Speed VS Strength, one more time!

The series between Adrenaline Drip and The Blue Chippers is 1-1, so WWE Evolve gets its first tag team tiebreaker!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Adrenaline Drip VS Jax Presley & Harley Riggins; Presley & Riggins win.
• PJ Vasa VS Haze Jameson; Vasa wins.
• Brooks Jensen VS Mike Cunningham; Jensen wins.
• Wendy Choo VS Chantel Monroe; Chantel wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Adrenaline Drip VS Jax Presley & Harley Riggins!

Cappuccino Jones & Jack Cartwheel may have lost the first round, but they made a comeback in the rematch, so naturally, both sides knew they needed one more to top it off. Will the Davids conquer the Goliaths once and for all? Or will there be some Necessary Roughness on the field?

Adrenaline Drip doesn’t wait, they DIVE on “Space Cowboy” and “Gnarly Harley” the moment they’re ringside! The fans fire up and Adrenaline Drip hurries back to the ring. Jones springboards to CROSSBODY, but Jax & Harley catch him! But then Jack CARTWHEEL SPECIALS to wipe everyone out! The fans fire up again, and then Adrenaline Drip clubs and stomps the Blue Chippers. The ref reprimands, Harley pushes past Jack to get in the ring, and Jones joins him. The bell finally rings and Harley scoops Jones! Jones slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and Jack tags in! Jones picks a leg, Jack sweeps the other!

Jack hits the CARTWHEEL KNEE DROP, Jones adds a SPLASH, Jack STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Harley survives but Jack CLUBS away! Harley ROCKS Jack, tags to Jax and Jones! Jones & Jack dodge Jax to DOUBLE DROPKICK! Then Jones whips Jack, Jack handsprings, but Jax catches him to THROW him at Jones! Adrenaline Drip is down and Jax is seething. Jax stomps and UPPERCUTS Jones, then smothers him in the ring. Jax ROCKS Jones, whips corner to corner, and Jones bounces off buckles. Jax scoops for the SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Jones is still in this but Jax drags him up.

Jax headlocks, gives him a noogie, then tags Harley. Harley rolls, then sucker punches Jack! The fans boo and the ref has to keep Jack back. Jax headlock punches Jones into Harley’s BACKSTABBER, the Targeting Combo! Cover, TWO! Jones toughs it out but Harley CLUBS him on the ropes. Jones fires body shots, but Harley wrenches to twist the wrist. Harley hits an ELBOW BREAKER, then whips. Harley scoops for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Jones survives again but Jax tags in. The Blue Chippers double whip, but Jones ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! All three are down and the fans fire up!

Jones crawls, Jax grabs for legs, but Jones makes the hot tag to Jack! Jack cartwheels past Jax and CHOPS Harley! CHOP and CHOP and CHOP for the big men, then Jack dodges, scarecrow and handspring through the double elbows for a springboard DOUBLE QUEBRADA! The fans fire up with Jack and he aims from a corner. Jax rises up, into the cartwheel THESZ PRESS! Fast hands from Jack but Jax powers free! Jack hops up for CRUCIFX DRIVER! Cover, ONE, but Jack hurries up the corner. Jones tags in before the PHOENIX SPLASH! Then Jones hits the FROGGY-BOW! Cover, Harley CLOBBERS Jones!

Jack goes up, Harley shoves him down! Then Harley THROWS Jack into the ring! Jack flounders away, Harley goes to Jones and brings him up. Harley whips Jones to the corner but Jones reverses, then Jones runs up to throw down fast hands! The fans rally but Jax gets under Jones! DOUBLE POWERBOMB! The fans are torn but Jax tags Harley. The Blue Chippers each guzel Jones, DOUBLE CHOKE SLAM!! Cover, JACK BREAKS IT! The fans cheer but Jax TOSSES Jack back out! Jax storms out to the apron, AX HANDLE! Jax reels Jack in, lifts him up, but Jack fires hands! Jack goes to the apron, takes his shoe off, and BOP!

Harley DECKS Jack for that! Jones runs up, dodges Harley, and DIVES on Jax! Harley runs up again but Jones ROCKS him! Jones springboards, but into the guzel! SLAM- NO, Jones flips through! UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! Harley is wobbly, hot tag to Jack! Jones clinches Harley, Jack climbs up, but Jax is back! Jack DECKS Jax but Harley fights the clinch! Harley THROWS Jones into Jack! Jack falls in a heap, Harley tags Jax! Jax lines up a shot, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS!! Cover, Jax & Harley win!

