to the floor. That doesn’t go so well for Grey as Choo knocks her right back down and we take a break. We come back with Grey in the Tree Of Woe for a running dropkick and a near fall. They trade rollups for two each before an exchange of kicks leaves both of them down.

Grey is up to take the straps down but Choo kicks her in the head, followed by a swinging neckbreaker for two. The Dirt Nap is broken up again and Grey goes for the cross armbreaker, which is stacked up for two more. Back up and Grey’s superkick lets her go up top. Choo catches her with a superplex and rolls through with a brainbuster for a rather near fall. Another neckbreaker is loaded up but Grey reverses into Shades Of Grey to retain at 7:37.

Rating: B-. Nice match here as Grey gets to stack up another win, though I’m not sure why you would have the new version of Choo lose so soon. After getting rid of the silence stuff, her biggest negative is gone and now she’s just losing in an impromptu match. It’s hardly some devastating loss, but I’m not sure it needed to happen here.

Kali Armstrong wants Grey to keep the title so their paths will cross again. Tonight she has Karmen Petrovic, who keeps complaining about Armstrong getting shots. Well what has Petrovic done? Violence is suggested.

Lola Vice and Arianna Grace go to a psychic, who reads their palms and sees darkness in their life lines. They go to the tarot cards, which promise darkness, suffering and destruction. They scream a lot and promise to change their ways. This was like one of the skits between cartoons on Hulk Hogan’s Rock N Wrestling but without any of the positives.

We congratulate Eli Knight, Keanu Carver, Sean Legacy and the Vanity Project for being signed to NXT.

Marcus Mathers vs. Braxton Cole

Mathers fires off some dropkicks to start but a springboard is broken up. Cole neckbreakers him down and elbows away, followed by a clothesline for two. Mathers’ arm is snapped over the top and another neckbreaker gets two more. The neck crank goes on to keep Mathers in trouble but he blocks another neckbreaker.

Back up and Mathers hits a spinning high crossbody, followed by a middle rope Stunner. The German suplex gives Mathers two but Cole is back with a Crash Landing for the same. An enziguri and superkick drop Cole but cue Kam Hendrix, meaning the top rope double stomp misses. Cole grabs a rollup for the pin at 6:27.

Rating: C+. Gah I like Mathers and it’s frustrating to see him lose all the time. That being said, at least he had some kind of an out here, even if it’s on another loss. Cole doesn’t really stand out very well, though tying him together with the #1 contender isn’t a bad idea whatsoever. Just do something else with it, along with something for Mathers.

Post match Hendrix chop blocks Mathers and Cole hits a fireman’s carry slam. Team ID is locked in their dressing room and Mathers’ ankle is Pillmanized.

Team PC seems to be afraid of Keanu Carver but they agree that they’re in charge next week. Brooks Jensen is willing to hurt Cappuccino Jones and knock his head off. They seem in.

Harlem Lewis doesn’t care that Team PC is in charge next week because he’s the next Evolve Champion.

Kali Armstrong vs. Karmen Petrovic

Armstrong throws her down to start but Petrovic is back with a bodyscissors. A full nelson with the legs has Armstrong in trouble as Tyra Mae Steele is in the VIP section. Petrovic switches to an armbar, which is broken up with raw power. Armstrong misses a charge though and gets taken out with a suicide dive as we take a break. We come back with Armstrong hitting a running shoulder in the corner but Petrovic hits eat defeat. The slam puts Petrovic down but she avoids the Kali Connection. A pair of Petrifiers finishes Armstrong at 6:36.

Rating: C+. Well that was a surprising result as Armstrong was so dominant for such a long time and Petrovic was pretty much nothing for such a long time. I can go for having Petrovic move up the ladder a bit as she doesn’t have much further to fall. This very well may be her last chance though, as she’s been around for a long time now without getting very far.

Post match Petrovic says she wants the Women’s Title so here is Kendal Grey to accept the challenge.

Team PC is ready for next week, and the week after.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a show that was mainly about setting things up for later, which is the kind of week that you have to have every so often. It should be interesting to see where things go, as those titles have to change hands sooner or later, which might be the case within the next few weeks. Other than that, Grey continues to look like a major star and it’s easy to see why she is getting this kind of a push. Good enough show here, with the bigger stuff on the way.

Results
Kendal Grey b. Wendy Choo – Shades Of Grey
Braxton Cole b. Marcus Mathers – Rollup
Karmen Petrovic b. Kali Armstrong – Petrifier

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: January 14, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

Things are changing in a hurry around here and it’s rather interesting to see where they are all going. With a bunch of Evolve names now officially part of NXT, some changes are going to need to be made around here. That could be a good thing, but it’s definitely a thing of some description. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Team PC arrives and are ready to take over.

The Vanity Project arrives and runs into Aaron Rourke, Cappuccino Jones and Eli Knight. They argue a bit and a six man tag is set for later.

Opening sequence.

Video on the Women’s Title match, with Kendal Grey being ready to face the monsters PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. PJ Vasa vs. Kali Armstrong,

Grey, with Wren Sinclair, is defending and Karmen Petrovic is in the VIP section. Vasa powers both of them into the corner to start so Grey slides between her legs to pick up the pace. Some running dropkicks stagger Vasa and a double dropkick sends her outside. That leaves Grey to suplex Armstrong and then kick the returning Vasa back outside. Armstrong spears Grey but gets speared by Vasa, who stands tall as we take a break.

We come back with Vasa cleaning house, including booting Grey down while holding Armstrong in a fireman’s carry. Grey gets the ankle lock on Vasa but Armstrong makes the save. Armstrong drops Vasa with the powerslam and loads up the Kali Connection, only for Grey to springboard in with Shades Of Grey to retain at 5:08.

