Evolve
Date: June 11, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re into a new era around here as we officially have Men’s and Women’s Evolve Champions. Last week saw Jackson Drake bring the men’s version to the Vanity Project, who I’m sure will have a calm, respectful celebration as a result. There are other things around here to address as well though so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Jackson Drake winning the title last week.

Opening sequence.

Here is the Vanity Project for their celebration. They aren’t ones to tell you “we told you so”, but that’s what they did. They are the future NXT main eventers and now Jackson Drake himself gets the mic. Drake talks about Buddy Rogers, Finn Balor and Seth Rollins being the first holders of various titles and now his name has been added. They have the best man, woman and tag team in Evolve and at this point, it isn’t even bragging. When you’re this good, you can only be called the Vanity Project, and now they make V signs with their fingers because they’re turning into a real stable.

Lince Dorado knows that he’s going to need help to come after the Vanity Project and he has an idea.

Wes Lee, with the rest of High Ryze, is ready for Cappuccino Jones.

Cappuccino Jones is with Jack Cartwheel and is heavily caffeinated for Wes Lee. The problem is Lee has forgotten what it’s like to be thirsty and it’s time for a fresh brew. Jones has one bit and he is getting everything he can out of it.

Zayda Steele/Nikkita Lyons vs. Layla Diggs/Masyn Holiday

Diggs and Holiday have a dance during their entrance and their opponents are….impressed? Steele takes Diggs down and poses to start but gets her leg swept for a fast two. Diggs dances some more and it’s off to Holiday for a dancing ax handle to the arm. Lyons comes in and fights out of the armbar before bending over so Holiday can jump over her.

Diggs comes back in and gets taken into the wrong corner but manages to powerslam Steele down for two. Holiday runs Steele over with a shoulder but stops to look at Lyons, which allows Lyons to come in for some shoulders to the ribs. The ZDT gives Steele two and Lyons grabs a chinlock, which works as well as you would expect.

Holiday avoids a charge in the corner and it’s off to Diggs to pick up the pace. A handspring shoulder to the ribs in the corner drops Steele and a splash gets two, with Lyons making the save. Cue Chantel Monroe to sit on the apron for a distraction, which allows Lyons to kick Holiday in the head for the pin at 7:52.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t the best stuff, with the dancing from Diggs and Holiday feeling like something that has been done to death. At the same time, having Monroe come in to do her one thing for a distraction wasn’t the most thrilling twist. The action wasn’t terrible as they all need time in the ring, but I wasn’t feeling this one for the most part.

Troy Yearwood likes to lift weights and write poetry, including one about how he’s going to take over Evolve and NXT. He likes lifting people in the ring with him…and now his name is Jamar Hampton. Sure.

Kali Armstrong comes up to tell Natalya that she doesn’t need her help. Natalya says she might, because they’re teaming together next week.

Jamar Hampton vs. It’s Gal

Hampton has some weird intro music, sounding like it would be playing in the opening scene of a romantic comedy while someone we just met is walking down the street. Hampton drives him into the corner to start so Gal (now pronounced as it would traditionally be, rather than gaul, as in rhyming with Paul) wants a test of strength. That goes fine for Hampton, who takes him down and does pushups on Gal’s back. An atomic drop sets up a running dropkick (and a high one at that) for two on Gal.

Back up and Gal starts taking over on the leg and hammers away in the corner. A pushup cover gives Gal two and he drops a Kofi Kingston double legdrop for two more. Gal stays on the leg with a half crab, with Hampton fighting out but not being able to stand. The one good leg is enough to German suplex Gal and an overhead belly to belly takes Gal down again. Hampton can’t quite get a fireman’s carry as Gal grabs a rollup for two of his own. Back up and Hampton hits an AA (landing on Gal, ala Keith Lee’s Big Bang Catastrophe) for the pin 6:30.

Rating: C+. This was a showcase for Hampton and that worked well enough, as he has a good look and some very impressive athleticism. That being said, the leg stuff being somewhat ignored so he could throw Gal around wasn’t the best look. On the other hand, Gal continues to not do much for me, as “he’s in good shape” and “looks like a human action figure” is only going to get him so far.

