Who catches their Issue tonight?

Two weeks ahead of Succession 2, Kendal Grey and PJ Vasa sign the contract for their WWE Evolve Women’s Championship showdown!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Brooks Jensen VS Dante Chen; Jensen wins.
• Drake Morreaux VS It’s Gal; Drake wins.
• Nikkita Lyons & Arianna Grace VS Masyn Holiday & Layla Diggs; Lyons & Grace win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Nikkita Lyons & Arianna Grace talk backstage.

Big Kat Kita is so ready for tonight. She has not been this excited since Mercury stopped its retrograde. She has been counting down the seconds to this day. The Pageant Queen agrees, Kendal Grey has been racking up wins and title defenses, but PJ Vasa will be her greatest challenge yet. Uh, yeah, that’s great and all, but that’s not what Lyons was talking about. Oh, duh, Grace gets it! Laynie Luck and how she’s been representing WWE ID as a champion. Lyons sighs and Grace says oh, sorry. Um… Tyra Mae Steele coming to Evolve! She is… full of energy, that one. And probably really good at escape rooms!

Lyons tells Grace no, it’s finally time to get their hands on Masyn & Layla! Grace realizes that and says she might’ve repressed those memories from the trauma those two caused. But Lyons says it is time to unsuppress the memory~, because tonight, Lyons & Grace will make Masyn & Layla pay for everything they put Lyons & Grace through! But yeah, she is also happy for Laynie, that’s awesome for her. Will these mean girls get their way against Masyn & Layla? Or will Masyn & Layla make #NikkitaMultimedia and the NEW Knockouts Women’s Champion go viral for all the wrong reasons?

Chuey Martinez is in the ring.

He stands by the table as he tells everyone to make some noise! The fans cheer, and Chuey says on Wednesday, March 4th, Evolve Succession II, Kendal Grey defends her Evolve Women’s Championship against the dominant PJ Vasa! So let’s make it official and get the contract signed. First, the challenger, PJ Vasa! The fans boo #PNasty as she goes to the ring, but there are plenty who join in with the Samoan S hand sign. Chuey then welcomes out the champion, Kendal Grey! The fans cheer as the Ice Woman of Evolve brings that gold to the ring. Chuey welcomes the ladies and says the floor is theirs.

Kendal picks up her mic first and says she’s heard all week that beating PJ Vasa is an uphill climb, that PJ is one of the biggest and toughest opponents she’s faced so far. But Kendal loves that! She loves stacking the odds against herself to watch herself beat them! But PJ says yeah, whether it is here or on NXT, when Kendal shows up, she shows out. Kendal says hold on, let her talk. She wasn’t done speaking! She’s been underestimated her whole entire life! People underestimating her, looking at her and thinking she should be at Starbucks asking, “Ma’am? Ma’am? Do you want extra foam on your latte?”

Or maybe when her high school wrestling coach pulled her aside and said, “If you’re here looking for a boyfriend, then get out.” But crazy enough, he had kids crying to their coaches saying, “How’d I lose to the girl?!” Kendal says it’s because she doesn’t back down from any challenge! She thrives under pressure! That’s what happened to Kali Armstrong! PJ says girl, that ain’t the same! Kali was the one who came to get her lick back and Kendal pinned Kali in the Triple Threat. PJ didn’t lose, and Kendal can’t beat her! So now, let’s talk about it. PJ goes right ahead and signs her part, saying they won’t do this on Kendal’s terms, they’re doing it on PJ’s.

PJ says they’ll do it as a STREET FIGHT! The fans like the sound of that! What does Kendal say to that? PJ dares her to #ComeGetchoIssue. Kendal says BET! Kendal signs her part, and Chuey says it is official! We’ve raised the stakes, and then PJ SMACKS Kendal off the table! The fans boo but PJ FLIPS the table, then drags Kendal up to DECK her! PJ warns everybody that she’s done waiting for this. People saying Kendal’s the next one up, the one with greatness, but y’all looking at real greatness, and she ain’t waiting! Kendal is a bit shellshocked, but will she be able to regroup and make PJ regret this?

Cappuccino Jones speaks.

