Will Dax & Cash learn to Fear The Red Death?

FTR put the blame on Daniel Garcia for how things went down between them, but now Garcia plans on taking one of the Top Guys out!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• “Speedball” Mike Bailey VS Dralistico; wins.
• Willow Nightingale VS Kris Statlander; wins.
• Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander VS The Dark Order; win(s).
• 8 Man Tag: The Don Callis Family VS The Outrunners, Bandido & AR Fox; win(s).
• Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn VS Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian; wins.
• Daniel Garcia VS Dax Harwood w/ Cash Wheeler & Stokely Hathaway; wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Prime Minister of Evolve has calls a town hall!

Stevie Turner wanted to say something last week on Evolve, but now she’ll have the proper time to tell us all what she has planned for the future!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Wendy Choo VS Summer Sorrell; Wendy wins.
• Jackson Drake w/ The Vanity Project VS Drako Knox; Drake wins.
• Nikkita Lyons VS Kendal Grey; Lyons wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Stevie Turner is in the ring.

With the entire Evolve roster at ringside, the Evolve “Prime Minister” stands behind a table with two items under purple velvet. Stevie welcomes us to the show, and says they are going to kick the night off with her monumental announcement that’ll change the landscape of Evolve forever. “For over two months, on Tubi and YouTube, these men and women have been fighting to showcase their skill in the hopes that one day, they will make it to NXT!” The fans cheer that! “Now in addition to those big NXT dreams, the women of Evolve will be fighting to become… the Evolve Women’s Champion” REVEAL of the belt and its white strap!

The fans cheer and Stevie continues. “In just three weeks, the Evolve Women’s Champion will be determined in a Fatal 4 Way Elimination Match. When I became Evolve Prime Minister, I asked all of these competitors to step up and impress me. And impress me they have! But three women in particular have really stood out to me. And those women are… Kali Armstrong! Kendal Grey! And Wendy Choo!” The fans cheer each name as they get fired up ringside. Stevie promises that even if she didn’t say their name, all the other women of Evolve still have a chance. There’s one spot open in that Fatal 4 Way, and it’s time to step up and take it!

Stevie then says, “And now for the men.” REVEAL of the THE Evolve Championship and its black strap! The men’s champion will be crowned in four week’s time. The men in that Fatal 4 Way Elimination Match will be… Sean Legacy! Keanu Carver gets upset that he wasn’t named first, and then It’s Gal gets mad. Only for Harlem Lewis to YANK the guy off the apron and storm into the ring, same as Keanu! These two titans want their spot, and Stevie tells them to calm down. But Vanity Project jumps in! Keanu & Harlem easily toss Jackson Drake & Swipe Right out, but then here comes Gallus! Now a real brawl is on!

The fans fire up as Harlem & Keanu take on Wolfgang, Markus & Joseph 3v2! Stevie wants this to stop, but it spills out of the ring! Refs rush out and the other Evolve stars help out, this brawl moves on to the back! Kali and Kendal then get in the ring to admire the Evolve Women’s Championship, only to then push each other! They brawl now, and the other ladies of Evolve hurry to stop this! Kali CHOP BLOCKS Kendal!! The fans boo that cheap shot, Stevie reprimands Kali, and now Kendal has to prepare for a match with a bad leg! Will she be easy pickings for #BigKatKita, Nikkita Lyons?

Backstage interview with Summer Sorrell.

Chuey Martinez is with the debuting star, and asks her how she feels drawing Wendy Choo as her first opponent here. Summer admits, she’s very nervous. This is the biggest dream come true, but facing Wendy right out the gate is a nightmare. Make no mistake, Summer is scared. But she uses fear as fuel to push and motivate her. When she gets in there, she’ll heat things up. It’s Summer Time, and these Summer nights will get you ready for a fight! Will Summer have a bright future? Or will Wendy make it a very dark one?

Nikkita Lyons meets with Stevie Turner in her office.

Lyons asks who Kendal thinks she is clapping back like that on socials. That is crazy! Stevie says yes, she’s seen the posts, and- Lyons says if Kendal thinks she can hang with “Nikkita Multimedia,” then Lyons is ready to pounce. Stevie says Kendal has been on a roll here in Evolve, which is why Lyons and Kendal are in the main event. Zayda Steel walks in, makes nice with Lyons, and says Lyons will handle Kendal just like her boy, Jackson Drake, will handle that… uh, Drako Knox! Stevie, that town hall meeting, that fourth spot in the Fatal 4 to crown THE Evolve Women’s Champion? Look no further! Just put Zayda right in!