Marcus Mathers talks about how he has trained as hard and often as he can because this is what matters the most to him.

Jordan Oasis talks about how hard he has worked to get here, often walking the streets and living on busses. He doesn’t remember the last time he was in a hotel room. It’s hard to have to order the cheapest thing on the menu at a fast food restaurant so he can use the restroom or sneak into the gym after someone so he can use the shower. But now it’s worth it because he is making it here. That’s a heck of a way to make me care about someone and it did a nice job.

Wes Lee vs. Cappuccino Jones

The rest of High Ryze and Jack Cartwheel are here too. After the Big Match Intros, Jones takes him down by the arm to start but gets reversed into a headlock. Jones sweeps the legs out for two before going with back to back leapfrogs. Lee gets sent outside for a running flip dive and we take a break.

Back with Lee dropping Jones out of the corner and hitting a basement dropkick to the side of the head. A superkick lets Lee slam him head first into the mat a few times while shouting a lot as well. Jones tries to fight back but gets powerslammed down for two, leaving Lee frustrated. A quick backslide and rollup give Jones two each and he hits an enziguri to send Lee into the ropes.

The Half And Half gives Jones two so High Ryze gets involved, with Cartwheel going after them. That means a three way ejection, allowing Lee to hit a tornado DDT. The running knees give Lee two and Jones is back up with the Decaffinator for two and now it’s Jones’ turn to be stunned. Jones misses the Froggy Brew (these names are great) so Lee rolls him up but gets caught with his feet on the ropes. A rollup gives Jones a close two but Lee superkicks him in the back of the head. The Cardiac Kick finishes for Lee at 11:04.

Rating: B. Dang they had me into this one at the end, as I thought they might actually give Jones the big upset. I can get why they didn’t, but that would have been a heck of a way to give Jones the push. That being said, this absolutely did not hurt Jones, who looked great in defeat. Pretty awesome main event here, with both guys working rather hard.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the show that kind of reset things a bit, as they spent about a month setting up the title matches and now we have to see where things go from here. The main event was quite good and they have some people who seem ready to move up to the next level, which is what we might be seeing soon. This show didn’t exactly do anything big, but it moved a few things forward and wrapped up a thing or two as well. Evolve is turning into a regular show and I’m liking it more often than not so well done.

Results
Zayda Steele/Nikkita Lyons b. Layla Diggs/Masyn Holiday – Kick to the head to Holiday
Jamar Hampton b. It’s Gal – Attitude Adjustment
Wes Lee b. Cappuccino Jones – Cardiac Kick

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

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Evolve
Date: June 4, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s time for another big show this week, with the first Men’s Evolve Champion being crowned in another four way elimination match. That should make for a big time match, but we also might be finding out what is going on with the first ever Women’s Evolve Champion, as Kali Armstrong won the title last week. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the four participants in the men’s title match and teases fallout from last week’s title match.

Opening sequence.

Here is Kali Armstrong to brag about her title win. She’s happy with how things went and now she wants to see how hard this can get. So who is first to come after the title? Cue Zayda Steele, who says they are both history makers. Armstrong is the first Evolve Champion and Steele is the first official WWE ID prospect. Cue Nikkita Lyons to say she should get the first title shot because she’s not afraid to pounce. She should be getting the first title shot and the brawl is on. Armstrong gets double teamed down so here is Natalya to make the save. Natalya goes to help Armstrong, who snatches the title away from her again.

Carlee Bright has been attacked backstage. Post break, Bright says it was someone in a black hoodie but she couldn’t see their face. She’s cleared to compete, with Stevie Turner not sure what to do.

Keanu Carver is ready to win the title because he wants a ticket to avoid going back to the streets of Washington DC.

Sean Legacy, with Timothy Thatcher, says he’s been waiting eight long years for this.

Jin Tala vs. Carlee Bright

Bright has a bad shoulder coming in so Tala goes right for it, with an early takedown getting two. Bright fights up with an armbar of her own and a knockdown gets two. Tala goes after the arm again but Bright is right back up with a Codebreaker. The standing moonsault misses though and Tala ties up the arm for the tap at 4:19.

