WWE Evolve – 5/28/25

Hey, folks! It’s Wednesday night, and you know what that means! Well, I know what it means for most of you but, for those of us who love to dig deep into the WWE Developmental-verse, it’s time to head to Tubi and WWE Evolve!

When we last left our baby superstars, we had Kylie Rae qualify for the final spot in the women’s four-way to decide the inaugural Evolve champ. We also saw Swipe Right employ questionable methods to defeat the super-team of Sean Legacy and Timothy Thatcher, as well as Keanu Carver demonstrating his dominance over Harlem Lewis, thereby earning himself a spot in the men’s four-way title match. If that didn’t tickle your sweet spot enough, we had the scaled-down version of the NXT Parking Lot of Doom, the Evolve Hallway of Doom, claim Dani Palmer as its latest victim, sending her all the way to both release and retirement. Brinley Reese, also attacked, fared a bit better, as she was only written off for shoulder surgery. Whew. Get well, Brinley. There was something there with the gimmick of forgetting the weird things you said during matches.

We are, as always, in the dirty bowels of the PC, with an audience of folks who appear to have been sequestered. How do you get tickets to Evolve? I have no idea. I don’t think these fans do either. Your hosts, as always, are Peter Rosenberg and Robert Stone, with Chuey Martinez on interview duty. That Peter Rosenberg doubles as long-time morning show host for the most important hip-hop radio station in the US never ceases to amaze me.

We open with some hype for tonight’s Fatal Four-Way, with brief promos from the three women involved seemingly capable of speech. Wendy just stares. I love you, Kendal. You need promo work.

The Vanity Project all come out in preparation for our first match.

Jackson Drake vs. Lince Dorado (in one of the nicest robes I’ve ever seen) vs. Jordan Oasis (Qualifying march for Men’s Evolve Title Fatal Four-Way.)

Jordan Oasis beat someone (is that Ice Willians?) at a Reality of Wrestling show to earn his spot. Lince found that damn robe and just automatically qualified. Drake actually regularly wrestles here. All three trade blows to start. Drake throws Oasis out like a dork, and hits a Randy-like powerslam, then an axehandle, off the top on Lince for two. Lince counters a headscissors into a roll-up for two. Oasis plays heelish. Maybe there wasn’t somewhere to pee on today’s hike. Lince does lucha things and looks like a very small person next to Oasis. Drake nails Oba Femi’s press slam onto the double knees, then hits dives on both guys, individually. Lince hits a rana off the top on Oasis. Drake cuts that off, Brad Baylor fails to cheat to win, and Dorado takes out Swipe Right. Oasis seizes the moment and hits a cannonball, with Drake in the ropes, for two. Oasis misses a charge, and Drake hits his knee finisher for three. I approve.

Winner: Jackson Drake

Match Grade: C+. Better than average, as Lince’s a vet, and the other two have indie experience. It was non-stop action, and the right guy won.

Drake: A-. I’m a big Jackson Drake fan so far. I like the “Carolina Reaper” nickname, and his game is always crisp in the ring. He needs to put on a little more weight and, maybe, lean into the southern side of his character a bit more. The potential to be a future player is certainly there, though.

Lince: C. Lince hit his lucha moves well enough, with one slight slip. His inclusion here was random, and probably mostly just to help guide the younger guys. His grade here is immaterial. Love the robe.

Oasis: C. I don’t see it so far with Oasis. The gimmick boils down to his carrying a backpack, and there’s not much that stands out about his game. He’s one of those WWE ID folks we need to see more of before judging (yet here I am, judging.)

The Vanity Project celebrates with Drake in the ring.

With that, your men’s Fatal Four-Way for the Evolve Men’s Championship is officially now Edris Enofe vs. Sean Legacy vs. Keanu Carver vs. Jackson Drake. Without a veteran ring general in here, a lot’s going to be in the hands of Legacy and Drake if this is to go smoothly. That match is next week.

