WWE Evolve Review – 06.18.25

Hey, folks! It’s Wednesday night, and you know what that means! Actually, it could mean many things. For instance, I know a guy who had a consultation for a vasectomy today. That’s what it meant for him, but I digress. For us, those of us reading this RIGHT NOW, it’s time for Evolve.

Last week, we had the dream team of Nikkita Lyons and Zayda Steel form, and they’re taking aim at Natalya and Evolve champ Kali Armstrong tonight. We also had the debut of Troy Yearwood Jamar Hampton, who acquitted himself admirably against It’s Gal. Before we head to the show, let’s look at some additional Evolve-related news:

• Apparently, Kali Armstrong is impressing higher-ups so much that some have called her a “future women’s champ.” This warms my heart, since these are the talents that were afterthoughts on Lvl Up and Evolve. While certainly not the most popular show in the WWE canon, it’s putting extra eyes on talent like Kali. Now it’s up to her to develop and rise to the task.
• Also, in an NXT dark match last night, the WWE made Kendal Grey wrestle her BFF, Carlee Bright. I’ve not seen such barbarism since Vince made Bobby Fulton face Tommy Rogers. What is wrong with you people? Next, you’ll have Iguana wrestle his iguana. Phrasing.

We are, as always, in Blake Monroe’s shoe closet at the PC. Your hosts are Peter Rosenberg and Robert Stone, with Chuey Martinez on interview duty.

Then. Now. Forever. Get well, Liv.

We begin by setting up how we got to tonight’s big women’s big tag, going back to Kali’s title victory, subsequent beatdown by Nikkita and Zayda, and Natalya making the save. We then head to our intro, and what looks to be the big match itself.

ZAYDA STEEL AND NIKKITA LYONS VERSUS WWE EVOLVE WOMEN’S CHAMP, KALI ARMSTRONG, AND NATALYA

Zayda tries to do Nikkita’s rapid-fire punches as part of her own intro, and it goes about as well as you’d expect. Kali looks badass heading to the ring, and Natalya is her usual classy, gorgeous self. These are actual different fans in the audience. I’m glad the hostage negotiations were successful.

Kali and Nikkita start out, and some jawing and shoving lead to a HARD collar-and-elbow tie-up. A nice exchange of strikes, again impressive by Nkkita, and Natalya and Kali exchange quick tags. More strikes are exchanged, and here’s Zayda. Natalya is back in as well and hits her signature offense. Natalya goes for the sharpshooter early, but Zayda hits the ropes. Zayda gets Nattie into the ropes, where Nikkita kicks her from the outside, and then is back in with more strikes, when we head to break. Heel Nikkita >>>> whatever the hell that was before. When we return, Nikkita’s in control over Nattie. Nattie tries to make the tag, but gets pushed back into the corner. Zayda hits a knee into the corner, followed by a low dropkick for two. Nikkita back in with more punches, followed by a vertical suplex for two, and we are back to the chinlock. Zayda and Nikkita do a good job of cutting the ring in half, and MORE STRIKES by Nikkita are followed by more wittle stwikes by Zayda, but Natalya sneaks through her legs for the hot tag to Kali, who goes nuts, hitting two spears into the ringpost on each lady. Things break down, as they often do. Kali and Nikkita argue a bit, because Kali don’t need no damn help. Kali then hits the Kali Connection on Zayda, but Natalya made the blind tag! Sharpshooter quickly finishes Zayda, as we’re clearly setting up Nattie making Kali look good in a singles match.

WINNERS: KALI ARMSTRONG AND NATALYA

MATCH RATING: B – Sure, I can vibe with this. Nikkita and Zayda worked the heel tag formula well enough, Kali was Kali, and Nattie can ring general with the best of them. Quality TV stuff.

Kali: A-, only because we didn’t see much of her. Whatever they want out of Lash Legend, they’ve got in Kali right now. Putting her with Nattie is going to pay dividends for her.

Nattie: N/A – It doesn’t really matter. She did what she was supposed to do.

Nikkita: A – I can’t believe I’m saying it either. Heel kickboxer Nikkita is infinitely better than what they were trying before with her. It’s night and day. Her strikes and kicks are great, and this is someone who can move up the ladder.

Zayda: C – Yes, she was the obvious weak link here, but she carried her part of the tag formula well enough, so we’ll give her credit for that.

Natalya eyeballs the belt afterwards.

Prime Minister Stevie Turner is backstage with Sean Legacy and Timothy Thatcher. Sean wants the first crack at Jackson Drake’s Evolve Men’s title, and offers to run the gauntlet on the entire Vanity Project. Timothy doesn’t think this is the best idea, but Stevie grants his wish. Timothy: “He’s going to have to learn, isn’t he?”

Chuey is backstage with Homeless Jordan Oasis and Marcus Mathers (!!). They will be facing each other tonight. Jordan is far bigger than Marcus, so this should be interesting. Very nice fire by Marcus in his side of the promo. That match is up next.

The ladies’ locker room is buzzing as to the backstage attacks, with the ladies ganging up on poor Zara Zakher as the possible culprit, as she hasn’t been around for a few weeks. Kendal askes Zara for proof she didn’t do it, and this leads to a challenge for a singles match later.

