Can the Pride of Inglewood put her pride aside?

WWE Evolve Women’s Champion, Kali Armstrong, claims she doesn’t need help. But in a tag match against Nikkita Lyons & Zayda Steel, will she be able to accept help from The Queen of Harts, Natalya?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kali Armstrong & Natalya VS Nikkita Lyons & Zayda Steel; Kali & Natty win.
• WWE ID Showcase: Marcus Mathers VS Jordan Oasis; Mathers wins.
• Vanity Gauntlet Match: Sean Legacy VS The Vanity Project; The Vanity Project wins and denies Legacy a title opportunity.

PLAY BY PLAY

Kali Armstrong & Natalya VS Nikkita Lyons & Zayda Steel!

The WWE Evolve Women’s Champion is certainly strong like her name suggests, but even she can’t win a 2v1, and that’s why someone had to come to her aid. Can there be a Kali Connection between her and The Queen of Harts? Or will #BigKatKita & The Real Deal sink the champ and The BOAT?

The teams sort out, Kali and Lyons start, and the fans rally up. The two talk trash, then start shoving! They tie up and go around, and Kali puts Lyons in the corner. The ref counts, Kali lets off, and the two reset. The fans rally as Kali takes swings but Lyons bobs ‘n’ weaves to BODY SHOT, then ELBOW! Kali staggers back to her corner, ELBOWS Lyons away, and Natty tags in. Natty runs up, slips around to waistlock, but Lyons switches. Lyons lifts, Natty victory rolls and has the legs! Lyons BOOTS Natty away, and Kali tags back in. Kali and Lyons tie up, Lyons KNEES low, but Kali fires rights ‘n’ lefts! Kali avoids the heel kick to ROCK Lyons!

Lyons tags Zayda, Zayda runs in but Kali fireman’s carries. Zayda slips free, kicks, but Kali blocks to LARIAT! Kali brings Zayda over and tags Natty in now. Natty rolls Zayda up, TWO! Natty CLUBS Zayda, whips, but Zayda reverses. Natty dodges in the corner to then slingshot SIT-DOWN! Natty steps on Zayda, then runs to BOOT! The fans fire up and Natty covers, TWO! Zayda flounders but Natty grabs the legs. Natty steps through but Zayda kicks free! Natty chases Zayda to ropes and the ref has Natty back off. Zayda then YANKS Natty into the ropes! Zayda argues with the ref and Lyons BOOTS Natty down!

The fans boo but Zayda drags Natty over. Tag to Lyons and they mug Natty in the corner! Lyons fires body shots and a KICK! Then Lyons runs Natty side to side to bump her off buckles, then fires off more kicks while Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns and Lyons has Natty down with a chinbar and armlock combo. The fans rally up while Natty endures, but Lyons grinds her down with a full chinlock. Natty fights up, arm-drags free, and the fans fire up. Natty runs but Lyons picks her up! Lyons RAMS Natty all the way to the other corner! Tag to Zayda, she talks trash on Kali, then runs up to SHINING WIZARD Natty! Zayda snapmares Natty, says kiss this to Kali, and she basement DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Zayda KNEES Natty in the back and clamps on the chinlock. Natty endures but Zayda throws her down! And steps on her! The fans boo, but Natty rolls Zayda up! TWO!

Zayda and Natty scramble, and Zayda drags Natty away from Kali. Zayda bumps Natty off buckles, stomps her, then tags Lyons. Lyons fires body shots, then brings Natty out for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Natty stays in this but Lyons stays on her with a chinlock. The fans rally, Natty fights, but Lyons leans her whole weight on Natty. Natty still fights, still rises, and fires body shots! Lyons THROWS Natty down by her hair! The fans boo but Lyons tags Zayda. Zayda drags Natty up, facelocks, and CLUBS away on her. Zayda powers Natty to a corner, RAMS her, then swaggers. Zayda fires forearms on Natty then tags Lyons.