Winners: Jax Presley & Harley Riggins, by pinfall

Adrenaline Drip tried to do this fast and furious, but it only caused them to crash and burn! Jax & Harley have the horsepower, but they want to add on! They TOSS Jones back out, and they want to give Jack another serving! ANOTHER NECESSARY ROUGHNESS!! Will that insult to injury send a message to the rest of the growing Evolve Tag Division? Or is it only putting a target on their backs?

PJ Vasa VS Haze Jameson!

The stars of LFG are ready to Evolve, but things got P-Nasty last week when PJV decided to blindside Kendal Grey & Carlee Bright. Will she also leave Jameson in a haze? Or will it be party time on a Wednesday night?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, and Vasa puts Haze in a corner. The ref counts, Vasa lets off, and she eggs Haze on. They tie up, Vasa THROWS Haze, then she SLAMS Haze’s face off the mat! Haze goes to a corner but Vasa fires heavy hands from all sides! The ref has Vasa back off, and Haze ELBOWS Vasa away! Haze BOOTS Vasa, but Vasa BODY CHECKS her! Vasa drags Haze up and scoops, but Haze slips free! DROPKICK! Vasa is still on her feet! Haze DROPKICKS again, but Vasa is still on her feet! Haze DROPKICKS again and Vasa finally falls! The fans fire up with Haze, then she hits a BASEMENT DDT! Cover, TWO! And with some power!

Haze is a bit wary now, but she dodges Vasa in the corner. Haze jumps on for a SLEEPER! Vasa is more annoyed than anything, and she THROWS Haze down! Vasa runs for a SAMOA FALLING HEADBUTT! Vasa then drags Haze up, fireman’s carries, and THE ISSUE! Cover, Vasa wins!

Winner: PJ Vasa, by pinfall

A powerful debut for PJ Vasa, and Chuey Martinez is ringside to interview her. Chuey says that was a statement, congratulations. Vasa says she makes impact everywhere she goes. She dominated in LFG, and in just two weeks of being here, TWO WEEKS, she’s already dominating Evolve. And she started with the Champ! Everybody can come get their Issue! Vasa heads out, will she establish herself as the new alpha female in town?

Jackson Drake talks with Stevie Turner.

The Evolve Champion wants to tell the Prime Minister that he seriously questions her leadership skills after what she’s put him through. Stevie stops him there, and says she hears him. But don’t dare act like she doesn’t know what happens on her show. She is fully aware of every little thing that happens on Evolve, so she knows it was Jackson Drake who put a target on Keanu Carver’s back and sent Bryce Donovan after him. Drake claims that wasn’t him, but Stevie tells him to shut up for a minute. How can he possibly blame anyone but himself for Keanu’s cast? So guess what? Keanu’s still #1 contender, Drake is still defending the title against him, end of story.

Drake says that is NOT the end of it! She can’t be serious! He is not risking life and limb against Keanu the Clown! He already has a record of injuring opponents and- KEANU RUNS UP! Drake narrowly dodges, and Keanu’s cast hand punches THROUGH the wall! Drake says aw hell no! Drake runs away, Stevie tells Keanu he already has the match! Don’t make her change her mind! Keanu cools off, if only by so much. Will Keanu just do what he did to the wall to Drake’s face next week when the title is on the line?

Mike Cunningham warms up in the locker room.

Then he spots Sean Legacy walk in. Cunningham shakes Legacy’s hand, makes proper introductions, and Legacy welcomes him to Evolve and the WWE ID Program. Cunningham appreciates it. He has a lot thrown at him, but he’s really excited, too. Legacy says, “As you should be!” Cunningham says he’ll go show Brooks Jensen why he is the Main Main! Fist bump and Legacy says keep that energy up. Stay Super! Meanwhile, Marcus Mathers seethes, and Legacy asks if he’s good. No, man, he lost last week. He lost the crossover Triple Threat. He let himself and the whole ID program down.

Legacy says no, Marcus, you just lost. You win some, you lose some. That’s the nature of this. Don’t let this get you down. Mathers says yeah, that’s true. He’s just beating himself up. New ID guys are coming in, it’s great, but it puts pressure on Mathers to perform on a higher level. But Cunningham’s great, too. Spots are being filled, last week rattled him. Legacy gets that, but you can’t wallow. Step up to the plate. Legacy talked with Stevie, and he gets to introduce Eli Knight to the club. That’s great, but remember: they’re in this together. Being ID guys, they have targets on their back. Damn right! Cuz they’ve been killing it, so of course people are after them!