Rating: B-. Well it was eventful while it lasted, but I was expecting a far longer match than what we got here. At the same time, I was expecting Grey to lose here as it’s pretty clear that she’s getting elevated in the near future. That being said, her holding the title even longer isn’t a bad thing and she got a solid win here.

Post match Petrovic doesn’t think much of Armstrong, who wants to put the sword, uh, somewhere.

Trill London talks about his time in the NFL and is ready to leave you wondering who he is.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Charlie Dempsey

Shockingly enough they go to the grappling to start, with Dempsey getting a cravate, which is broken up without much trouble. A knee to the arm has Dempsey in trouble and Thatcher knocks him outside as we take an early break. We come back with Thatcher still on the arm until Dempsey takes the leg down to switch control. Dempsey ties up the leg and then goes with something close to an STF.

A gutwrench suplex drops Thatcher again and it’s back to the legbar. With that broken up, Dempsey just cranks on the leg for a change. Back up and Thatcher just hits him in the face, which is quite the logical comeback. Dempsey gets something like a dragon screw legwhip but Thatcher pulls him into a Fujiwara armbar.

That’s rolled into a leglock, which is reversed into a cross armbreaker as this is a technical clinic. Dempsey knocks him to the floor and matches Thatcher with a shot to the face back inside. A bridging butterfly suplex (nice) gets two on Thatcher, as does a bridging German suplex. Dempsey switches over to a Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 13:10.

Rating: B. This was a lot of fun as you can tell both of them know this style very well. Dempsey winning is of course the right call as Thatcher is just there to make others look good. That’s what he did here and it came in a rather entertaining match. This isn’t something that works all the time, but when you see this style every so often, it’s pretty awesome.

Video on Harlem Lewis.

Vanity Project vs. Eli Knight/Cappuccino Jones/Aaron Rourke

Rourke frustrates Baylor to start and it’s quickly off to Jones for a nice dropkick. Knight comes in and gets headlocked by Drake but comes back with a nice leg lariat. The villains are cleared out to the floor and, after a quick spank from Rourke, Knight hits a big flip dive over the top. Baylor gets in a jumping knee to the face though and we take a break. We come back with Knight in trouble, including Drake raking his back.

A fisherman’s suplex gives Drake two and he knocks Rourke and Jones off the apron. The villains take turns beating Knight up in the corner, with a variety of stomps. Knight manages a high crossbody and that’s enough for the tag off to Jones. Everything breaks down and Rourke hits Eat Defeat on Smokes. The Decaffinator takes Baylor down but Smokes shoves Jones off the top. Drake comes back in with the Unaliving to pin Jones at 9:40.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard six man tag here with Drake getting to look like a star in the end. That’s a good thing, as Baylor and Smokes aren’t exactly must see stuff in the ring. I can see why they make for good background people, but that only gets you so far once the bell rings. At the same time, Knight got to showcase himself well here, but it was only for so long.

Post match Team PC comes out, with Kam Hendrix saying they’re running Evolve in two weeks. That’s not when Hendrix wants his title match though, because that’s going to be Drake vs. Carver, Riggins and Presley in a handicap match. Then Hendrix will get his title match the next week. That’s rather brilliant.

Tate Wilder is in the back and says he feels like he’s walking this road alone.

Overall Rating: B-. I still love the way this show is put together, as it feels like every show is designed to keep things moving. This show had a variety of different stuff going on and I wanted to see all of it. That’s not something you often see and the differences make it stand out that much more. Good stuff here, and they kept things moving for the future as well. Nice work, as is almost always the case.

Results
Kendal Grey b. PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong – Springboard Shades Of Grey to Armstrong
Charlie Dempsey b. Timothy Thatcher – Fujiwara armbar
Vanity Project b. Cappuccino Jones/Eli Knight/Aaron Rourke – Unaliving to Jones

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: May 21, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

The title matches are drawing closer and that makes things all the more interesting around here. What matters the most right now is getting some people into those matches, with one spot in the men’s match being determined tonight. I’m curious to see how that goes and who gets in so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a video on Harlem Lewis vs. Keanu Carver, who face off tonight in a title match qualifier. Also tonight: a four way for the final spot in the Women’s Title four way.

Opening sequence.

Chantel Monroe vs. Aria Bennett vs. Kylie Rae vs. Zayda Steel

For the final spot in the Women’s Title match next week and the Vanity Project is here with Steel. They pair off to start and Monroe is sent to the apron, where Rae forearms her to the floor. Bennett flips over Rae and armdrags her into a quickly broken armbar. Steel is back in to take Rae into the corner, with Bennett snapmaring both of them out. A double basement dropkick to both of their backs connects but Monroe is back up to take Bennett down.

Steel’s springboard tornado DDT plants Bennett and a Codebreaker gets two on Rae. Back up and Rae takes over on Steel, with the Project helping with the save. That’s enough for a mass ejection and Monroe is back in to clean a bit of house. Bennett fights up and wrecks everyone, including a dive tot he floor onto Steel and Monroe. Rae’s crossface goes on but Bennett rolls out, only for Rae to hit a superkick for the surprise win at 6:33.

Rating: C+. The match was a bit messy but Rae winning is the feel good story that makes sense. Rae has felt like a star since the show started but she hasn’t had a win coming into this match. This gives her the chance to become champion, though it would be a stretch to see her win the title. At least she took a big step though, even if I was expecting Steel to be involved somehow.

A more serious looking Rae promises to win the title next week.

Keanu Carver is ready to beat up Harlem Lewis and move on to become the Evolve Champion.