Stevie says Zayda can’t just talk her way into the match. Uh, but she’s the Real Deal! They all know that! And Vanity Project runs Evolve. So let’s be real, when you think of Evolve, you think of Real Deal Zayda Steel! Stevie says no, Zayda still has to earn her way into it. Lyons says hold on, though. She sees Zayda has heart and guts. Maybe Big Kat Kita and the Vanity Project can collab. Zayda loves that. They head out together and Stevie asks for her minute back. Will the Real Deal understand she has to prove herself worthy instead of just thinking she’s worthy?

Wendy Choo VS Summer Sorrell!

The sleepy psycho made Kylie Rae take another Dirt Nap, and now she’s headed into the Women’s Evolve Championship match. But will the “Gatekeeper of Evolve” put Summer to sleep? Or will Summer turn up the heat and keep Wendy up all night?

The bell rings and the fans rally. Wendy and Summer step up, and then Summer cartwheels to dodge! Wendy isn’t amused and she runs up on Summer. Summer gest around to waistlock, but Wendy elbows free! Wendy Alabama Lifts, Summer sunset flips, TWO! Summer headlocks, Wendy powers up and out, and the two RAM shoulders! Wendy wags her finger, but Summer runs. Wendy follows to run Summer over! Wendy smiles, runs, but Summer drops down, hurdles over, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Wendy RAMS Summer into a corner! Wendy RAMS her again and again but the ref counts.

Wendy backs off, then UPPERCUTS Summer! Wendy snapmares Summer, then hits a NECK TWIST! Summer writhes and flounders away, but Wendy grins. Wendy creeps up and creeps Summer out! Summer goes up and over, but Wendy ELBOWS her down! Wendy drags Summer up, and THROWS her across the wing! Wendy storms up in the corner, ROCKS Summer, then runs up. Summer BOOTS Wendy, goes up, and FLYING SUNSET FLIPS! But Wendy rolls through to BOOT Summer in the face! Wendy drags Summer up, hammerlocks, and PEPSI TWISTS! Wendy isn’t done, time for a DIRT NAP!! Summer TAPS, Wendy wins!

Winner: Wendy Choo, by submission

Still undefeated, still unnerving, and still unkind! But before Wendy can doodle on Summer’s face, here comes Kylie! Kylie runs in and fires off hands! But Wendy slips around, DIRT- NO, Kylie snapmares free! SUPERKICK! Wendy runs for it now! The Kylie RAGE is burning, will she give Wendy a wakeup call?

A car pulls up.

It parks, and out steps… Lexis King! The Drama King is here, but what business could he have with Evolve?

Lexis King heads to the ring!

The fans cheer as the former Heritage Cup Champion grabs a mic and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, The King has finally arrived in WWE Evolve. And I do say finally, because once upon a time, The King was just so eager to debut for Evolve. Back before I was such a big star, of course. Evolve was the place to be. Evolve is where everyone wanted to work, because Evolve is a portal to NXT. Alright, Evolve is a new place where new things are happening. Fresh faces are coming in, spotlights are being shined on new talent. And let’s face it, nobody knows more about spotlight than Lexis King.” The fans are bit torn there.

Lexis says he loves it, he lives for it, and he thrives in it. That’s why he’s here and now. He wants a taste of that spotlight! That’s why he is standing here a living, breathing superstar! The KING of NXT! “And to all the men and women in that locker room, let me just inform you that I’m the portal now. Nobody comes and goes from my NXT Kingdom without MY say.” But wait! Here comes Sean Legacy! The fans cheer as “Super Sean” has a mic to tell Lexis, “Welcome to Evolve! Now, I was gonna let you ramble on and on and on, because I just know you love hearing yourself speak. But there was one thing that didn’t sit right to me.

“You may be the King of NXT, but that doesn’t let you decide who’s a superstar and who isn’t; the WWE Universe does.” The fans cheer, but Lexis tells Sean and the fans to simmer down. Sean “thanks” Lexis for gracing us with his presence. But if Lexis thinks Sean’s gonna sit back there and let Lexis disrespect the men and women putting in all the hard work to make it to NXT… Oh, so is Sean the guy? He’s the big cheese around here? The locker room leader superhero? Tell him more! The fans cheer on “LEGACY! LEGACY!” but Lexis says okay, shut up. Sean says there’s nothing special, he’s just being himself. One fans says Sean can jump pretty high and Sean admits that’s true.

