Will Drake be facing heartbreak again?

Jackson Drake is very worried, because Keanu Carver and Brooks Jensen are fighting to be #1 Contender to the WWE Evolve Championship!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Jax Presley & Harley Riggins VS #AdrenalineDrip; Adrenaline Drip wins.
• Tate Wilder VS Edris Enofe; Tate wins.
• Kali Armstrong VS Carlee Bright; Kali wins.
• WWE Evolve Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Keanu Carver VS Brooks Jensen; Keanu wins and will challenge Jackson Drake for the title at Evolve: Succession.

PLAY BY PLAY

Jax Presley & Harley Riggins VS #AdrenalineDrip!

The “Blue Chippers” are always ready to throw down, and they feel great after already having one win over Jack Cartwheel & Cappuccino Jones. But will #SpaceCowboy and #GnarlyHarley make it two for two? Or will they fumble the ball at the goal line?

The teams sort out and Jax starts against Jones. And Jones JABS, JABS, JABS! Jax CLUBS Jones, headlocks, but Jones fires body shots. Harley tags in, they mug Jones then double whip. Jones KICKS Harley, DUMPS Jax out, but Harley SHOVES Jones into Jax! Harley realizes the mistake, but he hurries to whip. Jones ducks the boot, tags Jack, and they DOUBLE DROPKICK Harley! Then they DOUBLE LARIAT Harley out of the ring! The fans fire up and Jack cartwheels to taunt the big guys. Harley storms in, Jack cartwheels to dodge, then he tilt-o-whirl RANAS! And ARABIAN PRESS ARM-DRAG!

Things speed up, Harley hurdles Jack, but his leg jams! Harley goes down in a heap and the ref has to keep Jack back. Harley clutches his knee, Jax checks on him, and Jack feels bad for what happened. Jack & Jones wanted a rematch, not an injury. But then Harley winks and Jax CLOBBERS Adrenaline Drip! Harley gets right up to ROCK Jack! The fans boo but this is sneaky savvy beyond their years! Harley stomps away on Jack, then drags him up to whip him to the corner. Harley LARIATS, tags Jax, and they mug Jack. The fans boo, the ref counts, and the Blue Chippers double whip Jack to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Cover, TWO!

Jax CLUBS Jack, ROCKS him, then taunts him. Jax whips corner to corner, Jack bounces off buckles, then Jax scoops to SLAM! Cover, TWO! Jax grinds Jack with a headlock, then he tags Harley. HEAD BUSTER to BACKSTABBER! Jack writhes, Harley sucker punches Jones, and then Harley CHOKES Jack on the ropes! The ref counts, Harley steps off, then YANKS the rope to snap Jack back. Harley talks trash, then clamps on shoulder claws! Jack endures, powers up, but Harley pulls him into a motorcycle stretch! Jack endures, fights up, but Harley THROWS him down! But Jack avoids the elbow drop!

Harley runs up, Jack cartwheels to dodge! Jax tags in, waistlocks, but Jack fires elbows. Jax spins Jack around, blocks a kick, but flips him! Jack lands out, hot tag to Cappuccino! “Coffee Man” rallies on the Blue Chippers! He whips Jax, Jax reverses, but Jones springboards to BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up and Jones LARIATS in the corner! He shoves Jax to the center, leaps, CROSSBODY! The fans fire up, Jones tags Jack, and they set Jax up for a SUPERKICK HALF ‘N’ HALF! Cover off the #DripDrop, but Harley breaks it! Harley fireman’s carries Jones, swings, T K O! But Jack SPRINGBOARD PHOENIX SPLASHES HARLEY!

But then Jax torture racks Jack for the BANE BACKBREAKER DROP! The Blue Chippers line it up, but Jones drags Harley out! BULLDOG from Jack to Jax! Harley is sent into the POST! Jack gets moving, FOSBURY FLOP onto Harley! Then he runs up, CARTWHEEL ELBOW on Jax! Tag to Jones, Jack climbs, FLIP ‘N’ SIP!! DIVE onto Harley!! Jones covers, Adrenaline Drip wins!

Winners: Adrenaline Drip, by pinfall

Jack & Jones knew the game plan and pulled off the win! Now they’re 1-1, when and where will we see a tiebreaker?

Backstage interview with Tate Wilder.

