EVOLVE Review with PaperclipMike, April 2

Welcome to our weekly EVOLVE on Tubi review, I am your host PaperclipMike. Right now, Evolve is running on all cylinders. Great matches, and a good mix of new and experienced wrestlers, both NXT and WWE ID are interacting more and more (including tonight), and we are even seeing roster members on other brands. Just last night on NXT, NXT tag team champs Fraxion was confronted backstage by WWE ID tag team Swipe Right. Let’s hope the fun continues. The show opens with a rundown of the matches tonight as we go to…

Brinley Reece vs. Zayda Steel

This is Zayda’s in ring debut here on Evolve and she might have one of my favorites places to be billed from. She is billed from “A Place You Can’t Afford, fantastic. I love little touches like that. A quick feeling out process between the ladies as we see Jackson Drake over at the VIP section. We have not seen him since the first episode. 

Zayda with a huge slap to the face of Brinley, who returns it back to her. Interesting move/counter from Brinley. Zayda seemed to be countering a backslide by flipping out of it and Reece sat out with it in a facebuster of sorts. Zayda is able to take over after a series of strikes and a nasty codebreaker with Brinley in the ropes. Reece is able to fight back with a sick shoulder block and an awesome spinebuster where she holds Zayda in the air first for a few moments. Brinley hit a modified Buckshot and went for her finisher, Breeces to Pieces (a TKO). Zayda was able to counter into a roll-up, but Reece kicked out and landed her finisher for the win.

Winner: Brinley Reece

Kylie Rae is backstage, trying to stay calm before her match tonight with Wendy Choo. Zara Zakher comes to try to pep her up and keep her motivated for her match.

Keanu Carver vs. Luca Crusifino

Great start from Luca, using his speed advantage on Cavrer keeping him on his toes, even getting an early two count. That ended when Luca went for a slingshot shoulder block and Carver just straight up caught him and simply punched him in the mouth. At this point, Keanu just powers out several explosive, powerful strikes, with incredible speed of his own from the former D-1 lineman. Luca is able to slowly fight back, even with his lower back in severe pain. He was able to string a few moves together before being obliterated with a Pounce. A running powerslam from Carver gets him the win.

Winner: Keanu Carver

Chantel Monroe vs. Masyn Holiday

Quick testing out period from both ladies before Chantel drops both of Masyn’s arms across the top rope. Chantel continues to work on Masyn’s arm Chantel keeps on her and locks in a cobra clutch. Holiday is able to build some steam a bit. Chantel hits a double knee arm breaker and roll up with the tights for the win.

Winner: Chantel Monroe

Chuey Martinez is ringside for an interview with the winner. Still not feeling Chuey, for someone there to do ringside interviews, he seems to be playing to the crowd too much, more so than the wrestlers sometimes. Chantel says she is hearing rumors of an Evolve women’s title and she feels that she should be in the conversation for it.

We go to a sit down between Dani Palmer and Kali Armstrong. Dani talks about admitting she made a mistake about their loss as a team in the first episode. Kali rebuttals with great moments about the ‘fake inspiration’ and this quickly broke down before their match next week. Kali looked really good in the segment and was comfortable with what she was saying.

Joe Coffey vs. Harlem Lewis

Just starting with both men just trading bombs. Lewis was able to catch a leaping Coffey and even manage a lariat to the back of the head. Harlem is all over him, keeping the pressure on, very impressive from the rookie. Eventually, Joe is able to dig deep and use his brawling skills to get back on top. Both men spill outside after grappling Joe goes for his knockout punch but hits the ring post with a loud clang. Somehow he manages to get back in and roll up Lewis after a headbutt for a near fall. Lewis stomps on the hand and hits a jackhammer for the upset win.

Winner: Harlem Lewis

Wendy Choo vs. Kylie Rae

Kylie is absolutely petrified about Wendy. Wendy is insanely crazy, I love stuff like this. In what seems to be an Evolve trademark, both ladies go hard at the start showing their skillset, but Wendy retaliates by snapping Kylie’s back across the top rope to take control. Wendy continues to focus on Kylie’s neck and head. Kylei manages to fight back and land a huge cannonball in the corner for a near fall. She also dodges a full nelson and lands another rollup. However, Wendy answers with a high german suplex. Kylie lands a Skydae special but Wendy sits up and eats a superkick. Kylie locks in her crossface, but Wendy counters it into a roll up. Wendy then is able to hit a full nelson slam and her cobra clutch finisher, causing ref stoppage as Kylie passes out. 

Winner: Wendy Choo

Great shot to end the show as Wendy tosses her blanket over the camera, going to black.

Once again, strong showing from Evolve. After about a month and half. We are slowly seeing who are the top men and women in the show. Also while there are plenty of characters on the show, alot of stuff is shown in the ring and not a lot of fantastical goings on. This actually reminds me of very, very early NXT v 1.0. If Evolve stays this way, it could be a great alternative.

As always, thank you everyone for reading. You can find me on most socials as PaperclipMike. See you all next week!