Will the landscape change again?

Once again, both the Men’s and Women’s Evolve Championships are on the line as Evolve presents Succession III! Will the champions survive? Or is a new generation taking over?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE Evolve Women’s Championship: Wendy Choo VS Nikkita Lyons w/ Sloane Jacobs; Lyons wins and becomes the new WWE Evolve Women’s Champion.
• Kai Kavari VS Kale Dixon; Kale wins.
• WWE Evolve Championship: Aaron Rourke VS Max Abrams; Rourke wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

The WWE ID OGs walk ‘n’ talk.

Accompanied by Cappuccino Jones, Marcus Mathers & Sam Holloway, Aaron Rourke says, “Tonight, the diamonds are going to shine. Max, you can bring your little, uh, Mog Squad, because I’ve got all the back-up I need right here. The champ owns Succession.”

The Mog Squad speaks.

With Santi Rivera, Jacari Ball & CJ Valor hyping him up, Max Abrams says, “It’s time to mog all the Class 1.0 Chad-lites!” CJ tells “Maxxy,” that all the OGs are “chopped.” The real question is, what do they compare them to? Oh, uh… The OG smartphones! And the 2.0 stars are AI-powered smart glasses! Max says, “Talk about taking over. Tonight, I win the WWE Evovle Championship at Succession 3, and officially start Hot Boy Summer.” It’s even on his vest! Max says you just got mogged! The confidence is through the roof, but will it all come crashing down for The Main Man?

Nikkita Lyons & Sloane Jacobs talk backstage.

Sloane says they just look so right together. Lyons says it has been a long road for Big Kat Kita~ to get to this point. And tonight, she wins her very first championship! Succession III was made for the Divine Feline!

Wendy Choo arrives backstage.

#ChampChoo says this Evolve Women’s Championship means so much to her. And she has been working way too hard and way too long to let someone obsessed with social media take it from her. Her next post will be her standing wall with the title! Wendy is ready, and good thing, because the Evolve Women’s Championship is set to open the show! Will Wendy keep living the dream? Or is Nikkita Multimedia about to make this a nightmare?

WWE Evolve Women’s Championship: Wendy Choo VS Nikkita Lyons w/ Sloane Jacobs!

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who sets the tone for tonight!

Meanwhile, the VIP Lounge has Zena Sterling, and also the former Evolve Women’s Champions, Kendal Grey and Kali Armstrong! The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two circle, tie up, and go around. Wendy powers Lyons to the ropes, but Lyons turns things around. Lyons puts Wendy in a corner but Wendy powers up to arm-drag! They stay tied up, and Lyons stands up to KNEE low! Lyons headlocks but Wendy endures the grind. Lyons hits the takeover, but Wendy rolls and has a headlock of her own! The fans cheer, but Lyons pulls hair. The ref reprimands, Lyons powers up, and Lyons powers her way free.

Wendy avoids the roundhouse but not the LEG SWEEP! Lyons talks trash, then rains forearms on Wendy, but Wendy catches Lyons into the ARMBAR! Lyons fights to a stack, ONE! Lyons hurries up but Wendy wrangles Lyons to the DIRT NAP! Lyons rolls it back, covers, ONE! Wendy runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then hits a THESZ PRESS! Wendy rains down fists, but Lyons turns thigs around! The fans fire up as the two scrap on the mat! Lyons pushes Wendy away but Wendy HELL STABS! Wendy whips, but Lyons mule kicks! Lyons runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then sunset flips! Wendy rolls through to basement DROPKICK!

The fans fire up for Wendy as she runs in at the corner, but Lyons dodges! Wendy ELBOWS Lyons away, Wendy goes up, and fans duel as Wendy RANAS! Lyons tumbles out of the ring, Wendy pursues, but Lyons trips her up! Lyons spins Wendy to ROCK her! Then Lyons is on the apron, but Wendy avoids the Yam Slam! Wendy then builds speed to DROPKICK Lyons off the apron! The fans fire up while Sloane is upset, but Wendy goes to the apron. CANNONBALL! The fans fire up again as Wendy knocks Lyons down! Wendy then brings Lyons up, puts her in the ring, but Sloane barks at her. Lyons HEEL KICKS and ROUND HOUSES Wendy down!

The fans are torn but Sloane talks trash on Wendy. Sloane says Lyons will be champion, and Evolve goes to break.