Oro Mensah wants in the title match too.

Oro Mensah vs. Edris Enofe

Mensah chops away to start but Enofe is right back with some shots of his own. A dropkick into some elbows and a standing moonsault give Enofe two but Mensah is back up to plant him on the floor. Back up and Mensah hits a tornado DDT to send Enofe throat first across the top rope. A springboard kick to the chest gets two on Enofe and we hit the chinlock with a bodyscissors. That’s broken up and Enofe fires off some clotheslines, setting up a spinebuster for two. A dragon suplex gives Mensah two more and they both go up, with Enofe knocking him off the top. The Epitome Of Excellence finishes Mensah at 6:03.

Rating: B-. This is one thing that is good about Evolve, as you have two people with nothing else going on and now they are getting the chance to show what they can do. Enofe isn’t a big star but he is someone who could get somewhere if given the chance. This is a win that could set such a thing up and now we get to see where he can go with his next step. It came after a hard fought match too and that’s good to see.

Post match Enofe puts Mensah over as a tough competitor but he’s glad he’s back. Stevie Turner comes out and puts Enofe in the Men’s Evolve Title match. Hold on though as Dani Palmer has been attacked.

Harlem Lewis is ready to take out Keanu Carver and go on to the title match.

We look at Brinley Reece having been attacked last week.

Here is the Vanity Project to say no one cares about the women being attacked.

Swipe Right vs. Timothy Thatcher/Sean Legacy

Thatcher goes after Baylor’s arm to start with a variety of cranking before handing it off to Legacy for some more of the same. Thatcher and Legacy take turns working on the arm even more as they’re certainly focused thus far. Baylor manages to get away so it’s off to Smokes, who gets beaten up as well Swipe Right realizes this isn’t working and bails to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Legacy fighting back on Baylor and kicking him in the back as commentary makes bets on the Vanity Project interfering. Baylor cuts Legacy off though and it’s back to Smokes for some knees to the ribs. An assisted kick to the back sets up Baylor’s jumping elbow but Legacy dives away for the tag to Thatcher. Everything breaks down and a jumping knee to Thatcher sets up the Super Swipe for the pin at 10:51.

Rating: C+. Swipe Right are in the weird position where they are a good heel act but they are only so good when the bell rings. That was the case here as there just wasn’t much to be seen with the match itself. That made this feel rather long and that’s not the kind of feeling you want to have. At the same time, Thatcher is only going to mean so much if he puts everyone over, and that was the case again here.

Kali Armstrong isn’t happy with Kendal Grey for attacking her last week. She doesn’t want Wendy Choo or Kylie Rae trying to stop her either, as she’s going to be the first Women’s Champion.

Kendal Grey isn’t impressed and brags about her wrestling skill to the women’s locker room. Chantel Monroe isn’t impressed and leaves. Masyn Holiday isn’t impressed with Monroe either.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Harlem Lewis vs. Keanu Carver

For a spot in the Men’s Evolve Title match. They talk trash during the Big Match Intros and then start slugging it out at the bell. Lewis knocks him into the corner but gets dropped with a running clothesline. Carver’s threat of a Pounce sends Lewis bailing to the floor and they brawl outside again. Carver is sent hard into the steps and Lewis hammers away back inside.

Back up and Carver knocks him to the apron, where Lewis is hung over the top rope for a heck of a right hand. A Pounce sends Lewis, who is favoring his knee, crashing out to the floor but he’s back with a heck of a clothesline. Back in and Lewis hits the Boom Slam but the knee gives out. They go back outside where Lewis grabs a belly to back suplex, followed by a powerbomb back inside. The bad knee means it’s only a two count though and they slug it out again. Carver blocks a suplex and another Pounce connects. Carver’s spinning powerslam is enough for the pin at 5:54.

Rating: B. This was a good example of a match where it wasn’t about a technical masterpiece or even wrestling for the most part. Instead, this was two guys beating the fire out of each other until one of them couldn’t get up. That doesn’t make for the highest quality match, but dang does it make for something fun, which is pretty much exactly as advertised.

Carver looks at the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. There is something about having titles coming up soon that makes a show that much better and that is what we’re seeing here. The titles being on the line soon makes the matches feel that much more important as wrestlers have a goal in mind. Most of these matches had something to do with the title picture (with even the tag match including someone in the Men’s Title match). This is good booking coming together in a logical way and that is great to see.

Results
Kylie Rae b. Aria Bennett, Chantel Monroe and Zayda Steel – Superkick to Bennett
Edris Enofe b. Oro Mensah – Epitome Of Excellence
Swipe Right b. Timothy Thatcher/Sean Legacy – Super Swipe to Thatcher
Keanu Carver b. Harlem Lewis – Spinning powerslam

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: May 14, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

Things are starting to pick up a lot around here after last week’s introductions of the Men’s and Women’s Titles. Those will be awarded in the coming weeks but there are still spots available in the upcoming title matches. People are going to be interested in earning those shots, but there is other stuff taking place as well. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap, focusing on the titles being introduced.

Opening sequence.

Keanu Carver/Harlem Lewis vs. Gallus

Wolfgang is here with the Coffey Brothers and all three of them jump Carver and Lewis on the floor before the bell. Cue Stevie Turner to get rid of Wolfgang and we’re ready to go. Carver slams Joe down to start as Lewis suplexes Mark on the floor. Joe and Carver hit stereo crossbodies for a double knockdown, followed by the big exchange of forearms. Carver isn’t having that and hits a heck of a Pounce to take over before hammering away in the corner.