Rating: C. That was short and to the point, though Tala didn’t exactly blow anyone away. The problem here was the focus being on Bright’s injury more than Tala, making her feel secondary. She beat a low level star who came in injured. That’s not exactly a great way to make your debut, though at least she did get the win.

We look at Wendy Choo attacking Kylie Rae after last week’s title match.

Rae wants to fight Choo and wrap it up but Chantel Monroe comes in to call Rae annoying.

The Vanity Project gives Jackson Drake a pep talk.

Edris Enofe talks about his shoulder injury, but what hurt him worse was having to be out of the ring for so long.

Here is High Ryze for a chat. Wes Lee talks about seeing people with dreams and potential in the locker room, and maybe they can become the next big thing. Lee loves that these people think they can take his spot but it’s not happening. He has a lot more that he wants to accomplish but here are Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel to interrupt. They’re not here for a rematch though, but rather because Jones wants to face Lee one on one. Jones wants to prove himself and Lee agrees, though he thinks Jones is in over his head.

Je’Von Evans is here to present the first Evolve Men’s Title and runs into Jordan Oasis, who he likes.

Marcus Mathers is coming and is very excited.

Evolve Men’s Title: Keanu Carver vs. Jackson Drake vs. Sean Legacy vs. Edris Enofe

Elimination match for the inaugural title. They start fast with Legacy and Drake being sent outside. Enofe hits a huge flip dive and follows with a high crossbody to Carver. That’s not working for Carver, who is back with his spinning powerslam for the pin on Enofe at 1:49. Well thanks for coming man. We take a break and come back with Legacy and Drake taking turns on Carver, with a missile dropkick into a moonsault getting two. A running knee into a springboard 450 finishes Drake at 4:16, leaving us with Legacy vs. Drake for the title.

They immediately start trading shots to the face before exchanging German suplexes. A super Spanish Fly gives Legacy two but Shambles is broken up. Drake drapes him over the top and gets two off a Swanton, followed by a kick to the head for the same. Legacy pulls him into the STF but Drake makes the rope. Another Shambles is broken up and the running knee gives Drake the pin and the title at 10:06.

Rating: C+. Much like last week, this was actually pretty disappointing. At the end of the day, it felt like a match that was totally rushed. The first two eliminations didn’t mean anything and it was basically Drake vs. Legacy for the title. That’s a fine way to go, but when you build this up as being some epic showdown, you kind of expect more out of such a monumental moment. That being said, Drake needed to win here as the Vanity Project needs some success given how prominently they’re being featured.

Post match the Vanity Project comes in to celebrate and Je’Von Evans presents Drake with the title. Drake is thrilled and hugs Evans to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Well, the main event wasn’t great and Tala’s debut was just ok, with Jones and Lee’s showdown not being much better. There wasn’t much to see on this show and I’m hoping they can pick up the pace next week. Just not much to see here, on a show which should have been huge given the nature of the main event.

Results
Jin Tala b. Carlee Bright – Arm lock
Jackson Drake b. Sean Legacy, Keanu Carver and Edris Enofe last eliminating Legacy

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

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NXT
Date: June 3, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on Worlds collide and some of the show will feature NXT stars. That’s going to get some attention tonight, but at the same time, we have the TNA World Title on the line as Trick Williams defends against TNA’s Mike Santana. That should be a big one so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap looks at last week’s title changes and this week’s TNA World Title match being set up. The shock over Jacy Jayne winning the women’s Title is still great.

Here are Laredo Kid, Je’Von Evans and Ethan Page for a chat. Page makes it clear that Rey Fenix isn’t here tonight due to travel issues so he should be in the ring tapdancing on the memory of Ricky Saints. Now though, someone named Sean Legacy is getting a title shot but Evans and Kid both want the title. Page goes to leave but here is Legacy to cut him off. Legacy would love to face either Evans or Kid, but next week he could become a double champion. Cue the Vanity Project to say Jackson Drake is winning the Evolve Title and they have Page’s back. The brawl is on with the good guys hitting stereo dives.