Succession III returns as Lyons stands Wendy up to ROCK her with a right. Lyons suplexes, Wendy cradle counters, TWO! Wendy blocks a shot while the fans duel, and Wendy fires forearm after forearm! Wendy runs, but into a BODY BLOW! Lyons reels Wendy in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Wendy flounders but Lyons kicks her to ropes. Lyons stands on Wendy, does her ballet stretches, then HIP DROPS! Cover, TWO! Wendy toughs it out but Lyons stays close. Kendal cheers Wendy and Kali says it was that close. Wendy goes to a corner, Lyons runs in, but Wendy dodges! Wendy comes back, but Lyons BOOTS her!

Lyons goes up, but Wendy kicks the legs out! DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up again while both women are down! Lyons crawls but Wendy follows. Lyons fires a forearm, Wendy CHOPS! Lyons fires a haymaker, Wendy fires back! Lyons mule kicks but Wendy CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Wendy whips, Lyons reverses, but Wendy LARIATS! And LARIATS! Wendy roars, whips, but Lyons reverses, only for Wendy to reverse back! Hammerlock LARIATO! The fans fire up as Lyons goes to a corner, and Wendy handsprings in! LARIAT! Wendy goes side to side, YAKUZA KICK! Then a NECKBREAKER DROP! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Lyons survives, but Wendy brings her up. Lyons fights the full nelson, switches it onto Wendy, but Wendy wheelbarrows into the victory roll! TWO, and both women stand! Wendy blocks the roundhouse into the ankle lock, then steps over into the STRAITJACKET STRETCH! The fans duel as Lyons fights up, but Wendy jumps on! Not quite a Dirt Nap, but Lyons swings through to the SIDE SLAM! Lyons steps over, and hits the OVERDRIVE! Cover, TWO! Wendy survives and the fans fire up again! Lyons drags Wendy up, scoops her, but Wendy slips free. Wendy hammerlocks again, but Lyons ducks the lariat!

Lyons runs up, but Wendy catches her to a FULL NELSON SLAM! Cover, TWO! Lyons survives, but into the DIRT NAP!! Lyons flails, reaches out, rolls around, and they roll out of the ring! Wendy holds on, until Lyons FLINGS her into steel steps! Kali, Kendal and Zena all wince at that one, and the fans fire up! Lyons hauls Wendy up, pushes her into the ring, then hurries up a corner. But Wendy rises up to SHORYUKEN! Wendy climbs up to join Lyons, the fans duel as the two fight for control, but Lyons scoops! SUPER MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!!? Wendy survives, Lyons is shocked, but the fans are loving it!

Lyons tells Wendy’s title will be hers! Lyons underhooks for the TIGER- RANA! Cover, TWO!! Lyons escapes in time, but Wendy is on her! Lyons DECKS Wendy! Lyons puts Wendy in a drop zone, goes up, up, but Wendy gets under! RUNNING POWERBOMB! And then a roll through for the DIRT NAP!! Lyons endures, flails, but Sloane is up to something! Sloane sets the title on the apron, then steps in! The ref stops Sloane, but then misses the TAP OUT!! Wendy would have won if not for Sloane! Wendy is furious as she lets Lyons go, and she runs Sloane off! Lyons snags the belt, but then Laynie Luck CLOBBERS Sloane!

The fans fire up, but Lyons shouts at Wendy! Wendy turns around, but she dodges the belt shot! Roll up, TWO! Lyons escapes, the ref sees the belt, but Lyons sees Sloane’s crystal charm! The ref confiscates the belt but Lyons grabs that crystal! Wendy reels Lyons in, but she gets CRYSTAL POWER to the face!! Lyons then hits the HEEL KICK!! Cover, LYONS WINS!

Winner: Nikkita Lyons, by pinfall (NEW WWE Evolve Women’s Champion)

It wasn’t exactly all on Lyons, but she finally achieves her goal! Lyons used the crystal to get the gold, will the Big Kat Era be the strongest chapter yet?

VIP Lounge interview with KevOnStage.

Chuey Martinez is with Kevin Fredericks, welcomes him to the show, and asks how he’s feeling. Kev says this is fantastic! He couldn’t be happier! Then is he ready to be guest GM next week? He is so ready! It is a dream come true, he’s been a big wrestling fan his whole life! Stone Cold, Undertaker, Ultimate Warrior! But then this is interrupted by It’s Gal! Gal tells Chuey to move aside, and he takes a seat. As guest GM, Kev needs It’s Gal to show him the ropes! Take a peak at these peaks! There are a lot of dummies running around here, like when Cutler James blindsided him. It’s Gal had no time to prepare! But it was an open challenge…

Kev tells Gal if he needs time to prepare, then he and Cutler can have are match next week! No, that’s not what It’s Gal meant! Kev says too bad, it’s set. Prepare those peaks for Cutler next week! Gal is upset, but maybe he should be upset with himself. Will Gal make sure to think before he speaks? Or is Cutler going to go 2-0 in Evolve already?

