What the Evolve talent lacks in experience they certainly make up for in raw talent. The first episode was a fun ride and distraction sort of like 205 Live was in the day. The atmosphere is a true indie event with fans standing around the ring. There were perhaps about 60 or so people. The vibe is current day NWA or Mid-Atlantic Wrestling.
Since we haven’t seen much of the ID talent populating the show there are factoids that pop up to remind us of the talent’s real world, previous achievements and their identity. It is a great idea as it really helps the viewers get to know and identify the talent.
Peter Rosenberg and Robert Stone are also surprisingly decent on commentary. Stone is very authoritative and Rosenberg is far more reserved than he has been on those WWE pre-shows. I like this Rosenberg much better.
To start off the show SVP of Talent Development, Shawn Michaels greets a gathering of newcomers with NXT’s GM Ava at his side.
He reminds them that they are about to make history.
“You are going to show the world where wrestling evolves,” he says.
He calls Ava “The Mayor of Evolve” but he is going to make the matches tonight.
It will be Sean Legacy, Jack Cartwheel and Cappuccino Jones versus Brad Baylor, Jackson Drake and Ricky Smokes in the main event.
The first match ever though will be Kali Armstrong and Danny Palmer versus Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright.
Kali Armstrong and Danny Palmer versus Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright
I haven’t been a fan of Carlee Bright on NXT but perhaps she can change my mind here. Bright carries most of the match. Probably because she has more experience than the others. Armstrong puts Greay on the top rope and pats her head. Danny Palmer isn’t wearing wrestling gear. Instead, she has a t-shirt and jean shorts. She wraps up Bright with her mat wrestling. Palmer does this little leaping, roll-up, pin maneuver which is cool. Palmer even handsprings out of a hurricanrana. Armstrong uses her power to pound and ground Bright.
Bright tags in Grey who is hesitant to tag in, for some reason. I guess they are just aren’t supposed to be a well-oiled machine? Dunno. Grey takes Armstrong down with an arm bar and takes the time to pat her head. Grey’s technique reminds of Kurt Angle or The Steiner Brothers, sorta. Grey focuses on the arm, works on that arm.
Armstrong drags Bright right up to the cameras.
“I am different and I am proving it right now! Because Kali Armstrong is going to be the first Evolve winner,” she shouts.
Armstrong continues to take it to Bright who is down and dazed.
Kendal Grey is hot tagged in. She mows down both Armstrong and Palmer. She does some trash talking which she is at it too. She is on fire! While she is on the apron Grey kicks Armstrong who is on the floor. Grey joins Bright in double-teaming Armstrong. Palmer leaps off the top rope with a corkscrew moonsault onto everyone on the floor…including her own partner. Armstrong is in Dreamland. Grey makes Palmer tag out to an arm bar submission. The standout for me were Armstrong and Grey. Armstrong has the look and power while Grey is incredibly technically talented and has a lot of passion.
Winners: Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright
Brad Baylor, Jackson Drake and Ricky Smokes cut a promo backstage. They are calling themselves “Swipe Right”. Drake cannot believe they get to be in Evolve’s first ever main event. Baylor believes it is because HBK sees a bit of himself in all three of them. Smokes is more concerned with “Checking out all the talent outside the ring.” Drake: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Business first and pleasure later.”
We see Luca Crusifino and It’s Gal are sitting in the VIP section.
Sean Legacy, Jack Cartwheel and Cappuccino Jones do their promo. Legacy has goosebumps just thinking about their match. Cartwheel says he and Jones met at an indie show in a barn. They have done a lot of cartwheels and downed a lot of cappuccinos to get here. Jones: “Things has been brewing for a moment but the pot is hot.” Okay, the coffee references may be cheesy but that is part of this dude’s charm.
Keanu Carver vs Trill London
They call Carver…’Not the man you wrestle but the man you survive’. Carver cuts a promo. He grew up throwing hands on the concrete. His father as in and out of jail. He took on the entire hood if he had to in the past. Carver is a beast, for sure.
Trill London talks about being in the NFL. He was a former Dolphin quarterback. He wears a Jason-like hockey mask. He claims to have been bullied for his “skin tone” to the outfits he wears. He feels people don’t really understand him but he does things his way. He is obsessed with horror movies, which is why the hockey mask. He left the NFL to pursue WWE and idolizes Jeff Hardy.
Carver muscles London around. A haymaker sends London to the ground. Carver heaves London in a fallaway slam. A pounces sends London flying. A sky high powerbomb pins London in no time flat. I want to see more of both men after this.
Winner: Keanu Carver
Sean Legacy, Jack Cartwheel and Cappuccino Jones versus Brad Baylor, Jackson Drake and Ricky Smokes
The crowd starts chanting “Swipe Left!” in response to the heels.
Jones sends Smokes half-way across the ring with a backdrop. He leap frogs over Drake twice then drop kicks him in the face. Legacy, a bodybuilder, just picks up Drake slamming him hard to the mat. Cartwheel moves so fast with his flips and turns Drake cannot keep up. Things break down with all six men in the ring.
Jones finds himself in trouble on the floor and back in the ring. Swipe Right mauls him.
Legacy head butts Drake hard. Jones hits a Decaffeinator neck breaker and an impressive frog splash elbow drop. Baylor though breaks up the pin. Legacy gets the win with a slamming neckbreak thingy. Although Legacy, Cartwheel stood out it was Cappuccino Jones that was the star of the match. There is just something about this kid and the energy he gives off.
Winners: Sean Legacy, Jack Cartwheel and Cappuccino Jones
Michaels is shown talking to Ava backstage. He is now turning over the reins to her. Ava has some great ideas for the future.
