Who survives the Fatal 5?

Tonight, Kali Armstrong, Wendy Choo, PJ Vasa, Nikkita Lyons and Laynie Luck fight in a Fatal 5 Way, the winner having advantage in the Gauntlet Eliminator! Who defies the odds to improve theirs next week?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• It’s Gal VS Dorian Van Dux; Dorian wins.
• WWE Evolve Championship #1 Contender’s Match Triple Threat: CJ Valor VS Santi Rivera VS “Starboy” Chazz Hall; Starboy wins and will challenge for the title next week.
• Gauntlet Eliminator Stakes Fatal 5 Way: Kali Armstrong VS Wendy Choo VS PJ Vasa VS Nikkita Lyons VS Laynie Luck; Vasa wins and will enter the Gauntlet Eliminator last.

PLAY BY PLAY

Aaron Rourke speaks.

“What an exciting time for Evolve! A new chapter, new hope, and new adventure. We have five women battling it out for the advantage in the Eliminator Gauntlet for the vacant title. And you know that’s gonna be spicy. We will also be featuring new talent not only from the United States but from across the pond in Europe. And I’ll have my eye on these fresh, fun new talents, because I know they wanna piece of this. And I’ll be happy to show these Plane Janes what a real diamond looks like. But let’s make it interesting.

“I’m holding this right here because of WWE ID, and it’s all about paying it forward. And tonight, we will see three brand new ID prospects make their debut, and isn’t that exciting? So since Evolve is all about opportunity, I feel like raising the stakes. The winner of this match will be my first challenger for this pretty piece of metal right here. Good luck, boys.” The Dime Piece is rolling the dice, who will he be facing to start off his bright new chapter?

It’s Gal VS ???

Mr. Mint Condition asked The Foreman, Timothy Thatcher, for a chance to get in the ring, and that request was granted. Gal has the mic to say, “Tonight, a bunch of new d-d-d-dummies are making their debut. But they could be potential studs. Either way, haha, they’re going to learn that there’s only one ferocious stud on this brand. Guess who it is, dummies! It’s Gal, It’s Gal, It’s Gal! Oh yeah! So, I’m inviting all of them to get on board and show that I’m the true leader in the gym, and take-” Wait, the first new prospect interrupts! Dorian Van Dux is ready to Evolve! And you wanna talk jacked, Dorian is JACKED! But will the new guy prove he is ahead of the curve? Or will Gal burn this DVD with his greatest hits?

Gal opens the ropes for Dorian, and Dorian steps into the ring. Gal then offers a handshake, and Dorian takes it. Gal smiles and nods, but then Dorian DECKS him! Gal bails out, and in the VIP Lounge, it’s the other new prospects, Romeo Moreno and Tristan Angels. Tristan tells Gal, “Get back in the ring, ginger!” Gal steps back inside, the bell rings, and Gal throat chops! Gal bumps DVD off buckles, fires off forearms, then cheers himself on, “IT’S GAL!” Gal whips Dorian, ducks ‘n’ hurdles, then flexes, only for DVD to BOOT him down! The fans fire up as Dorian CHOPS Gal off his feet, then scoops and SLAMS him! Cover, ONE!!

Gal sputters, DVD eggs him on, and then fires haymakers and body shots! Gal shoves DVD, but DVD ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl. Gal blocks the rest to HOTSHOT DVD off the ropes! Gal LARIATS, then runs to DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, ONE!! Gal is frustrated already, but he CHOPS DVD! Gal puts him in a corner, talks trash, then stomps a mudhole in. Gal climbs up, rains down fists, but shouts “IT’S GAL!” between each shot! He only gets three before DVD shoves him away. Gal dodges DVD, fireman’s carries, and GUT BUSTER DROPS! Cover, TWO! DVD is tougher than that but Gal drags him up. Gal reels DVD in but the fans rally for “Dorian! Dorian!”