“Everybody’s acting like they don’t smell the aroma. I know i got the most flavor int he entire locker room, and that’s not even egotistical. That’s just cold brewed facts. But when I see other ID prospects get called up and not me, it just got something different brewing on the inside of me. Like, hey, no, no, cheers to them, don’t get me wrong. But it tells me that not everybody’s got taste. Look, I love to have a good time, but my flavor is top shelf. My flavor is the boldest! My flavor is one of one! It’s time for Cappuccino Jones to start waking everybody up. And that starts with winning the WWE Evolve Title from Jackson Drake. The Pot is HOT!”

Cappuccino is jonesing for that top spot, but will he be able to break Heartbreak Drake? Or will the Carolina Reaper unalive another challenger?

Brooks Jensen VS Dante Chen!

The Lost Cause made sure Harlem Lewis couldn’t cash in his promised title match, but that means he’ll have to deal with the New York Nightmare at Succession II. Will the Bad Man from Ala-Bam-Bam-Bama be rolling like the tide? Or will the Evolve Gatekeeper show him he still has to level up?

Evolve returns as Jensen makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans rally for Dante as he circles with Jensen. They tie up, Jensen slips around and uses shoulder claws to bring Dante down. The fans rally as Dante endures, but Jensen slips around to facelock. Jensen then hits a headlock takeover and covers, TWO! We see in the VIP Lounge, it’s Kam Hendrix, Braxton Cole & Harley Riggins of Team Performance Center. Jensen keeps on Dante with a headlock but Dante endures the ground. Dante fights up, powers Jensen to the ropes, then powers up, only for Jensen to keep the headlock on!

The fans rally for Dante as he still endures. Dante fights back up, pries at the hold, and he wrenches the hold open to wristlock back! The fans cheer, but Jensen reaches for ropes. Dante keeps him from ropes as they go around and around, and Dante wrangles Jensen down! Dante grinds the armlock, but Jensen fights up to roll, snapmare, and chinlock. Dante slips right out to go right back for the arm! The fans cheer, but Jensen fights up again. Dante puts the pressure on the wristlock, but Jensen SMACKS him off buckles! But Dante holds on! Dante wrenches and YANKS Jensen’s arm, then goes back to the wristlock.

Jensen SMACKS Dante off buckles again, but Dante still wrenches, WRINGS, and grinds the arm down! Jensen endures as Dante twists the wrist. Jensen reaches out, moves around, and rises up. Dante keeps Jensen from the ropes with a hammerlock, but Jensen TRIPS Dante. Dante BOOTS Jensen away, then things speed up as Jensen sidesteps and BACKDROPS Jensen! Then arm-drag! And arm-drag! Dante then wrenches the arm to ELBOW BREAKER, HEADBUTT, and CLUB the arm! Jensen endures again, and he pulls Dante’s hair! The ref reprimands but Jensen whips, only for Dante to reverse.

Jensen grabs ropes to stop himself, and he CLUBS Dante down! Jensen BOOTS Dante down, then CLUBS him again! The fans rally for Dante but Jensen gets Dante up. Jensen puts Dante on the top rope and has the cravat, LONDON TOWER! Cover, TWO! Dante survives but Jensen scowls. Jensen stomps away on Dante, stalks him along the ropes, and ELBOWS Dante in the shoulders! Jensen stands Dante up, turns him, but Dante fights the neckbreaker into a backslide! TWO, but Dante cradles fast, TWO! Both men stand, and Jensen LARIATS Dante down! The fans are torn but Jensen FIST DROPS on Dante’s face!

Dante sputters but Jensen stalks him. Jensen drags Dante up to scrape laces off his face! Jensen then turns Dante for the NECKBREAKER! Cocky cover, TWO! The fans cheer Dante on but Jensen clamps on with a chinlock. Jensen grinds Dante down but the fans rally back up. Dante fights up and fights around, but Jensen THROWS him down! But Dante avoids the elbow drop! Dante gets Jensen with a ghost pin, TWO! Both men stand, and Jensen BOOTS Dante down! The fans boo but Jensen scuffs Dante to the corner. Jensen jump stomps Dante down, but Dante comes back with a CHOP! Jensen CHOPS Dante down!