Chuey Martinez is with the Modern Day Cowboy, and he apologizes for interrupting the warmup, but he wants to know what Tate is feeling ahead of his match with Edris Enofe. Tate says Chuey’s always been good to him, and he has a job to do, but so does Tate. And Tate is ready for this. In life, when you’re hit with failure, you can choose to go down one of two paths. Either let self-doubt creep in and destroy you, or you can learn from it and get better. Tate chooses the latter. To be ready for Ridge Holland, Tate has to correct the first wrong in his Evolve journey, and that starts with the EOE. Edris got Tate once, but to get where Tate wants to go, he can’t let it happen again.

Sean Legacy steps in and says Tate definitely looks ready. But you can’t be looking past this, either. Sean knows that Tate’s mind is on Ridge, but he has to focus on the opponent in front of him. Edris is… an arrogant SOB, but he’s a tough competitor with a chip on his shoulder. Tate says he appreciates that, and they shake hands. Tate heads out, Sean says if Tate can do all that, then it’s a wrap. Will Tate get back on the horse and back on a winning track? Or will the Epitome Of Excellence make himself undeniable?

The Vanity Project talks backstage.

A camera again spies on them as Bryce Donovan says it doesn’t matter if it’s Kali Armstrong or Kendal Grey coming out of Succession as the WWE Evolve Women’s Champion, we all know The Real Deal is next up! Jackson Drake says yes, we all know that, but it holds a lot more weight coming from Jackson because one, he’s THE Evolve Champion, and two, Bryce has been the weak link and needs to lock in. Oh, Bryce needs to lock in, huh? Bryce feels like he’s been the one locked in, doing everything for everyone! Who was there for Drake in his title match? Was it Zayda? Was it Brad & Ricky? No, Drake, look at Bryce, because it was him.

Bryce has been doing everything for this group, yet Drake talks to him like a child. Bryce knows what he needs to do, and he knows what he is going to do. Zayda tries to calm things down but Drake tells her to stop. Because this is what Drake has wanted! This is the guy who Drake needs! The guy who has that fire in his eyes! The intensity! The problem solver! This is who VP recruited months ago. And right now, they have a problem, the biggest one ever. And who’s gonna solve it? Bryce says, “I am.” He pushes Drake aside before storming out. Zayda is still worried, but Drake says this is Bryce motivated. And when he’s motivated, he’s money.

The Carolina Reaper might be in a bit of denial, but will Bryce Donovan do what is best for the Vanity Project?

Tate Wilder VS Edris Enofe!

Super Sean gave The Modern Cowboy his pep talk, but it is still on Tate to get the win. Will this be just the match to set Tate up for success? Or will we see you can’t spell Evolve without E O E?

The bell rings and the two rush in! Tate dodges Edris, waistlocks, but Edris goes to ropes. The ref counts, but Edris fires an elbow first! Then he CHOPS Tate on the back! Tate staggers, Edris hotshots him and fires body shots! Edris stomps a mudhole, the ref counts, and Edris stops at 4. Edris whips corner to corner, runs up, but Tate dodges! Tate runs back in, but Edris puts him on the apron. Edris goes out the side, but Tate ROCKS Edris first! Edris kicks Tate’s leg from within the ropes, then he HOTSHOTS Tate off the crossbar! The fans boo, Edris soaks up heat, and Edris stomps Tate around. Edris tells Tate no one cares about him, then he crossface forearms!

The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Edris goes to the apron. Edris runs but Tate avoids the flying ax handle! Tate then BOOTS Edris down! The fans fire up, and Tate uses the corner to swing and KICK Edris down! The fans fire up, Tate puts Edris in, and Tate slingshots to springboard, but into a CODE BREAKER! Edris then BOOTS Tate down! Edris rains down fists, the fans boo, but Edris talks trash. Edris brings Tate up to short arm LARIAT! The fans rally for Tate but Edris short arm LARIATS again! Edris soaks up heat, and he drags Tate up, only for Tate to fire body shots! But Edris LARIATS again! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Tate toughs it out. Edris sits Tate up to throw hands, and he fires more shots. The fans rally, Tate gets mad, and Tate blocks a shot to body shot! And body shot! Edris BOOTS Tate down! Edris HAMMERS Tate, clamps on a chinlock, and he traps an arm. The fans rally as Tate fights up, only for Edris to KNEE low. Edris whips but Tate reverses to then hit a BIG back suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down! Edris rolls away to ropes but Tate stands. Tate blocks shots, throws body shots, then ROCKS Edris with left hand after left hand! And then he dodges a shot to LARIAT!