But Sean’s just some kid from Augusta, Georgia. He is someone that has been told countless times that he wouldn’t be standing in a WWE ring. He has paid his due, made the trips, done the sleepless nights and the 16 HOUR car drives for a $20 bill and a handshake. Hell, he’s still doing it cuz he loves this! He’ll be damned if someone like Lexis talks down to him when he’s busting his ass to get to NXT! When an NXT superstar comes out here and cuts down this place, a place that is giving Sean the opportunity of a lifetime, Sean will stand up for that one. Oh, he’ll stand up and defend everyone in the back?

Then Lexis dares him to stand up and defend something in this ring next week, against Lexis. It’ll be the biggest night of Sean’s life. Lexis offers a handshake, Sean takes it, and the fans cheer. Sean then tells Lexis, “That sounds super.” But then Lexis pulls Sean in close to tell him, “You have a long way to go to becoming a king.” Next week, Lexis and Legacy go 1v1, but will conquering Evolve be the King’s next crowning achievement?

Kendal Grey gets checked by medical.

She swears she’s okay, but Carlee Bright is very worried. How could Kali do that to Kendal? Doc, please say Kendal’s okay to compete. Kendal says she is, seriously! Nothing and no one is going to stop her. Carlee wants to have Kendal’s back but Kendal says no, she wants to do this alone. Kendal hobbles off and Carlee tells the ref that “her bestie” is tough. But will this bravado only get Kendal taken out of the Fatal 4 Way? Or can Kendal step into Lyons’ den and come out the conquering hero?

Keanu Carver is hunting Gallus!

He won’t let things just go down like that! Where them boys at? Stevie has him stop, and she says Gallus already left. Then he’ll just track them boys down! Harlem Lewis storms in, he wants Gallus, but Stevie repeats Gallus left. Harlem says Gallus are “big bad Irishmen when security’s around.” Harlem will go find them himself. Keanu says hold up, no he’s not. Keanu handles them first. Stevie has them stop arguing. They want a crack at Gallus, they’ll get one next week. But in a tag match. Harlem and Keanu don’t like that, but Stevie says if they want Gallus that bad, then they will. Stevie heads off, Keanu tells Harlem to stay in his lane but Harlem tells Keanu to mind his business.

We’re getting another “Can they or won’t they?” with the two alpha males of Evolve, but will it still be Gallus Boys on Top?

Jackson Drake w/ The Vanity Project VS Drako Knox!

Speaking of grudges, this one has been a long time coming. The Vanity Project mocked the Hard Knox & Cowboy Tate after they lost, and considering Tate is out with injury, that was just salt in the wound. Will Knox knock Drake down a peg? Or will the Carolina Reaper be too spicy for Knox to handle?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Knox puts Drake in a corner, but Drake turns things around. The ref counts, Drake lets off at 4, but Knox seethes. Drake talks trash, but Knox DECKS him! Knox then headlocks, grinds Drake down, but Drake fights up and out. Knox runs Drake over! The fans fire up as Knox headlocks again, but Drake powers up and out. Knox ducks ‘n’ dodges, Drake trips him up, and the fans boo. Drake runs in at the corner, but Knox dodges! Drake BOOTS Knox away, goes up, and leaps, but into a clinch! EXPLODER! The fans fire up for the #RedBone, and then Knox LARIATS in the corner!

Knox whips, Drake hurdles over, then he slips around to throw Knox down by his durag! The fans boo but Drake ELBOWS Knox down! Cover, TWO! The fans boo but Vanity Project hypes up their guy. Drake ROCKS Knox, CLUBS him, but the fans taunt him as “Jackson Jackass!” Drake clamps on with a chinlock but Knox endures. The fans rally but Drake pulls back on the hold. Knox fights around, the fans rally behind him, and Knox fires body shots! Knox arm-drags Drake away, then BACKDROPS him on the return! The fans fire up and Knox runs up to DECK Drake! And CLOBBER him! And then scoop and SLAM!

The fans fire up and Knox slips around Drake for a facelock. Drake wrenches out and whips, but Knox reverses and sends in the KITCHEN SINK KNEE! The fans fire up as Knox keeps moving, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Drake toughs it out but Knox gets mad now. Knox clamps onto Drake, but Drake fights the back suplex! Drake wrenches and clinches, FLATLINER! The fans boo but Drake goes to a corner. Drake runs up, but Knox trips him up! Knox runs, SLIDING- NO, Drake ducks it to hit a ghost pin, TWO! Drake kips up, ENZIGIRIS, and Vanity Project cheers! Drake runs, handsprings, but Knox catches him to the RED THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!

