Welcome to Evolution for October 28, 2018. For all WWE pay-per-views, I will go over every match, share the highlights and look ahead to the next show.
Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai (Mae Young Classic 2018 Finals) (Storm wins by pinfall)
The final of the Mae Young classic comes to the big stage. The match started with a handshake. There was no real heel or babyface, just two great wrestlers. The real test of this match is which of these women could make it on the main or NXT roster. Both these women would be a great. Hopefully like last year, we will see both again very soon.
Highlights: Dueling chants for both ladies.
Shirai’s moonsault is a work of art
Storm hits a German suplex on the ring apron.
Shirai kicks out of the Storm’s finisher.
Grade 10 out of 10
NXT Women’s Champion Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler (Baszler wins by submission to become the new NXT Women’s Champion)
Great to see this as the championships were going to go on last. Sane and Baszler have such a great chemistry that it is almost impossible for these two to have a bad match. Sane was much more aggressive, as if she knew Baszlar would not go down easy. Baszler went after the arm time and time again. An attack by two of the Four Horsewoman was too much for Sane to overcome.
Highlights: Dueling hand signs at each other
Baszler has some of the most gruesome submission moves ever
Sane hits the most unexpected spear ever.
Sane dives on Baszler on the floor.
THE WHOLE DAMN MATCH!
Grade: 10 out of 10
Sasha Banks, Bayley & Natalya vs. The Riott Squad (Banks, Bayley and Natalya win by pinfall)
The story of this match was actually planted before Banks got injured. Ruby actually did not get into the match all that much. Bayley did a lot of the work and was in the match for the most time. Logan continues to impress, a wrestler who makes everything she does looks like it hurts. A few future seeds were planted in this match.
Highlights: Logan plants Bayley hard into the ring post
Banks hits the back stabber and then Bayley hits a Bayley to Belly.
Banks is thrown into the ring barrier by all members of the Riott Squad
Bayley lays on Banks to protect her from Ruby.
Natalya puts Ruby and Morgan in a double sharpshooter
Grade: 9 out of 10
Women’s Battle Royal Match (for a future Women’s Championship opportunity) (Nia Jax wins)
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay talked trash to everyone and were the first ones throw over the rope. Mandy Rose and Sonya Devill were working together until Rose threw her out. Tamina and Nia Jax went on a spree against others and each other. Naomi and Askua tried to work together. Moon and Jax were the last two women. Jax wins a very well done Battle Royal.
Highlights: Every woman gets an entrance
Nice to see some of the women’s husbands in the crowd
A suplex with numerous women
Dance break with Carmella and Ivory!
Moon gets revenge on Askua
Grade: 10 out of 10
Trish Stratus & Lita vs. Mickie James & Alicia Fox (Trish and Lita win by pinfall)
The crowd was loud as the first match got under way. It was great that Alexia Bliss was still able to be at ringside. Lita and Trish was going full steam from the opening bell. Fox and Mickie were just trying to survive. Bliss was able to get involved when the referee was not looking quite a few times. Trish looks like she has not missed a beat.
Highlights: Lita runs and jumps off Trish’s back to hit an elbow
Trish bodyslams Fox and then points at James
Trish hits a hurricarana
Bliss knocks Lita off the top rope.
Grade: 9 out of 10
SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (Last Woman Standing Match) (Lynch is the last women standing)
Can the WWE do anything to make the Universe boo Lynch? The tone of this match turned into extreme real quick. Lynch was the aggressor for most of the time, finding a new level of mean streak. Charlotte took the most punishment, the marks on her skin telling the story. Charlotte finally found some of that Flair meaness at the end of the match.
Highlights: Lynch breaks out the kendo stick.
Both ladies toss chair after chair into the ring.
Both women slammed into a pile of chairs.
Charlotte hits Lynch with a moonsault on a table. It does not break. Charlotte puts Lynch back on the table and does it again.
Figure 8 with the help of a ladder.
THE WHOLE DAMN MATCH!
Grade 10 out of 10
Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella (Rousey wins by submission)
Rousey is a great wrestler and seller, but she was a great character in the beginning of this match. She should have been more concerned with Brie lurking around ringside. Nikki finally got going and was putting some good work in. Nikki can make herself feel like a threat to Rousey just by being more clever. Rousey wins, but it didn’t come as easy as we thought it might be.
Highlights: Rousey won’t put on the armbar the first few times
Nikki puts Rousey in a head scissors and then does push ups.
Rousey puts Brie and Nikki on her shoulders and slams them.
Nikki with a wicked Alabama slam.
Grade 9 out of 10
Final Thoughts: A great first women’s PPV. The build was perfect as each match was better the the next. Here’s to many many more.
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