Lewis comes in for a slam but Carver tags himself in, meaning it’s time for the non Coffeys to argue. The distraction lets Joe come back in with a springboard spinning high crossbody. Mark is back in with a belly to back suplex as everything breaks down. Joe bails to the floor…and Lewis decks Carver. Lewis yells at him and walks out, leaving Carver to get caught with an assisted German suplex. All The Best For The Bells finishes Carver at 6:48.

Rating: C+. Gallus was more or less just here for the sake of setting things up between Lewis and Carver. The two of them are having issues and that’s likely going to be set up for the future, possibly even as part of the title match. I can always go for two big bruisers fighting and that’s what we’re likely going to be seeing from these two.

Sean Legacy comes up to Timothy Thatcher and asks for Thatcher to be in his corner against Lexis King tonight. Legacy respects him, with Thatcher glaring a massive hole right through him. Thatcher is in though.

We get a sitdown interview with the returning Edris Enofe, who is glad to be back after a seven month injury absence. He has built himself up during his time away and now he’s ready to do it on his own. Of course he has his eyes set on the Evolve Title. I could go for having Enofe back.

Masyn Holiday is glad to have Enofe back while Chantrel Monroe is too busy to be in her corner tonight. Holiday tells Monroe to let her know when Monroe is ready to show her true self to the world. Monroe is slightly more interesting between the two of them but they’re nothing great.

Kali Armstrong vs. Masyn Holiday

Armstrong backs her up against the ropes to start and then grinds away on a wristlock. Holiday uses the ropes to spin into a wristlock of her own but Armstrong blasts her with a pop up forearm. Armstrong slams her into something like a seated abdominal stretch, which doesn’t last long. Holiday fights up and hits a dropkick, only to get caught with a quick powerslam. The Kali Connection finishes for Armstrong at 3:18.

Rating: C. Armstrong’s mega push continues and she is going to be a threat to win the Women’s Title. If nothing else, there is always room for a powerhouse like her, with the Connection being a solid finisher. There is something about seeing someone flying through the air to take her opponent out and Armstrong is doing well with a simple concept.

Post match Armstrong says she doesn’t care who else is in the title match, which brings out Zayda Steel. She knows Armstrong is a physical beast but Steel has the brain to know that she’s the only one winning the inaugural title. Cue Chantel Monroe to praise the two of them and saying she’s winning the title.

Kylie Rae interrupts, saying she can be in the final spot, which earns her a SHUT UP from Steel. Rae drops her with a right and the brawl is on, with Armstrong pressing Monroe onto the other two. Cue Kendal Grey to suplex Armstrong to the floor and stand tall, with her knee looking just fine. Grey looked like a star here, along with Armstrong. The others…well they were there too.

Keanu carver is annoyed at Harley Lewis so Stevie Turner makes a match between them for next week.

It’s Gal vs. Javier Bernal

They fight over wrist control to start until Bernal grabs a running headscissors. A dropkick sends Gal into the ropes for a basement superkick. A high crossbody gets two on Gal but he’s right back with a heck of a clothesline. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a dropkick for two on Bernal. Back up and Bernal hits a superkick into a spinning Downward Spiral for two of his own. Gal Gory Bombs him onto the buckle though and hits a running big boot. Bernal is right back with a rollup for the pin at 4:00.

Rating: C. I’ve seen a bit of Gal recently but nothing he’s done has been overly impressive. He’s far from being a failure or even bad, but it feels like something that has been done before. At the same time, it’s not a good sign when you lose to someone who was unemployed shortly thereafter and you would think WWE would have known that coming in.

Post match Gal jumps Bernal from behind and hits some pretty terrible right hands. A Blue Thunder Bomb puts Bernal down, with commentary asking where this was during the match.

Stevie Turner suggests adding Nikkita Lyons to the four way title match, but Lyons wants to face the champion one on one. If that means waiting longer before she’s back, I’m all for it.

Kylie Rae is ready for a four way match next week for the final spot in the four way title match. She doesn’t have time to worry about Wendy Choo.

Troy Yearwood is glad to sign his Evolve deal. It’s Gal comes in to brag about what he just did and argues with Yearwood about his physique.

Sean Legacy vs. Lexis King

Legacy has Timothy Thatcher in his corner to take care of the Vanity Project…who aren’t here. Well that’s not a good look. Legacy works on an armbar to start but King is right out. That earns him a shoulder down and Legacy goes back to the arm. A jumping double stomp to the back hits King, who backs into the corner for a big chop. Back up and King elbows him out to the floor to take over for the first time.

We take a break and come back with King working on the back, including a surfboard hold. Legacy fights out and sends him to the floor for a dive, only to springboard into a superkick back inside (with Legacy landing a few feet in front of King, which telegraphed the heck out of the counter). King stays on the back but Legacy is out with a DDT for a needed breather. Legacy kicks away and puts him down for two.

A kick to the face in the corner rocks King and a springboard 450 connects for a delayed two. Legacy tries Shambles but his back gives out. A Backstabber gives King two but the Coronation is countered into a failed backslide attempt. Legacy grabs a Spanish Fly but here is the Vanity Project to go after Thatcher. A big flip dive takes them down, with Thatcher sending Legacy back inside. The distraction lets King grab the Coronation for the pin at 11:35.

Rating: C+. I know King has the star power and name recognition compared to everyone around here, but he’s not exactly the one you bring in to make someone else look good. Legacy hung in there with him and is likely going to be the big star around here. That’s the point of putting him in a spot like this, with a match against the Vanity Project likely coming sooner or later.

Brinley Reece has been attacked and can’t feel her arm.