The fans fire up as Tate ELBOWS Edris, but Edris DROPKICKS in return! Edris waits on Tate, BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Tate survives and the fans fire up! Edris hurries to undo a corner buckle pad! The fans boo and the ref takes the pad, but Edris uses that as a distraction! Edris grabs a chair, but LEGACY rushes out here! Legacy takes the chair from Edris! Edris is mad, but Tate SUPER CROSSBODIES! Down goes Edris and the fans fire up! Tate puts Edris in, then LARIATS! And ELBOWS! And dodges the dropkick to run and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans fire up and Tate is feeling it!

Tate gets Edris for a suplex, but Edris slips free to roll Tate up! TWO, and Edris has Tate again, only for Tate to suplex! ANARCHY! Tate is running wild as he goes up, up, and MOONSAULTS! Cover, Tate wins!

Winner: Tate Wilder, by pinfall

It was a #WildRide, but the Cowboy stays on the horse! Sean says that’s a cowboy right there! But will Tate soon be aiming for the Evolve Championship? Or is that journey still a long and winding road?

Masyn Holiday and Layla Diggs are in the locker room.

Masyn says she ain’t gonna lie, but Layla’s hair is eatin’ it up. And speaking of hair, Masyn compliment’s Wendy Choo’s new look. Layla agrees. No offense against pigtails, they were cute and all, but hair-down Wendy eats. Wendy says, “Thank you.” Layla is struck with inspiration! Wendy should join them on doing TikToks! Wendy hesitantly says, “Maybe,” but then Nikkita Lyons walks in. #BigKatKita clears her throat, “Ahem,” and says she liked it better when Wendy didn’t talk. In fact, Wendy’s voice literally makes Lyons’ ears bleed. Ok bye. Lyons leaves, Masyn & Layla can’t believe how rude that was, and Wendy out and says, “What a b*tch!”

Masyn & Layla are surprised, but they don’t disagree. Is Lyons gonna regret bullying the Sleepy Psycho now that she can talk the talk AND walk the walk?

Kali Armstrong VS Carlee Bright w/ Kendal Grey!

The Difference Maker knows she has “The Arm Breaker” at Succession, but Kendal Grey’s bestie wants to test herself against the champ. Will Carlee’s future be just as bright as Kendal’s? Or will she run right into a Kali Connection?

The bell rings and the two tie up. Carlee headlocks but Kali blocks the takeover. Kali KNEES low, THROWS Carlee down, then pushes her to get a wristlock. Carlee resists, but Kali YANKS Carlee up just to SLAM her down! And she does it again! Kali taunts Carlee, Carlee kips up, and Carlee cartwheels to wrench and wristlock. The fans applaud, but Kali pulls hair. Carlee twists the wrist more, but Kali swings. Carlee ducks the shot, knees low, then knuckle locks. Carlee goes up, up, and FLYING ARM-DRAGS! The fans rally, Carlee wheelbarrows, but Kali stops the rest! Kali whips Carlee to ropes for a scoop and- TAKEOVER from Carlee!

The fans cheer while Carlee keeps the headlock, but Kali headscissors. Carlee shrugs those off, but Kali fights up as the fans rally. Carlee grinds the hold but Kali powers up to THROW her out! Carlee tumbles to apron then floor, and Kendal is worried. Kendal coaches Carlee but Kali puts her in the ring. The fans rally, Carlee crawls to a corner, and Kali runs up to RAM her! Carlee sputters, stumbles, and goes to another corner, Kali runs up to RAM Carlee again! Then Kali scoops to OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, TWO! Carlee survives but Kali drags her up, just to DECK her! Kali drags Carlee up again to TOSS her back out!

The fans rally, Kali says Carlee should just stay out. Kendal coaches Carlee, Carlee rises, and the fans rally with her. The ring count climbs to 5 of 10, Carlee drags herself up with ropes, and she rolls in at 8! Kali ELBOW DROPS Carlee! And ELBOW DROPS again! Kali runs to ELBOW FLOP as Carlee moves! Carlee rises, Kali runs in, but Carlee dodges! Kali POSTS herself, and Carlee LARIATS! And LARIATS! Carlee runs, tilt-o-whirls and RANAS! The fans cheer as Kali tumbles! Carlee handsprings to HEADSCISSOR! Then a TORNADO BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Kali survives and Carlee is distraught!

Kendal coaches Carlee and Carlee climbs a corner! Carlee aims to CROSSBODY, but Kali catches her! Kali smiles, swings, and POWER- CRADLE! Cover, TWO!! Kali escapes and she’s rather dazed. Carlee gets moving, she ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Kali SNAP POWERSLAMS her! The fans chant, “Too Strong! Armstrong!” Kali builds up speed, and KALI CONNECTION! Kali makes Kendal watch as she drags Carlee up again! Kali revs the engine again, ANOTHER KALI CONNECTION!! Carlee gets flipped, Kali covers, Kali wins!