El Hijo del Vikingo is here.

Chase U vs. Darkstate

Darkstate charges in to start the beating early and Connors is thrown inside for the beating. Lennox comes in and plants Connors with a backbreaker into a Boston crab. That’s broken up and it’s off to Dixon to grab a suplex. It’s already back to Connors, who sends Griffin outside for a breather. Everything breaks down and Chase U fires off some superkicks. Griffin casually suplexes both of them at once though and it’s the toss sitout powerbomb for the pin on Dixon at 3:30.

Rating: C. It wasn’t quite a squash but this one wasn’t in doubt. I’m not sure where Chase U goes after all of this as they aren’t being treated as anything serious. Hopefully they get the chance to boost the team up soon, because this hasn’t been much so far. On the other hand, Darkstate continues to feel important, which is more than I was expecting from them at this point.

Ava tells Sean Legacy, Laredo Kid and Je’Von Evans to find a partner to face Ethan Page and the Vanity Project. They don’t know anyone, but Dragon Lee comes in to say he’ll do it.

Trick Williams is ready to beat Mike Santana.

Earlier this week, Tyra Mae Steele was nervous about making her NXT debut. Arianna Grace comes in to say no one likes someone who talks too much. Steele thinks she has found her first opponent.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Myles Borne

Rounds match (as in Heritage Cup rules) and if Borne wins, he is free from the No Quarter Catch Crew. Round one begins with Dempsey working on the arm and not getting anywhere, meaning it’s an early standoff. Borne goes back to the arm but gets pulled down into a headscissors with an armbar. That’s broken up so they fight over near falls until Borne stacks him up for the pin at 2:54.

We take a break and come back with some grappling taking us to a stalemate to end round two. Borne gives a clean break but Dempsey knees him in the ribs for a cheap shot. After a stern warning from the referee, round three begins with Borne firing off uppercuts in the corner. That’s shrugged off and a Regalplex gives Dempsey the pin to tie it up at 25 seconds of the round and 7:43 total.

Round four begins with Dempsey going after the banged up ribs, including an octopus hold. That’s broken up and Borne fights back, including an Angle Slam for two. Another Regalplex is blocked and they trade near falls until Borne hits his dropkick for the winning pin at 2:47 of the round and 11:06 total.

Rating: C+. That’s how it should have gone, as you couldn’t have Borne lose again after the rather awesome performance at Battleground. Borne has completely outgrown the No Quarter Catch Crew so having him overcome some cheating to win at Dempsey’s own game is a great way to get him out of the team. Nice match here, with the absolute right result.

Izzi Dame attacks Brooks Jensen with a chair because he’s officially out of the Culling.

Tyra Mae Steele vs. Arianna Grace

Steele is a former Olympic gold medal winning wrestler and the winner of the first season of LFG. Steele wastes no time in wrestling her to the mat, followed by a northern lights suplex. Grace stomps away in the corner but Steele isn’t having that and makes the comeback. A bridging German suplex gives Steele the pin at 2:24. If you want to make her look like a star, this was a good way to go about it.

We look back at Jacy Jayne winning the Women’s Title last week. Jayne’s line of “you all may be shocked, but I’m not” is pretty awesome.

Mike Santana gives a fired up speech about being ready to fight to save TNA from Trick Williams. He knows how great Williams is, but tonight he’ll be three seconds better.

Here is Fatal Influence for Jacy Jayne’s big celebration. Jayne tells the fans to stay off the bandwagon now that she’s wont he title. The looks on everyone’s faces when she won the title last week made her happy and she was never shocked at all. She has put in the work for years and gotten better. The reality is that she and Fallon Henley have been friends for years and they decided to fake the fight to give her a better chance of winning the title.

Cue Lainey Reid to interrupt, saying Jayne is the most beatable champion of all time. Lola Vice thinks she should get the title as well and here is Jordynne Grace to throw her name in the hat as well. Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan join the parade, followed by Lash Legend and Thea Hail so the big fight can be on. Then the lights go out….and Mariah May is here. She wants the Women’s Title, though no name is officially given. This was a good way to set up the new reality in the division, with the May debut being the great surprise at the end.