Overall Rating: C+. The problem right now is that everything is building towards the title matches, which means we have a little while to wait before we get to the big stuff. There are spots being filled in but at the same time, it leaves the rest of the show feeling a bit less interesting. That left a not so interesting show, but they’re keeping it moving and things are still fun enough. Just get to the big stuff in a few weeks and we’ll see where things go from there.

Results
Gallus b. Keanu Carver/Harlem Lewis – All The Best For The Bells to Carver
Kali Armstrong b. Masyn Holiday – Kali Connection
Javier Bernal b. It’s Gal – Rollup
Lexis King b. Sean Legacy – Coronation

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: May 7, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

Things very well may be picking up around here as we have a special announcement from Stevie Turner. That could go in a variety of directions as this show is still young enough that it has a lot of options. If nothing else, we might be seeing some new faces in the coming weeks after the recent string of releases/departures. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Here is Stevie Turner for her big announcement: the Evolve Men’s and Women’s Titles. The Women’s Title will be crowned in a four way match in three weeks, with Kali Armstrong, Kendal Grey, Wendy Choo and…someone else who will be determined. The Men’s Title will be crowned in four weeks with Sean Legacy facing three others.

Keanu Carver isn’t happy about not being included and gets in the ring for a showdown with Harlem Lewis. The Vanity Project runs in and are quickly cleared out. Cue Gallus to brawl with them out to the floor. Armstrong and Grey get in a fight of their own, with Armstrong taking out her knee. So we’re going to have Evolve Titles AND ID Titles? That sounds excessive.

We run down the card.

Video on Wendy Choo tormenting Kylie Rae.

Summer Sorrell is scared of facing Wendy Choo but she’s motivated to succeed. Maybe she needs a buddy.

Video on the ID Program, and some names who will be coming to Evolve, including It’s Gal, Marcus Mathers and Jordan Oasis. That has to happen sooner or later.

Nikkita Lyons wants a big match tonight and Stevie Turner announces that she’ll be facing Kendal Grey in the main event. Zayda Steel comes in and wants to be in the Women’s Title match. Turner isn’t convinced but Lyons thinks she could collaborate with the Vanity Project.

Summer Sorrell vs. Wendy Choo

Sorrell, who is rather athletic (believe it or not), cartwheels away from the smiling Choo to start. They run the ropes a few times and Sorrell hits a crossbody for two. Choo runs her over and hits a running shot to the throat. Sorrell gets planted again and the Dirt Nap finishes her off at 2:33.

Post match Choo goes after Sorrell again but Kylie Rae runs out for the brawl. The Dirt Nap is broken up with a snapmare and Choo bails.

Lexis King arrives.

After a break, here is King for a chat. King talks about wanting to come to Evolve back in the day because it was a way to get to the big time. Now it is a portal to NXT and no one knows more about the spotlight than him. He wants the spotlight around here but here is Sean Legacy to cut him off.

Legacy welcomes him to the show but King mocks Legacy for being a pretend locker room leader. That doesn’t work for Legacy, who has paid his dues and been through the sleepless nights for a $20 payoff and a handshake. Legacy isn’t going to let King run over Evolve and the match is made for next week. We get the aggressive handshake and the staredown. Legacy is all but guaranteed to go to NXT sooner or later so this is a preview of things to come

Kendal Grey insists that her knee is fine. Carlee Bright comes in to ask if Grey can fight tonight, which she insists she can.

Keanu Carver is looking for Gallus and Harlem Lewis joins him to do the same. Stevie Turner makes the match for next week.

Drako Knox vs. Jackson Drake

The Vanity Project is here with Drake. Knox gets powered into the corner to start but comes back with a running shoulder. A t-bone suplex sends Drake flying again but he knocks Knox’s hat off to take over. The chinlock goes on but Knox backdrops his way out of trouble. Drake takes him down again but gets crucifixed for two. Drake’s Lethal Injection is countered into something like a Blue Thunder Bomb for another knockdown. A kick to the leg cuts Knox off though and now a Lethal Injection cuts him down. The running knee gives Drake the pin at 5:08.

Rating: C. The Vanity Project getting a win is fine and Knox continues to be someone who can lose without being too damaged. Granted it helps when you don’t have much in the way of status to start. Drake isn’t exactly a star, but the Vanity Project needs a singles star to push rather than just the Swipe Right team over and over.

We get a sitdown interview with Javier Bernal, who had to deal with an eight month injury layoff. Now he’s back to hit the ground running in Evolve but he isn’t Big Body Javi anymore. He never really was Big Body Javi, but now he loves metalcore music. That’s the kind of unity he wants to bring here but It’s Gal comes in to mock him. This would mean a bit more if Bernal wasn’t already gone.

Lexis King runs into the Vanity Project as he leaves and he’ll see them next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Nikkita Lyons vs. Kendal Grey

Grey’s leg is very banged up. The leg gives out early to start and Lyons is right on her, with some mocking thrown in for a bonus. A legdrop on the apron crushes Grey and Lyons wraps the bad leg around the rope. Something like a half crab goes on but Grey kicks her way to freedom. A spinning kick to the face gives Lyons two and she sits down on the leg a few times.

The half crab goes on again but this time Grey makes the rope to escape. Lyons misses a running splash and Grey goes for a cross armbreaker, with Lyons powering her up for the escape. A choke on the back works a bit better for Grey and a middle rope shoulder puts Lyons down for two. Grey tries something off the ropes but the leg gives out again. A Vader Bomb finishes for Lyons at 6:13.

Rating: C+. Perfectly fine story to the match here with Grey trying to fight through the injury and showing heart but coming up short against the more experienced star. At the same time, this continued to enforce Lyons’ status of “not exactly great”, as she didn’t show anything here that makes me think otherwise. I get that she has something in the way of star power, but it isn’t clicking for me so far.