Tyson Dupont and Tyreek Igwe are in the locker room, and they’re facing Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel tonight. T&T claims Cap and Cartwheel are about to run into a brick wall. I hope not. It could hurt their chances in this match, you know, because, like, walls and all.

Another Zepbound commercial. Only $500 a month with a discount from Eli Lilly. What a bargain.

It’s Gal is poolside, showing us his grueling gym routine. He can’t enjoy himself out there because he keeps thinking of Troy Yearwood. Yes, Troy Yearwood. That should be somewhat interesting, as Gal’s gimmick is of the “human action figure,” and that’s what Yearwood’s resembled so far in the ring: an action figure.

Kendal Grey properly stretches her back, quads, and hamstrings.

Peter Rosenberg is interrupted by Jackson Drake. The Vanity Project is the hottest thing going, they’re just getting started, and Drake is bringing the drip home in the form of the Evolve Championship next week. Here comes Edris Enofe, who finds it funny that Drake calls himself hot when Edris is, in fact, hot himself. Drake acts as if Edris has halitosis. Sean Legacy appears, and he really likes tucking his shirt in. Legacy makes no excuses for losing to Lexis King two weeks ago, but he’s still standing, baby. Edris may have been at this for four years, but Legacy’s been at it for eight, and he’s winning the belt. Drake attempts to leave the ring, but there’s Keanu Carver to stop him. The three faces each land a punch on Drake, and he goes down. Well, that’s not nice.

Chuey is backstage with Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel. You can’t hit what you cannot catch. It’s simple physics, Cartwheel says. We shall see.

Kylie Rae IS ALSO STRETCHING, adding a nice oblique stretch, as an older person would. Kali is hitting the resistance bands, before also stretching the back. I commend all three ladies for noting the importance of caring for their vertebrae.

Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel vs. Tyson Dupont and Tyreek Igwe

This match could absolutely go either way. Never dance again, Jack Cartwheel. Cartwheel opens with some speed and flippy stuff before T&T takes over with some power moves. Tyson misses a charge into the corner and gets double-clotheslined to the outside by the faces. Double dives to the outside never happen, as Wes Lee is here to offer guidance to his team. Heels take over on Cappuccino with some decent intensity. Frequent tags by the heels keep Cappuccino in the corner before Tyreek misses a charge, allowing for Cappuccino to hit a drop kick and tag in Cartwheel. Cartwheel with lots of flippy stuff, before hitting our second Space Flying Tiger Drop of the week (Sol Ruca with the first) on Tyson. Splash off the top gets broken up as all four guys hit the ring. Tyson trucks Cappuccino on the outside, and T&T easily hits their finisher (yet another side slam/move- off-top combo) on Cartwheel for the three.

Winners: Tyson Dupont and Tyreek Igwe

Match grade – C. Pretty formula stuff, with both teams knowing who they are quite well. The faces flipped, and the heels hit their power stuff, looking like bullies in the process.

Tyson/Tyreek – A-. These guys have absolutely come a long way since their early NXT matches. Their power stuff is good, and they carry themselves in the ring like two tough dudes. It’s nice to see them getting some extra reps in Evolve, as there’s no reason they can’t climb through the ranks successfully in this promotion.

Cappuccino/Cartwheel – C+. I like Cappuccino’s gimmick a lot, as it gives me memories of Alexa Bliss’s brief coffee mug-carrying gimmick, but neither guy showed a whole lot other than Cartwheel’s one impressive move this time around. They just did their basic indie flippy moves. Both guys are capable of better.

Stevie Turner has another trick up her sleeve and has the power to rename LFG’s Leigh Laurel as Jin Tala. It’s not known to many that there is, in fact, a small probate courtroom here at the PC where these things happen. Someone went in there one day as Joe Hennig and came out as Michael McGillicutty. In other words, avoid that place. Carlee Bright also joins in, with Stevie letting Carlee know that there will be no seconds during the Fatal Four-Way. Also, by the way, Carlee, you’re facing Jin Tala next week, if that’s her real name.

