WWE Evolve Review – 07.16.25

Hey everyone, it’s Wednesday night, and I am dead tired today. I’ve been running on fumes workwise since going on vacation in April. I won’t complain too much, as I’m very fortunate to work for myself, but running your own one-man show 24/7 can be very mentally taxing. Luckily, we have a couple of days on Block Island (in Rhode Island), which I’ve never been to, next week. Of course, the trip is completely planned around the two shows I review (it’s actually not), so you won’t miss me too much. For now, though, let’s trudge through the rest of this week with some Evolve action.

TOOOOO BEEEEE TU-BI.
THEN. NOW. FOREVER. TOGETHER.

LAST WEEK, Kali Armstrong was a bit of an underdog in her big title defense against Natalya, but ultimately hit her finisher and beat a future HOFer. For her efforts, she both got beat down by Jin Tala after the match AND by Jordynne Grade several days later on NXT. At least she got to shine for a couple of minutes with the latter. We also had a contract signing for the Evolve Men’s Title between Jackson Drake and Main Event Lince Dorado, who I heard referred to as “Lucha Lit” by Peter Rosenberg. Sure.

The Vanity Project arrives at the arena, all dressed in white, followed by Lince Dorado. Why are the Vanity Project dressed in white? Have they turned the tables on the Puerto Rican legend and joined a Santeria cult themselves? Well, I neither practice such nor do I have a crystal ball. Def pop a cap in Sancho, tho.

We go straight to Kylie Rae coming out for our opening match.

KYLIE RAE VS TYRA MAE STEELE VS CHANTEL MONROE (Triple threat match)

Stone tells us Steele has been “killin it” on NXT. Something something shoot comments that aren’t something. Honestly, I hope Tyra trucks everyone here. They all go after each other, with the two faces quickly taking advantage of Chantel before locking up themselves. Tyra takes Kylie down with a fireman’s carry and does the obligatory amateur work, getting the half-nelson over for one. Chantel comes back in and we’re exchanging roll-ups, baby. Chantel sends Tyra up for the outside, before being sent out by Kylie herself. Kylie hits the suburban mom tope to the outside. The tie on the back of Kylie’s outfit is dumb. It’s like “I’m a little bit Frederick’s of Hollywood, but A LOT Rainbow Shops.” Kylie hits a moonsault on Tyra for two, and Chantel comes in and tries to pin everyone. Tyra with continued strong offense, making me very happy, but Chantel reverses an AA into a codebreaker in a nice moment. Chantel and Kylie come to blows, I look down for five seconds, and Tyra hits a nice German suplex on Monroe for the three.

WINNER: TYRA MAE STEELE

Match Rating: C+ Honestly, a bit of a clunky mess at times, but also enough solid athleticism from all three as well to still rise it above average at this level.

Tyra: A – Tyra can be maddeningly inconsistent, which is probably why she’s at this level. Luckily, we got good Tyra this week, as she was explosive, and all her stuff looked very good. This Tyra right here has a good future.

Chantel: C – Chantel always has good moments, and the athleticism is certainly there, but she still very much belongs at this level. She’s certainly a slight cut above some of the field here, but there’s work to be done.

Kylie: B- You get what you’re going to get with Kylie. The in-ring is competent but, unless they’re going for a complete makeover with her (and they should), the ceiling isn’t much further up than this.

Chuey Martinez sat down with Jin Tala earlier today. Jin looks badass in black, but continues to sound like she’s rehearsing her lines backstage. The look and athleticism is real, though. Actually, this isn’t terrible, as “deadpan killer” would absolutely work for her, but there must be more intention behind her words. She’ll be wrestling Carlee Bright next.

Stevie Turner checks in with Homeless Man Jordan Oasis backstage. He’ll be watching the Evolve Men’s title match tonight. Stevie offers Oasis a match against Swipe Right, but doesn’t think Oasis can find a partner. Oasis thinks he actually can. Riveting. That match happens next week.

JIN TALA VS CARLEE BRIGHT (W/ KENDAL GRAY)

I’m glad Carlee and Kendal found their way out of their usual stomping grounds, that corner of the women’s locker room they always sit in the background of. Wait, though, as Carlee attacks from behind! Elbows and kicks AND CHOPS in the corner from Carlee, which I very much like. Jin rolls to the outside, and Carlee continues her attack. Jin reverses, and head hits apron. Jin rolls Carlee back in and goes on the attack. I don’t like the “my tights look like they had a major accident in the washing machine look” on anyone. It doesn’t look like anything else but that. I don’t care who it is. Lots of fashion tips today. Make it work, people. *snap*. Carlee with the comeback, hitting the dropkick and an LA Knight neckbreaker. Standing moonsault from Carlee for two. Carlee goes for the submission, and Wendy Choo appears to argue with Kendal. This distracts Carlee enough for Jin to nail……something called the “Direct Effect” for the three. Wendy Choo then disappears into thin air. OH COME ON NOW.

WINNER: JIN TALA

Match Rating: C – Would have like to have seen more wrestling and less Wendy Choo here, as both ladies have strong “squint and you can see it” potential. What we got, though, was pretty basic.

Jin: C – Basic. Fine. Whatever. The finisher looks like she’s literally trying to break someone’s neck. There’s absolutely something there, but it’s still the bottom of the first inning with her.

Carlee: C+ Know what? I liked Carlee this week. There was a lot less cheerleader in her presentation, and a lot more seriousness. Give her and Kendal a lot more reps as a team, and they could make for a couple of beautiful killers.

Jin looks over at Carlee, as Kendal and Carlee are confused about how Wendy disappeared. I have a feeling the fans on this 15×15-foot set know exactly how she did.

Tate Wilder gets confronted by Ridge Holland backstage, who will be watching his match tonight and doesn’t believe he belongs in this business.