DVD fires body shots but Gal CLUBS him and suplexes up and over! Gal does pushups on DVD, then talks trash on the dummy. Gal drags DVD up, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Gal whips and BOOTS DVD down! “IT’S GAL~!” The fans boo but DVD fires body shots. Gal throws hands but DVD fires back. Gal KNEES low, then brings DVD up. “You’re a dummy!” Gal ROCKS DVD, but then that just pisses him off! DVD CHOPS Gal, runs, and goes up the ropes, only for Gal to CLUB him! And then the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Gal is growing frustrated but the fans rally for Dorian again.

Gal CLUBS away on DVD, stands him up, and clamps on a chinlock. Gal bends DVD back but the fans rally harder. DVD rises up, fires body shots, but Gal KNEES low! Gal fireman’s carries, but DVD fights free. DVD goes to a corner, then slips outside to dodge. Springboard and FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up and DVD rises up. DVD ELBOWS Gal down, then LARIATS! DVD runs at the corner to SPLASH Gal, then hits a RUNNING BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! The fans boo but DVD keeps on Gal with a lift. Gal fights free, but then DVD slips around, flips him over, and blocks the throat chops! But Gal drop toeholds DVD into ropes! GERMAN SUPLEX!

Gal BOOTS DVD, then runs, dodges, but that SOUTHPAW finds him! DVD fires up, gut wrenches, and he swings Gal around for the DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, DVD wins!

Winner: Dorian Van Dux, by pinfall

Gal has muscles, but not as much as the Muscles from Brussels! Will the former wXw Champion make himself the next Evolve Champion?

Zena Sterling talks with Timothy Thatcher.

The Paradox knows it all makes sense, but please, can’t he just listen? She has been working really, really hard, doing all the right things, learning every single day, and all with a smile on her face. See? She shows off her smile. She also knows Thatcher is the kind of boss that rewards effort, so can’t he put her in the Eliminator Gauntlet? Thatcher tells Miss Sterling that he understands her effort, but such decisions are results based. She needs more wins before he can even consider something like that. Competition here is growing every day, more and more women are joining WWE ID, some are in qualifiers for the Gauntlet.

So please, once you convert hard work into wins, then they can talk. Just tough it out. Thatcher leaves, and Zena grabs a chair to SMASH it against the wall! The pretty face has a temper, but can she use that to earn her way to opportunities?

Tate Wilder storms into the locker room.

The Modern Day Cowboy asks where Kam Hendrix and his boys are, cuz they ain’t here! They talk a big game, but every time they’re given an opportunity to back it up, they fold! They wanna hide from him? They can’t run forever, he promises to track both of them down! Keep your head on a swivel, boys! Tate is a man on a mission, but will he tear down what’s left of “Team PC?”

Chuey Martinez is in the ring.

He says there’s a lot of excitement happening in Evolve! Make some noise, y’all! The fans cheer, and Chuey continues by saying our Foreman, Timothy Thatcher, is on a recruiting rampage! He is here with three new prospects of the WWE ID Program. They make their debuts tonight, and next week, one of them gets a shot at THE WWE Evolve Championships! The fans cheer that! Let’s meet the recruits! CJ Valor, an impressive tryout, how is he feeling? CJ says impressions is exactly what will bleed into the mat tonight. If he’s learned anything from powerlifting, bodybuilding, jiujitsu, and the independent wrestling scene, it’s that opportunity is never guaranteed.

It all makes sense now why his coaches at Rhodes Wrestling Academy always preached the phrase, “Keep Stepping.” So no matter what happens tonight, he promises that C J Valor will keep stepping until that Evolve Championship is his! The fans like that! Moving on to Santi Rivera, Chuey asks what he’s gotta say. Santi is feeling fantastic, like he’s on top of the world. He can’t imagine next week when he’s the NEW Evolve Champion. Coming out of the New England Pro-Wrestling Academy up in Massachusetts, wrestling in places like Chaotic Wrestling and Wrestling Open, but most importantly, he is a man built by Divine Design with Boricua blood!

So when it comes to opportunity at hand, you’re looking at your next Evolve Champion, Santi RRRRRivera~! Chuey says wepa! And Starboy, Chazz Hall, how’re you doing? The fans all chant for Starboy, and he says he feels good. Believe it or not, he’s been on the indies for 12 YEARS now! Vet status! Started off at Gold Rush, got hardcore in GCW, won gold at West Coast Pro, and he even flew over to Japan where he trained at the Marvelous Dojo, wrestling for Noah! He could go on and on, but each step of his journey has led him to Evolve!

