Hot Take: WWE Evolution reactions

Hot Take: WWE Evolution reactions

This weekend, the WWE held its first ever All-Women PPV, Evolution, to a lot of hype. Thankfully, the praise and end result was just as high, as evidenced by a kick off performance from Nita Strauss and Lzzy Hale from Halestorm, two rock Goddesses. After their roaring set, the show was figuratively and literally starting off on a high note. Away we go with our thoughts!

Trish Stratus, Lita vs Mickie James, Alicia Fox

We all knew that Alexa Bliss was not going to partake in this match because of her concussion. However, she did come out to announce that Mickie and Alicia are the true pioneer of the Women’s Evolution. From the start this felt like an Attitude Era match, with a lot of offense from Trish and Lita in the beginning, then going back and forth. The teams told a good old in-ring story. I really enjoyed it a lot, even though it ended really weird with a botch from Alicia Fox.

Winner: Trish Stratus and Lita

Historic Women’s Battle Royale Match

The Battle Royale brought a lot of recognizable Women wrestlers out there, both past and present, although we were missing the future of the sport since no NXT women were included. The big shocker of the match was Mandy Rose eliminating her best friend Sonya Deville. Some funny moments in the match where Lana told Nia Jax and Tamina not to fight and be happy because “Happy Lana Day” and both Jax and Tamina no sold Lana offenses. The final four was Askua, Ember Moon, Tamina and Nia Jax. Ember Moon eliminated both Askua and Tamina to only have Jax to face. Zelina Vega was not officially done to try and eliminate both Moon and Jax, but to only fail. Jax took out Vega which gives opportunity for Mon to land a couple more attacks before Jax threw Moon over to find the Battle Royal. Solid ending. No complaints here. I really thought that Vega was gonna win the match for moment.

Winner: Nia Jax.

Toni Storm vs Io Shirai (Mae Young Classic 2018 Finals)

The beginning of the match was so technically sounded that I was loving EVERY moment of it. This match went back and forth, and had me glued to the screen the entire time. I wanted both women to somehow win because they proved that they deserved to take the title. In the end, Toni Storm hit Io Shirai with not one, but two Storm Zeroes to win the 2018 Mae Young Classic

Winner: Toni Storm

Riott Squad vs Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya

Decent match. There was no real story happening throughout the battle. There was a lot of teamwork coming from the Riott Squad, and as the match went on Liv Morgan continued to shine. But alas, Natalya hit Morgan with a power bomb, and then Bayley hit the top rope elbow drop followed up with a suicide dive to take out Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan. The cherry on top was Banks hitting the top rope frog splash to capture the win over the Riott Squad. I need to ask this again: What is WWE doing with the Riott Squad? They should be a dominating force in the Women’s division but yet they are not. Makes no sense at all.

Winner: Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya

Kairi Sane(c) vs Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Championship)

This was a great, brutal fight up to the point where Shayna’s MMA friends decided to butt in and ruin the match. It really had it all, including amazing in-ring storytelling and overall fighting techniques. But what happened at the end made Shayna look weak due to outside interference. I loved the match, but hated the ending.

Winner and New NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler

Becky Lynch(c) vs Charlotte Last Women Match (SmackDown Women’s Championship)

This match had everything. Ladders, Tables, Chairs, Kendo Sticks, tables not breaking the first time around… but hey, let’s do it again. I wasn’t sure if I was watching a WWE or ECW PPV due to the amount of chairs that were in the ring for most of the match. At one point Charlotte got Becky Lynch in the Figure 8 using the ladder, which looked incredibly painful, but it added a lot of depth to the fight. She managed to get Lynch to tap, but in a Last Women’s match there are no tap outs. That opened everything up and gave Becky the opportunity to fight back in. It ended with Lynch top-rope powerbombing Charlotte through a table, and Charlotte unable to get back to her feet before the 10 count. Fantastic match and storytelling, and brutal scenarios!

Winner: Becky Lynch

Ronda Rousey(c) vs Nikki Bella (RAW Women’s Championship)

So, this was just another match to make Ronda Rousey look dominant, even though Nikki Bella was in control for most of it. Got it. Honestly I felt sorry for Rousey and Nikki. Having to follow up that incredible Becky and Charlotte match, they had a lot to live up to. The result was decent, but I sorta wish WWE would let Ronda showcase more moves.

Winner: Ronda Rousey

Overall take: This was a fantastic PPV from beginning to end. My matches of the night were Toni Storm vs Io Shirai, Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler and Becky Lynch vs Charlotte. I think we can safely say that we’re all looking forward to the next all-woman WWE PPV.