Will past or present lead the future?

In her first defense of the WWE Evolve Women’s Championship, Kali Armstrong takes on Natalya! Will Kali be able to sink The BOAT?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Keanu Carver VS Timothy Thatcher; Thatcher wins, by disqualification.
• Chantel Monroe VS Masyn Holiday w/ Layla Diggs; Chantel wins.
• WWE Evolve Women’s Championship: Kali Armstrong VS Natalya; Kali wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Keanu Carver VS Timothy Thatcher!

The Alpha Male has vowed vengeance on the WWE ID Program, all because Jackson Drake and Sean Legacy got in his way of becoming the inaugural WWE Evolve Champion. Keanu crushed Ice Williams, but the Professor of Pain stepped in when things went too far. Will the star of OG Evolve put Keanu in his place? Or is Thatcher going to get carved up tonight?

The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out, then Keanu ROCKS Thatcher! Thatcher blocks the next shot to UPPERCUT, UPPERCUT, and UPPERCUT! Thatcher clamps on a SLEEPER! Keanu endures, the fans rally up, but Thatcher squeezes tight! Keanu fights up to his feet, RAMS Thatcher into a corner, and is free! Only for Thatcher to go after an arm! Keanu powers out but Thatcher trips him up! Thatcher steps on Keanu’s arm to then drop an elbow on it! Thatcher wants a double wristlock but Keanu fights it. Thatcher shifts for a different angle and the fans rally up. Thatcher isolates the arm to KNEE it in the side! Cover, TWO!

Thatcher keeps on Keanu with another wristlock. Thatcher pushes it up, wrangles Keanu to the mat, and the fans rally up again. Thatcher KNEES Keanu in the side, KNEES him again, then covers, TWO! Thatcher does not let Keanu get away as he ties up the legs! Keanu endures but Thatcher chinbars him into the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Keanu endures, reaches out, but Thatcher sets him down to then fire body shots. Thatcher runs and AX HANDLES Keanu on the neck! Thatcher then shoots the half for a cover, TWO! Keanu is tougher than that but Thatcher reels him in. Thatcher suplexes but Keanu blocks! Keanu then snap suplexes Thatcher!

The fans rally up as Thatcher goes to a corner. Keanu runs in and RAMS Thatcher! Keanu ROCKS Thatcher, scoops, and FALL AWAY SLAMS! The fans fire up, Keanu covers, TWO! Keanu keeps close and he drags Thatcher up. Keanu CLUBS Thatcher on the back, then pushes him down for some stomps! The fans rally, Keanu clamps onto Thatcher, and he has a COBRA CLUTCH! Thatcher endures as Keanu leans on the hold. The fans rally, Thatcher stands up, and he pries the hold open! Thatcher ROCKS Keanu, Keanu LARIATS Thatcher! Cover, TWO! Thatcher toughs it out but Keanu is right on him. Keanu scoops Thatcher to WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM! Cover, TWO!

Thatcher survives and goes to a corner. Keanu whips corner to corner, runs in, but Thatcher dodges! Keanu crashes into buckles! Thatcher UPPERCUTS again and again, and again! Keanu fires forearms in return! Keanu ROCKS Thatcher, Thatcher wobbles, and Keanu UPPERCUTS! Keanu swings, but Thatcher catches him to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Keanu endures, reaches out, and the fans rally up! Keanu claws his way over, drags Thatcher along with him, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Thatcher lets go. Thatcher drags Keanu by his legs but Keanu holds onto ropes. Keanu BOOTS Thatcher away!

Keanu stands but Thatcher comes back! Thatcher traps Keanu with a hammerlock from the front! Thatcher fires body shot after body shot, then runs, only for Keanu to POUNCE! Thatcher flounders, the fans fire up, and Keanu is right on Thatcher! Keanu DRIBBLES Thatcher off the apron! The ref counts as they’re in the ropes! Keanu does not stop! KEANU IS DISQUALIFIED!

Winner: Timothy Thatcher, by disqualification

Keanu keeps telling Thatcher this is what he gets for stepping to him! More refs come out to stop Keanu, and Thatcher still has the win. But will Keanu care more about demolishing men than defeating them?

The Vanity Project talks backstage.

They may have lost to Ricky Saints just last night on NXT, but they feel good about their showing. And they also like the new ink on Jackson Drake. But then Stevie Turner walks in, and she’s on the phone talking about what just happened to Thatcher. Zayda mockingly says, “Poor Thatcher.” Jackson says forget Thatcher. They need to talk more about the Evolve Champion and how Lince Dorado stole that win! Ricky Smokes says that’s big facts, Lince Dorado cheated his way to that win. Brad Baylor says hundos! Lince is the last guy that deserves a title match. He stole a win, and he stomped on an iguana! Where’s PETA when you need ’em?