Jensen drops the ELBOW, then he stalks Dante. Jensen whips Dante hard into the corner, and Dante hits chest first! Dante falls back, the fans boo again, but Jensen soaks up the heat. Jensen stands Dante up, hoists him to the top rope, then cravats again. But Dante powers out of that, BOOTS Jensen, and adjusts for the FLYING CHOP! The fans fire up while both men are down! Jensen and Dante rise up, go to the ropes, and Dante dodges a boot! Dante LARIATS Jensen, DROPKICKS Jensen, then ELBOWS, BACKHANDS, and UPPERCUTS! But Jensen THROWS Dante down by his hair! But Dante UP KICKS back!

Jensen staggers around, into Dante’s SUPERKICK! Dante runs and BOOTS Jensen! Jensen flounders around while the fans fire up again! Dante runs up but into an ELBOW! Jensen swings, Dante dodges, and now Dante ELBOWS Jensen! Dante goes up, but Jensen YANKS him down into a HOTSHOT! Then Jensen suplexes, END OF HEARTACHE! Cover, JENSEN WINS!

Winner: Brooks Jensen, by pinfall

It was a gritty fight between savvy veterans of NXT, and Jensen warns Lewis that he put his ass down once! And he’ll do it again, courtesy of the Bad Man from Ala-Bam-Bam-Bama! Will Jensen turn Succession into the launch pad for his success?

Wendy Choo speaks.

“To say the last few months have been difficult would be an understatement. And I was trying to be something that I wasn’t for so, so long. And I’m just exhausted, really. And therapy, that helped me so much, and I was just trying to share some advice. But clearly, that backfired. And Kali, you think you’re above that. That’s okay, to each their own. What we’re not gonna do is punch me in the stomach and think you’re gonna get away with it. I will not be disrespected just for trying to be a good person. So how ’bout the ‘Difference Maker’ try to see if she has it all figured out, of if she’s still trying to fake it ’til she makes it?”

The Vanity Project is in their dorm.

Ricky Smokes wakes up and says that was a wild party last night! Brad Baylor and Jackson Drake agree, but Drake says it was too wild, have you seen this place? Brad says yeah, but the cleaning ladies are coming soon. Smokes asks if it’s the hot cleaning ladies and Brad says yeah, same service. But then Sean Legacy, Aaron Rourke & Mike Cunningham walk in, asking what’s going on here. They gotta lock in! Did y’all see Team PC last week? Absolute animals in the gym! Now trust the Dime Piece when he says he loves him some eye candy, but Team PC is coming after Team ID again! They want a full 10 Man Tag!

Legacy says they don’t have to like each other, and they’ll all be carving their own paths in NXT, because that’s just what their future is. But they gotta end Kam, Harley, Jax, Braxton and the rest, or it’ll follow them! Keanu Carver’s already a force, but the WWE ID Program did so much for them, so they gotta leave it in good hands! Rourke says that’s sweet. Legacy says you gotta pay it forward, and they gotta keep WWE ID strong! Rourke says he hates saying this, and he means that, but when they’re united, Team PC can’t beat them! Mike says sunglasses off mode, THAT is Main Man Energy right there.

Vanity Project says they can get with that. WWE ID is the reason they’re all here! It opened the door for The Vanity Project being the youngest faction to ever dominate Evolve AND NXT. They huddle up, talk it over, and they come back to Team ID. Here is what happens. Drake has his defense against Cappuccino at Succession, but for the Ten Man Tag, Swipe Right is in! Brad & Smokes shake hands with Mike, and Sean says now it’s time to clean ourselves up and put an end to Team PC! Everybody is fired up, and perhaps Team PC is in trouble! Can Team ID redeem themselves from the team gauntlet?

Drake Morreaux VS It’s Gal!

The Bayou Badass is undefeated in Evolve, but Mr. Mint Condition is coming fresh off a big win over Aaron Rourke. Team PC is looking to shake things up from the previous 5v5, will they like the look of the winner here tonight?