Evolve Prime Minister Stevie Turner and Evolve Women’s Champion Kali Armstrong wants someone to step up.

Ethan Page and the Vanity Project are ready for the eight man tag.

Ethan Page/Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee

Kid takes Drake up against the ropes to start and chops away before handing it off to Lee for a running elbow. Stereo basement superkicks get two on Drake and a high crossbody gives Lee the same. Smokes comes in and it’s off to Evans to work on his arm. Legacy gets taken into the wrong corner though and the villains get to take over.

A dropkick starts the comeback though and Legacy hits a suicide dive to take out Swipe Right. Evans and Lee hit dives of their own but Page cuts off Kid’s dive. We take a break and come back with Evans in trouble as Drake stomps on his hands. A legsweep into a standing shooting star press gets two and Drake slaps on a chinlock.

That’s broken up so Page comes in, only to have the Twisted Grin broken up. Evans fires off a superkick and gets Lee back in so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Page’s powerslam gets two with Lee and Kid making the save. Kid and Evans hit a dive each, leaving Legacy to slug it out with Page. Baylor and Lee go to the top, with Lee knocking him down and hitting Operation Dragon for the pin at 13:30.

Rating: B-. For a match designed to set up the four way at Worlds Collide and get Legacy over as a possible threat, I’ve seen far worse. I’m not sure if Lee getting the pin makes sense as he isn’t involved in the match, but maybe they didn’t want to risk giving someone an advantage going into the title match. Nothing out of the ordinary here, but it went well enough.

Oba Femi and Jasper Troy have a tense showdown, where their contract is signed for a future match.

Zaria and Sol Ruca run into Tatum Paxley, who says she didn’t want to go out there earlier. Izzi Dame comes in and suggests that Paxley purge the people who aren’t her real friends.

Tony D’Angelo talks to Luca Crusifino, who has gotten them a match with High Ryze to show that they can trust each other. D’Angelo says that Crusifino didn’t get the Family’s permission, but Crusifino says they really aren’t a family anymore.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

TNA World Title: Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana

Santana is challenging and the winner of this defends against Elijah this Friday at Against All Odds. Williams backs him into the corner to start as the fans are all behind Santana here. A rather intimidating smile sets up Santana driving him into the corner but Williams gets in a shot to the face.

Williams’ running neckbreaker gets two but Santana glares his way up. Another knockdown sends Williams outside where Santana hits a big dive. We take a break and come back with Santana knocking him into the corner for the right hands. Williams scores with the Trick Kick for two before grabbing the cravate. Back up and the chops just fire Santana up, with an exchange of kicks to the head rocking both of them.

Santana hits a Death Valley Driver for a double down and the Rolling Buck Fifty (cutter) gives Santana two. The big Cannonball gets two and a 450 connects for the same, with Williams putting a finger on the ropes. Williams bails to the floor and breaks Elijah’s guitar…and here is First Class (AJ Francis, who is formerly known as Top Dolla, and KC Navarro) from TNA to take Santana out. The Trick Shot retains the title at 12:26.

Rating: B-. The ending was a nice move and while Santana winning the title will be a great moment, it doesn’t need to happen yet. I still expect Joe Hendry to get the title back at Slammiversary for the big moment, but for now, Williams beating someone in a good first defense is a smart way to go. Santana will be fine and can go after First Class to give him some heat back.

Overall Rating: B. This show felt like the week where NXT restocked the shelves, especially in that women’s segment. The door has been revolving at a crazy pace as of late so this is something that they were going to have to do sooner or later. I like how it went, as there are some new faces around here who could make a big impact in a hurry. Good show here, but more of a needed one than anything else.