Kai Kavari VS ???

As Succession III rolls on, we’re about to see new arrivals roll in. #CobraKai is ready, but who is debuting on Evolve? It’s KALE DIXON! Chase U may be no more (again…), but Kale is ready to show us what he’s learned! Is Kale ready to Evolve? Or will Kavari put the “Kai-bosh” on this big debut?

The bell rings and the fans rally as the two tie up. Kale slips around, shoves Kai, and he tells Kai that he’s in the ring with Kale Dixon! Step up! Kai and Kale circle, tie up, and Kai slips around to shove Kale! Kale rushes Kai, Kai headlocks, but Kale powers up and out, only for Kai to RUN him over! Kai fires up, then he wrenches Kale to hammerlock. Kale fights around, but Kai just spins through to keep the hold. Kai puts on the pressure, but Kale uses the ropes to HOTSHOT Kai! Kale then dragon sleepers for the SAVING GRACE! Kai flounders to a corner, Kale runs up and kicks him! Kale fires off on Kai but the ref counts.

Kale stops at 4, apologizes, but then LARIATS Kai! Then short arm LARIATS! Kai flounders, the fans are torn, but Kale raises a hand, swivels his hips, and does a partial “SUCK IT!” taunt. The fans boo this bad attitude, but Kale DECKS Kai! Kai fires a body shot, and a forearm! Kale staggers, but he KICKS, KICKS, then SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Kai toughs it out but Kale brings him up to CLUB him down. Kale then winds up and CHOPS Kai on the back! The fans fire up for that! Kale then clamps on a SLEEPER! Kai flails but Kale leans on him. The fans rally, Kai fights up, and Kai fires body shots. Kale KNEES low!

Kale whips, Kai ducks ‘n’ dodges, and Kai springboards to BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up for Kai as he gets back up. Kai runs at Kale to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And then swing, but Kale dodges! Kale whips, but Kai CLOBBERS Kale! The fans fire up for Kai, he brings Kale up, but Kale wrenches and facelocks! Kale suplexes, Kai slips free to shove and DROPKICK! Kale ends up in a corner, the fans fire up with Kai, and he hits a Samoan stance. But wait, who is that on stage? A beautiful blonde to be sure, but Kai asks why she’s out here. Kale DISCUS LARIATS Kai in the distraction! Cover, Kale wins!

Winner: Kale Dixon, by pinfall

Kale gets his first win thanks to both the beautiful lady, and his “96” Lariat. But will this be just the beginning of Kale climbing the ranks in Evolve?

Evolve receives a message.

A woman says, “I am what you fear most. I am your anxiety, I am your depression. I am death itself. I am the voice that keeps you awake at night. The nightmares you can’t wake up from. Evolve will fear the unknown. It’s too late to prepare, I’m already here. You can’t plan for the unknown, you can’t escape the unknown. When your breath tremors, when you drown in the ice cold constriction of your despair, when all hope of salvation has left you, that’s when the unknown strikes. Fear is always near. Fear the unknown.” But when will Evolve have to face the unknown?

WWE Evolve Championship: Aaron Rourke VS Max Abrams!

The Dime Piece is perhaps the number one superstar that embodies the spirit of Evolve. He fought hard to earn a place here, and found a way to be himself while still succeeding, and he dethroned the inaugural champion, Jackson Drake. But now, Rourke knows what it is to go from hunter to hunted as the new kids on the block have come to take what he fought so hard to have. But will he be overwhelmed by the Main Man Energy? Or will Rourke be the one doing the “mogging” tonight?

Max says he’s mogging all the fans and everyone else on the roster! Then they get beef with KevOnStage! KevOnStage says Max ain’t mogging him, he’s aura farming! He’s look maxing! He looks good! The only they got is hair on them! If he had hair, he’d look just like them! All they got is hair and muscles! The Mog Squad says he’s a Milk Dud! Kev says hey, the boys have a match with the OG WWE ID next week, don’t they? Well now, guest GM Kev says that will be an ELIMINATION MATCH! Mog THAT, boys! Take it in! Kev is sexy ‘n’ bald! The Mog Squad is upset, but they stuck their foots in their mouths. Will they survive when it has to be down to the last man?

As for Max, he has to calm down, the main event is up next! Will he start “champ maxing” tonight? We’ll find out, after the break.

Evolve returns as Rourke makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who shines, or rather, who sparkles!