Stevie tells Vanity Project that she holds their opinions in the… highest regards… But no matter what they think of Lince, he earned his match next week. Wait, stop the clock. Next week? Yes, Jackson, and we’re signing the contract for that match tonight. By the orders of who? Stevie leaves, the answer to that question rather obvious. The Vanity Project protests, but Jordan Oasis walks over. He says Jackson just needs to make sure he spells his name right on the contract. Vanity Project doesn’t take kindly to the joke. What does a bald guy know anyway? Where is the respect for Mr. Evolve around here anyway? But will Jackson have to learn about respect himself when he and the Golden Lynx sign on the dotted line?

Chantel Monroe VS Masyn Holiday w/ Layla Diggs!

For weeks, the Reflection of Perfection has been accused of not being her true self. But if you asked the Showstopping Diva, she’d tell you this is the real Chantel Monroe. Will Chantel’s reflection show who she is inside? Or can Masyn break through the facade?

The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Chantel wrenches to a wristlock, but Masyn spins, uses the ropes to flip through, and then she wrenches back. Masyn keeps Chantel from the ropes, but Chantel pulls hair! Chantel wrenches and YANKS the arm! And YANKS it again! Chantel wrangles Masyn to the mat, then twerks at Layla! Masyn fights up but Chantel wrenches to wristlock. But Masyn powers through to double wristlock takedown! Cover, TWO! Another wrench and Masyn keeps the wristlock. But Chantel pulls hair again to put Masyn on the ropes. The ref counts but Chantel KNEES low!

Chantel whips Masyn, Masyn hurdles then CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Maysn clamps onto an arm for a cording hold! Chantel endures, moves around, and the fans rally up. Chantel pulls hair again! The ref reprimands, Chantel lets go so she can ROCK Masyn! Chantel bumps Masyn off buckles, runs her side to side to bump her off more buckles! Chantel brings Masyn around to a third corner, but Masyn blocks the buckle bump! Masyn ELBOWS Chantel, then slips around to roll her up! TWO, and both women hurry to their feet. Chantel kicks low, snapmares, then NECK SNAPPERS! Chantel applauds and the fans join in. Cover, TWO!

Masyn is tougher than that but Chantel is right on her. Chantel has a cording hold and chinbar to grind Masyn down. The fans rally as Masyn endures, and Masyn pries the chinbar away! Masyn rises, but Chantel KNEES low! Chantel whips, Masyn ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Chantel! And CLOBBER her again! Masyn fires up and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up with Masyn, and she gets crunk before the SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Chantel stays in this but the fans rally up more. Masyn fireman’s carries but Chantel fights free. Chantel shoves Masyn away, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Masyn powers her up, only for Chantel to CODE BREAKER! Cover, Chantel wins!

Winner: Chantel Monroe, by pinfall

Quite the counter, and it seems there’s no denying this Chantel is a winner. Chantel grabs the mic to thank the fans for cheering. “The sound of that bell, that represents me leaving Masyn & Layla in the past, and focusing on one thing and one thing only: The Evolve Women’s title match! And yes, I will be watching the main event tonight. And whoever walks out with that title will be seeing me.” The fans cheer, but wait! Kylie Rae is here! She knows Chantel scored a big victory, and she does respect her. But she just wanted to say she had the biggest win of her career against Wendy Choo in Evolve’s first ever Last Woman Standing match.

Kylie steps into the ring and says when we’re talking the Evolve Women’s Championship, Kylie is also in that conversation. Chantel says that’s funny, cuz she doesn’t remember inviting Kylie. Wait! Here comes Tyra Mae Steele! The LFG Season 1 Women’s Champion grooves her way out and she says, “Oh, so this is Evolve? So exciting! Oh my gosh, I love it! Yes, I love it! You guys have so much energy, I honestly cannot-” Chantel says no one invited Tyra, either, so why is she here?! Tyra says she’s been talking with Stevie these past few weeks. And it looks like Tyra Mae Steele is ready to Evolve! Kylie congrats Tyra!

But Tyra gets serious and says that her first match should be the winner of the Evolve Women’s Championship, Kali VS Natty! Oh, okay, unfortunately, Tyra, the line starts behind Kylie. But after Kylie wins, she’ll gladly give- Chantel says Kylie ain’t giving anyone nothing. Who cares if Kylie beat Wendy? Who cares if Tyra won LFG? The title is Chantel’s! And then she DECKS Kylie! Tyra dodges Chantel to GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up for Miss America as she stands tall! Will Tyra go from Olympic gold to Evolve gold very quickly?

