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THE WWE EVOLVE PREMIERE EPISODE REPORT

Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of the debut of WWE EVOLVE on Tubi!

Shawn Michaels arrives at the Performance Center and greets NXT General Manager Ava to start off the episode. He addresses the EVOLVE roster and welcomes them to the show. Michaels says that for one night only, he’s going to make the matches, which will include the following:

*WWE ID Six-Man Showcase: Sean Legacy, Jack Cartwheel, and Cappuccino Jones vs. Brad Baylor, Jackson Drake, and Ricky Smokes

*1st Ever EVOLVE Match: Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright vs. Kali Armstrong and Dani Palmer

Shawn Michaels says that this is where dreams come true, so go out and show the world what they are made of. He’s excited to see them…evolve!

Peter Rosenberg and Robert Stone are on commentary.

1st Ever EVOLVE Match: Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright vs. Kali Armstrong and Dani Palmer

Dani Palmer is in the ring to start things off for her team, but Kali Armstrong decides that she wants in instead. Palmer obliges and Armstrong locks up with Kendal Grey. Grey shifts out of the lock up and Armstrong flies into the corner. They lock up again and Grey goes behind, but Armstrong backs her into the corner and lifts her up onto the top turnbuckle. As Amrstrong shows off, Palmer tags back in.

Palmer locks up with Grey and Grey is able to grab an arm and crank it. Carlee Bright tags in and hits a sunset flip for a two count. Bright and Palmer then jockey for position on a backslide. Bright gets the control and gets a two count. Palmer recovers and hits an arm drag, cranking the arm afterwards. Bright locks on a headscissors, but Palmer handstands out of it for a one count. Palmer then hits an acrobatic splash for a one count. Palmer then grabs a front facelock.

Bright fights out of it and hits a hurricanrana that Palmer flips out of. Armstrong tags in and eats a drop toe hold. Bright then locks on an armbar. Armstrong is able to reverse it into an armbar of her own. She clubs down on Bright’s arm and shoulder and then cranks the arm down a couple of times. Bright is then sent into the ropes and she is able to hit Armstrong with a kick and a dropkick. 

Bright tags in Grey awkwardly and they end up double teaming Armstrong well enough to allow Grey to get the advantage with an arm drag and an armbar. Armstrong stands out of it, though, and goes for a hip toss. Grey blocks it and hits another arm drag, transitioning it into an armbar. Grey goes for a cover and gets a one count. Grey then goes for a small package and gets a one count. Grey goes back to the arm and cranks it down hard, bringing Armstrong down to the mat. Grey continues to stretch the arm until she tags Bright back in.

Bright comes in and she hits a double hip toss on Armstrong with Grey. Armstrong kicks out of a pin attempt, but succumbs to another armbar by Bright. Armstrong tries to fight back and finally escapes with a powerslam. Armstrong celebrates instead of tagging out. She drags Bright to the corner and smack talks the camera, saying she’s going to be “the first ever EVOLVE winner.”

A WWE Shop commercial airs.

Back from commercial, Armstrong still has control over Bright. She lays in a hard punch and tags in Palmer. Palmer hits double knees in the corner and then goes for a standing moonsault, but Bright gets her knees up. Both women are slow to get up. Armstrong tags in, as does Grey.

Grey comes in hot and knocks down both of her competitors. She hits a DDT on Armstrong, but smack talks her instead of trying a pin. She hits an overhead throw on Palmer. Grey lifts Armstrong, but Armstrong wiggles out and hits a running powerslam for a two count. Armstrong climbs to the top rope, but Grey slows her progress. Grey climbs up the ropes, as well, as the two women exchange blows. As they do so, Palmer tags herself in. Grey hits a superplex on Armstrong, but immediately eats a splash from the top rope by Palmer. Palmer gets a two count on her pin attempt. 