Now in the VIP Lounge is Harlem Lewis. Harlem is preparing for his match with Braxton Cole, but he still wants after this title. The bell rings and Max runs up, but Rourke dodges! Rourke stomps a mudhole into Max, stops as the ref counts, but then Max returns the favor! Max ROCKS Rourke, but then Rourke turns things around to CHOP! And CHOP! Rourke runs Max corner to corner to SMACK him off buckles! The fans fire up while Max bails out, but the squad is there to coach Max up. But Rourke PLANCHAS! Max gets away but his squad takes the hit! The fans fire up all the same, but then Max CLOBBERS Rourke!

The fans boo, Max SMACKS Rourke off the apron, then shouts, “MOG!” The fans boo and chant, “You Suck!” Max says he doesn’t suck! Max puts Rourke in the ring, follows after, then runs up to whip. Rourke hurdles over, then catches Max’s hurdle for a FLAPJACK! Rourke runs to SHOTGUN! Max flounders but Rourke kips up. The fans cheer as Rourke storms up on Max, only for Max to slip away. Rourke kicks Max first, puts him in the corner, and CHOPS! Max is stinging, but fans chant “One More Time!” Rourke obliges as he CHOPS Max again! Max falls, Rourke struts it out, “WOO~!” Rourke then brings Max up to whip to the corner.

Rourke runs in, Max dodges again, but Rourke goes up, out, and RAMS into Max! Rourke feels the squad creeping and stares them down. Max runs up, Rourke ROCKS him first, but then Max stumbles into the ref. That lets Santi trip Rourke up! The fans boo but Max runs to BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Rourke is tougher than that but Max stomps away. Chuey checks in on Harlem and his thoughts on the match so far. Harlem says Rourke started off strong, but clearly with the numbers game, anything can happen. Max ROCKS Rourke, then puts him through the ropes to pull him against them!

The ref reprimands and counts, the fans boo, but Max stops at 4. Harlem says Rourke’s a tough guy, but he’s never beaten Rourke and he never will. Once Harlem beats Braxton next week, his sights will be back on Rourke. Max suplexes Rourke, swaggers around, but Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns as Max has Rourke in a chinlock. Rourke fights up, fires body shots, and scoops Max, only for Max to flail! They end up in a corner, Max CLUBS Rourke in the chest, then BOOTS him down! Max adjusts up top, and he MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Rourke but Max huffs ‘n’ puffs. Max punches Rourke while he’s down, then kicks him around. Max CLUBS Rourke, says this is done, and he goes to the corner. Max runs up, MAIN- NO! Rourke stops the Main Objective to then ELECTRIC CHAIR SLAM! The fans fire up while Max flounders! Rourke aims from a corner as the fans rally for “DIME PIECE!”

Max rises as the squad coaches him, and he runs up, but into the URENAGE! Rourke roars, runs up, and SHOTGUNS Max into the corner! Rourke spins and kips up to handspring! The fans cheer as Rourke is feeling it! Rourke runs back in, but Max UPPERCUTS first! The fans boo but Max goes to the corner to climb. Max claps for himself, but Rourke springs up after him! Rourke clinches, for the SUPER POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Max survives but the fans continue to cheer Rourke on. Rourke rises up, brings Max to a drop zone, but Max anchors a foot. Rourke kicks free, stomps him again and again and again, but the ref counts because they’re in the ropes!

Rourke stops, then drags Max back into the drop zone, Rourke goes up, ONE OF A- NO, Max avoids the split leg moonsault! Rourke hobbles from jamming a leg, but he comes back, only to be sent into the buckles hard! Max fires up now but the fans boo. Rourke drags himself up in the corner, Max runs up, and Max blocks the boots. Max sends them back, but Rourke FLYING CHUCKS! The fans fire up again as Rourke climbs, but Max trips him up! Rourke bounces off ropes, into the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Rourke survives and the squad can’t believe it! Max is frustrated, but he stomps Rourke around.

Max tells Rourke to just stay down! Rourke sits up, so Max ROCKS him! Max stomps and kicks Rourke, and says HE is the main man! Max ROCKS Rourke, says he’s nothing compared to Max, then ROCKS him again. Max kicks Rourke, Rourke ROCKS Max! Max ROCKS Rourke, Rourke JABS back! Max JABS! Rourke JABS! Max ROCKS Rourke, but Rourke JABS again! Max ROCKS Rourke again, but Rourke fires boxing elbows, then a mule kick! Rourke runs, but into a BOOT! Max runs, but into a BOOT from Rourke! The fans fire up as Rourke roars again! Rourke fakes Max out, but Max still dodges!