Lyons fires fast hands on Natty again, then fast kicks! The ref counts, Zayda tags in, and she stomps a mudhole in. The ref counts again and Zayda says she knows! But Natty ELBOWS Lyons and BOOTS Zayda! Natty crawls past Zayda to hot tag Kali! The fans fire up as the champ rallies on Zayda! Shoulder after shoulder, then one for Lyons! Lyons staggers to a corner, Kali runs in and she RAMS Lyons! Then she goes corner to corner and RAMS Zayda! Kali whips Zayda and picks her up for a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, Lyons breaks it! Natty runs up to ROCK Lyons! Lyons ROCKS Natty! Natty ducks the heel kick to DISCUS LARIAT!

The fans fire up while those two bail out and Kali says she didn’t need that help! But Zayda rolls her! TWO, and Kali dodges Zayda to SNAP POWERSLAM! Kali builds up speed, builds speed, but Natty tags in?! KALI CONNECTION! Natty then steps in and has the SHARPSHOOTER! Zayda TAPS, Natty & Kali win!

Winners: Kali Armstrong & Natalya, by submission

Well, okay, Kali didn’t need Natty tagging in at the end, but she admits that’s a good combo. Kali & Natty humble Zayda & Lyons for at least tonight, but Natty glanced at the title. Is the Queen of Harts looking to Evolve as a champion?

Stevie Turner talks with Sean Legacy & Timothy Thatcher.

The “Prime Minster” of Evolve says the last few weeks have been some of the biggest in this brand’s short history. She thanks Legacy & Thatcher for helping shape the landscape. Legacy appreciates that, and knows her time is short, so he’ll get to business. He wants first crack at Jackson Drake and that Evolve Championship. Stevie appreciates his initiative, but he’s not the only one who wants it, and she’s already several inquiries. Legacy says he’ll do whatever it takes to be the guy. What if it was a gauntlet against Vanity Project? Thatcher says, “You wanna do what?” Legacy just wants to know, would that be enough?

Stevie double checks: Legacy takes on and beats every man in Vanity Project in a row? Yes, that would make him #1 contender. Then let’s do it! They shake on it and Legacy heads out. Thatcher shakes his head, and says Legacy will just have to learn the hard way. Can Super Sean make it through Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes and Bryce Donovan, just to get after Jackson Drake?

Backstage interview with Jordan Oasis and Marchs Mathers.

Chuey Martinez is with The Nomad and Philly’s Finest and says we’ve been following both men’s journeys. A WWE ID Showcase is here! What’s going through their heads? Oasis says he was looking out the window on the bus, rolling down the I-4 on his way here, and he couldn’t help but think of Jackson Drake. That’s because Drake is also WWE ID, and he is the inaugural WWE Evolve Champion. Now, Oasis didn’t put miles and miles on his boots, and ride for hours and hours on buses, only to get this far. His journey to become Evolve Champion starts tonight!

Mathers stops Oasis there, and says if we’re talking journeys and moments, this is Mathers’ Evolve in-ring debut. This is a moment he has pictured over a thousand times. And while Oasis is a big man, he and Mathers have the same goals, and only one can get there first. And Mathers has all the confidence in the world that it will be him. Chuey says the showcase is up next! Which one of these world-traveled wrestlers will take that huge step towards the title?

Masyn Holiday & Layla Diggs talk in the locker room.

Masyn knows a lot is going on, and honestly someone here has to know what is going on. First Brinley Reece was attacked, then Dani Palmer, then Carlee Bright. That’s pretty wild. Layla asks, “Is it? Because Zara, we haven’t seen you in a few weeks.” Jin Tala says she and Kendal Grey were just thinking the same thing. Kendal says Zara has to be the attacker! Zara says she didn’t do it. Then does she have proof? No, but that’s not her style. If you got issue with her, let’s settle it in the ring. Okay, let’s do it! The locker room is on edge, but will the Petite Powerhouse prove her innocence?

WWE ID Showcase: Marcus Mathers VS Jordan Oasis!

While Sean Legacy wants to run the gauntlet, these two have been working their way up the indies and are now ready to Evolve. But will Philly’s Finest make a huge splash in his debut? Or will the Nomad prove that he belongs?