Chuey Martinez is at WWE Medical.

He asks Stevie Turner for an update on Timothy Thatcher, and she says Thatcher is not well. She’ll come back later and- Ridge Holland steps in? Ridge says he saw what happened. He thought Thatcher was tougher than that, but guess not. Chuey asks Ridge what he’s doing here for Evolve, and Ridge says he’s been keeping close tabs on the young crop of talent here. And Ridge considers himself the Ghost of Wrestling’s Future. He’ll do to them what the business will do to them in four or five years time, and that’s hurt ’em. Ridge asks Stevie to “be a dear” and give him the winner of Jackson VS Lince, that’d be great.

Stevie says she appreciates Ridge wants to be part of Evolve, but it doesn’t work like that. Evolve is the ultimate proving ground and there are no shortcuts. Then Tate Wilder walks in and lets Stevie know that his medical records are all in order, he is 100% and ready to get in the ring. Ridge asks if that’s so, because Tate doesn’t look it. Tate looks like he’ll quit, like he’ll fold. This ain’t the rodeo, sunshine, this is rugby! And Ridge is conquering it. Tate asks Ridge if he’s ever fallen off a bull and knows what it takes to get back up. Tate’s never backed down and he ain’t starting now. Stevie stops this from getting physical, and says she has a contract signing to get to.

Stevie will speak with each of them later, she heads to ringside for now. Yorkshire Grit storms off, but when and where will he and the Cowboy collide?

Stevie Turner is in the ring.

Evolve returns as the “Prime Minister” is already at the table. And without further ado, Lince Dorado makes his entrance, and then the entire Vanity Project makes their way out with Jackson Drake. The Carolina Reaper and Golden Lynx sit at the table, belt on display, and Stevie thanks them both for being here as they once again make history with this contract signing. The first-ever WWE Evolve Champion, Jackson Drake, will defend his title against Lince Dorado! The fans applaud, and Stevie says as the Evolve PM, it is time to review the contract and put pen to paper. Would Lince like to begin?

Jackson speaks up and says hold on, Stevie, the champ speaks first. And honestly, he has no idea what personal beef she has with him, but he doesn’t get why she’s put him in a match with Lince. Lince won one match, ONE, and honestly he couldn’t have without the LWO. But that’s neither here nor there. Jackson tells Lince that he promises one thing: There will be no Lucha House Party for Lince next week. Lince says yeah, he’s heard the jokes before. But he is back in the WWE! The fans applaud, and Lince says originally he wanted nothing more than to help blue chippers like Jackson.

But now, all Lince wants is to humble Jackson’s arrogant, cocky, stuck-up, preppy ass! And Lince won’t even ask Jackson to show respect to the Prime Minister, cuz he doesn’t show respect to those who came before him. Lince was here long before Jackson ever stepped through these ropes, and he will be here long after the hype goes right out the door. But Lince will show just a little bit of respect. Nobody in the back can take away Jackson being the first-ever. But next week, Lince will take away the title! Jackson says cut the yapping, bro! Everything Lince just said about Jackson is true, but he can afford it.

There’s a reason Jackson is the first-ever Evolve Champion! Nobody back there can match his charisma, his athleticism, or the star power that oozes out of him each and every single day! The fans boo that. But most unfortunately for Lince, Jackson fights back, unlike that poor little iguana, La Yesca. Now ya boi is on top, and he likes the view. And it won’t change for a long, long time. Jackson signs his part of the contract, then passes it to Lince. Lince says he is excited for this. But Jackson just made the biggest mistake of his life. Jackson says Lince thinks this is a joke, this is to his point.

No, no, Jackson, the joke’s on you. You should’ve listened to Senorita Stevie and reviewed the contract. Because you don’t know the clause he put in there. Jackson says this old head is shouting at clouds. Stevie, get your man. Lince says well, let him read what he’s talking about. “Until the conclusion of the match between Lucha Lit, Lince Dorado, and Jackson Drake for the Evolve Championship… All members of The Vanity Poroject are hereby BANNED from ringside!” Oh, and wait, there’s one more thing. Any interference will result in an immediate disqualification, and Lince will be crowned the NEW Evolve Champion!

Vanity Project freaks out and asks if this is serious. Lince says hundos, baby! Lince signs, and then says let’s all sing Vanity Project’s new theme song: Nana na na, nana na na, hey hey hey, GOODBYE~! Jackson throws a fit and also throws his shirt! Can #HeartbreakDrake prove he can win all on his own for once? Or will the inaugural reign be a rather short one?

