A fight for the title, and vindication!

Aaron Rourke and Harlem Lewis are two men who fought long and hard to be here, and now they battle for THE WWE Evolve Championship!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Max Abrams w/ The Mog Squad VS “Starboy” Chazz Hall; Max wins.
• Layla Diggs VS Veronica Haven; Layla wins.
• WWE Evolve Championship: Aaron Rourke VS Harlem Lewis; Harlem wins and becomes the new WWE Evolve Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

Max Abrams VS “Starboy” Chazz Hall!

Foreman Thatcher is really putting The Mog Squad through the wringer. CJ Valor lost to Cutler James, Santi Rivera & Jacari Ball lost to Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno, so it’s all on their leader to redeem them! They’re huddled up backstage, and Max says the sunglasses aren’t even here. The moggers need to get back to mogging! He booked everyone a trip to a wellness retreat. They can take off, he can handle that boy! Chazz thinks he can hall Max? Yeah, right! Max is gonna mog cuz that is Main Man Energy! Max makes his entrance alone, but will he be able to win on his own? Or will he fail to slay the Denim Dragon?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two tie up, Max powers Chazz to a corner, but the ref counts. Max pie faces Chazz, but Chazz SLAPS Max! The fans fire up as the two tie up. Max waistlocks, headlocks, and talks trash. Chazz pries at the hold but Max powers the headlock on tighter. Chazz wrenches the hold open, top wristlocks, and Max flails his way to the ROPEBREAK! The ref has Chazz back off, and Max runs up! Chazz is ready for that, and he turns the takedown into a float-over. Chazz waistlocks and gator rolls to a bridging cover, ONE! Another try, ONE! Chazz holds on as Max fights up, and he RAMS Chazz into a corner.

The fans rally, the ref counts, and Chazz lets go, only for Max to JAM him with an elbow! The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Chazz ROCKS Max! Chazz goes up and FLYING RANAS! Max tumbles, Chazz runs up, and he jumps up to shimmy and MONKEY FLIP! The fans cheer, but Max throat chops Chazz! Max ROCKS Chazz with haymakers, then whips corner to corner. Chazz DROPKICKS Max, covers, TWO! Max toughs it out but Chazz facelocks. Max endures, fights up, and wrenches free to facelock. Chazz returns the favor and he facelocks. Max rolls, Chazz rolls with him, and the fans rally up.

Max rises, fires body shots, then THROWS Chazz away! Max kicks low, kicks again, then whips Chazz to ropes. Chazz handsprings and goes up and over to JUMP SOBAT! Max falls out of the ring, the ref has Chazz hold on, but Chazz just goes up, out, and FLYING- NO! Max stops the rana to spin and APRON POWERBOMB! Chazz falls, the fans boo, but Max talks trash while Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns as Max kicks Chazz around. The fans rally for Chazz but Max pie faces him. Chazz fires body shots, haymakers, then whips. Max reverses and JUMP UPPERCUTS! Cover, TWO! Chazz survives but Max ELBOWS him down! And KNEE DROPS! Max takes a mocking victory lap, then stomps Chazz. Chazz fires a body shot, but Max puts Chazz on the ropes to CHOKE him! The ref counts, Max stops at 4, and Chazz sputters. Max runs and springboards, DISASTER KICK! Cover, TWO! Max shows what he learned from The American Nightmare, but it’s not enough. Max clamps on a headlock and he grinds Chazz down while the fans rally.

Chazz endures, fights around and covers, TWO! Max holds onto the headlock but the fans rally for Starboy. Chazz rises, but Max wrangles him right back down! Max pushes on the hold, it’s almost a Bully Choke, but Chazz still endures. Chazz fights around, fires body shots, but Max CLUBS him down. Max whips Chazz to the corner, SPLASHES, then whips corner to corner. Max runs in, but Chazz dodges and Max hits buckles! Chazz then KICKS, KICKS, and SOBATS! But Max headlocks! Chazz powers up and out to DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Chazz hurries to whip Max into a corner. Max comes back to UPPERCUT!

Max stands Chazz up, suplexes, and FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Chazz survives and Max cannot believe it, but the fans rally back up! Max rains down fists, then drags him back up. Chazz fires body shots, then cradles! TWO! Max hurries to his feet and ELBOWS Chazz down! The fans boo but Max soaks it up. Max brings Chazz up, scoops, and SLAMS! Chazz is in the drop zone and Max goes up! FROG SPLASH FLOPS as Chazz dodges! The fans fire up and rally behind Starboy as he sputters in the corner. Max rises, shakes out the stars, and he swings on Chazz . Chazz blocks to ROCK Max! And ROCK him again!