Wendy Choo is NOT STRETCHING. The hell is wrong with her.

Natalya is here! She will be presenting the belt to the winner tonight. Hmmm. I wonder.

Cancer changes lives. Clinical trials can change cancer. Cuts to the NIH can…..we’ll stop it there.

Wes Lee celebrates with Tyson and Tyreek backstage. When you train with the fastest, in Wes Lee, Jones and Cartwheel wind up being nothing. If they want more, they’ll all be here next week.

It’s time for our main event!

Kendal Grey vs. Kali Armstrong vs. Wendy Choo vs. Kylie Rae (Fatal Four-Way for the inaugural Evolve Women’s Championship.)

I have high hopes here, as you’ve got two veterans and two very strong prospects in there. No way that woman in the background just brought a sign that simply reads “Wendy Choo.” These fans were grown in a lab somewhere. Everyone gets a main event-style introduction, in a nice touch. Kali and Kendal pair up, while Wendy and Kylie pair up and roll outside. Kali gets tripped up by Wendy, and Kendal quickly hits a dive on everyone outside. Pinning combinations galore ensue. Everyone tries to take Wendy down before she Takers up and takes everyone out. I’m not sure why she’s in Evolve, to be honest. The main roster needs lower mid-carders too. Kali hits her finisher on Choo, but Kylie takes her out and pins Choo. This just in: This is an elimination match.

Wendy Choo is eliminated.

The WWE is coming to Perth, and Gain detergent smells amazing. Random women fake TikTok about it.

Kali is in charge when we return from break. Kylie hits matching cannonballs on both women. Kylie double vertical suplexes both women as the side graphic tells us Kylie has social anxiety. Hello, HIPAA violation. Kendal with a moonsault onto both women after some light wonkiness. Kendal hits those sweet firemen’s carries on both women, showing some solid intensity. Armbar is hit on Kali. Will she tap? No, since Kylie Rae crucifixes Kendal from the armbar for the three. I am NOT happy.

Kendal Grey is eliminated.

We’re down to Kylie and Kali, as my interest in this match is significantly down. Kylie with another crucifix on Kali for two. Kali attempts the Kali Connection, but Kyrie reverses into a crossface. Kali almost taps, lifts Kyrie, and almost escapes before the crossface is hit again, but it’s all for naught as the Kali Connection finally gets the pin for the win.

WINNER AND INAUGURAL EVOLVE WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Kali Armstrong

Match Quality: B-. Really just one moment of wonkiness there, as the two younger wrestlers showed great fire, and both vets did their job well. I was rooting for Kendal here, but Kali’s just as worthy. Nice professional match.

Kendal: B+. Kendal may be my favorite wrestler in Evolve right now. Solid intensity always in the ring and continues to grow into her character of someone who can be both a bit girly and an absolute killer. If she can continue to develop, and grow into her personality, she is someone with a definite future. Squint and you can see that female wrestler who finally puts the MMA and sports entertainment side together and takes it to the top.

Kali: A. Kali has very much grown into her character, and the Kali Connection is a move that, with a bit more oomph into it, can become a very big deal. A Bron-like charge into a pounce will get pops in this business.

Kylie: C. Kylie seemed a step slower than the two younger wrestlers throughout but did a good job as match general throughout. She’s still miscast here and could be money with a big overhaul from what she’s done in her career thus far.

Wendy: B: I like Wendy. She’s the proverbial “good hand,” and has completely become her gimmick. I think the gimmick is fun enough to carry her to a midcard role on the main roster, but she’s here playing player/coach. Hopefully, that opportunity isn’t dead for her.

Natalya and Stevie present Kali with the belt and……absolutely nothing happens. Oh well. I was hoping for Natalya to get involved there.

Overall Grade: B- An eventful show that definitely showcased the better side of the lower levels of developmental. Every match was perfunctory, or better, and these championship matches are allowing their best stars to shine. Another good week.

See you all next week for the men’s title match!