Post match Kali Armstrong runs in to go after Grey’s knee again. Grey is in trouble to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show wasn’t exactly great, but it did a nice job of setting up the title matches. That’s the big story the show has been needing and I’m curious to see where it goes. Hopefully the titles wind up on people who can make the show more interesting, but what matters is there is a structure around here. Now just make the things that have been set up work out, which is the tricky part.

Results
Wendy Choo b. Summer Sorrell – Dirt Nap
Jackson Drake b. Drako Knox – Running knee
Nikkita Lyons b. Kendal Grey – Vader Bomb

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: April 30, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re back to developmental’s developmental, which happens to be a fairly consistent show. Hopefully that continues this week, as the show has done well enough with keeping things fresh. The wrestlers around here have started to become established and if that continues, we could get some interesting stuff going forward. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Kylie Rae says the teddy bear that Wendy Choo gave to Zara Zakher last week belongs to her son. Rae’s son has been up crying because it has been missing and this ends tonight. Well that took a turn.

Zayda Steel vs. Layla Diggs

Bryce Donovan and Aria Bennett are here too. Steel takes her down and grabs an armbar to start. That’s reversed into a variety of flips into some arm cranking from Diggs, who fires off a handspring shoulder in the corner. A powerslam gives Diggs two but Steel sends her to the apron for a Codebreaker. Steel slaps her in the corner and gets taken down for some not great looking forearms. A stomp out of the corner gives Steel two and we hit the seated abdominal stretch. Diggs comes back with some kicks to the face for two but misses a handspring…something in the corner. Back up and the ZDT finishes Diggs at 4:52.

Rating: C. Steel is a case where it’s absolutely obvious why WWE wants to push her, but she is still at that point where nothing is coming naturally to her. It’s like you can see her working out every single thing she’s supposed to do in the ring. I get why she’s on this stage, but it’s not making for the most impressive showings. Diggs is another name on the long list of really athletic stars who have very little that makes them stand out. That’s going to need to change or she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont vs. Aaron Rourke/Freedom Ramsey

Igwe and Rourke start things off, with the glittery Rourke being shoved down. Rourke slips out of a slam and seems to embarrass Igwe so it’s off to DuPont vs. Ramsey. DuPont actually gets taken down into the corner and it’s back to Rourke for a handspring double slap to the chest.

That just annoys DuPont, who hammers on Rourke and grabs a shoulder breaker. A running corner clothesline rocks Rourke again but a missed…something lets Rourke grab a rollup. Rourke enziguris his way to freedom and tags, uh, Freedom, to clean house. A middle rope ax handle is punched out of the air though and Rourke is knocked outside. The Heartstopper finishes Ramsey at 4:29.

Rating: C. Not much to see here, with Igwe and DuPont getting to establish themselves on their new show. They’re a team who could go somewhere if they’re given a chance and they’re not quite good enough to be regulars in NXT. Instead let us see what they can do here and it might be an improvement. If nothing else it gets them reps and that could be useful.

Wendy Choo vs. Kylie Rae

Choo wrestles a charging Rae down to start and grabs a headlock. Rae fights up and gets a smile from Choo, setting up a backslide for two. Choo takes her down again and spins her neck around, only to get taken down again. A basement superkick puts Choo down and it’s time to go after the teddy bear. Choo sends her hard into the post though and we take a break.

Back with Rae grabbing a Russian legsweep and hitting some clotheslines, setting up the crossface. That’s broken up so Rae drops her again and goes up, where Choo gets in a slam off the top. A brainbuster gives Choo two and she grabs the bear. Choo rips the bear’s head off and Rae goes into rage mode. A bunch of forearms have Choo rocked but Rae goes for the beat, meaning Choo can grab the Dirt Nap for the win at 7:25.

Rating: C. The stuff with the teddy bear is fine as it goes into a different world of psychological warfare, but the way Choo is being presented brings it so far down. Choo has shown she can make other things work, but this whole evil sleep demon or whatever she is supposed to be isn’t working. At the same time, it feels like they are setting Rae up for something bigger, as they keep pointing out that she hasn’t won anything yet.

Post match Choo draws black lines on Rae’s face, making it look like she’s frowning.

Kali Armstrong is happy with her win and wants to become the first Women’s Champion. She knows she’s getting better and she wants to be the first so she can be the best.

Haze Jameson is in the VIP section.

Keanu Carver/Harlem Lewis vs. Swipe Right

The rest of the Vanity Project is here with Swipe Right. Lewis shoves Baylor down without much trouble to start and it’s off to Carver vs. Smokes. Carver takes him down as well and forcefully hands it back to Lewis. Baylor gets beaten down rather quickly and the makeshift team takes turns slamming him. Everything breaks down and Carver throws Smokes outside.

Back in and Lewis gets caught in the corner for a running shot to the face in the corner. Baylor hammers away and hands it off to Smokes for more of the same. Lewis suplexes both of them at once and brings Carver back in to wreck Baylor. A double Pounce takes out Swipe Right so it’s back to Lewis, with a Boom Slang and a powerslam getting the double pin at 5:50.

Rating: C+. This was exactly what it should have been as Carver and Lewis came off looking like a pair of bulldozers. They smashed through Swipe Right, who couldn’t do anything to hold them back. It was just a few steps above a squash, which is surprising as Swipe Right has been a big deal, but there seem to be some plans for Carver and Lewis.

Stevie Turner is impressed with the main event but Gallus comes in. They want to fight Lewis and Carver.