Chazz ROCKS and CHOPS, then CHOPS again! And again! Chazz whips, Max reverses, and Max BACKDROPS but Chazz lands out! WHEEL KICK! Chazz whips corner to corner, Max reverses, but Chazz dodges again! Chazz goes up to TORNADO RANA! The fans fire up as Max tumbles! Chazz ROUNDHOUSES Max, cravats, STANDING SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO! Max survives but Starboy stays focused. Chazz drags Max to a drop zone, KICKS him for good measure, then goes up the corner. But Max hurries to JUMP KNEE! Max then dumps Chazz off the corner, runs the ropes, and ROLLING DDT! Cover, TWO!!

The fans cheer as Chazz survives “The Cortisol Spike,” and Max is mad. The fans rally, Starboy stands, and he avoids the Main Objective! Starboy waistlocks, Max switches, but Chazz trips Max to STANDING SKY TWISTER! Cover, TWO! Chazz brings down the straps, he cravats again, and SLICED- NO, Max denies the bread! Chazz waistlocks, Max switches, but Chazz runs to FLING Max out! Chazz builds speed, and he handsprings, but Max slides in! Chazz stops short, Max FLIPS him to the apron, but Chazz GAMANGIRIS! But wait, The Mog Squad rushes out here! They hadn’t left for the retreat yet? But then the ID OGs rush out here!

The fans cheer as Sam Holloway, Marcus Mathers & Cappuccino Jones are getting payback on the Mog Squad! Max runs up, but Chazz TOSSES him out onto everyone! The fans fire up as now Chazz builds speed! The Denim Dragon hits that SASUKE SPECIAL!! Everyone is down again and the fans fire back up! Chazz puts Max in, hurries up to the apron, but Santi drags him down! Cap and Chazz each take a swing, but Santi dodges! Cap DECKS Chazz!! The fans and Jones freak out over it, and Santi feeds Chazz to Max! Jones still DECKS Santi, but Max hits the MAIN OBJECTIVE!! Cover, Max wins!

Winner: Max Abrams, by pinfall

Between last week and this week, the squad is still 1-2, but this one mattered the most! Will Evolve still belong to the Main Man? As for Starboy, he’s pissed, but the OGs keep the peace. Will they all be able to get past the mishap to get even with the Mog Squad?

Timothy Thatcher finds Harlem Lewis backstage.

The Foreman says hey to Harlem, Harlem says hello back, and Thatcher says Harlem has been fighting a long time for a night like tonight. Thatcher just wants to wish Harlem good luck. Harlem says damn right, this has been a long time coming. But it’s time to let the beast out the cage. The Harlem Violence World Tour starts tonight! Thatcher says good man. Fight hard! Always, sir, thank you. The Killjoy goes back to his preparations, will he finally be able to take the title for his own? Or will the Dime Piece continue to shine in the spotlight?

Nikkita Lyons and Sloane Jacobs talk in the break room.

The WWE Evolve Women’s Champion is very upset that there were no VIPS and that the guests that did show up started challenging her for the title. Sloane apologizes, she doesn’t know why no one showed up, and whatever excuses they have are not good enough. Lyons says the worst part was Laynie Luck putting her through the table! Time for this WWE ID fantasy to end and send Laynie back to Midwest indies. Sloane says Dreamwave is actually a pretty good promotion. Lyons says that’s not what she meant. Lyons tells Sloane to tell Thatcher that if Laynie wants to cry about how Lyons ruined her title shot, then the stars have aligned!

Lyons wants her first to be against Laynie, so she can send Laynie off to Wave Pro herself. Dreamwave. Whatever! Sloane says she will do that. But speaking of that match, where’s Wendy Choo been? Lyons sings, “Who~ cares~?! Go talk to Thatcher! Now I’m going to watch Veronica handle Layla.” The Divine Feline must feel the walls closing in. Will she regret testing her luck against Laynie?

Layla Diggs VS Veronica Haven!

Miss Everything wasn’t medically cleared for her NXT Women’s North American Championship opportunity, but she’s still hoping to go after #BigKatKita for that Evolve Women’s Championship. However, can she make it past Sin City’s Angel? Or will Haven get even with Layla for crashing the party?

The bell rings and Layla runs up to RAM Haven into the corner! And RAMS her again, and again, and again! The ref counts, Layla fires haymakers and stomps on repeat! Haven slips around, waistlocks, but Layla pries at the hold. Haven ripcords and YANKS Layla’s arm. Haven whips, Layla blocks, and Layla reverses to RUN Haven over! The fans fire up as Layla arm-drags and armlock! Layla grinds the arm but Haven fights up, whips free, then headlocks. Layla blocks the takeover, to haul Haven up! Layla throws Haven away, but Haven BOOTS back! Haven goes up to CROSSBODY, but into Layla’s arms! And then POWERSLAM! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!

