WWE Evolve Review 08.13.25

Hey everyone. It’s Wednesday night. We’ve successfully gotten halfway through the week, and we can sit back and enjoy the second-to-bottom rung of the WWE developmental ceiling with another episode of Evolve. If you watched NXT last night, you noticed some Evolve talent getting some additional shine. My personal favorite little badass cupcake, Kendal Grey, had a pretty damn good match with Alba Fyre, which tells me the front office has taken notice of her efforts. I thought she had her best match ever, and I look forward to a hell of a lot more crossover with NXT. Tyra Mae Steele also continued to not know what show she belongs on, as she’s seemingly started an alliance with Tavion Heights. Honestly, I think she belongs in NXT, and that this partnership could really help get them both over, especially if their initial foils are the Secret Hervice, Chelsea Green, and Ethan Page, all pros who will make sure they’re getting cheered. That’s Tuesday, though, and this is Wednesday. Let’s get to the show!

THEN. NOW. FOREVER. TOGETHER. AS KAT SAYS, DUN DUN.
No link, however. I’m lazy.

LAST WEEK, Keanu Carver took care of Bryce Donovan, who did not know Brad Baylor had recommended him for that match. There is beginning to be some dissension within the ranks of the Vanity Project on the way to Keanu challenging Jackson Drake. Kali Armstrong also dispatched of Jin Tala before getting interrupted by Karmen Petrovic. Tyra Mae Steele took umbrage with this due to their brief history on NXT, and an eliminator match for a title shot has been booked tonight. Interested in seeing how it goes, considering recent events on NXT.

Referee Hottie stands in the ring in preparation for the first match.

TATE WILDER VS. BROOKS JENSEN

The mildly interesting versus the not-at-all-interesting-whatsoever. I’m not sure what Jensen would gain here from winning, but I sense the pecking order rearing its ugly head here. Tate gets some chants from the crowd as Jensen hits the side headlock and a couple of shoulder tackles. Tate fights out of a wristlock and hits his own series of shoulder blocks, needing four to take down noted gigantic hoss Brooks Jensen. Wilder hits a moonsault to the outside, and the crowd approves. Wilder hits the sunset flip back into the ring for two, but gets back suplexed for his efforts. Jensen goes to attack, as I continue to ponder why it took four shoulder tackles to take down a guy who’s never seen chest day at the gym. Vertical suplex gets reversed into a roll-up by Tate for two. Another back suplex by Jensen, and we visit resthold city. Peter Rosenberg claims Jensen reminds him of Barry Windham, and just no, dude. I’m longing for Kendall Windham right now. Tate hits the Temu cowboy comeback, and hits HIS OWN BACK SUPLEX. NO WAY. Tate goes for a beautiful moonsault, makes the adjustment, but gets hit with two lariats by Jensen for the win, because of course.

WINNER: Brooks Jensen

Match Rating: C- To paraphrase the late Roger Ebert, I hated, hated, hated, hated this match, mostly because it feels like a given at this point that everyone with lesser experience must job, even if it’s to a wrestler halfway out the door. Put your young talent over.

Jensen C- This guy’s been on the roster for several years now, and all I saw was a couple of back suplexes and a decent lariat. Be gone.

Tate C – The aerial stuff was pretty decent, but it’s nerd city once the cowboy hat comes off. There’s work to be done there, and I’m not sure I’m supposed to buy him as a threat to the larger Ridge Holland when he can’t even take care of this ham-and-egger.

After the match, known homeless man Jordan Oasis attacks Brooks Jensen. Yay.

Wendy Choo sits backstage watching her victory over Carlee Bright last week on the monitor and laughs. Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel are working out backstage when they run into……Jax Presley and Harley Riggins, who are acting like a couple of gym lunks. Actually, correction, that’s “Space Cowboy” Jax Presley and “Gnarly” Harley Riggins. Let’s see what those two have got, other than terrible names.

Backstage, we see more dissension in the ranks of the Vanity Project, as Bryce Donovan gets made to apologize to Jackson Drake for not taking out Keanu Carver last week. Bryce surprises them all by informing them that Zayda Steel will be facing Layla Diggs tonight, causing Zayda much more angina than you’d think when the opposition is Layla F’ing Diggs. Swipe Right will also have an ID Showcase match against two unnamed opponents next week. Back to the ring we go.

DANTE CHEN VS. EDRIS ENOFE

Edris enters the ring and removes the turnbuckle during his entrance, and I agree with Peter in that neither of us have seen that before. The match starts, and they immediately go for the turnbuckle fake-out spots. Referee Baldie finally notices the turnbuckle is gone, as Peter claims that could be a disqualification. Ok then, Peter. During all this, Dante hits an offensive flurry before finally getting sent into THAT turnbuckle. Edris charges in, though, and HE winds up hitting the turnbuckle. The turnbuckle is the most over entity in this match thus far. Back in the ring, Dante hits an impressive vertical suplex, plus an additional whatchamacallit, for two. Edris hits the chop block to escape a powerbomb attempt, and they fight on the apron. Edris trips Dante, with his head hitting what I’m told is the hardest part of the ring. Dante hits the post and gets taken back in for a flying elbow by Edris for two, while Stone namedrops every wrestler in existence. At some point, Edris was compared to both The Rock and Chris Masters. Edris hits several knees before going to the top. Dante stops him and hits the superplex off the top. Dante drapes an arm over and gets 2 ½. Both begin exchanging blows in the middle of the ring. Dante with an impressive sort-of spinning powerbomb but misses the big kick. Edris goes for the roll-up with the tights, but the referee notices. Another roll-up gets two before Dante finally hits the Gentle Touch for three.