Drake flounders to the apron but Knox is on him! Knox stands Drake up, only for Drake to HOTSHOT! Drake rushes in, only for Knox to LARIAT him inside-out! Knox scoops again, but Drake pulls the ears! Drake CLUBS Knox, the ref reprimands, but Drake handsprings! LETHAL IN-JACKSON!! Drake aims from a corner, runs back in, UNALIVING!! Cover, Drake wins!

Winner: Jackson Drake, by pinfall

The fans may not like it, but at least Drake won without help from his friends. With three spots still open in the Men’s Evolve Championship Fatal 4 Way, will the Carolina Reaper look to spice things up?

Backstage interview with Javier Bernal.

Chuey is now with Big Body Javi, who per the shirt is feeling a bit more emo right now. But Chuey asks how he is and Javi says he’s good. But to address the elephant in the room, this new look. It is definitely a different look than we’re used to. But Javi was on the shelf for eight MONTHS. And every day, he wondered if he’d ever be able to do what he loves again. And as he was making his way back, he heard about Evolve and thought, “That is an excellent opportunity for me to hit the ground running.” So while he hit the ground running, he realized he isn’t “Big Body Javi” anymore. Then who is he now?

Javi says to really understand Javi, we have to see that maybe he was never really “Big Body Javi.” You ever been to metalcore concerts? Javi went, listened to the music, felt the energy of the crowd, even screamed out loud. For a moment, he thought he’d be judged. But then he heard everyone else scream back and all the anxiety just washed away. In that moment, Javi felt genuine. That version of Javi is what he’ll bring to Evolve. He finally feels comfortable in his own skin, and that’s a blessing. But then It’s Gal walks in and says, “Oh, boo hoo, what a cute story, right? Well too bad nobody cares!

“Nobody cares about this version of Javi or any version of Javi, for that matter. You should’ve been interviewing the Real-Life Action Figure, It’s Gal! It’s Gal, it’s Gal, it’s Gal!” Gal leaves laughing, and Javi says he just found his next opponent. Will Javi show he’s finally free by winning big? Or will Gal be laughing all the way to the bank?

Lexis King crosses paths with The Vanity Project.

Brad Baylor unironically says, “What up, King?” Ricky Smokes compliments the beard as “extra crispy,” and says ladies must love the King. Lexis says they are correct. And speaking of crispy, Swipe Right looked real crispy against Fraxiom. And Jackson did great tonight. Drake is honored to have a fan in The King. The Project was just talking about how great it’ll be watching King knock Legacy off his pedestal. Lexis thanks them for that, and Bryce says if he needs anything from them, just let them know. Zayda says he can even slide into the DMs. Say less, darling. Lexis will see them around. He heads out, will Vanity Project become the King’s court?

Nikkita Lyons VS Kendal Grey!

#BigKatKita is back on the prowl, looking to pounce on fresh meat before they evolve and are too much to handle. However, Kali Armstrong may have done all the hard work for her tonight, given she chopped Kendal out at the legs. Will #GrapplerGrey still be undefeated? Or will Stevie Turner have to rethink her plans for the Women’s Evolve Championship?

The big fight introductions are given, and Lyons shows off that she can still use both legs. The bell rings and the two circle. Lyons KICKS and Kendal is already hobbling! Lyons KICKS again, but then Kendal ducks the spin kick! Kendal goes for a leg but Lyons picks her up! Kendal slips fere but the bad leg jams! Kendal still ELBOWS Lyons away, but then runs into a scoop! Kendal slips free, Lyons bucks the O’Conner, and Lyons CLOBBERS Kendal! Lyons bumps Kendal off buckles, CHOPS her, and then talks trash. Lyons swings again but Kendal dodges to CHOP! Kendal hobbles, whips, but Lyons reverses.

Kendal reverses, trips Lyons up, and basement DROPKICKS! Lyons bails out, Kendal hobbles again, and Kendal slides, only for Lyons to block! Lyons SLAMS the bad leg on the apron, spins Kendal around, and ROCKS her with a right! Lyons goes to the apron, does a standing splits into the #YamSlam on the apron! Kendal sputters and Lyons stalks her. Lyons drags Kendal from the ropes, turns her over, and SMASHES that bad leg on the mat! The fans boo and Kendal writhes, but Lyons puts her in a corner. Lyons wraps the bad leg around the ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Lyons stops, but then she ROCKS Kendal!

Lyons puts the leg back in the ropes, ROCKS Kendal again, and then STOMPS the leg down! The fans are torn while Kendal crawls away. Lyons clamps onto the leg and she works to turn Kendal! Kendal fights the turn, kicks from below, and Lyons staggers back. Lyons comes back with the HEEL KICK! Cover, TWO! Kendal stays in this but Lyons KICKS away on the bad leg, and YANKS it! Lyons drags Kendal up, has the bad leg, and SHIN BREAKERS! Kendal falls, Lyons puts the bad foot on the ropes, then HIP DROPS the knee! The fans are torn but Lyons twerks before she YANKS the bad leg again.