Haven flounders to ropes but Layla runs up, only for Haven to DUMP her out! HOTSHOT! Layla sputters, Haven runs, and she SHOTGUNS Layla to the floor! The fans boo but Haven talks some smack. Haven drags Layla up, puts her in the ring, and covers, ONE!! Layla survives but Haven HAMMERS away! Layla pushes Haven away but Haven clamps on with a chinlock. The fans rally as Layla endures. Layla fights up, up, and fires body shots. Haven slips around to become a backpack, but Layla RAMS her into buckles! Layla comes back, but into a RANA from Haven! Haven then NECKBREAKER DROPS! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Layla survives but Haven clamps on with a chinlock. Layla endures, fights up, and arm-drags free. Haven staggers up, runs at Layla, but Layla ELBOWS her away! Layla runs up, blocks a shot and ROCKS, KICKS, and CHOPS! And then DOUBLE CHOPS! And LEG LARIATS! The fans fire up for the SOBAT, KICK, and LEG LARIAT! Layla hurries to facelock for a SIT-OUT GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Haven survives but Layla stays cool. Layla drags Haven up, fireman’s carries, but Haven slips free. Layla bucks the O’Conner, then dodges and goes Matrix to PELE! The fans fire up while Layla drags Haven to a drop zone.

Layla goes up, up, and MOONSAULTS! Cover, Layla wins!

Winner: Layla Diggs, by pinfall

Haven may be an angel, but it’s Layla who flies high and takes the win! Will Lyons not like this as the summer heats up?

Team ID hypes up Aaron Rourke.

They want the Dime Piece ready for the main event with Harlem Lewis, and Thatcher steps in. Thatcher wants to say, good luck! Harlem’s tough, this will be a big test. Rourke says it is, but he’s been tested his entire life. And it seems he always passes with flying colors. The boys say go get the job done, and Rourke heads out. Jones says that boy is caffeinated. Chazz says yeah, but uh, what about them? Jones asks what he means, and Starboy says Jones cost him the match. Jones says don’t even start, he was trying to help! Mathers says c’mon, numbers were against them. Starboy says maybe Mathers & Jones need to focus on the “security” that kicked their asses.

Holloway has them all calm down, it’s all fine, okay? Jones asks Thatcher to give him and Mathers a match with Shido & Viktor. Thatcher says he doesn’t wanna reward those jerks for doing a horrible job. But… If Jones & Mathers really want it, then Thatcher will get it sorted. He’ll get to work! The Foreman is ready to put pen to paper, will a shot of Cappuccino and Philly’s Finest humble the former fighters? Or will Ash & Zanov prove they aren’t just muscle?

Elijah Holyfield speaks.

“Brooks, I’ve been waiting for this rematch since the moment you cheated and embarrassed me in our first match. But I know you don’t see anything wrong with what you did, because you see yourself as a gatekeeper of the Performance Center. But all I see is a 24-year-old punk who’s facing a force more powerful than he’ll ever be. You can keep watching old tape, you can keep reliving history, while I go out and make it. Cuz I’ma do what I’ve been doing my entire life: Fighting for the Holyfield name that I wear proudly on my back in permanent ink! That’s real pressure. That’s real expectations. It’s the reason I’m the one out of 11 siblings standing here today, because I’m the one who fought my way through!

“So next week, you better lock in, Brooks. Cuz my right fist is coming for your jaw, and it’s gonna knock your lights out!” The countdown has seven days left, will Jensen be ready for what happens when the clock strikes zero?

Harlem Lewis speaks.

The Jackhammer is at gorilla as he says this is the moment he shuts up every single person who said he’d amount to nothing. The Harlem Violence World Tour starts now! He makes his entrance, but can the Killjoy end Rourke’s reign? Or will he be denied what he wants once more?

WWE Evolve Championship: Aaron Rourke VS Harlem Lewis!

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see whose vindication voids the other’s!

The bell rings and Harlem SPEARS Rourke! The fans are torn but Harlem hauls Rourke up, BOOM SLANG!! Cover, TWO!!! Rourke survives Harlem’s Goldberg-esque start, and Harlem grins as he goes after Rourke again. Harlem THROWS Rourke across the way, then aims from a corner. Rourke stands, Harlem runs up, but Rourke dodges! Harlem POSTS himself, then falls to the outside! Rourke aims from the apron, and PENALTY KICKS! Harlem flounders, staggers back up, and Rourke BLOCKBUSTERS to the floor! The fans fire up with Rourke, but Rourke clutches his already taped-up back.

Rourke puts Harlem in the ring, goes up a corner, and FLYING CODE BREAKERS! Cover, TWO! Harlem survives but Rourke keeps on him as Evolve goes to break.