WINNER: Dante Chen

Match Rating: B- Both guys worked hard here. This is how you get noticed and begin to move back up the card.

Dante: B+ Dante showed us there’s a real wrestler there underneath all the goofiness. His high-impact stuff was impressive, and there’s still something there as an underdog character.

Edris: B – Always solid, crisp, and athletic in the ring. There’s something missing charisma-wise, despite his colorful appearance, as a singles wrestler, but I still believe he can move back up if paired with someone who complements him well. He probably would have gotten further with his previous partner had he not gotten injured.

Tate Wilder gets confronted by Ridge Holland for going 0-2 in his past two matches. Tate doesn’t see them as losses, but lessons. Tate challenges Holland, but Holland’s got Sean Legacy in the ring next week. Ridge tells Wilder to talk to Legacy after he’s done with him next week. OK, there’s some long-term character development. Please get Tate a new haircut.

Stevie is backstage with Kylie Rae, who does not have her ID Title with her. Kylie wants a match with Chantel Monroe next week, which Stevie agrees to and makes it a title eliminator match. Jordan Oasis comes in, and Stevie reads him the riot act as to interfering in matches. Stevie asks him to take a week off while she figures what to do next.

LAYLA DIGGS (WITH MASYN HOLIDAY) VERSUS ZAYDA STEEL (WITH BRYCE DONOVAN)

Layla and Masyn do choreographed dance moves as Robert Stone claims they remind him of TLC. Stone is absolutely unbearable tonight. Donovan being out there with Zayda probably hints at where this will go. Donovan attempts to trip Layla as she gets close to the ropes, caught by the referee. Zayda actually isn’t tripping over herself out there yet. A cartwheel by Layla leads to Natural Selection for two. Donovan distracts so that Zayda can take advantage. Zayda goes after the leg in the corner and goes for the half-Boston Crab. Layla gets out and hits a few shoulderblocks, followed by that beautiful scissors kick of hers. Butterly suplex gets two for Layla. Bryce places a chair in the corner and distrtacts the ref again. The ref has finally had enough and send Donovan to the back. Masyn Holiday, Layla’s second, has done absolutely nothing this match. Layla hits the Diggety Splits (basically a gourdbuster) for three.

WINNER: Layla Diggs

Rating: C- Ugh. This is not a good week so far. Layla has the athleticism, and that’s about it for this match.

Layla C – She’s got her moments, but it’s been a while, and she’s not getting past this level.

Zayda C- It seemed like she had a good run to start to match, but she honestly moves around in the ring like she’s half drunk.

Jamar Hampton, hopefully with his shoes tied, confronts It’s Gal backstage and asks why he’s been watching his matches. Gal claims it wasn’t him, which is kinda funny, actually. Gal believes it was either AI, CGI, or another I. Somehow, these guys who are supposed to be feuding agree to hit the gym together for chest day. I hope they invite Brooks Jensen along.

Chuey is backstage with Sean Legacy and another of his patterned shirts. Chuey asks Sean where his head is at after the loss to Keanu Carver. Sean is disappointed that he couldn’t avenge the attack on Timothy Thatcher, but that losses are learning opportunities and he will be ready once the Keanu/Jackson Drake match happens. Chuey brings up Ice Williams having unsavory things about Legacy at a recent House of Champions show. A clip is shown of Ice Williams in the ring taking issue with Sean Legacy being considered the #1 WWE ID prospect. Ice feels it should be him, which is interesting since he’s barely wrestled on TV and has been a babyface every time we’ve seen him. Legacy has his eyes on Ridge Holland next week, though, and believes a victory against Ridge will put him back in the title picture. Legacy and Chuey probably accidentally make some gang symbol which will lead to them getting their ass kicked in the wrong part of Orlando.

Time for our main event!

KARMEN PETROVIC VS. TYRA MAE STEELE (EVOLVE WOMEN’S TITLE ELIMINATOR MATCH)

Tyra’s energy is always great as she hits the ring and, hopefully, not having Karem involved in silly backstage romance angles will lead to better things here. Tyra wastes no time by throwing the ever-living crap out of Karmen with a German suplex as we immediately cut to break. Unfortunately, my feed buffers when we return from break, and I sit here contemplating five albums which had a massive impact on me on Instagram while I went. I went with:

The Cure “Disintegration”
Tori Amos “Little Earthquakes”
Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon”
John Coltrane “A Love Supreme”
Queensryche “Operation: Mindcrime”

I’m going to have to restart this app, aren’t I? I restart, and we are BACK. Tyra hits a big slam on Karmen, followed by a vertical suplex. All I’ve seen thus far is selling from Karmen. My app craps out again, then returns back to the show ending right in the middle of the match. This repeats itself when I try to watch the show from the laptop, which means we actually can’t finish reviewing this show this week.

WINNER: I have no clue. Ask Leighty.

OVERALL RATING: C- Not a great effort this week, as technical issues cut what was probably the best match right in the middle, and the rest of the show being dominated by bottom-rung talent, with really only one young wrestler getting featured. Edris and Dante tried hard, though, so we’ll give this episode credit for that. We’ll try this again next week.

See you on Sunday for LFG.