Overall Rating: C+. This might not have been a great show full of awesome matches, but what we got was good enough and added in some new names with Igwe and DuPont. At the same time, it gave us some stuff to look forward to as some stories are growing. I want to see where that goes and I’ll take that as a sign they are doing something right. If you keep the fans wanting to come back for more, everything should be fine.

Results
Zayda Steel b. Layla Diggs – ZDT
Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont b. Aaron Rourke/Freedom Ramsey – Heartstopper to Ramsey
Wendy Choo b. Kylie Rae – Dirt Nap
Keanu Carver/Harlem Lewis b. Swipe Right – Double pin

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: April 23, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re done with Wrestlemania Weekend and that means the ID Title Tournaments have officially begun. That could go in a few different ways as it might take some time to catch up with the taping cycle. Other than that, we have some grudge matches around here and that could make for some interesting options. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Stevie Turner to announce that she will be making an announcement. Cue the Vanity Project to interrupt (as Drako Knox is in the VIP section). Brad Baylor brags about how awesome they are and how everyone wants Zayda Steele so the Vanity Project name is perfect for them. Ava isn’t impressed and announces a match right now (which was announced in the show’s opening.

Sean Legacy vs. Jackson Drake

The rest of the Vanity Project is here as Legacy knocks him into the corner to start. A snap powerslam gives Drake a fast two but Legacy fights back. A standing moonsault gets two but the Project offers a distraction, earning a mass ejection. We take a break and come back with Legacy forearming away as commentary argues over who named the Vanity Project.

A reverse sitout gordbuster drops Drake and some running forearms into a German suplex makes it worse. Legacy hits a springboard missile dropkick for two but Drake is back with a Lethal Injection for two. A double knockdown gives us a double breather before Drake hurricanranas him into a running knee to the face. Back up and Drake strikes away until a poisonrana gets two. Legacy fights up and hits him in the face, setting up the torture rack suplex neckbreaker (thankfully named the Shambles) for the pin at 9:05.

Rating: C+. Legacy continues to feel like the big star around here and that should give him a good future. He’s backing it up well enough in the ring too and that was the case again here. It wouldn’t stun me to see him getting up to NXT sooner than later as he has all of the tools to get there soon.

Post match Legacy talks about being ready for everything in Evolve.

Kylie Rae isn’t scared of Wendy Choo, even if the darkness started to overtake her. They’ll face each other again.

Harlem Lewis and Keanu Carver have a face to face showdown, talking about how they know the title is coming through them. Ava comes in to make the two of them against Swipe Right next week.

Aria Bennett vs. Zara Zakher

Layla Diggs is here with Bennett. An early rollup gives Zakher two and a suplex is good for the same. We hit the armbar but Bennett is up with some headscissors. A high crossbody gives Bennett two but Zakher’s super hurricanrana gets the same. Zakher grabs a neckbreaker (with kind of a weird cover) for two. Back up and a quick Control Z finishes for Zakher at 3:58.

Rating: C. This didn’t have much time get anywhere but Zakher continues to look like someone with potential. Her size issues might be a problem going forward but at least she’s getting some wins to make her seem like a more important star. Bennett is decent as well, but this wasn’t a place where she was going to get much shine.

Post match Zakher is interviewed by the lights dim and a bear, with a note, are left on the mat. The note says “KYLIE, I ACCEPT”.

The Vanity Project is in the VIP section and Brad Baylor’s parent’s lawyer says they have every right to be here.

Carlee Bright vs. Kalyx

Kendal Grey is here with Bright and since I had it drilled into my head for not mentioning it last time, Kalyx is referee Jessika Carr under a mask. Kalyx stomps away but gets kicked in the mask, only to come back with a clothesline. Grey gives Bright a pep talk and it seems to work as the comeback is on, with Kalyx breaking out of a Black Widow. Kalyx’s fireman’s carry is countered into a sunset flip for the pin at 2:30.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Bryce Donovan

Thatcher reverses an early waistlock into an armbar but gets taken into the corner for an elbow to the face. A belly to belly sends Donovan flying and we take an early break. Back again with Thatcher grabbing a half crab and then cranking on the leg, with the Vanity Project not being pleased.

A surfboard is broken up though and Donovan hammers away, setting up a front facelock. The chinlock goes on for a bit before they go outside, where Thatcher is sent into the post. Donovan plants him again for two more but Thatcher fights back and headbutts the arm. A jumping enziguri sets up a butterfly suplex but Swipe Right offers the distraction. Donovan hits a swinging Boss Man Slam for the pin at 8:15.

Rating: B-. These two beat each other up and the interference keeps Thatcher looking like a big deal. He’s the kind of guy who can give some credibility around here and that is a good thing to see. Hopefully he gets to win a match or two without being beaten into the ground, which would kind of defeat his purpose.

Ava isn’t happy with the Vanity Project but Keanu Carver and Harlem Lewis are ready for them.

Overall Rating: C. This show was VERY focused on the Vanity Project and your mileage may vary as a result. The team is fine for what they are, but they don’t feel like the biggest deal. For a team you want to see get taken out, I can go for them, but that doesn’t make them seem like the big bads. Other than that…well there wasn’t much outside of that, with only the two women’s matches really being unrelated. I wasn’t feeling this show as much, as I could go for a bit more variety.

Results
Sean Legacy b. Jackson Drake – Shambles
Zara Zakher b. Aria Bennett – Control Z
Carlee Bright b. Kalyx – Sunset flip
Bryce Donovan b. Timothy Thatcher – Swinging Boss Man Slam

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: April 16, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

Things are starting to pick up with Evolve as the ID Title tournaments are officially beginning this week. That should bring some more continuity around here, which could makes things a lot more interesting. I could certainly go for that, despite things already going pretty well in the show’s early weeks. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a preview of the show, which is always appreciated.