The bell rings and the fans rally as the two tie up. They’re in a deadlock until Drake SHOVES Gal down! The fans cheer but Gal pumps back up. Gal and Drake go again, and Gal slips around to CLUB Drake. Gal headlocks, Drake powers up and out and RUNS Gal over! The fans cheer Drake flexing, and things speed up. Gal leaps but into a fireman’s carry! Gal fights free, kicks low, then reels Drake in. Gal flexes but Drake suplexes! The fans fire up while Gal bails out to the apron. Drake storms up, stands Gal up, but Gal RAMS low! Gal goes for buckles but Drake bumps Gal off them first! And he runs Gal side to side to bump him off more buckles!

The fans cheer while Gal sputters. Drake steps out to the apron but Gal fires an elbow! Gal fireman’s carries, but now Drake fights free! Drake blocks the chop, and he CHOPS Gal back! Then he LARIATS Gal into the ring! Drake gets moving and he CLOBBERS Gal! The fans cheer and Drake stands Gal up. Drake whips, pops Gal up, but Gal lands safe! Gal kicks low, but Drake blocks the whip! Drake whips, Gal grabs ropes, and Gal dodges the boot! Gal then trips Drake up while the fans boo. Gal DROPKICKS Drake in the corner! Cover, TWO! Drake survives but Gal stomps away on him! The fans boo as Gal stomps the leg and drops an ELBOW!

Gal does pushups on the bad leg, but Drake kicks him away. Gal runs back up, and he SATELLITE DDTS Drake down! Cover, TWO! Drake survives and the fans fire up! Gal clamps onto Drake with a chinlock and he grinds Drake down. Drake fights up as the fans rally, and Drake stands to fire body shots. Drake is free, but Gal jumps on for  a SLEEPER! Gal is a backpack, but Drake RAMS him into buckles! Drake runs up but Gal dodges! Gal fires body shots from all sides, but Drake SHOVES him down! Gal comes back to CHOP! Gal shouts, “It’s GAL~!” Gal struts, pops ‘n’ locks to flex, then runs back in, but into Drake’s arms!

Drake THROWS Gal away, then fires up to CLOBBER Gal! And BOOT him! And then duck a lariat to hit a BIG atomic drop! Drake gets moving to YODELING LARIAT! The fans fire up for Drake again and he guzels Gal! BAYOU CHOKE SLAM! Cover, Drake wins!

Winner: Drake Morreaux, by pinfall

That’s three wins for Drake in Evolve as the good times roll! But then Team PC steps into the ring. Kam has the mic to tell Drake that he is impressive. We’ve seen how he’s killing it. Drake looks “way less like them and way more like us.” Next week is the 10 Man Tag, and admittedly, they’re a little short handed. Jax Presley got hurt lifting way too much weight in the gym. But you can’t trust the ID nerds! The more of them are running around, then the less opportunities there are for real athletes like Team PC. Yeah, ID has the numbers, but PC are the winners. There’s a spot just for Drake. Come stand with PC.

Kam isn’t just leading Evolve’s future, he’s taking things all the way to NXT! Kam wraps his arm around Drake’s shoulder as he says he’ll take it all the way to WrestleMania! What’s Drake say? Drake takes the mic, he puts Kam’s arm down, and says he knows exactly what side of history he wants to be on. Wait, is that a yes? Or a no? Kam and his team keeps it positive, but then Gal asks about his opportunity. He can be Team PC! The ID guys ARE nerds! Pick this stud! Gal tries to make a chant out of “Team PC! Team PC!” but no one follows it. Who will side with who on the Evolve season finale?

Kali Armstrong speaks.

“Hey, Wendy. Seems like I hurt your feelings a few weeks ago. Girl, it wasn’t personal. I just ain’t need your help. Or anybody else’s for that matter. I mean, where was y’all before? I ain’t had nobody offering me advice on the way to the top. All I had was dirty looks and people trying to hold me back. Now I got a little emotion and now everybody wanna be close and be all buddy-buddy. Man, hell nah! Everything I got, I got on my own. And I ain’t about to stop now. See, you wanna know if I found myself. You damn right I did! That fire that I felt when I was champion, I feel it. Yeah. I think I got my swagger back.