But Legacy’s got Mathers’ back, just like he knows Mathers has his. Next week, Legacy has business to take care of. Mathers says you go do that. Legacy and Mathers shake hands and Legacy pats Mathers on the shoulder to encourage him. Can the first wave of WWE ID stay afloat as a new wave comes in? Will Mathers still be Philly’s Finest while Legacy fights to Stay Super?

Brooks Jensen VS Mike Cunningham!

Speaking of a target on the backs of WWE ID, the Bad Man from Ala-Bam-Bam-Bam-Bama thinks he can bully the new kids. But will The Lost Cause get a win off #MainManMike? Or will Cunningham show us all exactly why he’s The Nightmare Factory’s number one?

The bell rings, the fans chant for “Magic Mike!” and Mike smiles. Jensen is annoyed, the two circle, and Jensen trips Mike right up! Jensen talks smack, then does jumping jacks. Jensen struts a bit, then circles with Mike again. They tie up, Mike waistlocks, but Jensen pries the hold open. Jensen arm-drags Mike down, then has the armlock. Mike kips up, goes for an arm, but Jensen twists the wrist. Jensen whips, Mike slides under, and Mike arm-drags! And arm-drags! And armlocks! The fans cheer, but Jensen headscissors. Mike kips free, wrenches, and wristlocks. Mike grinds the arm while the fans cheer.

Jensen endures, and he scoops Mike to SLAM him! Jensen shakes out the arm, then goes back to Mike, but Mike UP KICKS Jensen away! Mike runs up but Jensen KNEES low! Jensen whips, Mike goes up and over, and Jensen hits buckles! Mike runs, Jensen drops down, but Mike hurdles over! Mike shoves, but Jensen RUNS Mike over! Things keep moving, Mike drops down then hurdles again for a DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Mike covers, TWO! Jensen stays in this but the fans fire up with Mike. Mike aims, but Jensen swats the dropkick! NECKBREAKER! Jensen storms up on Mike, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS!

Mike falls back, the fans rally, but Jensen drags him up. Jensen talks trash, ROCKS Mike, and the fans rally, “Let’s Go, Mike! Let’s Go, Mike!” Mike fires body shots, but Jensen hits another NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE! Mike toughs it out but Jensen drags him up. Jensen whips to the corner hard and Mike falls to the mat! Jensen taunts Mike more, the fans rally, but Jensen says he’s toying with the kid. Jensen KICKS Mike in the back! Mike writhes, goes to a corner, but Jensen whips corner to corner. Mike BOOTS back, throws hands, but Jensen throat chops! The ref reprimands but Jensen drags Mike up.

The fans boo but Jensen hits a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! SLEEPER! Jensen grinds Mike down, but Mike fights up and goes to a corner. HOTSHOT on Jensen! Mike swings, but Jensen ducks to O’Conner Roll! TWO, and Jensen hits buckles! The fans rally for Mike as both men stand. Mike bobs ‘n’ weaves to JAB! Jensen body shots, Mike JABS, repeat! Mike JABS, JABS, JABS, and winds up to DECK Jensen! And ELBOW him! And then LARIAT! The fans fire up with Mike, and he dodges a shot to then run up, LEAPING LARIAT! The fans fire up as “Magic Mike” climbs up a corner. Jensen stands, and Mike MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO!

Jensen survives the “lasso launch” but Mike fires up again! Mike scoops, but Jensen slips free! O’Conner Roll, with tights! TWO and Mike has the O’Conner, TWO! Mike ducks ‘n’ dodges again, springboard, but into the WHEEL KICK! Cover, Jensen wins!

Winner: Brooks Jensen, by pinfall

Mike Cunningham sure has all the physical attributes, and even some mental ones, but experience is still far more valuable. The Lost Cause gets his win, but will he not stop until he’s done the same to all the WWE ID Prospects?

Aaron Rourke speaks.

“I’m the Dime Piece, but I didn’t always feel like that. I’ve always felt like others have defined me by their own perception of me, but all of that changed when I went to Create-A-Pro for my wrestling school. They wanted to know that I was gonna work hard, and I did. I gave them everything, and I still give my everything. For the first time, I felt like I could finally show my younger self that someone like you can make it. All those things those people told you to hide, let them thrive. That’s what makes you you. I can say that I am here and I have earned this.

“Don’t let the face, the outfit, the makeup, don’t let that distract you. Just as I am opulent and flamboyant, I am just as ruthless, aggressive, and evil.” The Dime Piece is ready to shine, will he go all the way to the gold?

Jackson Drake talks with Stevie, again.