Rourke dodges in return, and HEEL KICKS! Max stays up, ROCKS Rourke, but Rourke rebounds, into a JUMP KNEE! Rourke rebounds, SUPERKICK! But Max is the one who falls on the cover! TWO!! Rourke survives and the fans fire up again! The Mog Squad argues that that was three, but the fans taunt Mog Squad, “You Can’t Count!” Max and Rourke stir as the fans rally up. Rourke crawls his way around, but so does Max. Rourke brings Max up, facelocks, but Max RAMS Rourke into a corner! The ref counts as Max keeps Rourke trapped, but Max might just be that tired. Max manages to stand, but then he ducks the roundhouse, and IT HITS THE REF!!

Max hurries to whip Rourke, but Rourke SPARKLE KICKS! Cover, but the ref can’t count when he’s down and out! Rourke can’t believe it, and he tries to get the ref to wake up. But then the squad slides in! They have Rourke greatly outnumbered, but then Harlem Lewis jumps in! He’s not gonna let them do what they want, but then BRAXTON COLE trips Harlem up! The fans boo as the Son of Privilege fires off on Harlem! They brawl away, Rourke SUPERKICKS Max and fires CHOPS on the squad! But CJ has the belt! BELT SHOT!! The fans boo but Max crawls to cover Rourke! The ref finally wakes up, he sees the cover to count it, but slowly! TWO!!!

The fans are thunderous as Rourke survives! Max is freaking out, but he tells the squad to get back in here! The ref is fading again, so the squad sits Rourke up. But here come the OGs! The fans fire up as Cap, Sam, and Marcus fire off on Jacari, CJ & Santi! But then CJ RAMS Cap into Sam, sending Sam into the steps! Max BOOTS Rourke to a corner! Max puts Rourke up top, says he’s gonna mog everybody, but Rourke grabs at Max! Max ROCKS Rourke again, then climbs up top! Rourke fights the suplex to GOURD BUSTER! Rourke fires himself up and the fans are with him! Rourke aims, Max stands, and MOLLY-GO-ROUND!! Cover, ROURKE WINS!

Winner: Aaron Rourke, by pinfall (still WWE Evolve Champion)

With a little help from his friends, and even a rival, Rourke retains the title! Will the Dime Piece continue to Evolve until he’s truly unstoppable? As for the OGs and Mog Squad, Sam is still down from that leg hitting hard against the steel steps, so it is up to Cap and Marcus to step to Santi and Jacari. But wait, Shido Ash & Viktor Zanov rush out here! Evolve Special Security wants everyone to stand down and save it for next week. But then Ash & Zanov LARIAT The Mog Squad! Cap & Marcus stand their ground, but Ash & Zanov offer handshakes. Cap & Marcus accept, but then Ash KNEES Mathers low! And Zanov reels Cap in for a SAIDO!

Ash isn’t done, he hits the SIDE EFFECT! It seems while Foreman Thatcher is away, this is how Ash & Zanov lay down the law! Will they use force to keep everyone in line? Or will Thatcher have to hurry back and discipline his guys for going rogue?

My Thoughts:

A very good Evolve, though maybe not as good as it could have been for Succession III. Why did they stop putting these in the “NXT Arena” Performance Center? And for hyping up the new arrivals to Evolve, it wasn’t quite up to the hype. Kale Dixon getting to do anything on screen is great for him, but that is not who I was expecting. I was thinking another WWE ID talent had been brought in. But in a roundabout way, we did still get the on screen debut of Meghan Walker (soon to be Kylee Quinn I believe), and she seems to be attached to Kale in some way. Perhaps they will be a new duo, supporting each other as managers/valets while the other wrestles.

Also a good vignette from I believe “Vanta the Unknown,” or just “Vanta,” which is clearly inspired by the VANTA black paint. She’ll likely be moving up the ranks quickly, but I suppose I thought the same about a few Evolve stars and that didn’t happen. It’s Gal had a good promo with KevOnStage to set up a rematch with Cutler James, but I’m still disappointed Evolve reset Gal to Heel like this. He was so close to a Face turn and they just chickened out on it. He could be doing a dramatic story of, “Can we trust Gal?” with Rourke and the other WWE ID OGs, but they just want to keep him the selfish Heel.

Great title matches to bookend the night, and I’m a little surprised Lyons won out. Sloane did have a hand in it, and I wonder if she’ll expect a handout down the line, but hey, good for Lyons to finally have a title after all the setbacks from injuries. Wendy’s next steps might be uncertain, as she tried NXT and they just couldn’t figure out what to do with her. Rourke VS Max was a great main event, and the overbooking helping Rourke was good stuff. Maybe a little surprising he retained when he has also been on NXT and is already a solid character for NXT level story. Then more intrigue has been put on the characters of Ash & Zanov, is this the step that turns them from “security” into established superstars on Evolve?

My Score: 8.7/10