“So Wendy, I accept your little challenge. But just know I’ma make you regret ever putting my name in your mouth. Because the Difference Maker is gonna send you back to mute, #StraightLikeThat.”

Nikkita Lyons & Arianna Grace VS Masyn Holiday & Layla Diggs!

What started as high school mean girl TikTok drama turned into heated competition in the ring, and that turned into a grudge over who is really better at all of this. Will #BigKatKita and the Pageant Queen prove nice girls finish last? Or will Masyn & Layla prove they’re the total package?

Chantel Monroe is in the VIP Lounge to watch this match, perhaps wanting to see how her former friends do. The teams sort out, Grace starts against Masyn. The bell rings, Grace runs up but Masyn rolls her up! ONE, but Masyn wrenches and wristlocks Grace. Tag to Layla and they double wrench Grace to DOUBLE YANK the arms! The fans cheer as Layla drags Grace back up and tags Masyn back in. They handoff the wristlock, but Grace powers to a headlock and takeover! Masyn fights around, Grace floats to turn arm scissor into ghost pin, ONE! Masyn has the headlock and she grinds Grace in return.

Grace fights up, powers out, but Masyn CLOBBERs her! Masyn runs the ropes, Grace drops down but Masyn hurdles over! CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Chantel mockingly applauds but Masyn tags Layla. Layla goes up to AX HANDLE Grace. Layla puts pressure on the wristlock, but Grace rolls and slips through to trip Layla. Grace drags Layla but Layla BOOTS her away. Lyons tags in, blocks the drop toehold, and she scoops Layla! Layla slips free and headlocks! The fans applaud but Lyons RAMS her into the corner. Masyn tags in, she and Layla reel Lyons in, but Grace saves Lyons from the double suplex! Lyons & Grace ROCK Masyn & Layla!

Lyons & Grace then wind up, but Layla & Masyn dodge the lariats to DOUBLE DROPKICK! Lyons & Grace bail out while Masyn & Layla break it down, and Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns as Masyn has Grace in a headlock. Grace powers up and out but Masyn ducks ‘n’ dodges, but she avoids Lyons’ cheap shot! The fans boo but Grace fireman’s carries! Masyn fights free, ROCKS Lyons then ROCKS Grace! The ref checks Grace but Lyons YANKS Masyn down! Grace tags Lyons in and she HAMMERS away on Masyn! The fans boo but Lyons drags Masyn up and puts her in the ring. Lyons talks trash before she hits the YAM SLAM! Chantel genuinely applauds that while Lyons CHOKES Masyn on the ropes, and even twerks! The ref counts and backs Lyons off, but Grace scuffs Masyn down!

Lyons drags Masyn up, whips her to ropes, then DECKS her! Lyons drags Masyn up into a chinlock and squeezes tight! The fans rally up as Masyn endures, but Lyons drags her down! Masyn claws at the mat while the fans rally up again. Masyn rises up, fires body shots, but Lyons CLUBS her down! Lyons drags Masyn up, snap suplexes then covers, TWO! Masyn survives but Lyons brings her right up for a scoop. Lyons RAMS Masyn into the corner and into the Tree of Woe! Lyons stomps and CHOPS Masyn, then tags Grace. Grace stomps away on Masyn, but stops as the ref counts 4. Masyn flops out of the Tree while Grace mocks Layla.

Masyn fires body shots on Grace and shoves her away, but Grace catches her to a turn! But Masyn turns neckbreaker into backslide! TWO and Grace CLUBS away on Masyn! Snapmare and run, basement FOREARM! Cover, TWO! Masyn survives but Grace drags her up. Tag to Lyons and she helps double whip Masyn. They DOUBLE ELBOW Masyn, then Lyons pushes her down for a cover, TWO! Lyons keeps Masyn from Layla and whips her to an open corner. Lyons runs up and FOREARMS Masyn! Lyons whips corner to corner, runs in, but Masyn goes up to sunset flip, TWO! Lyons runs up and LARIATS! Cover, TWO!