Lyons SMASHES the bad knee off the mat again, then looms over Kendal. Lyons stands Kendal up to SHIN- NO, Kendal sunset flips! TWO and Kendal kicks. Lyons blocks, ducks the enzigiri, and lifts the leg again! But Kendal uses that to stand up and ROCK Lyons with forearms and CHOPS! The fans fire up as Kendal DROP- NO, Lyons blocks the dropkick to CATAPULT Kendal, into the HALF CRAB! Lyons sits deep on the leg as she pulls way back! Kendal still endures, fights forward, and reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Lyons lets go at 4 and looms over Kendal again. Lyons drags Kendal from the ropes, runs, but Kendal avoids the splash!

Kendal and Lyons rise, and Kendal fires body shots! Then SLAP, CHOP, and repeat! Lyons blocks a shot, KICKS low, then winds up, but into an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!! Lyons clasps hands but Kendal pulls on the grip! Lyons stacks Kendal, deadlifts her, but Kendal lets go to KNEE low! Kendal hops on for a SLEEPER! The fans fire up as Lyons flails! Lyons RAMS Kendal into the corner, then runs up. Kendal KNEES Lyons, goes up, and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES! Kendal has to crawl to the cover, TWO! Lyons survives, Kendal hobbles up, but she ducks Lyons’ roundhouse! Kendal goes up the corner, but her leg gives out!

Kendal falls into the drop zone, Lyons says she’s an idiot. Lyons steps on Kendal, goes up and up, VADER BOMB! Cover, Lyons wins!

Winner: Nikkita Lyons, by pinfall

Kendal may have had one good leg but she had a lot of heart. Even so, Lyons at 100% was too much, and now Lyons has her first win in Evolve! But then Kali rushes out here to pick the bones! She stomps the bad leg, drives it down with DDT after DDT, then she puts on a STRETCH MUFFLER!! The refs rush out here, Kali drops Kendal, and now Kendal’s spot in the Fatal 4 Way really is in jeopardy! Is this how the Ironwoman of Inglewood intends to inspire the next generation? By ending Kendal’s future before it can begin?

My Thoughts:

A great Evolve here, but rather bittersweet given some of the cuts that happened before this episode could air. It’s a real shame that Gallus was cut, I can’t really be sure why they never got to go very far. And instead of their tag match with Harlem & Keanu being this week, it’s next week, so I guess technically we can say they’re WWE superstars for a little longer. Javier being cut stings a bit more now as he was literally on the verge of a new persona. He had a good promo to help put “Emo Metalcore Javi” into perspective, and It’s Gal picking a fight with him was also good, but I guess Javi’s last match will be next week, too.

As such, I feel like there was awkward editing on who will be in the Men’s Evolve Championship Fatal 4 Way. Stevie only naming Sean Legacy seemed odd, but I suppose it still works that Keanu and Harlem would each take offense to not automatically being named. I would think after they beat Gallus, we get them named to the match and then we get something special for the fourth spot. The same should happen in the Women’s Evolve Championship Fatal 4 Way. Maybe a gauntlet to essentially give ranks 5 through 10 their chance at being in the match. We can get some great combinations through a match like that to really add something to the different Fatal 4 Ways.

Wendy of course beat poor Summer, but good move to have Kylie rush out there after her. Honestly, make Kylie the fourth contender via a gauntlet or whatever, she needs to settle things with Wendy while potentially going for the gold. Great match from Lyons and Kendal, but even if Kendal wasn’t “hurt” going into the match, I feel Lyons was going to win. I just don’t get what’s going on with Kali Armstrong now. Her interview gave us an idea of who she was as a person, how she wants to be a role model, but then she doubles down on being a Heel here. Just odd really.

Lyons being a new addition to Evolve is fine. It is just unfortunate that injuries slowed down her NXT run and now the title scenes have moved past her. Her and Zayda getting along is an interesting move, but I feel like the title will drive a wedge there. Lexis King showing up in Evolve is a huge surprise, I thought he was going to be moving up from the Heritage Cup to the North American Championship. Great promo between him and Legacy, and then King being friendly with Vanity Project is also interesting. Lexis VS Legacy will be a great match next week, maybe with Vanity Project getting involved, certainly interesting possibilities from here.

My Score: 8.6/10