Bright comes in and flips out of a throw by Armstrong. Bright hits a double knees on Armstrong and they both roll to the outside. Palmer goes after Grey. Palmer goes for a Sliced Bread #2, but Grey flips Palmer overhead. Palmer hits an enzuigiri, though. Grey shakes it off and hits a spear. Armstrong breaks up the pin attempt. Bright jumps on Armstrong’s back and locks on a sleeper. Grey tosses both Armstrong and her partner out of the ring. She turns her attention back to Palmer, but Palmer rolls her up for a two count.

Grey charges Palmer, but Palmer lifts her over the top rope. Armstrong tries to snatch Grey’s leg, but Grey kicks her off. Bright goes after Armstrong and Grey hops down from the apron to help. Palmer climbs to the top rope and hits a corkscrew moonsault onto her partner when Grey and Bright move out of the way. Grey gets back in the ring with Palmer. Grey locks on an armbar and Palmer taps out!

Winners: Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright

Chuey Martinez interviews Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright after their match. Bright is proud of their hard work and is so happy to go down in history as the first EVOLVE winners. Kendal Grey isn’t trying to be a trivia answer, though. She’s doing this so people think of her when they watch EVOLVE. She wants to dominate.

A video package on the history of EVOLVE airs.

Jackson Drake, Brad Baylor, and Ricky Smokes are in the back. Drake can’t believe that Shawn Michaels swiped right on them to be the first ever main event of EVOLVE. Smokes is excited to check out all of the talent (women) outside of the ring, too. Baylor says that they’ve matched with everyone - girlfriends, wives, and moms. Everyone is looking at their next match with Swipe Right.

Luca Crusifino and It’s Gal are in the VIP section.

Sean Legacy, Jack Cartwheel, and Cappuccino Jones are in the back. They have goosebumps over being in the first ever EVOLVE main event. Cartwheel talks about coming a long way to get here. Jones agrees. Legacy says that this is a moment to never forget. It’s time to show everyone why the three of them are super.

A video package for Keanu Carver airs. It focuses on his tough upbringing and how he had to fight everyone to get to this point. He won’t be taking “no” for an answer.

A video package for Trill London airs. It focuses on his time in the NFL, which is nothing compared to what he’s doing now in wrestling. He was bullied a lot as a kid, but he only knows how to be himself. He’s different and you’ll be seeing a lot of stuff from him.

Keanu Carver vs. Trill London

They go for a lock up, but Keanu Carver just grabs Trill London and locks on a chokehold immediately. London is tossed to the ground. Carver stalks him and London tries to fight back, but Carver just clubs London to the ground and then hits a fallaway slam. London tries to fight back again and grabs a side headlock. Carver tosses him off, though, and goes for a clothesline. London ducks, but Carver is able to hit a Pounce. Carver then hits a sky high powerbomb for the win!

Winner: Keanu Carver

Keanu Carver smack talks the camera as It’s Gal poses behind him. As Carver walks off, Peter Rosenberg says he has to find out what’s happening in the VIP Section.

Rosenberg goes over to the VIP section and It’s Gal goes to talk to him, but Peter walks right past him and approaches Luca Crusifino. Crusifino is at EVOLVE as a representative of the D'Angelo Family. Tony D’Angelo runs NXT, but Crusifino runs things on EVOLVE. He’s in EVOLVE to make sure everyone falls in line. He likes the fresh new faces in EVOLVE, but none of them have been in the ring like someone like Crusifino. He’s not worried about anyone. Crusifino is focused on the future. You are either with him or against him. Choose wisely.

A WrestleMania commercial airs.

An EVOLVE commercial airs.

WWE ID Six-Man Showcase: Sean Legacy, Jack Cartwheel, and Cappuccino Jones vs. Brad Baylor, Jackson Drake, and Ricky Smokes

Cappuccino Jones and Ricky Smokes start things off with a lock up. Smokes is quick to go behind and take Jones down. Jones recovers quickly, though, and hits a back body drop. Brad Baylor tagged in during that move and eats a big dropkick. Jackson Drake tags in and confronts Jones, but Jones tags in Sean Legacy.

Legacy is quick to drop Drake and then hits a couple of running strikes, followed by a standing moonsault. Legacy gets a two count on a pin and then tags in Jack Cartwheel. Cartwheel cartwheels out of an attempt and then hits a dropkick. Jones comes in and hits a double dropkick on Drake with Cartwheel. All six men get in the ring and have a face off. 