The bell rings and Mathers offers a handshake. Oasis takes it, the fans cheer that showing of respect, and the two tie up. They go around, Oasis headlocks and grinds the hold. Mathers endures, works to get free, but Oasis hits a takeover. Mathers fights up, powers up, and he powers out. Oasis RUNS Mathers over, keeps moving, but Mathers drops, hurdles, and rolls. Oasis rolls Mathers back but Mathers avoids the senton! Ghost pin, TWO! Mathers kicks and DROPKICKS! Mathers kips up and the fans fire up. Mathers runs in and forearm SMASHES in the corner! Mathers then snapmares Oasis, goes up and CROSSBODIES!

But Oasis catches Mathers! FALL AWAY SLAM! The fans fire up and Oasis covers, TWO! Mathers stays in this but Oasis CHOPS him on the back! Mathers scowls but Oasis CLUBS him. Oasis brings Mathers up but Mathers CHOPS! And CHOPS! The fans fire up, but Oasis CHOPS Mathers down! Oasis CLUBS Mathers, drags him up, and whips him to the corner. Mathers bounces off buckles, Oasis scoops and SLAMS, then KICKS! And SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Mathers stays in this but Oasis clamps on with a chinlock. Mathers endures, the fans rally, and Mathers fights up. Mathers fires body shots, but Oasis squeezes tight.

Oasis CLUBS Mathers, UPPERCUTS, but Mathers ELBOWS in return! Mathers is in the corner, he BOOTS Oasis away, then goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Down goes Oasis and the fans fire up! Mathers runs up but Oasis gets around to lift and BACKBREAKER! Then suplex for the BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Mathers stays in this and Oasis frowns. The fans rally, Oasis stalks Mathers, and Oasis sees Mathers on the ropes. Oasis runs and hits the BLACKOUT CANNONBALL! The fans fire up and Oasis hurries back in. Oasis drags Mathers up to wind up, but Mathers breaks free! Oasis ducks the enzigiri to back suplex!

Mathers lands out and he HOOK KICKS! Oasis tumbles out of the ring, Mathers builds speed, and Mathers FLIES! Down goes Oasis and the fans fire up again! Mathers puts Oasis in the ring, climbs up a corner, and 450 SPLASH! Cover, Mathers wins!

Winner: Marcus Mathers, by pinfall

These two have what it takes, that’s why they’re WWE ID! But in the end, Mathers turns his Evolve debut into his first Evolve win. He shows Oasis respect by offering another handshake and Oasis takes it. But then Oasis shoves Mathers outta the way as KEANU CARVER runs in! Keanu CLOBBERS Oasis in the corner, then he CLOBBERS Mathers anyway! Keanu TOSSES Oasis and he drags Mathers up. Keanu gorilla presses Mathers to THROW him out onto Oasis!

Then Keanu grabs a mic to say, “It took two of y’all WWE ID clowns to stop me from becoming the first-ever Evolve Champ! So now I’m gonna run through y’all until you’re BEGGING to go back to the bingo halls y’all came from! I’m gonna destroy this whole program!” Keanu still wants to be the Alpha Male of Evolve, but will he learn first-hand there’s a reason WWE noticed the indies in the first place?

Tate Wilder speaks.

“There’s a reason cowboys are cowboys. There ain’t no freedom like hopping on a horse, running through an open field for miles, just you, the horse, and the earth that God gave us. My father wanted us to push our limits. That’s when you find your true self. A simple mistake can lead to a catastrophic ending. On any given night, you can become the victor, or you can become the victim. The way I grew up, the country way, family is the only thing you got.” Tate Wilder is back to 100%, but will he wrangle himself the top spot in Evolve?

Kylie Rae speaks.

“Wendy Choo. You messed with me, you messed with my family, and honestly, you scared the hell outta me. But not anymore. I am done being intimidated by you. So I wanted to thank you, Wendy. Because you’ve awakened something inside of me. Sure, you’ll be the hell outta me, but I’m gonna keep getting up and bringing this fight to you until I am the last woman standing.” Will Wendy regret igniting the Kylie Rage?

Vanity Gauntlet Match: Sean Legacy VS The Vanity Project!

“Super” Sean put the challenge forth to himself, and if he makes it through Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes and Bryce Donovan, then he gets his title match with Jackson Drake. But as such, the bros are hundos on beating Sean down to championship block him. Will Sean truly be super making it through three opponents in one night?