Winner: Kali Armstrong, by pinfall

Carlee fought her heart of gold out, but she couldn’t stand up to the ironwoman who owns the gold! Will Kali make sure Kendal feels the same thing in just two weeks? Or will Kendal find success at Succession?

Brooks Jensen speaks.

“Tonight is a moment I’ve waited for since I first stepped in the Performance Center. Three seconds. I am three seconds away from earning a singles championship opportunity. Yet the beast that is standing in my way is Keanu Carver. Brother, I get it, you’ve got some rage inside of you. But you wanna know something? SO DO I! I’ve been a tag team champion, I’ve had my heart broken, I’ve been left behind by my best friends, I’ve been kicked out of The Culling, I’ve been left for dead, just to pick myself up!

“Yet, in this journey of highs and lows, all I’ve ever asked for and all I’ve ever worked for was an opportunity. Yet, I am not going to walk through that door of opportunity, I am going to kick the hinges off and I’m going to become the new #1 contender. Jackson Drake, I will see you at Succession!” Is tonight the night the Lost Cause gets the win?

It’s Gal sulks in the locker room.

“No one is ferocious enough to be my tag team partner, I don’t wanna fall to the wayside like the rest of the ID talents, or like you guys, no offense.” Gal is just different. Drako Knox knows that. Dante Chen walks in, says hey to everybody, and says Gal will bounce back. This business is all about ups and downs. Gal says, “Maybe for you, dummy! But for It’s Gal, it’s always up. You wouldn’t get it.” Dante says forget helping Gal. Maybe Gal helps himself into the ring so Dante can put him right next to Jamar Hampton in the hospital! Rude. Kicking a man while he’s down. Everyone else leaves, and Gal asks if it was something he said.

Well, he may be tanned and jacked, but Gal might get his mouth smacked one of these times. Will the Singaporean Warrior humble Mr. Mint Condition?

BREAKING NEWS for next week!

While on the indies, Marcus Mathers & Aaron Rourke put out the Open Challenge to any team in Evolve, and even any team in NXT! Well, The High Ryze were first to answer, so the match is set! Mathers & Rourke VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont for next week’s episode, will Philly’s Finest & The Dime Piece be able to get up and over? Or will they be sent falling back down? And yes, given Lyons’ bad attitude towards Wendy and Wendy’s scathing response, we will see #BigKatKita VS Sleepy Psycho 1v1!

WWE Evolve Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Keanu Carver VS Brooks Jensen!

The One Man Demolition Crew from DC and The Bad Man from Ala-Bam-Bam-Bama both want their rematch with the Carolina Reaper, but there can only be ONE that wins the second chance! Who will Jackson Drake have to fear more once it is all said and done?

The big match introductions are given, and we see who earns their golden ticket to Succession!

The bell rings and the two circle as the fans rally up. They tie up, go around, then break. They reset, tie up again, and Jensen headlocks. Keanu powers up and out, Jensen comes back to go for a leg, but Keanu throws him away. They reset yet again, tie up, and Jensen waistlocks to then headlock. Jensen wrenches, top wristlocks, but Keanu shoves Jensen away. Then Keanu CLOBBERS Jensen! Jensen goes to the apron, Keanu storms over, but Jensen RAMS Keanu low. Keanu staggers back, Jensen goes up the corner, but he leaps into Keanu’s hands! Jensen kicks free, UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! And ROCKS Keanu with a forearm!

Jensen runs, but into a scoop and SLAM! The fans cheer, but then Jensen UP KICKS Keanu! But Keanu scoops to SLAM again! And scoops again, only for Jensen to slips free! Jensen headlocks, but Keanu powers up and out to BACKDROP! Keanu whips Jensen to a corner hard, and Jensen staggers into a SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! The Vanity Project is watching backstage, and Drake says at this point, it can still go either way. “Bryce, you got this?” Bryce says, “I got this.” Bryce heads out, Drake says time to see if Bryce can get it done. Is Bryce about to do what it looks like? As for in the ring, Jensen RAMS Keanu into a corner!