Jones stays in with Smokes. Smokes gets a little dirty with Jones and then Jones gets distracted by Drake, allowing Swipe Right to get the advantage. Jones is sent to the outside by Smokes, who is targeted by Drake as Baylor and Smokes jaw at Cartwheel and Legacy to distract the referee.

Drake throws Jones back into the ring and Baylor becomes legal, taking the advantage on Jones. Baylor rains down punches on Jones and then tags in Smokes. Smokes whips Baylor into Jones in the corner and Smokes hits a big boot for a two count. Smokes slaps on a chinlock. Jones fights out of it, but Smokes clubs down on him and whips him down onto the mat. Smokes tags in Drake.

Drake hits Jones with an elbow to the back and then clubs down on Jones some more before hitting a fisherman suplex for a two count. Drake tags in Baylor, who drops an elbow down on Jones. Jones is able to hit a jawbreaker, though, but Baylor tags in Smokes. Jones pushes Smokes off, but Drake is able to tag in. Drake goes for an overhead throw, but Jones flips out of it and takes in Cartwheel.

Cartwheel comes in hot and hits a bunch of running strikes on Swipe Right, including a neckbreaker on Baylor and an enzuigiri on Smokes. Cartwheel hits the Tower of Zen and the Slamstand on Drake. Baylor and Smokes pull Drake out of the ring to recover, but Cartwheel, Legacy, and Jones hit a triple dive on Swipe Right.

Back from commercial, Drake lifts Cartwheel up and brings him down on his knees for a two count. Drake snapmares Cartwheel and tags in Smokes. Smokes drops a knee for a two count. Smokes clubs down on Cartwheel’s back and tags in Baylor. Swipe Right hits a double suplex for a two count. Baylor locks on a chinlock, but Cartwheel fights out of it. Cartwheel hits the ropes, but Baylor tackles him down for a two count.

Smokes tags in and Swipe Right hits a double team neckbreaker for a two count. Cartwheel tries to fight back, but Smokes clubs down on his back and then knocks Jones and Legacy off of the apron. Cartwheel is able to hit a swinging DDT and both men are slow to get up. Legacy tags in. 

Legacy comes in hot and drops down Smokes multiple times. Drake comes in and eats a belly-to-back suplex. Baylor comes in and is sent into the corner with Drake. Legacy hits a 619-type move in the corner and then a backflip inverted DDT on Drake. Legacy hits a running kick on Smokes and then lifts him up. Baylor makes the save. Swipe Right hits a double team dropkick. Drake hits a running knee on Legacy and makes the pin. Jones pushes Smokes into the pinfall to break it up.

Drake dumps Jones out of the ring and focuses on Legacy again. He goes for a kick, but Legacy ducks. They exchange blows and knock each other into opposite corners. Jones tags himself in and goes after Drake, hitting the Decaffeinator. Jones climbs to the top rope as Cartwheel hits a Death Valley Driver on Smokes onto Drake. Jones then hits a Froggy Brew Elbow on Drake. Baylor breaks up the pinfall.

Legacy tags in. Baylor tags in. Legacy hits a big boot. Baylor shakes it off and hits a double underhook spinning DDT. Jones hits Shot of Espresso on Drake and Drake answers with a standing Spanish Fly. Cartwheel hits the Whirly Dirly on Drake. Smokes hits a Big Stomp on Cartwheel. Legacy hits a double dropkick on Swipe Right and then Shambles on Baylor for the win!

Winners: Sean Legacy, Cappuccino Jones, and Jack Cartwheel

After the match, Kali Armstrong is at the commentary table. She’s upset. She feels that she didn’t lose earlier. She wants another match.

In the back, Shawn Michaels is talking to NXT General Manager Ava. He hands over the control of EVOLVE to her. She already has ideas for next week. 

What did you think of the debut episode of WWE EVOLVE? Who or what stood out to you? Let me know at matt.tenhoeve@gmail.com. See you next time!

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