Vanity Project makes their entrance all at once to keep Sean guessing on who is first. But after the main event introductions, Vanity Project sorts out, and Smokes starts. The bell rings, Smokes runs up, but Legacy fires fast hands! Legacy whips, Smokes reverses but Legacy redirects to dropkick the legs out! Then he DOUBLE STOMPS and DROPKICKS! Smokes sputters, the fans fire up, and Legacy scoops to SLAM! Legacy smirks at Drake before he KICKS Smokes, KICKS him again, and STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, ONE! Smokes scrambles away while Drake talks trash. Legacy snarls, Smokes runs up, but Legacy CHOPS him down first!

Legacy has Smokes in a corner, CHOPS again, and the fans rally up. Legacy snapmares and KICKS Smokes again! Legacy drags Smokes up, whips, but Smokes reverses. Smokes runs up, Legacy pops him up, but Smokes lands on the top rope to rain down fists! The ref counts and the fans boo but Vanity Project cheers. Smokes then hits a CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Legacy stays in this but Smokes stomps him down. Smokes pushes Legacy down to rain down fists, and he storms around in anger. Smokes stands Legacy up but Legacy fires hands! Legacy whips, Smokes reverses, then Smokes runs in and ROCKS Legacy!

Smokes whips, Legacy reverses, but Smokes dodges! Legacy hits buckles, and Smokes slingshot SPEARS! Cover, TWO! Drake is frustrated but Smokes clamps onto Legacy with a chinlock. Smokes grinds Legacy down but Legacy endures. Legacy fights around, the fans rally, but Smokes leans on him. Legacy still rises up and he fires body shots. Legacy is free and goes to a corner, but Smokes runs up. Legacy BOOTS Smokes, then somersaults for a SATELLITE DDT! The fans fire up and Brad is worried for his bro bro! The fans rally behind Legacy and Legacy watches Smokes go to the corner. Smokes runs back up but Legacy blocks and counter punches!

Legacy CLOBBERS Smokes, CLOBBERS him again, then SOBATS, FRONT KICKS, and BOOTS! Smokes staggers into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Smokes tumbles into a corner, the fans fire up with Legacy, and he torture racks! SHAMBLES! Cover, Legacy ELIMINATES Smokes! But here comes Brad Baylor with a CHOP BLOCK! The fans boo but Brad is all fired up. “You like that?!” The fans boo and Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns and Brad has Legacy in a corner. Brad shouts, “SWIPE!” but the fans shout, “LEFT!” Brad storms up but Legacy fires hands! The fans fire up as Legacy whips, but Brad reverses to ELBOW Legacy down! Cover, TWO! Brad storms up on Legacy, stomps him around, but the fans still rally behind Legacy. Brad tells them to shut up, and he stomps Legacy more. Zayda fans off Smokes while Brad runs up, but Legacy blocks the boot! Legacy stands, swings, but Brad dodges to pick a leg! But Legacy ENZIGIRIS! The fans fire up while Brad goes to a corner. Legacy runs up, Brad puts him on the apron, and Legacy’s leg jams!

Brad runs up, but Legacy dodges to KICK! Legacy springboards and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Brad survives and Legacy clutches the bad knee. Legacy shakes that leg out but he glares at Brad. Brad flounders while Vanity Project cheers him on. Legacy runs up, but Brad dodges the gamangiri! Fireman’s carry and T K O! Cover, TWO! Legacy survives and Brad is beside himself! Brad hurries to drag Legacy up, he underhooks, and shouts “HUNDOS!” But Legacy wrenches free and ROCKS Brad! Brad staggers but he comes back to ROCK legacy! Legacy is in a corner, he goes up and he headscissors to RANA!

The fans fire up, Legacy runs to GAMANGIRI Brad down! Cover, TWO! Brad stays in this and Legacy grows frustrated. Vanity Project cheers Brad on but the fans rally for Legacy. Brad flounders to the ropes, Legacy hobbles over, and Legacy waistlocks. Brad clings to ropes, the ref counts, but Legacy SLAPS Brad’s arms down! Torture rack, but Brad fights free! Brad ROCKS Legacy, but Legacy ROCKS Brad! The fans rally, Brad UPPERCUTS Legacy but Legacy kicks. Brad blocks a kick, CLUBS the leg, and then Brad reels Legacy in, only for Legacy to suplex first! The fans fire up while both men are down!