Jensen RAMS Keanu, but Keanu powers his way out. Jensen RAMS Keanu into another corner, he fires forearms, and then he reels Keanu in. Keanu fights the lift, ELBOWS Jensen, and ELBOWS him again. Jensen staggers back, Keanu runs up, but Jensen POSTS Keanu! Keanu flops to the apron, clutches his shoulder, and Jensen talks trash while Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns as Keanu ROCKS Jensen with forearm after forearm. Keanu then whips Jensen to a corner, runs in, but Jensen BOOTS him! Jensen goes up while Keanu sputters, and Keanu FLYING KNEES Keanu’s arm! Keanu writhes while clutching the elbow, and Jensen storms over. Jensen drags Keanu up, wrenches, and wristlocks. The fans rally and duel as Jensen hits a WRISTLOCK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Jensen grabs the bad arm for a top wristlock, and he pulls on the arm! The fans boo, Keanu endures, but Jensen puts on more pressure. Keanu fights around, stands back up, and he scoops Jensen, but Jensen fights it!

Jensen is free, he goes for the arm, but Keanu fires forearms! Keanu breaks free, but then Jensen whips him hard into buckles! Keanu falls back, Jensen drags him back up, and Jensen goes up the corner to KNEE DROP on the arm! Cover, TWO! Keanu stays in this, but Jensen stays on the arm with another top wristlock! Keanu endures again as the fans rally back up, and Keanu fights around. Keanu rises, throws forearms, but Jensen shifts to a cording hold. Keanu still fires shots, but Jensen wrenches to hammerlock! Jensen aims for a corner, but Keanu turns things around and he POSTS Jensen! The fans rally behind Keanu as he shakes out the bad arm.

Jensen staggers out of the corner, and Keanu DECKS him! And DECKS him again! Then he scoops to FALL AWAY SLAM! The fans fire up and Keanu POP-UP SAMOAN DROPS! Cover, TWO! Jensen survives and Keanu grows frustrated but the fans rally. Keanu huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Jensen up, back suplex, but Jensen lands out! Jensen SWATS the left hand, whips, but Keanu reverses. Jensen goes up and comes back to SOUTHERN LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Jensen is shocked, but he hurries to get Keanu up! Ripcord and- NO, Keanu gets under to fireman’s carry! Jensen fights back by pulling the bad arm! Ripcord, SOUTHERN RAINMAKER!

Keanu is down, Jensen goes up, ALABAMA JAM! Cover, TWO!! The flying leg drop was not enough and Jensen is frustrated. The fans rally for Keanu as Jensen KICKS and KICKS! Keanu blocks a shot to then wind up, but Jensen slips around! SAIDO!! Both men flounder around, and Jensen goes to the ropes. The ref checks Keanu, and Keanu rises like the monster he is! Jensen is scared, and Keanu POUNCES him right outta the ring!! Keanu puts Jensen in the ring, scoops him, and powers up, CARVE HIM UP!! Cover, Keanu wins!!

Winner: Keanu Carver, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Evolve Championship)

Jensen pushed Keanu to his limits unlike anyone else! But in the end, Jensen still got carved up, and Keanu says Drake better watch out! But then BRYCE ATTACKS WITH A CHAIR!! And he SMACKS Keanu again! And JAMS him up! The fans boo and chant, “Bryce, You Suck!” Bryce scares off refs, then he JAMS Keanu again! Then he puts the chair around the bad arm, and STOMPS IT!! Keanu flails and falls out of the ring! The fans boo, the refs check Keanu, but Vanity Project struts out here to mock Keanu. Keanu is pissed but he can’t do anything to get after these cowards! Drake holds up his Evolve Championship, will he no longer have to defend it?

Drake thanks Bryce by holding out his hand, but Bryce doesn’t take it? Bryce does shake Drake’s hand, and Vanity Project parties the night away! What will happen at Succession if the #1 contender can’t even compete?

My Thoughts:

A very good Evolve here, with some really good progress towards Succession. Kali VS Carlee was a pretty obvious tune-up match that of course Kali won, I feel like Kendal will have her own tune-up next week on Evolve’s first-ever go-home episode. Good promo from Masyn, Layla, Wendy and Lyons to set up Wendy VS Lyons. Good promo from Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy to send Tate into the match with Edris. Great win for Tate, but now they’re even 1v1 and might have a tiebreaker down the line. Adrenaline Drip VS Jax & Harley was a great tag match, great win for Cartwheel & Cappuccino, and we definitely need a tiebreaker there, too.

Great little promo from Gal and Dante to set up their match, and Gal being a selfish kind of sulking is classic. The match will be great, maybe they don’t worry about Gal getting a new teammate just yet. Very good promo from Vanity Project, and I really thought Bryce was going to “ruin” the main event, or even turn on Drake at this point. But at the same time, I could see Bryce doing all that at Succession. Succession should really do something to shake up the status quo as a real turning point for Evolve.

My Score: 8.6/10