Results
Darkstate b. Chase U – Toss sitout powerbomb to Dixon
Myles Borne b. Charlie Dempsey 2-1
Tyra Mae Steele b. Arianna Grace – Bridging German suplex
Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee b. Ethan Page/Vanity Project – Operation Dragon to Baylor
Trick Williams b. Mike Santana – Trick Shot

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

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Evolve
Date: May 28, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s a big show this week, with the first Women’s Champion being crowned. That means a four way elimination match for the inaugural title and that means we should be in for a big time main event. Other than that, the Men’s Title is being crowned next week so it’s time for a big push. Let’s get to it.

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

The four women in the title match (Kendal Grey, Kali Armstrong, Wendy Choo and Kylie Rae) are ready to win. Well Choo doesn’t talk because of course she doesn’t.

Opening sequence.

Jackson Drake vs. Lince Dorado vs. Jordan Oasis

The Vanity Project is here with Drake and the winner is in the Evolve Title match next week. Drake elbows both of them down to start and Oasis is sent outside. A top rope ax handle gets two on Dorado with Oasis coming back in for the save. Oasis hits a gutbuster for two on Drake and it’s time for a three way strike off.

Dorado gets the better of things but gets sent outside, leaving Drake to hammer on Oasis in the corner. Oasis plants him down for two but Brad Baylor makes the save. Dorado hits a big dive to the floor and goes to the back with the Vanity Project. Back up and Drake avoids a charge in the corner, setting up a running knee to pin Oasis at 5:52.

Rating: C+. This was a fine enough way to get the Vanity Project into the title match, as it would have been strange to not have them around in one way or another. I like the idea of bringing in a veteran like Dorado as well, as the fans are going to respond to someone they know. He’s still more than good enough in the ring to hold his own out here too, even if he isn’t likely going to win much.

Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont are ready to take out Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel.

It’s Gal is by the pool but he can’t have as much fun as he wants because people are saying Troy Yearwood has a better physique. That doesn’t work for Gal, so Yearwood needs to stay out of his way.

Jackson Drake is back in the ring and brags about his success, promising to win the title next week. Cue Edris Enofe to interrupt, saying Drake shouldn’t brag while he’s around. Cue Sean Legacy to interrupt, saying he’s going to win. Drake isn’t impressed but cue Keanu Carver to interrupt, with Drake getting beaten down.

Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel say it’s their speed against Tyson DuPont and Tyriek Igwe’s power.

Cappuccino Jones/Jack Cartwheel vs. Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont

Igwe powers Cartwheel down to start but Cartwheel is back up to work on the arm. DuPont comes in for a side slam but misses a charge into the corner. It’s off to Jones for a basement dropkick and a double clothesline puts DuPont on the floor. Cue Wes Lee to check on DuPont and Igwe, with the distraction letting DuPont get in a cheap shot to take over.

The double teaming is on but Jones gets over for the tag to Cartwheel. As we get a graphic saying Cartwheel is friends with Frank Frontroll and John Backflip, Cartwheel hits a big flip dive to take DuPont down, followed by a spinning moonsault for two on Igwe. DuPont runs Jones over on the floor though and it’s a Heartstopper for the pin on Cartwheel at 5:08.

Rating: B-. Power vs. speed very well may be the most basic story in wrestling and it went rather well here. They made the story clear and didn’t veer to one side or another with it, which is exactly how this needed to go. I liked this more than I was expecting, and Jones/Cartwheel as a regular team could be worth a try.

Stevie Turner signs Jin Tala to the roster. Carlee Bright comes in and is told she can’t be at ringside. Next week: Tala vs. Bright, and they’re both fine with it.

Natalya is here to watch the title match.

High Ryze (Wes Lee/Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont) are happy with their win and acknowledge that Jack Cartwheel and Cappuccino Jones have potential.

Women’s Title: Kylie Rae vs. Kali Armstrong vs. Kendal Grey vs. Wendy Choo

Elimination rules for the inaugural title. They start fast and everyone but Grey goes to the floor, meaning it’s time for the big dive to take them out. Back in and Armstrong is rammed into Rae for two each, followed by Grey crossbodying Choo for the same. Choo pops up and gets all creepy, including a running shot to all three in various corners. A high crossbody hits Rae but Grey runs Choo over. The Kali Connection hits Choo and Rae adds a superkick to get rid of Choo at 2:54.