Opening sequence.

Commentary runs down the card.

We get a sitdown interview with Kendal Grey, who talks about her amateur wrestling background. She made the boys’ team and now she’s ready to win here too.

Ice Williams is in the VIP section.

Trill London vs. Harlem Lewis

London hits an early dropkick as we hear about him being inspired by Jeff Hardy. Lewis knocks him down without much trouble and talks a lot of trash, as a villain should be doing. London comes back with a slingshot dropkick (cool) but Lewis punches him out of the air. The Boom Slang finishes for Lewis at 1:53.

Post match Lewis’ interview is cut off by Gallus, who are ready to fight.

Gallus vs. Jordan Oasis/Cappuccino Jones/Jack Cartwheel

Joe Coffey powers Cartwheel into the corner to start and it’s off to Mark Coffey for the slugout with Oasis. The brawl is on and Gallus is sent outside for the big double flip dives as we take a break. Back with Cartwheel taking Mark down and handing it off to Jones, who is planted by Wolfgang. Cartwheel DDTs Wolfgang for a needed breather and brings Jones in to pick the pace back up. A running shot to the back hits Joe in the ropes but it’s already back to Wolfgang for a spinebuster. Everything breaks down and Mark knocks Oasis into All The Best For The Bells and the pin at 5:55.

Rating: C+. Gallus is the kind of a team that you have out there to make someone else look good and they did it well enough here. Gallus might not be the most thrilling team but you can’t have them lose time after time. Jones has already made an impression and Oasis has the size to go somewhere. There is always room for someone who can flip around like Cartwheel so this was an interesting showcase.

Chantel Monroe comes from a college gymnastics background and she loves fashion/looking right. She’ll be in the four way tonight and has been training hard.

Luca Crusifino is in the VIP area.

Kali Armstrong is from Inglewood, California and that means she is destined to be a champion. The four way is about the mental side of things and she’ll be the strongest.

Oro Mensah vs. Javier Bernal

Bernal goes after the arm to start but Mensah kicks away. An armdrag out of the corner sets up a headscissors and a dropkick has Mensah on the ropes. Mensah wins a slugout but spends too much time talking trash, allowing Bernal to kick him down. A high crossbody lets Bernal start the comeback, including a facebuster.

Bernal hits a loud superkick to really stagger Mensah, setting up a running DDT for two. Mensah is back with a tornado DDT to send Bernal throat first across the top rope. Stone: “I told you he’s an innovator!” Or he’s seen a Kenta match. A top rope kick to the face hits Bernal and the rolling kick to the head gives Mensah the pin at 4:46.

Rating: B-. Pretty nice stuff here with a match from the more established people on the roster. Neither of them are going to be doing anything anytime soon but it’s nice to have them in the ring here rather than sitting on the sidelines. Mensah is still someone who could do something on the bigger shows, but Bernal has lost what made him special. Figure that out or he’s going to be in trouble.

Brinley Reece is always open to new possibilities and that leads her to new opportunities.

Stevie Turner previews next week’s show.

Carlee Bright is in the VIP section.

Kali Armstrong vs. Brinley Reece vs. Chantel Monroe vs. Kendal Grey

Armstrong gets triple teamed to start, which makes sense as she has been the monster thus far. With Armstrong sent outside, the other three trade rollups for two each. That’s broken up when Armstrong comes back in to clean house, including a triple shoulder in the corner. Reece and Armstrong throw the other two out and go with the grappling. Reece bodyscissors Armstrong and we get a four person chain submission.

Armstrong breaks that up and puts Reece in a Boston crab while Monroe has Reece in a headscissors. Grey breaks that up as well and Armstrong is back up to take Grey down. Reece and Monroe pull Armstrong to the floor, where Grey is right there for a big dive. We take a break and come back with Reece sending the other three down in a Tower Of Doom. A cartwheel clothesline hits Armstrong and Reece adds a spinebuster to Monroe.

Back up and Monroe hits a Hennig necksnap on Reece and cartwheel knees to the ribs get two. Monroe hits a running shooting star press on Armstrong (not a great landing) with the other two making the save. Grey and Reece slug it out with Grey getting to clean house for a change.

Even Bright (with pom poms) is happy as Grey tries the cross armbreaker on Reece. Armstrong breaks that up with a splash and she powerslams Grey for two with Reece making a save. Reece’s rollup with feet on the ropes (Eh?) gets two, with Reece claiming she didn’t know what she was doing. The Kali Konnection knocks Reece silly and a powerslam gives Armstrong the pin on Monroe at 10:04.

Rating: B. I was getting into this one by the end and it was a fun match with all four going for it out there. By the end, it felt like something out of a video game with everyone trying to steal the pin. Armstrong getting the win is the right call as she has been treated as a big deal thus far. Evolve seems to be picking someone to get behind and that is a good idea this early on. Nice stuff here and a solid main event.

Post match Stevie Turner comes out to applaud Armstrong to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Evolve has found its footing and this was a good show with the names that they have already established starting to get somewhere. That is what they need to do, but it is going to take some time to really sink in. What they are doing thus far is a nice start though and this was an enjoyable show, with the main event being quite the showcase.

Results
Harlem Lewis b. Trill London – Boom Slang
Gallus b. Jordan Oasis/Cappuccino Jones/Jack Cartwheel – All The Best For The Bells to Oasis
Oro Mensah b. Javier Bernal – Rolling kick to the head
Kali Armstrong b. Kendal Grey, Brinley Reece and Chantel Monroe – Powerslam to Monroe

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6