Kendal Grey & Carlee Bright talk backstage.

They can’t figure out what is going on with this backstage attacker. Kendal can’t believe she was wrong about Zara Zakher. Carlee asks for a rewind, this is a big deal. That it wasn’t Zara? No, that Kendal admits to being wrong. Oh, c’mon! Carlee says sorry, she’s just teasing. But in all seriousness, Kendal has been killing it in the ring. Kendal thanks Carlee for that but wishes she was doing it with Carlee. Carlee feels the same. Can she be honest with Kendal? Nope. Just kidding, getting her back. Carlee says this rehab has been such a buzz kill! She’s struggling, but it killed her momentum. She tries to look on the bright side like always, but…

She’s gonna be cleared this weekend! That’s great! And after that, they’ll work together to find the attacker! Will Kendal & Carlee capture the one whodunnit? Or will the attacker strike again before they can?

Backstage interview with Sean Legacy.

Chuey is with Super Sean, and brings up his friend and mentor, Thatcher, getting banged up by Keanu. What’s the update? Thatcher isn’t just banged up, he had to be taken to the hospital. Thatcher is an old school warrior, nothing can keep him down. As for Keanu, what he did is inexcusable! Keanu can try to bully his way through the WWE ID ranks, but that stops now! Count on it! Legacy storms off, and Chuey says that ain’t a threat, that’s a promise. When and where will Super Sean battle with big bad Keanu Carver?

BREAKING NEWS for next week!

After their verbal and physical confrontation, Chantel Monroe, Kylie Rae and Tyra Mae Steele will battle in a Triple Threat! Will that match go a long way to determining a new #1 contender to the Evolve Women’s Championship? Speaking of…

WWE Evolve Women’s Championship: Kali Armstrong VS Natalya!

The Pride of Inglewood powered through the competition and is the inaugural Evolve Women’s Champion, but the Queen of Harts is the Best Of All Time! Will Natalya add to all the titles she has held by taking over the purple brand? Or will there be a Kali Connection in her near future?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and one way or another, history is going to be made!

The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. They tie up, go around, then break. The fans applaud and the two reset. They tie up, go around, and Kali puts Natty in the corner. The ref counts, Kali lets off, then she shoves Natty! Kali waistlocks, Natty fights, but Kali trips Natty to throw her down! But then Natty trips Kali! Natty ties up the legs, then hooks Kali with a chinlock. Kali endures the inverted Bow ‘n’ Arrow while the fans rally. Kali fires elbows into Natty’s side, but Natty grabs that arm! Natty flips Kali over, covers, TWO! Kali is up and the fans cheer Natty as the two reset. Natty then runs up to headlock and takeover!

Kali rolls, Natty rolls through and she trips Kali to float into a facelock. Kali wrenches out to hammerlock but Natty stands up, slips through and hits another headlock takeover! Kali headscissors, Natty pops free and she goes right back to the headlock! Kali fights around, fires body shots, then ROCKS Natty! Natty blocks a kick to THROW Kali down! Natty grabs the legs, hooks them up, and SLAPS Kali in the side! Natty gets Kali’s arms for the ROMERO SPECIAL SURFBOARD! Kali endures, powers free, and she flips to have Natty’s legs! Kali turns Natty over, but Natty slips out the back! Natty ROCKS Kali with haymakers!

Natty whips, Kali reverses, and Kali runs in at the corner, only to miss the splash! Natty hits the rebound sit- NO, Kali lands out and short arm LARIATS! Kali huffs ‘n’ puffs as Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns and Kali RAMS Natty in the corner! Kali then brings Natty out, bumps her off buckles, and stomps a mudhole into her! Kali fires body shots, the ref counts, and Kali argues with the ref. Kali whips corner to corner but Natty reverses! Natty fires off on Kali in the corner, but the ref backs her off. Natty runs back in but Kali dodges! Kali fires her own body shots, the ref counts, and Kali stops. Kali snapmares Natty, pushes her to a cover, TWO! The fans rally but Kali drags Natty up for a COBRA TWIST! Natty endures as Kali puts on the pressure! The fans rally, Natty CLUBS away on a leg, then switches the COBRA TWIST onto Kali!

The fans rally more but Kali CLUBS away on Natty’s leg now! Kali switches the hold back onto Natty! Natty endures, the fans rally again, and Natty reaches out. Natty CLUBS away on Kali’s leg, hits an arm-drag, then dodges a lariat! Natty comes back with a DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Kali survives and the fans rally up while both women are down! Kali and Natty stir, rise up, and Kali brings Natty up. Natty SLAPS Kali! Kali ROCKS Natty! Natty kicks low, but then Kali kicks low! Natty fires haymaker after haymaker! Kali KNEES low! Kali whips, Natty ducks ‘n’ dodges, and Natty tilt-o-whirls to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO!