We take a break and come back with Rae hitting a pair of Cannonballs for two. Armstrong suplexes them both at the same time but Grey fights up and cleans house. Grey goes for a cross armbreaker on Armstrong but Rae grabs a rollup to pin Grey at 6:05 total. We’re down to Armstrong vs. Rae, with Armstrong making a quick comeback.

The Kali Connection is countered into a crossface in the middle of the ring but Armstrong powers up anyway. A powerslam doesn’t work for Armstrong and Rae gets two off a small package. Back up and Armstrong hits the powerslam followed by the Kali Connection for the pin and the title at 8:45.

Rating: C+. Uh, where’s the rest of this? They hyped up the match as being this huge deal and then it’s over in less than nine minutes? I was expecting this to go a lot longer than this and it was actually disappointing. That being said, Armstrong is the right choice for the win, as she has had the hot hand in recent weeks. Someone is going to have to overcome the power and athleticism and that is going to make them a big deal.

Post match Rae is distraught and Wendy Choo looks on, because that still needs to be a thing.

Natalya comes in to present the title, which Armstrong snatches away from her.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was focused on the titles for the most part, with the tag match in the middle adding a bit of variety. The men’s title match is feeling huge, though the women’s version didn’t quite live up to expectations. I’ll take the step forward though, as this is starting to feel like a more traditional wrestling show week by week.

Results
Jackson Drake b. Jordan Oasis and Lince Dorado – Running knee to Oasis
Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe b. Cappuccino Jones/Jack Cartwheel – Heartstopper to Cartwheel
Kali Armstrong b. Kendal Grey, Kylie Rae and Wendy Choo last eliminating Rae

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

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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

Evolve
Date: April 9, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Robert Stone, Peter Rosenberg

After the first month or so, I’m starting to enjoy watching this show. No it isn’t anything great but it’s a logically put together show that is doing a good job of helping the young stars in their development. That’s a tricky thing to do but they’re making it work well thus far. Let’s get to it.

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

Swipe Right is happy with their performance last night on NXT, even though they lost. They know they’re the future.

We look back at Dani Palmer and Kali Armstrong teaming together and not getting along. Therefore, it’s time to fight, as tends to be the case in wrestling.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Javier Bernal vs. Riley Osborne

Bernal starts fast by spinning out of a wristlock and headscissoring him into the ropes. A superkick misses though and Osborne sends him to the floor, only to miss a moonsault. Back in and Osborne rolls into a hurricanrana for two and a clothesline drops Bernal again. The standing moonsault hits raised knees though and Bernal hits a nice running DDT to leave them both down. A facebuster into a butterfly suplex gives Bernal two and frustration is setting in. Osborne fights up and goes to the top, where he knocks Bernal down. The Star Stream (shooting star press) finishes for Osborne at 4:32.

Rating: C+. You can definitely tell that these two are more experienced and polished than the usual stars but at the same time, they have histories in NXT and that doesn’t exactly make them feel like fresh stars. Neither of them should be written off, but they’re going to need something else to build them back up. Osborne is rather athletic, though that’s not enough to really make him stand out these days.

Post match Bernal leaves his jacket behind and walks away, not looking happy.

Haze Jameson is in the VIP area.

Drako Knox is ready to work hard now that he finally has his chance. Whether it works out or not is up to him.

Bryce Donovan believes in survival of the fittest and to survive, you need to evolve. Oh I get it.

Bryce Donovan vs. Drako Knox

Hold on though as here are Swipe Right, Zayda Steel and Jackson Drake, saying Donovan is with them. Cue Cappuccino Jones, Jack Cartwheel and Ice Williams to even it up. Stevie Turner comes out to make it an eight man tag.

Bryce Donovan/Jackson Drake/Swipe Right vs. Ice Williams/Jack Cartwheel/Cappuccino Jones/Drako Knox

Knox and Drake shove each other to start until Drake runs him over with a shoulder. Drake hammers away in the corner but Knox pulls him over for the tag off to Jones. They forearm it out with Jones getting the better of things and knocking Drake down. Smokes comes in and gets caught in a backbreaker, setting up Cartwheel’s big flipping elbow to drop Smokes again. A cartwheel into a corkscrew moonsault gives Cartwheel two and we hit the chinlock.