MARCUS MATHERS VERSUS JORDAN OASIS (WWE ID SHOWCASE MATCH)

A handshake to start, followed up a collar-and-elbow tie-up and side headlock by Oasis. Big shoulderblock by Oasis. Marcus with a dropkick and kick-up. Bodypress off the ropes is caught by Oasis and turned into a fallaway slam for two. Oasis uses the size advantage with some big hits, ramming Marcus into the corner, a big slam, and senton for two. Oasis with a side headlock as Rosenberg rightfully calls out Stone for talking about Oasis having “bros in different area codes.” Luda should come out and smack the piss out of him, just so this never happens again. Mathers with a nice crossbody off the top for two, but Oasis back to a backbreaker and BIIIIG brainbuster for two. Blackout cannonball by Oasis, but a back suplex gets reversed into a big kick by Marcus. Nice height on a tope by Marcus, then who hits a 450 splash for the win!

WINNER: MARCUS MATHERS

Match Rating: B – Again, nothing earthshattering, but solid pro wrestling nonetheless and a nice power/speed dynamic played well by both guys.

Mathers: A – Call me a fan. Nice intensity. Good moves. He reminds me of Neville quite a bit. I think he’ll be somebody.

Oasis: B – There’s just something about him which gives me the ick, I have to say. He didn’t do anything particularly wrong in the match, though, hitting some nice power moves and keeping up with Mathers throughout. My ick is my own problem to deal with.

Another handshake after the match, and here’s KEANU CARVER to jump both guys. Keanu throws Oasis outside, then press slams Marcus on top of Oasis. Keanu calls the WWE ID guys a bunch of clowns who stopped him from winning the Evolve title, and now he’s going to send them all back to the bingo halls they came from. Oh, I like this.

Tate Wilder segment. We’ve got Hangman Page at home, kids. I do think it’s a good moment for a country character in the WWE, though, and Tate’s certainly got those Morgan Wallen looks. He probably can sing better than Wallen too, but that’s not a high bar to clear.

The ill-advised gauntlet match is next as we go to break.

Kylie Rae has more words for Wendy Choo. You scared and intimidated me, but I’m not afraid anymore. Wendy has awaken something inside Kylie, and it sure sounds like a Last Woman Standing match is coming. Sure enough, it happens next week. I look forward to them fighting into the two rows of seats outside the ring.

Kendal Grey versus Zara Zakher, for the honor of Carlee Bright, happens next week, yet you had Kendal beat Carlee yesterday, you monsters.

The Vanity Project comes out and projects with much vanity. Zayda looks fully recovered from tapping to the Sharpshooter earlier.

“SUPER” SEAN LEGACY VERSUS THE VANITY PROJECT (GAUNTLET MATCH)

I love the little Giorgio Moroder-like theme for Legacy. Big match intros for everyone. Looks like it’s Ricky Smokes starting out for the Vanity Project, and Legacy starts off hot with punches, a series of dropkicks, and a big slam. More kicks and a standing moonsault from Legacy for two, as everyone else jaws at him from ringside. Big chops from Sean in the corner, and he stops to clap back at Jackson Drake. Smokes with a nice codebreaker off the top for two. Legacy fights back, but Smokes hits a nice spear through the ropes for two. Legacy back with a somersault DDT for two. Legacy slow to make the comeback, as he sells the beating a bit, but comes back and easily hits Shambles on Smokes for the three.

RICKY SMOKES HAS BEEN ELIMINATED

And here comes Brad Baylor to take out Legacy’s knee as we go to break. Baylor is in control as we come back from break, as the match has done a nice of having the guys slowly break Legacy down, while still not being too much of a threat individually. Legacy hits an enziguri on Baylor, but can’t capitalize as he sells the leg. He still hits a nice springboard dropkick for two. Legacy misses a charge into the corner, with Baylor hitting a TKO for two. Again, really nice storytelling here. They exchange blows. Rana by Legacy, followed by another kick into the corner for two. Legacy can’t hit Shambles on Baylor, which keeps him alive, and they exchange more blows. Legacy comes back with a suplex, but again can’t capitalize. He eventually hits the dive to the outside, and Stone calls him out for the risk/reward of hitting that move when his leg is out. Nice job, Robert. You redeemed yourself with that. Baylor hits a superplex, but Legacy gets the Wrestling Classic small package for three.

BRAD BAYLOR HAS BEEN ELIMINATED

And this brings in Bryce Donovan who……quickly hits a massive boot for three on Legacy. When is he going to learn indeed.

SEAN LEGACY HAS BEEN ELIMINATED
WINNERS: Vanity Project

MATCH RATING: A- – The end took a bit of wind out of the sails here, but the psychology was superb here, and everyone got a chance to shine as individuals.

Legacy: A – I always do chuckle when I see guys selling the leg, then hitting some big move requiring the leg, but that’s pro wrestling. Legacy was crisp and solid as always. I like how they’re playing into his enthusiasm and bravado getting the best of him a bit.

Smokes/Baylor: A – Both guys looked great as singles here, with Baylor really shining.

Donovan: I :- Really not enough to rate. He hit a boot. Yay.

Jackson Drake and the team continue the beatdown on Sean Legacy, which brings out Lince Dorado with a chair. That’s not how it goes down in the big leagues, says Lince. Vanity Project quickly realize Lince is also outnumbered, but he hasn’t come alone. It’s the LWO! Wilde and Del Toro clean house, and I do believe we’ve got two Latin guys, a Filipino in disguiuse, and one really white guy to even the odds on the Vanity Project moving forward.

OVERALL RATING: A- – A much better combination of established stars, indie folks, and developmental this week, with even a tease for a wrestler we hadn’t seen since the early episodes. The wacky randomness of the early shows isn’t back yet, but this absolutely got the job down tonight.

Daryl, if you snuck that graphic into the image library for me, thank you immensely.

On that note, see you all next week!