And now that he’s here, on behalf of the WWE ID, he promises that each and every time he steps in the ring, you will be left starstruck by Starboy himself, The Denim Dragon, Chazz Hall! The fans cheer that! Chuey is pumped, so enough talking, let’s go!

WWE Evolve Championship #1 Contender’s Match Triple Threat: CJ Valor VS Santi Rivera VS “Starboy” Chazz Hall!

The bell rings and the fans fire up as Santi goes right for CJ! Starboy runs up but Santi DECKS him! Santi fires off on CJ again, but Chazz rolls Santi up, TWO! Santi scoops but Chazz slips free, waistlocks, only for Santi to buck the O’Conner. Chazz handsprings through, runs back up, but Santi puts him on the apron. CJ runs up but is sent into Chazz! Santi CLUB S CJ, reels him in, but CJ blocks the suplex! CJ slips around and waistlocks but Santi elbows free. Chazz RAMS into Santi, slingshots up and over, then he ducks ‘n’ dodges CJ. CJ pops Starboy up but he uses that to RANA Santi! The fans fire up as Starboy then dodges CJ to SOBAT!

Starboy whips but CJ blocks and reverses. Starboy BOOTS from the corner, then FLYING RA- NO! CJ blocks that with power, and he swings Starboy up. Starboy flips free, but runs into a hard takeover! Cover, TWO! Santi CLUBS CJ, then lifts for a BIG back suplex! CJ writhes but Santi drags Starboy up to scoop and SLAM onto CJ! The fans are torn but Santi brushes himself off. JUMP ELBOW DROP on CJ, but Starboy basement DROPKICKS Santi! Then STANDING MARIPOSA on CJ! Cover, TWO! CJ survives but the fans rally for Starboy! He drags Santi up to CHOP, then he fires forearms. Santi shoves Starboy but he comes back!

Santi stops the monkey flip and puts Starboy up top, to then SHOVE him down! Starboy tumbles but CJ rolls Santi for the CHAOS- NO, Santi fights with elbows! Santi whips, but CJ reverses to put Santi on the apron. Santi GAMANGIRIS in return, then steps in for a- NO, CJ stops the Code Breaker! Starboy is up top, he adds on for a BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! The fans fire up, and Starboy runs in at CJ, but CJ LARIATS Starboy inside-out! All three men are down but the fans fire up as Evolve goes to break!

Evolve returns as Starboy and Santi crawl to corners. Mike Cunningham is in the VIP Lounge, that Main Man Energy studying these new additions to Evolve. CJ runs up and LARIATS Santi! Then he runs to LARIAT Starboy! Santi runs up to SLINGBLADE CJ! Cover, TWO! Santi hurries to haul Starboy up, then scoops, but Starboy fights free! Starboy kicks low, cravats, and he kicks off CJ to hit SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO! Santi survives but he rolls away. Starboy runs up on CJ, but CJ catches him in a waistlock! Starboy victory rolls, TWO! ROUNDHOUSE! CJ ends up on ropes, Starboy reels Santi in, but Santi fights the suplex!

Santi wrenches and has the SLEEPER! The fans rally for Starboy as he endures, and he pries at the hold! Santi thrashes Starboy, but Starboy still fights! The fans rally harder as Starboy reaches out, but CJ RAMS them both into a corner! CHAOS THEORY on Santi! Bridging cover, but Starboy breaks it! Starboy then sits CJ up to BUZZSAW! And BUZZSAW from the left! Then he cravats, but CJ denies him Sliced Bread! CJ runs up, but Starboy dodges in the corner! CJ hits buckles, Starboy has Santi! Starboy CHOPS and whips, but Santi reverses. Starboy wheelbarrows but Santi makes it a back suplex! But then CJ SUPERMAN PUNCHES! Cover on Santi, TWO!