This time, he barges into her office and asks she put her phone down. He should NOT have to face Keanu at all! He tried to cost Drake the title at Succession, got checked for it. Then with what we saw earlier tonight, how long is Keanu going to be suspended for? Oh, Stevie’s not suspending Keanu at all. Typical… Stevie asks how good Drake’s memory is, because clearly, he forgot that Keanu won his #1 contender’s match. But then Vanity Project came out and broke Keanu’s hand, didn’t they? Okay, here’s the thing, that wasn’t him, that was all them, Drake was not the one to break Keanu’s hand.

Oh wow, “That literally wasn’t me, bro.” Drake, you ordered it, you celebrated it, but you are the Men’s Evolve Champion. He has only two choices: He either defends the title against Keanu, or he just hands the title over to Stevie. Both options suck. She’s genuinely willing to let the greatest Evolve Champion in this company’s history just walk away from all of this right now? She’s even crazier than Keanu, Drake hopes she knows that. Stevie says he either faces Keanu or vacates, his choice. Well, you know what he chooses? To bite his tongue. Wow, that’s a first. Drake leaves, Stevie rolls her eyes, but will nothing stop Keanu from breaking Heartbreak Drake?

Wendy Choo VS Chantel Monroe!

In her darkest hour, The Sleepy Psycho saw the light and opened up about who she is and what she feels. And like the typical high school Mean Girl, The Reflection of Perfection had to mock and belittle her for it. Will Chantel add insult to injury with a main event victory? Or will Wendy put a stop to the Showstopping Diva?

Kelly Kincaid gives the big fight introductions, and we see who is truly being true to themselves!

The bell rings and the two circle. Chantel spins Wendy, snapmares, then mocks her and the fans. Chantel lounges on the top rope, but Wendy eggs her on. The two reset, tie up, and Wendy waistlocks to spin Chantel and snapmare back! Then Wendy just smirks at Chantel. Chantel is unsettled, Wendy steps forward, and Chantel goes to the apron. The fans boo while Chantel has the ref back Wendy off. Wendy steps back, Chantel steps in, and the two feel out a grapple. Chantel grabs an arm, kicks low, then knuckle locks. Wendy is on her knees, but she powers up and reels Chantel in. Wendy holds Chantel up, then jumps up to MONKEY FLIP!

Wendy rolls back to cover, TWO as Chantel gets an arm up! Wendy pushes it down, TWO as Chantel gets the other arm up, and she uses a body scissors squeeze. Wendy pries free, flips Chantel over, and has the armlock. The fans rally but Chantel pulls hair. Wendy grinds the arm, Chantel rolls, headscissors, and she keeps on the squeeze. Chantel talks trash at the same time, but Wendy moves around, headstands, and pops free. Wendy mocks Chantel’s mirror, then floats to a headlock. The fans cheer while Chantel flails around. Chantel fights up, but Wendy hits a takeover! Chantel fights up, powers out, but Wendy RUNS her over!

Things speed up, Chantel hops down, but Wendy arm-drags to a lateral press, TWO! DROPKICK! Chantel flounders away to the apron and Wendy storms up on her. Wendy drags Chantel in, whips her to a corner, then runs up to ROCK Chantel! The fans rally and Wendy whips Chantel to ropes. Chantel KICKS the backdrop away, then bumps Wendy off buckles. Chantel ROCKS and stomps Wendy, then brings her around. Chantel goes for another, but Wendy bumps Chantel off buckles first! Wendy stomps and CHOPS Chantel, then snapmares for a NECK TWIST! Chantel writhes and goes to a corner, but Wendy handsprings and LARIATS!

Wendy goes side to side, YAKUZA KICK! Snapmare and BASEMENT COMPLETE SHOT! The fans fire up and Wendy has Chantel on the apron again. But Chantel grabs Wendy! Wendy breaks free, but Chantel avoids the shoulder trust! Chantel KNEES Wendy, then HOTSHOT NECKBREAKERS! Wendy flounders away and Chantel says, “Thank you, thank you.” She tells the fans to applaud, but Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns and Wendy ROCKS Chantel. Wendy whips but Chantel reverses to NECKBREAKER DROP! Chantel then HAMMERS away with elbows, and a KNEE DROP! The fans rally for Wendy but Chantel stalks her to ropes. Chantel brings Wendy around to kick low, pie faces her, and mocks the fans cheering Wendy on. Wendy goes to ropes but Chantel bends her back against them! The ref counts, Chantel stops, and she YANKS the ropes to jam Wendy up! METEORA! Cover, TWO! The fans still rally for Wendy but Chantel wraps on the headscissor necklock! The fans rally as Wendy endures, and Wendy pries at the hold.