HANGMAN TATE WILDER VS EDRIS ENOFE

You’ve got an anxious millennial cowboy? Well, we’ve got a Gen Z, extreme sports-loving cowboy! Edris looks as regal as always. Extended lock up to start, and they exchange slaps in the face. Wilder with the wristlock, taking Edris down. Edris goes for one of his own, followed by a Tate dropkick, sending Edris into the corner. Tate with the ten count punches in the corner, then flips Edris to the outside. SHOOTING STAR PRESS FROM THE APRON from Wilder! Nice! He goes for the top rope nothingburger on the inside, though, and telegraphs getting kicked right in the face by Edris. Edris goes on the attack with a rear clothesline, then hits the chinlock. Edris with some ground and pound, then removes his armband and tries to choke Tate with it. Tate counters and goes on the attack with COWBOY SH….STRENGTH. Tate loses balance on a suplex attempt, but they recover, and Tate hits a kick. Tate misses a moonsault from the top, leading to Edris hitting his finisher, the En Passant, for the win.

WINNER: EDRIS ENOFE

Match Rating: C+ I wouldn’t kick this match out of bed. Nice athleticism from both guys, and a couple of pretty cool highspots to boot.

Tate: C+ It’s all a bit generic still, but the potential’s there. That SSP from the apron was absolutely gorgeous, and, at the same time, there were a couple of obvious flubs. That’s why they call it developmental, folks.

Edris: B – It’s all there in a rather mid-cardy package, but I’m very much still an Edris fan, even though I think he’s both a better face and tag guy. In another universe, his being the speed guy to Oba’s power guy as the “African Knights” or something would be cool. Oba ain’t no tag guy, tho.

After the match, Dante Chen comes out and tells Edris he was right in telling him he needed him to get dirty a few weeks ago. Dante apologizes to Edris, then pops him right in the face.

Keanu Carver says Timothy Thatcher thinks he’s a superhero, but he’s nothing but goofy. Carver puts the entire ID program on notice.

Vanity Project, minus a dead sacrificed chicken, roam around backstage in white, both wondering as to Jordan Oasis’s partner next week and being somewhat oblivious as to Jackson Drake having to take on Lince Dorado by himself. Drake leaves them behind and heads to the ring as we hit the break.

Edris barges in on Steve backstage. Stevie rather enjoyed Dante getting his comeuppance tonight. Edris calls Stevie a biased general manager, which leads to Stevie booking Enofe vs. Chen next week, then kicking him out of her office. I like these two getting matched up with one another, as it’s more of an opportunity than either was given at the next level.

Time for our main event!

JACKSON DRAKE VS LINCE DORADO (EVOLVE MEN’S TITLE MATCH – VANITY PROJECT IS BANNED FROM RINGSIDE)

Big match intros from Blake Howard to start. Lince is introduced from the Lucha Lounge in San Juan. The mofongo there is fire, I hear. Drake, not the biggest dude in the world, looks quite bigger than Lince. Drake with a shoulderblock and quick two on Lince. Wristlock by Drake, and he gets brought down by Lince. Lince bends Drake like a pretzel and gets a roll-up for two. Nice armdrag off the top by Lince, followed by a headscissors and a fake dive to the outside before we go to break. They are back in the ring when we return, with Lince hitting a dropkick for two. Drake pushes Lince to the outside, and he actually hits his dive to the outside. Drake throws Lince back in after some touches, and appears to be bleeding from the mouth a bit. Back suplex by Drake, followed by a knee to the back of the head, for two. Drake stomps the hand. Lince with the hope spot, but Drake hits the Randy Orton powerslam for two before going into a very Randy-looking chinlock. Another kick to the back by Drake, but Lince gets back and we’re throwing hands. Drake takes control again with an elbow off the ropes for two. Drake seems to try for a Styles Clash, but Lince reverses into a quasi-Poison Rana. Lince with the comeback, a man-sized slap, a cutter off the ropes, and a backstabber for two. Lince goes for the armbar submission, but Drake finds the ropes. Drake falls to the outside. Lince goes for him, but his neck hits the ropes. Drake back in. Lince hits a kick, then goes to the top for the SSP, but the Vanity Project music hits! Lince gets distracted……and no one comes out. Unnecessary. This is Lince Dorado, for Pete’s sake. Powerbomb by Drake only gets two off the distraction, though. Drake calls for Lince to get back up and goes for the finish, but Lince rolls him up for two. Lince hits a couple of kicks and a brainbuster. Lince hits a big forearm off the corner and goes to the top again. Lince hits the SSP, but Drake rolls out to the outside again! Lince with the big dive to the outside. He tries to get back in, but Ricky Smokes is under the ring! He holds Lince’s leg, which enables Jackson Drake to hit his Claymore-like finisher for the win.

WINNER: JACKSON DRAKE

Match Rating: B+ It really shouldn’t take two attempts at interference to beat Lince Dorado, but both guys brought it in spades here, with Dorado a very believable first opponent for the title.

Drake: A – There really are no flaws in Drake’s game. In a non-Vince McMahon world, this is a dude with a very high ceiling. If you’re going to steal from anyone with your moveset, Randy Orton ain’t a bad guy to steal from either.

Lince: B+ There’s a reason he’s a trainer here. Lince’s a pro’s pro, who can be counted on to perform anywhere on the card without embarrassing himself.

Drake celebrates in the ring………and Brooks Jensen attacks from behind. Oy vey. Vanity Project quickly hit the ring and act bewildered, as Santeria clearly does not work on hillbillies. Note to self.

OVERALL RATING: B – Nothing offensive here. The epitome of a one-hour developmental show, although there are starting to be one too many NXT retreads clogging things up for my liking. Give me more of the PC and ID folks, please.

See y’all on Sunday for LFG.