The fans fire up again, but CJ seethes and fires himself up. CJ storms over to Starboy, brings him up, but Starboy KICKS the leg! CJ fires a forearm, Starboy KICKS again! CJ fires forearms, Starboy fires back, but CJ blocks a kick! CJ ducks, the ENZIGIRI hits Santi! CJ runs up, Starboy goes Matrix! And he DOUBLE PELES CJ and Santi! The fans fire up and Starboy covers CJ, TWO! Cover on Santi, TWO! The fans stay fired up while all three men are down. Santi goes to ropes, CJ sputters at center, but Starboy goes to the corner. Starboy climbs up, and he CROSSBODIES, but CJ catches him! FALL AWAY SLAM!

Starboy tumbles away, CJ is laser focused, but Santi jumps on him! Santi throws hands but CJ RAMS him into a corner! Santi dodges a lariat but CJ BOOTS him! CJ runs up, Santi dodges, SPEAR on Starboy! Santi rolls CJ up, TWO! CJ leaps for the FLYING ARMBAR!! Santi flails, fights around, tries to stack, TWO as CJ powers Santi back down! Santi pulls on the arm but Santi clasps hands tight. CJ breaks the grip, but the STANDING SHOOTING STAR hits CJ! Cover, TWO!! The fans can’t believe it, Starboy almost had that! Santi goes to ropes, shakes out his bad arm, and Starboy storms his way over. Santi ROCKS Starboy!

Santi drags Starboy up, torture racks, but the bad arm is holding him back. Starboy grabs the ropes to go to the apron. Then he DUMPS Santi up and out! Starboy fires up, builds speed, but CJ is back! Starboy dodges to PELE again! Starboy then gets moving, to SPACE FLYING TIGER!! The straps come down, and Starboy JUMP KICKS CJ in the corner! Starboy goes up, up, and SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! Cover, STARBOY WINS!

Winner: “Starboy” Chazz Hall, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Evolve Championship)

All three prospects proved why they are ready to Evolve, but it was Starboy that reached for the star! Chuey is back to check with Chazz. He gets his shot, how is he feeling? Starboy says this is almost a surprise to him. It feels like just last week, he was wrestling at the Cinco De Mayo Taco Show. But now, he is going to be fighting for a WWE title! And he just wants to thank everyone who supported him along the way, and Aaron Rourke for giving them this opportunity. But Aaron, he’s coming for that title. He is the Denim Dragon, and when the straps come down, the dragon comes out! Will Starboy shine even brighter than The Dime Piece?

Tate Wilder is still searching.

He checks every door and corner of the place, and demands to know where Kam & Harley are hiding! But then Luca Crusifino is chilling on a road case, and he says hey, hey! The universe told Luca this is where he’d find Tate. Tate asks what Luca is doing. Just vibing. Tate asks what happened to Luca. Luca says he went on a journey of self-reflection and- Okay, okay, never mind. Whatever Luca’s got going on here, Tate ain’t got time for it. He needs to find Kam & Harley. But that’s why Luca can help Tate! Tate needs to take this negative energy and refocus it to what matters. Harley and Kam, they’ll never figure it out, but neither will Tate if he keeps chasing this 2v1.

We need to direct- Wait, we? What’s this “We?” Luca says “We” can take this energy to the ring instead of these locker room brawls and backstage fights. Luca & Tate VS Kam & Harley! Picture it: Luca & Tate making Kam & Harley trip all over the place, and they’ll cruise to a victory. A tag match, huh? Shoot, Tate will take any partner he can get right now. Tate heads out, Luca returns to vibing, but will this combination of country and EDM rock Showtime & Gnarly Harley? Or will “Cruise” & Wilder be left singing the blues?

Mike Cunningham speaks.

“Sunglasses off, somebody’s gotta do it! And that somebody is me! That’s Main Man Energy. You can own any room you want, just not mine. That’s Main Man Energy. Reminder: I got more motion than you. That’s Main Man Energy. I wouldn’t wanna stand next to me, either. I’d totally MOG you. That’s Main Man Energy. The talk around Evolve is that I’ve been swinging a hot bat recently, in the ring, outta the ring, with the chicks. That, sunglasses back on, is Main Man Energy!” He says it over and over, but will the #MME take over the WWE?