Chantel puts on the pressure but the fans still rally. Wendy fights, turns things over, and pushes to a stack, TWO! Wendy is free, she dodges, Chantel dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both women are down and the fans fire up! The fans rally as both women rise up, and they both pull hair. Chantel fires a forearm, Wendy fires back! Chantel fires a forearm, Wendy kicks low! Chantel kicks, but Wendy kicks, KICKS, and CHOPS! Then Wendy wrenches to LARIAT! And LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Wendy whips. Chantel reverses, but Wendy reverses back! SPINEBUSTER! A little low but still effective! High stack, TWO!

Wendy seethes as Chantel toughs it out. Wendy brings Chantel up, scoops, but Chantel slips free! But Wendy snapmares the dragon sleeper to a ghost pin! TWO and Chantel has a cradle, TWO! Wendy has the sunset flip, TWO! Wendy kicks low, suplexes, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Wendy is surprised but the fans still rally behind her. Wendy drags Chantel up, full nelsons, but Chantel flails! Chantel drops down, but into a tuck! TWO, and Chantel stands, into a HELLSTAB! Chantel goes to the corner, Wendy runs up, but Chantel ELBOWS her! Chantel goes up, dragon sleeper, TORNADO REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO!!

The fans cheer as Wendy survives but Chantel is right on her! Fireman’s carry, but Wendy slips free! Wendy shoves Chantel away, Chantel BOOTs from the corner! Chantel goes up, Wendy trips her! DIRTNAP!! Chantel flails, rolls back to a cover, TWO!! Wendy lets go in time, Chantel SUPERKICKS! Then she fireman’s carries, TKO FALLOUT! Chantel then runs for the SHOOTING STAR FLOP! Wendy hurries to then clamp on, DIRT- NO, Chantel runs around and HOTSHOTS Wendy off the ropes! PERFECT ENDING!! Cover, Chantel wins!!

Winner: Chantel Monroe, by pinfall

Wendy fought her heart out, but Chantel would not let it be lights out! Chantel indeed gets her Perfect Ending, and she tells “the freak” to get out of her ring and go back to therapy! Will the Showstopping Diva not stop until the show is all about her?

Jackson Drake talks with Stevie, again…

And he says, “Look who’s sitting in the exact same spot.” Stevie asks if the champ’s made his decision. Drake says to put it on record, for a General Manager, and yes, General Manager, NOT “Prime Minister,” for her to put her champion in a predicament like this is super not cool. But… As we all know, there is a reason why Heartbreak Drake is the first-ever WWE Evolve Men’s Champion, and that is because no one else is good enough to carry the ball. So she wants to send that maniac after him? Fine, whatever. Keanu is reckless and a danger to the entire brand, but someone has to put him down, so it might as well be the franchise player.

Stevie is surprised as Drake says to make the match. Everyone knows the title is staying on Jackson Drake. The showdown is officially happening, but will the One Man Demolition Crew be the unaliving of the Carolina Reaper?

My Thoughts:

A good episode of Evolve, but uh, did we really need three talking segments of Jackson Drake with Stevie Turner? And the rest of Vanity Project being absent is interesting. Is this a sign that they’ve run out of recorded material from before October 11 and all those releases? Well, to that point, Haze Jameson’s return to Evolve is perhaps her last Evolve match, she was in the batch of releases and non-renewals as Zayda and Stevie Turner. But to the point of Drake, something about Keanu punching the wall and then Stevie giving Drake his choice of title defense or title abdication didn’t line up. The match was of course happening, so I feel like the second and third segments could’ve been just one segment where Drake mans up and says he’ll go through with the match.

Great tag match to open, but I’m a bit surprised (and maybe even disappointed) that Jax & Harley won the tiebreaker. I know they’re big strong young guys, but what does this mean for Adrenaline Drip? Are they going to do better in the tag team title tournament that we’re still waiting on? For that matter, it seems the team of Mathers & Rourke is truly split as far as Evolve is concerned. Another good promo from Rourke, I wonder if it’s a tease that he’ll be slightly more Heelish than before. Mathers also had a good promo with Legacy and Cunningham, though I wonder if Mathers also goes Heel out of feeling left behind.

Very good match of Cunningham VS Jensen, great showing for Cunningham and great win for Jensen. And great main event from Chantel VS Wendy, though I’m surprised Chantel won given all the trash she talked on Wendy. But perhaps per all of Wendy’s other feuds, this continues for a rematch, and Wendy wins out in the end. Otherwise, what was the point of her becoming “New Wendy Choo” as a hybrid of all her past selves?

My Score: 8.4/10