Lyons keeps Masyn down with a neck wrench. The fans rally as Masyn endures, and Masyn fights up to fire body shots. Masyn is free, but she and Lyons DOUBLE LARIAT! Both women are down and the fans fire up again! Lyons and Masyn crawl, hot tags to Grace and Layla! The fans fire up as Layla rallies with LARIATS and ELBOWS! Then a LEG LARIAT for Lyons, and a SOBAT to FRONT KICK and ENZIGIRI for Grace! Layla fires up and runs at the corner, JUMP KNEE on Grace! Cover, TWO! Layla drags Grace up to scoop, but Grace slips free! Grace swings, but Layla goes Matrix and handsprings through to PELE Grace! Cover, Lyons breaks it!

Lyons talk trash, but Masyn runs in and TOSSES Lyons! But Masyn turns around into a CODE BREAKER! But Layla O’Conner Rolls Grace, TWO! Into a ROUNDHOUSE from Lyons! Grace reels Layla in for a fireman’s carry, GRACELAND! Cover, Grace & Lyons win!

Winners: Nikkita Lyons & Arianna Grace, by pinfall

Masyn & Layla fought hard, but they could not humble the resident mean girls! Will Lyons & Grace continue to grow their egos along with their standings?

Tate Wilder speaks.

“For months now, Evolve has been engulfed in conflict and division. Team PC VS Team ID. What could’ve been a healthy environment of friendly competition between the finest athletes and wrestlers from all over the world has become a warzone fueled by arrogance and Grade-A, Blue Chip ego. And at every turn, I’ve tried my best to do the right thing, a value the PC has taught me. However, every week, my PC ‘brothers’ are obsessed with destroying Team ID for good. And I don’t think destroying the other side is the only way to get out of this. Heck, I’ve had my issues with Team ID, too. And I’m okay with Team PC questioning my alliance.

“But what Tate Wilder can’t stand for is the injustice, the power trips, the sneak attacks, the manipulation, the list goes on and on and on. Y’know, life ain’t fair. Heck, this business ain’t fair. But what Tate Wilder will make fair is the match between Team PC and Team ID, because I will be the special guest referee in this ten man tag match! So buckle up, boys, the Sheriff of Justice is coming to town.” The Modern Day Cowboy is about to lay down the law, who will win when they have to do the right thing?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode for Evolve going into the “season finale” and then “season premiere” of Succession 2. Good contract signing from Kendal and PJ, and I’m surprised they decided to up the stipulation just because. At the same time, pretty sure this means PJ wins. Kendal can definitely move on to NXT full time after Succession and let PJ Vasa be the new Heel for the Women’s Division to chase. Wendy and Kali had good promos to set up their match, and that’ll be really telling to the next phase on Evolve. I would think Kali wins and heads for the title, but that depends on if Evolve gets to do something special for their first WrestleMania week.

Very good stuff as we build to PC VS ID for the season finale. Good promo from Team ID with Vanity Project to get back on the same page like they were to stop Kam from taking the title. Then a shame about Jax Presley, hopefully he’ll be alright. But I suppose that does give opportunities to other PC guys who need a chance to shine. Drake Morreaux got a good win off It’s Gal, but I’m pretty sure Drake is gonna stand by what he’s said about not joining “Team PC” because of how they conduct themselves. And Tate Wilder establishing himself as the special guest referee is quite the surprise, but I like the role for him, makes me think of when Shawn Michaels was special guest ref.

Good match from Jensen VS Chen, and good win for Jensen. But just as he lost at the first Succession, I feel like he’s going to put Harlem Lewis over so that Harlem can make big strides in the next phase, even going for the title. Cappuccino Jones had a very good promo, and his match with Drake is going to be great stuff. I would think Drake loses so he can be full-time NXT. He’s made it the full year as the first champ ever, so it’s time to finally hand off the baton. And very good stuff in the tag team story, from Grace & Lyons having a good opening promo to a very good tag team main event. Great win for Grace & Lyons, and it works out since Grace is TNA Knockouts Champion and isn’t going to lose on regular weekly episodes.

My Score: 8.7/10