Gauntlet Eliminator Stakes Fatal 5 Way: Kali Armstrong VS Wendy Choo VS PJ Vasa VS Nikkita Lyons VS Laynie Luck!

With Kendal Grey winning her Final Evolution, there is NO new champion to chase! At least, not yet. The inaugural champion proved herself worthy of entering the Gauntlet Eliminator, but so did the track records of every other competitor. Who wins the critical final entry spot and greatly improves their chances of picking up the title?

The bell rings and all five watch each other. Kali then kicks Lyons and Choo goes after PJ! Laynie joins in, they beat up PJ 2v1, but PJ DOUBLE LARIATS them down! PJ grabs Kali and Lyons and gives them a meeting of the minds! PJ ROCKS Lyons, ROCKS Kali, but Lyons ROCKS PJ in return! Kali joins in, they mug PJ, then TOSS her out! The fans cheer, but then Kali and Lyons start shoving. Laynie and Wendy get up, they each waistlock to then SHOVE Lyons and Kali into each other! Then they stereo O’Conner Roll! TWO, and Laynie uses that to CROSSBODY Wendy! Cover, TWO! Lyons covers Wendy, TWO! Kali covers Wendy, but PJ SPLASHES down!

The fans fire up for that, and Laynie runs up on PJ. PJ picks her up, THROWS her at Lyons, then she drags Lyons up to SMACK off buckles! PJ HEADBUTTS Lyons, then runs to SPLASH Laynie! SPLASH for Lyons, then she short arm LARIATS! But Laynie CROSSBODIES! PJ catches her, but Kali SHOTGUNS them both down! The fans cheer Kali on and she runs to RAM Lyons in a corner! Kail runs to RAM Laynie in a corner! Then she RAMS Lyons again! Laynie goes up and over this time to roll Kali, but Lyons SWITCH KICKS! Lyons then GERMAN SUPLEXES Laynie, kips up, and she LARIATS Kali! Kali ducks a roundhouse, but not the HEEL KICK!

Lyons whips Kali, but PJ trips her up! PJ drags Kali out, SMACKS her off the apron, then shoves her at the post. Lyons cheers PJ on as she runs up, but Kali dodges! PJ POSTS herself! Laynie rolls Lyons up, TWO! Lyanie whips, Lyons reverse, but Laynie SOBATS! Laynie suplexes but Lyons blocks! Lyons suplexes but Laynie slips free! Laynie slips under to UP KICK, then she gets moving to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! Lyons tumbles, Laynie runs up, but Lyons puts her on the apron. Laynie ROCKS Lyons, but Kali grabs a leg! Kali THROWS Laynie, but she cartwheels through! But DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOWS take them both down!

The fans fire up, and now Wendy LARIATS Lyons up and out! The fans fire up with Wendy, and she climbs up a corner! The other four are brawling, but Wendy SUPER DUPER CROSSBODIES! Wendy bowls them all over and the fans are fired up while Evolve goes to break!

Evolve returns as Lyons has Kali up top in one corner, and Laynie has Wendy up on another. The fans rally as Kali fires hands with Lyons, and Laynie ROCKS Wendy! PJ returns and she goes after Lyons and Kali! TOWER OF DOOM! But PJ isn’t done with just one, she gets Laynie and Wendy! But Laynie RANAS PJ away! PJ is back up, Wendy CROSSBODIES again! The fans fire up as all five women are down! “This is Awesome!” as Wendy LARIATS Laynie, then LARIATS Lyons, and repeat! PJ is up, but Wendy dodges to mule kick, front ick, and low kick! Then a basement BOOT knocks PJ down!

