Brackets are filling WWE programming like it’s March Madness, as eliminator matches will decide who challenges the NXT Women’s Champion at Evolution on July 13. NXT’s newest signee Blake Monroe, formerly known as Mariah May, begins above the brackets though, headlining tonight’s episode with a contract signing into the roster.
Jaida Parker vs Thea Hail – Evolution Eliminator Match
Hail jumpstarts the first of four qualifying matches for next week’s fatal four-way. Booker T claims losing Chase University was “the best thing” for Hail, but the loss of personality is much starker next to Parker. Orlando gets behind “Miss Parker,” who controls through picture-in-picture until Hail applies the Kimura Lock. Parker taps, but the referee doesn’t see it, allowing her to capitalize with Hipnotic for the victory. Orlando celebrates the stolen win, but it’s hard not to with Parker.
Winner: Jaida Parker
Josh Briggs shares his excitement with partners Yoshiki Inamura and Elijah, who get their hands on First Class and TNA Champion Trick Williams tonight. NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker and Tank Ledger gift them a future title match and congratulate NXT Champion Oba Femi on his win against Jasper Troy. Williams walks in, and Femi has his money on the faces. “Well, you’re gonna be one broke ruler then,” Williams says.
A vintage vignette for Blake Monroe follows the new NXT signee from her walk-in closet to her car, enroute to the Performance Center. She signs her NXT contract later tonight.
Kehlani Jordan vs Lash Legend – Evolution Eliminator Match
Jordan’s Michigan State gymnastics background comes through, and she lands an outside moonsault before break. Legend counters the athleticism with power, and what she lacks in-ring, she backs up with charisma. Jordan reverses a second-rope back suplex with a splash, but Legend gets her knees up on a 450 splash. Legend hits her finisher for the victory – probably her biggest in singles action.
Winner: Lash Legend
A package recaps the D’Angelo Family melodrama of the last two months. After break, Tony D’Angelo enters the ring and calls out Luca Crusifino, who insists he hasn’t been lying about his encounter with “Stacks.” The latter appears with three Italians, who D’Angelo and Crusifino take out together. Crusifino inadvertently punches D’Angelo, and “Stacks” retreats with a smirk. Between “Stack’s” balked punches and Crusifino’s monologue, this reads like community theatre.
AJ Francis tells Williams that KC Navarro is unable to compete tonight. But taking his place is The High Ryze’s Wes Lee, who puts their differences aside. “My bad,” Williams says.
Chase University is back in session – in the middle of June. Kale Dixon keeps raising his hand, leading to a signature Andre Chase curse-out. Dixon and Uriah Connors walk out of class, and Booker T adds that “nobody likes this guy!”
Ethan Page and The Vanity Project chuckle about Ricky Saints’ larynx injury. Saints steps in, Evolve Champion Jaxson Drake steps up, and Ashante “Thee” Adonis tells the former to chill out.
Wren Sinclair admits to Tavion Heights and Je’Von Evans that she didn’t smooth out No Quarter Catch Crew’s break with Charlie Dempsey. Evans then congratulates Jasper Troy for holding his own against Femi, and Dempsey offers to let Heights go if he beats the former. “Charlie, you need a hug for real,” Evans says.
Elijah, Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura vs AJ Francis, Wes Lee and Trick Williams
Elijah sings his way out, transporting everyone back to 2017. Booker T is there too, calling Francis a “certified G and a bonafide stud.” Elijah has springboards in his arsenal now, and his partners catch Lee’s tope attempt. Francis threatens to flop over the ropes again, but Elijah connects with a top-rope elbow before break. Inamura hosses up, and his partners make consecutive comebacks – although Briggs misses a crossbody. Action breaks loose, Lee inadvertently dives onto Williams, and Inamura pins the TNA Champion with a top-rope splash.
Winners: Elijah, Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura
D’Angelo and Crusifino argue their way into Ava’s office. “Stacks” is revealed to have a Heritage Cup Championship match next week, which his unknown consigliere signed off on. D’Angelo accuses Ava of working with him. “What is wrong with you?” Crusifino says.
Zaria vs Izzi Dame – Evolution Eliminator Match
Before break, Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and Zaria are snuck up on by Tatum Paxley, carrying a bare-naked doll. Commentary waffles about Za-Ruca’s TikTok posts while Zaria hangs Dame with a second-rope choke. Dame comes back with a hard chokeslam, Paxley appears behind Ruca ringside, and Dame capitalizes with a slam on Zaria for three.
Winner: Izzi Dame
Briggs hypes up Inamura for defeating the TNA Champion, and the latter offers up his title match. Inamura wants the NXT Championship, standing next to proposed TNA Champion Briggs.
Lola Vice vs Jordynne Grace – Evolution Eliminator Match
“Fire def rebel” chants start after Grace gets def rebel’d. Vice applies some stank on a hip attack before break, and she continues catching Grace in submission moves. She gains a near-fall on a tornado kick, but Grace reverses momentum with a hook suplex and Beast Mode for three.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
Zaria berates Paxley for interfering, and Dame reiterates that they aren’t her friends. Dame says she’d include Paxley in her TikToks, and meanwhile, the new NXT signee walks past them for her main event segment.
Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar restores honor to the trophy in a vignette. The four-time champion of over 800 days saved everyone from Lexis King’s rule.
Ava welcomes “The Glamour” Blake Monroe in-ring to a standing ovation. “It’s no secret that WWE has always been my dream,” Monroe says after reiterating NXT as the world’s best women’s division. Fatal Influence interrupt after Monroe signs her contract, accusing Ava of sucking up. Monroe delivers a right hand to NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, but the latter and Fallon Henley send the newcomer through the table.
