Everything Right With WWE Evolution

Last night the women of the WWE made history yet again in the phenomenal first ever all women’s Pay Per View. A night jam-packed full of past, present, and future stars the women of the WWE sent a huge message to the world in what was hands down a major success. Throughout the week I will be dissecting the night and discussing what the PPV has done for the division, kick-starting this week off with a look back at everything right with Evolution. From start to finish this was a massively entertaining night and as a result, we have plenty to talk about!

The Opening Contest & Match Placement

The order in which matches are aired is, in fact, something that plays a major role in how well a show comes across and this was proven greatly last during the Evolution pay per view. Championship match, as well as the MYC Finals, were placed perfectly creating the right amount of time for the right moments. Fans were never left too exhausted for the next contest and generally, the placement of bouts was simply excellent. Kick-starting the night off with a tag team match that saw Lita and Trish Stratus take on Alicia Fox and Mickie James was quite simply the best way the show could have started. The nostalgia of not only seeing Lita and Trish back in the ring but also Mickie James and Trish’s moment together during this match left fans loud and up on their feet. This was a contest full of some of the most iconic and important women in the history of the division and it was though neither Stratus or Lita had missed a beat. A fun and entertaining opening match leaving the WWE universe ready for an action-packed night and Hall Famers proving #TheyStillGotIt.

Everything About the Battle Royal

If I’m being totally honest I could do an entire blog post on the battle royal that took place this past Sunday. Initially, I’ll admit I wasn’t all too excited for this contest. Like many others, I believed this to be a lazy way to add the numbers onto the show and wasn’t expecting all too much yet this match showcased the past, present, and future perfectly. Every single woman had their moment from the IIConics entrance and being first eliminated, the dance break from Carmella and Ivory, the showdown between Asuka and Ember Moon, Tamina and Nia Jax’s total performance, Tamina’s standout showing, Mandy Rose eliminating Sonya and so on, from start to finish these ladies told story and not a single woman went unnoticed. I particularly liked seeing Zelina Vega get her moment towards the end with closing moments that genuinely had fans on the edge of their seats. The entire WWE universe may not have been delighted with the end result but I for one must admit its hard to moan after that performance.

Toni Storm Wins the MYC 2018

The two thousand and eighteen Mae Young Classic was by far one of the highlights of the entire year with match after match delivering to an extremely high level and this past Sunday the tournament came to an end with Toni Storm and Io Shari doing battle to take home the win. As expected the two women tore the house down in one of the best matches of the entire night. This was a fantastic wrestling contest showcasing the best of the future proving that that very future is in extremely safe hands. Io had the fans in attendance completely stunned by her high-flying activity while Storm’s heart, determination, and skill won over the hearts of the WWE universe. Either one of these women could of one and no one could complain but, in the end, the heart-warming victory went to Storm a woman who deserved it more than any other. The face of the future Toni put her blood, sweat, and tears into this entire tournament and her story and journey made for an even more special and beautiful moment.

Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir

It may have been one of the shortest matches of the night but the NXT Women’s championship bout between Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane was yet another excellent showing. The two represented the black and yellow brand amazingly well making this first must-see contest. From the get-go, these women showed just how well they know each other and the chemistry, hard hits, high flying spots, and sheer wrestling and storytelling was on point. The closing moments again were done amazingly well; with Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir sitting at ringside, the sequence was set up very well. Baszler being thrown into the crowd allowed Jessamyn and Marina to pick their moment perfectly and would very soon after being the exact reason why Shayna Baszler walked out a two-time women’s champion making history in her own right. Seeing Duke and Shafir play such a major role is something I personally really wanted to see and while I would have liked to have seen a ring celebration from the three this was an excellent way to debut the fellow four horsewomen and very well told story.

Becky Lynch’s Career Making Performance

Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair has hands down been one of the best WWE feuds of the entire year and last night these two women raised the bar and put the entire spotlight on them in an epic Last Woman Standing match that in my opinion should of main evented the entire show. Impossible to find fault this was a near perfect match. When the bell had finally rung fans were left genuinely feeling as though these women could not have done any more. Kendo sticks, table spots, ladders, and chairs Charlotte and Becky had the best storytelling of the entire night as well as the best match of the night. A contest sure to go down as a highlight of the year, both these women stood out, raised the bar and took an evolution to new heights but for Lynch, this was a career-making performance. From her character work, storytelling and wrestling Lynch had you hooked. She played the heel perfectly trying to escape and burying her opponent in a failed effort at a cheap win. She performed a high-risk spot, told a story and had the best performance of her entire career proving she truly Is a major story worthy of being champion and worthy of being the face of the division.

We of course also cannot sleep on Charlotte who too made one heck of an impact and had one of the best performances of the night for a solo star.

The Riott Squad Had their Moment

I would have loved to have seen the Riott Squad take home the victory this past Sunday in their six-woman tag team match but despite the loss, Liv, Sarah, and Ruby had the performance of their career together as a trio. Liv Morgan, in particular, stood out greatly getting the ring time she deserved to show all the character, charisma, and skill she possesses. Fans do not get to see enough of these three but after last night the demand is strong! This was one of the slightly weaker matches of the night but still brilliant none the less and I too massively enjoyed this way more than expected and despite the Banks botch it deserves more credit than it has received for I was greatly entertained.

The Diva in the Main Event

I will admit that I believe Charlotte and Lynch should have main evented the Evolution PPV however, Nikki Bella and Ronda Rousey did, in fact, deliver an entertaining contest to say the least. It was a weaker match of the night, but Nikki’s facial expressions and character work truly told a story and the “diva” did indeed take the badest woman on the planet to her limit. There were no surprises to this match, yet Brie’s role and the spots performed were both strong and memorable and Nikki Bella in the eyes of many including myself proved a lot of critiques wrong.

A True Evolution

Overall, the first women’s PPV was a major success. I can honestly sit here and say I enjoyed every single match of the night with the women proving they really can do all the men can do and arguably better. The night was entertaining, taken seriously, and the fans in attendance were fantastic. The arena was full of fans completely invested and hearing the pops and crowd reactions fave me Goosebumps. We had a female referee, Lillian announcing, as well as Renee and Beth commentating. This was an all-women’s affair done amazingly well and after the event being so well done and such a success I say the WWE must make this an annual event with an Evolution now truly kick-started.

But what did you think? What were your fave match and standout moment? Leave a comment below or tweet me over at @TezangiVictoria letting me know!

Recent Blog Posts:

WHAT THE BUILD TO WWE EVOLUTION SHOULD HAVE DONE

ICONIC WWE WOMEN'S WRESTLING MOMENTS THAT SPARKED THE EVOLUTION (PART 1)

WHY BECKY LYNCH VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR IS ONE OF THE BEST WWE FEUDS TODAY

SIX WOMEN WHO COULD DETHRONE RONDA ROUSEY