Natty clamps onto Kali with a chinlock! Kali endures but Natty makes it a STRAITJACKET! Kali fights up, but Natty spins her to STO! Cover, TWO! Kali survives and Natty is stunned! Natty has the fans fire up again and goes for the legs. Natty steps through, Kali flails and kicks Natty away! Kali rises up, runs in, but Natty dodges! Kali hits buckles, Natty hits her with the SIT-DOWN! Natty steps on Kali, then runs to basement BOOT! Cover, TWO! Kali survives and Natty is stunned again! The fans rally up and Natty is on Kali at the ropes. Kali blocks the whip by holding ropes! Natty kicks low, whips again, but Kali reverses to scoop and pop, OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, TWO!!

Natty survives and Kali is furious! Kali drags Natty into a CAMEL CLUTCH! Natty endures as Kali bends her back! The fans rally, Natty reaches out, and Natty pries free, only for Kali to HIP DROP! Kali drags Natty up, scoops, but Natty victory rolls, into the ANKLE LOCK!! Kali endures, reaches out, but Natty keeps her from ropes! Kali endures, rolls, and Natty stops from hitting ropes! Kali waistlocks, Natty switches, O’Conner Roll! TWO and Kali has Natty, REAR NAKED- NO, Natty rolls back to a cover! TWO, but Natty ghost pins! TWO! CROSSFACE!! Kali flails, moves around, and rolls free! Natty runs up, but Kali scoops! POWERSLAM!

The fans fire up as Kali turns it up! Kali builds speed, KALI CON- FLAPJACK!! Natty then has the legs, steps through, SHARPSHOOTER!! The fans fire up as Kali endures the iconic hold! Kali reaches out, claws at the mat, and crawls forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Natty lets go. Natty HAMMERS away on Kali, but then Kali HOTSHOTS her into ropes! Kali runs to KALI CONNECTION!! But Natty flounders to the ropes! Kali drags her back to center, covers, KALI WINS!!

Winner: Kali Armstrong, by pinfall (still WWE Evolve Women’s Champion)

The BOAT pushed Kali to her limits, but Kali comes through! Is Armstrong too strong for Evolve? But then surprisingly, she offers a handshake to Natty. Natty brings Kali in to hug it out instead! There is respect here, but will Kali continue to be the difference maker after making it through her first defense? Wait, JIN TALA attacks?!? She CLOBBERS Kali, then POSTS her!! Jin grabs the belt as she shouts, “IT WAS ME! IT WAS ME!!” Jin was the attacker?!? And she vows to take out anyone who stands in her way of getting the title! The fans boo but is Jin about to be our second-ever Evolve Women’s Champion?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for Evolve here, but quite some surprising moves, too. Tyra Mae Steele, LFG Season 1 Women’s Champion, and she’s already on Evolve after one match in NXT? Is that a sign that she didn’t really do that well? She still had a very good promo with Chantel and Kylie to then set up their Triple Threat. That’ll be a very good match, and I feel like Tyra finds a way to win. But now, Ridge Holland down in Evolve? Well, that’s an interesting move. Him starting beef with Tate Wilder is also an interesting move, but I suppose that will make for an impressive return match for Tate should he win, or even just survive.

Keanu VS Thatcher was a very good match, and I actually like the DQ loss finish. Keanu lets his rage get the better of him, but he still does serious damage to Thatcher. And as I expected when this story started, Keanu VS Legacy is up next. That’ll be a great match, and I’m sure Legacy finds a way to win. Very good promo from Vanity Project with Stevie and Oasis backstage, and then very good contract signing promo. Lince with the ringside ban stipulation was very smart, things like that need to be done more across wrestling, not just WWE. Jackson VS Lince will be great, and I would hope it stays to just them, no sneaky way around the ringside ban. But either way, this still feels like Jackson wins out, even if he has to cheat all by himself like strong Heels do.

And speaking of title defenses, Kali VS Natty was great stuff for Kali’s first. Kali winning was the right move, though it does make you feel for Natty not even getting the Evolve Women’s Championship while floundering on Raw. But I am actually rather pumped that Jin Tala turned out to be the attacker. Kendal & Carlee probably don’t need to worry about investigating now, they’ll just confront Jin head-on now. And depending on how they wanna do this, they could give us Tyra VS Jin in a #1 contender’s match, really helping put LFG over with that.

My Score: 8.6/10