The fans cheer, but Kali is up! Wendy blocks a kick, sends it into Laynie, then kicks at Lyons. Lyons blocks that kick, and she FLIPS Wendy, helping her hit a DOUBLE SLICED BREAD! The fans fire up with Wendy again and she ROCKS Lyons in a corner! She BOOTS Kali, then YAKUZA KICKS Laynie! UPPERCUT on Lyons, then a mule kick on Laynie! DOUBLE DDT! The fans fire up as Wendy then dodges Kali, wrenches, hammerlocks, and PEPSI TWIST! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while Wendy grows frustrated. Wendy half nelsons Kali, then full nelsons, but Kali breaks free! Kali switches, tries the nelson, but Wendy drops!

Wendy wheelbarrows, but Kali powers up and out to SNAP- NO! Wendy turns powerslam into cradle! TWO, and Kali SPINEBUSTERS! High stack, but Lyons breaks it! Then she fires body shots on Kali! Underhooks and TIGER DRIVER! But Laynie ghost pins Lyons! TWO, and PJ is back! URENAGE on Laynie! Lyons runs up, but into a fireman’s carry! Lyons fights free, then THRUST KICKS! PJ tumbles out, but Wendy gets Lyons with a BACKSTABBER! PJ returns but Wendy BOOTS her down! Wendy goes to the apron, lines up a shot, and CANNONBALLS! Both go down and the fans fire up!

Kali drags herself up, she sees everyone is down, so she goes up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODIES for herself! Kali wipes out Wendy and PJ, but now Laynie is up! Only for Lyons to HEEL KICK! Lyons says this is done! She goes up, up, VADER BOMB FLOP as Kali drags Laynie out of the ring! And now Kali is building up speed, going down the highway, KALI CONNECTION!! But Lyons tumbles out of the ring!! Kali can’t believe she hit Lyons that hard, but now Wendy gets her! DIRT NAP!! Kali flails as they go around and around, and Wendy drags her down !Kali rolls it back, TWO! Kali scoops for the POWERSLAM!

The fans fire up for Kali, and she gets back on the gas! KALI CONNECTION on Wendy!! But Laynie TOSSES Kali out! But PJ scoops Laynie! SAMOAN DROP! PJ has Wendy now, CATCH YOUR ISSUE!! Cover, PJ WINS!

Winner: PJ Vasa, by pinfall (will enter the Gauntlet Eliminator last)

It isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish, and #PNasty just put this one to bed! But will entering last guarantee she becomes THE Evolve Women’s Champion? Or will there be some wild cards dealt that change the whole dynamic?

My Thoughts:

A great Evolve as we get quite a few new names joining the roster, and some great opportunities being built. Gal of course lost his match, he was going to no matter who it was, but a great showing for Dorian Van Dux in his debut, and we even got good cameos for Tristan Angels and Romeo Moreno before their own match next week. Great Triple Threat, and I appreciate Rourke’s character willing to get started on his reign. CJ Valor and Santi Rivera had a great showing, but c’mon, it’s Starboy Charlie! Depending on when this was taped, he probably came off that WWE ID Championship victory over Cappuccino Jones, Starboy has hit the ground running. But that said, I would think Rourke finds a way to win next week.

With that, I hope Cappuccino Jones gets a call-up to NXT. He was WWE ID Champion, he had his shot at the Evolve Championship, and with both Sean Legacy and Elio LeFleur unfortunately on the shelf, NXT could use a shot of espresso from Jones. Good stuff with Tate hunting down Kam & Harley, and I’d been saying Tate would need an ally, so Luca Crusifino is as good as any. We’re finally going to get to see how “Cruise” is going to wrestle in that ring, and I would think Tate & Luca win for it. I did appreciate Tate questioning the huge character change in Luca, it really is that random.

Very good promo from Zena Sterling with Thatcher to show she wants her shot, but also establishing that Thatcher is a merit-based GM. I almost thought Zena and that chair were going to show up during the main event, but a clean Fatal 5 Way was a great main event. Though, it sounds like the new Women’s Division WWE ID prospects are gonna get a chance to jump right into the Gauntlet Eliminator, too… Maybe Zena goes after one of them…? Anyway, I was right in saying Kali wasn’t gonna win this Fatal 5, and PJ Vasa makes for a great final entrant. Kali can certainly fight her way through the field and earn that title back, but we’ll have to wait and see.

My Score: 8.7/10