Evolve returns as Harlem has Rourke in a rear bearhug. Rourke endures, the fans rally, and Rourke fights up. But Harlem SLAMS Rourke back down! Rourke fights back up as the fans rally, and he fires elbows. Rourke is free, but Harlem CLUBS him down! The fans rally as Rourke UP KICKS, but Harlem BOOTS Rourke down! Rourke reaches for the ropes but Harlem grabs Rourke’s legs. Harlem YANKS Rourke up, but Rourke lands out and ELBOWS Harlem! Harlem deflects a boot but Rourke mule kicks! Rourke front kicks, Harlem ducks the roundhouse, but not the HEEL KICK! Rourke runs up, cartwheels, and SOLE FOOD!

The fans fire up as Harlem stumbles away. Rourke runs in, but Harlem catches him! BACKBREAKER! And then a deadlift into another BACKBREAKER! Harlem bends Rourke against his knee! The fans rally as Rourke endures, and Rourke fires kicks. Harlem CLUBS Rourke, scoops him, and swings him, but Rourke DDTS! The fans fire up while both men are down. Harlem storms back over, but into an EDDY GORDO KICK! Rourke runs to KNEE Harlem down! Harlem goes to a corner, Rourke runs in again, UPPERCUT! Then a whip corner to corner for another UPPERCUT! Rourke whips again, UPPERCUTS again, and fires up!

The fans cheer as Rourke goes corner to corner, METEORA! Then he pushes Harlem into the drop zone, goes up the corner, ONE OF A KIND MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Harlem survives but Rourke grits his teeth. The fans rally as Rourke brings Harlem up, but Harlem ROCKS him! Rourke staggers, Harlem eggs him on, so Rourke JABS! Harlem SLAPS Rourke, so Rourke CHOPS! Harlem ROCKS Rourke, Rourke JABS, repeat! The shots go back and forth, Rourke ROCKS Harlem! Harlem BOOTS Rourke! Rourke BOOTS Harlem! And CLUBS, BODY BLOWS, and ROCKS! Harlem shoves Rourke, then dodges him to JUMP KNEE!

The fans fire up as Harlem has a wild look in his eyes! Harlem whips, but Rourke reverses to UPPERCUT! Rourke cartwheels, but Harlem holds him in place! And then pops him up! But Rourke sunset flips through! Harlem rolls through that, and SHOTGUN BOOT! Harlem hurries to cover, ONE?!?! Rourke shows that grit and Harlem is shocked! Rourke is all fired up, and he says if Harlem wants it so bad, take it from him! Rourke then dodges, BOOTS, and fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!! Harlem survives and Rourke is surprised now! “This is Awesome!” as Rourke goes to the corner and climbs up top!

Harlem hurries to his feet and he UPPERCUTS Rourke! The fans duel as Harlem climbs, but Rourke fires body shots! Harlem fires forearms, but Rourke HEADBUTTS! Harlem falls, Rourke shakes out the stars, and the fans rally up again! Rourke leaps for the MOLLY-GO- POWERBOMB!! Harlem drags Rourke up and BOOM SLANG!!! Cover, HARLEM WINS!!

Winner: Harlem Lewis, by pinfall (NEW WWE Evolve Champion)

One man finally realizes his dream while the other’s dream run comes to an end! He said it’d happen, and it did, will the Harlem Violence World Tour only get bigger from him? And as for Rourke, what does he do now that he’s the former Evolve Champion?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode for Evolve, though perhaps with some expected results and some other unexpected developments. I know I said last week but again, WWE really needs to sort out how continuity works between all parts, namely how Evolve and NXT work. Layla and Lyons are mostly working together under Nattie’s lead but they’re opposed on Evolve, what’s that about? Layla had a very good match and got a very good win over Haven, but with Lyons VS Laynie next week, could Evolve shift gears and have Lyons lose the belt already? That way, Layla would be aimed at Laynie instead of Lyons, and that’d be a nice Face VS Face story. Or maybe Nattie needs to start showing up on Evolve, too, to keep that story going between both brands.

I figured Max would win against Starboy so that the Mog Squad could come away with something. A classic move using the accidental punch to cost Chazz, and we’ll get a great tag match from Jones & Mathers VS Ash & Zanov. Ash & Zanov likely win, perhaps from cheating or shenanigans at ringside like Mog Squad going after Jones & Mathers and then Starboy trying (and failing) to help. It would be interesting to see the inaugural ID Champion in Cappuccino and the second ID Champion in Starboy go 1v1. Oh, also, Max Abrams is apparently the new ID Champion, but that was just a blurb on the screen, not anything commentary said.

And speaking of third-ever champions, Harlem Lewis VS Aaron Rourke was a great main event, and it just felt like the writing was on the wall. Harlem’s story has been a major focus as of late, Rourke’s already been doing good work on NXT, it felt pretty likely a new champion would be crowned. This is great for Harlem, and now Rourke can go to NXT full time, or have one last feud that has a “Final Evolution” match like we saw for Jackson Drake and Kendal Grey.

My Score: 8.7/10