Brad flounders, but he can’t take out to Bryce, that’s not how this works! Vanity Project cheer Brad on as he stands back up. Brad runs at Legacy, but Legacy TOSSES him out! The fans fire up for Legacy and he builds speed! Legacy FLIES! Down goes Brad and the fans fire up! Legacy hobbles and puts Brad back in. Legacy shakes out the bad leg, reconsiders the springboard and climbs the corner. But Brad is right up after him! SUPERPLEX! But Legacy cradles?! LEGACY ELIMINATES BRAD!! Brad is shocked but Legacy got through Swipe Right! But here comes Bryce! Legacy dodges once but the BOOT finds him! Cover, Vanity Project wins!!

Winners: The Vanity Project, by pinfall (denies Sean Legacy a title match)

Legacy fought so hard and got so far, but in the end, the Vanity Project ruins things for him. They laugh at him for even trying, but then Drake has to add a SENTON! Swipe Right mugs Legacy, and Drake says the Vanity Project runs Evolve! That means THEY call the shots! They will do what they want, when they want, how- WAIT! Lince Dorado is here, and he has a chair! The Golden Lynx runs Vanity Project off, then grabs the mic to say, “Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah! That’s not how it goes down in the big leagues! And that’s not how it’s gonna go down here at Evolve, guys! Children! NO! Nah, nah.”

Vanity Project are upset, and they decide to flank the rink. Lince says they must think they’re real tough all 4v1, right? Well, Lince’s not alone! THE L W O IS HERE! Cruz Del Toro y Joaquin Wilde rush in! The fans fire up as Cruz & Wilde dodge Swipe Right to DOUBLE DROPKICK Drake! Then they LARIAT Swipe Right! The fans fire up as the LWO continues to rally, and while Cruz scoops Brad for a BACKBREAKER, Wilde gives Smokes a DDT! Lince then LARIATS Brad up and out! Drake sneaks back in, but Lince TOSSES him, too! The fans fire up as the LWO are here, will they bring the fiesta to Evolve?

My Thoughts:

A very good Evolve with less matches than expected, but also I kinda wish they’d done more with them. Mathers VS Oasis was great as a “WWE ID Showcase,” but like, was that really a showcase when it doesn’t last that long? Mathers was naturally winning that given the hype following him, but let fans really see what he can do, even if this is “just Evolve.” Keanu going after Mathers and Oasis and then waging war on the WWE ID program is decent story, though, and I can’t wait to see Keanu face Oasis, Mathers and quite a few others who haven’t had a chance to be on Evolve yet.

Tate Wilder returning is good, we barely got anything from him before his apparent injury, so he’ll finally have some real story now. Good promo from Kylie to call out Wendy, and their Last Woman Standing match will be awesome. Good promo from the Evolve women’s midcard, and I’m not sure why Masyn & Layla ditched getting to the bottom of Chantel Monroe’s attitude to now get on the whodunnit. But hey, this is also good story for Zara Zahker in her return to Evolve. Kendal VS Zara will be good stuff, but I feel like they should just give us whodunnit and have that person feud with everyone. For me, make it Kalyx, aka Jessica Karr in her mask.

Very good opening tag from Kali & Natty VS Nikkita & Zayda, and I appreciate the dysfunction between Kali and Natty wasn’t chippy, but it was them each wanting their moment in the match. And with the win, Natty is clearly eyeing the title. Natty will make a great first defense for Kali to help establish Kali and this title by winning over the winningest woman in WWE. Meanwhile, Legacy is crazy for wanting a gauntlet match to prove himself, rather than having Vanity Project suggest this themselves. Good stuff but wow, Bryce has a strong boot to finish things off like that.

We didn’t get Lucha House Party’s reunion despite Robert Stone even namedropping it on commentary, but bringing Cruz & Wilde in is fine. They need stuff to do, and Vanity Project facing veterans like them is a good learning opportunity. Maybe Legacy can earn his title match through a big 8 Man Tag where he pins Drake or something, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

My Score: 8.4/10