The rather large Donovan comes in for a clothesline to Cartwheel and a big elbow gets two. Baylor comes in and slowly hammers away before dropping Cartwheel with a clothesline. Cartwheel manages to send Baylor to the floor though and everything breaks down. Jones gives Cartwheel some coffee and the big flip dive connects (Stone: “ARE YOU EVEN ALLOWED TO DO THAT???”).

We take a break and come back with Knox slamming Smokes so Williams can come in with a flipping shot for two. Donovan gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and it’s off to Balor for a front facelock. Smokes rakes the back and gets two off a neckbreaker. It’s back to Drake for a knee drop and a powerbomb gets two. Donovan gets in a few shots before Baylor hits some knees to the back for two of his own. The chinlock goes on but Williams fights up for an enziguri.

A discus lariat hits Smokes and the hot tag brings in Knox to clean house. Knox hits a powerslam out of the corner for two and everything breaks down. Knox’s pump kick puts Donovan on the floor but Zayda Steel distracts the referee so Swipe Right’s dropkick/spinebuster combination can get two on Cartwheel, with Williams making the save. We hit the parade of knockdowns with Cartwheel taking over on Baylor. A shooting star press misses though and Donovan’s Black Hole Slam is good for the pin on Cartwheel at 14:30.

Rating: B-. This was a showcase for a lot of the people involved and that’s a good idea. You can’t get much out of having this many people in just a few minutes so it was nice to see them get some actual time. Swipe Right continues to feel like they’re a big project and Williams and Jones feel like they could go somewhere. Good enough stuff here though, and it was nice to see them getting a chance in a different format.

Post match the winners are rather pleased with their win but seem to be a bit sickened. Sean Legacy and Timothy Thatcher come in to glare them down.

Chantel Monroe is in the VIP section.

Kali Armstrong is ready to fight.

Dani Palmer is from Kentucky and won’t take nonsense from anyone.

Dani Palmer vs. Kali Armstrong

Armstrong shoves her off to start and wants to fight. They trade arm control until Palmer hits a flipping seated senton for two. A basement crossbody gets two more and Palmer grabs a Fujiwara armbar. Armstrong fights up and pulls her off the top for the big crash. A belly to back slam puts Palmer down again and we take a break.

Back with Palmer fighting out of a chinlock and a double clothesline leaves them both down. They hit stereo crossbodies and they’re both down for a bit. Palmer fights up and hits an enziguri, setting up a middle rope Meteora. Armstrong catches her with a powerslam for two but Palmer knocks her down again. A rather high up frog splash misses and Armstrong hits one heck of a Pounce (the Kali Connection) for the pin at 7:39.

Rating: C+. The match was ok (that Pounce was great) but I haven’t been interested in this story since it started at the beginning of the series. It was a good enough story of a high flier vs. a powerhouse and it went well enough, but it felt like they were going through the motions. Armstrong feels like she could turn into something if she can get the talking ability to back up her athleticism. Palmer….I’m not wild on the whole Kentucky thing, as she felt more interesting as the “I’m really athletic” person on LVL Up.

Post match Armstrong says she’s different and calls out the entire locker room. Cue Kendal Grey and Brinley Reece, with Armstrong reiterating that she is different.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was a nice mixture of stuff and that made for a good show. I liked the idea of having something different than the usual kind of show we would get form LVL Up. Just putting in the eight man tag made things feel unique and that’s a nice thing to see. The show is establishing itself as something that exists in its own world and they’re making it work fairly well all things considered.

Results
Riley Osborne b. Javier Bernal – Star Stream
Bryce Donovan/Jackson Drake/Swipe Right b. Cappuccino Jones/Ice Williams/Jack Cartwheel/Drako Knox – Black Hole Slam to Cartwheel
Kali Armstrong b. Dani Palmer – Kali Connection

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