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Let me begin by offering a huge round of congratulations to WWE and the women's division for this absolutely historic pay-per-view event, WWE Evolution. The women have scratched and clawed their way right to the top and they finally had their very own event. In my honest opinion, I thought that the women delivered and then some. Let's have a look at what I liked and what I did not, readers!
Firstly, I would like to say that I thought the show had far more positives than negatives. It was just the right length and did not drag on for too long. I thought that the women took the opportunity they were given and put on a show to remember.
In my opinion, Evolution was one of the better shows of the whole year. I don't think I've enjoyed a WWE main roster pay-per-view this much in quite some time.
Here is my analysis of the event, as a whole.
#1 Best: The real main event
The Four Horsewomen were responsible for bringing women's wrestling to the forefront. And two of the four horsewomen proved why at Evolution. The two women put on the most physical women's match I remember seeing in the WWE main roster, by a long shot. Despite the referee's oddly slow counts, this match was pretty fantastic indeed.
It certainly did help that the crowd was hot for the entirety of the contest. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair unleashed chairs, tables and ladders for a gruelling and destructive last woman standing match, that will be remembered for a long time to come, I believe. Take a bow, you two.
I wonder if the Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair feud will end after this. I certainly wouldn't mind a match or two of this calibre, quite honestly.
#1 Worst: Alicia Fox
Days before Trish Stratus and Lita were supposed to take on Alexa Bliss and Mickie James, we were informed that Bliss would not be a part of the dream match. In my mind, it was a match built around Trish Stratus and Alexa Bliss, two women that mirror each other in a lot of ways. Alicia Fox was announced as the replacement for Bliss. Honestly, she did not cut it at all.
And I'm not just referring to the botch that she made in the ring. Alicia Fox did not make it to the ring in time to break up a three count, and this was noticeable to everyone, resulting in a very awkward moment. The result was easy to predict because Bliss wasn't a part of the proceedings.
Trish and Lita were great. As was Mickie James, who carried the whole match.
Fox is nowhere as good.
#2 Best: The title change
Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler have wrestled on various occasions in the past. Each time, their matches have been absolute show stealers. They competed for the NXT Women's Championship in a historic first for a main roster pay-per-view event. Kairi Sane was the star of the show, selling her arm and then the Kirifuda Clutch.
With a little bit of help from her fellow Horsewomen, Baszler is your brand new NXT Women's Champion, once again. I wonder if the two women will clash at TakeOver for the women's Championship, going forward as well. Their story seems far from done!
I wonder who will step up to Shayna Baszler next from NXT, because the division is absolutely stacked right now. Everyone from Bianca Belair to Dakota Kai to Toni Storm could rise to the challenge soon.
#2 Worst: Anticlimatic main event
Ronda Rousey and Nikki Bella came on when we were still recovering from the spectacle that was Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch. The two SmackDown Live superstars gave it their all and then some, putting on an absolute clinic. Rousey and Bella's match just seemed very 'meh' in comparison.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the match per se. It's just that the match played out exactly like we would have assumed it would play out, with Rousey appearing as the dominant champion, picking up an easy victory. My favourite part of the match was when Rousey picked both Bellas up on her shoulders and dropped them to the mat, at once.
Other than that this match was nothing to write home about, really. I thought it was an anticlimax after a pretty good show.
#3 Best: Storyline arcs come full circle
I liked how Evolution was rewarding to fans of women's wrestling, because so many storylines came full circle. The crowd was in on the little nuances, which made it even better. Trish Stratus and Mickie James faced off for the first time since their historic WrestleMania match, that put the women's division on the map. It was a great moment for long time fans.
I loved the fact that Ember Moon and Asuka met in the middle of the ring as well. This is a storyline that goes all the way back to NXT. Ember Moon eliminated Asuka and brought the storyline of her redemption full circle. Fans went crazy when this happened, chanting 'NXT' in unison.
Even Io Shirai and Toni Storm have a rivalry that stretches all the way back to the independents. Imagine the culmination of the feud on such a big stage as Evolution.
#3 Worst: The 6-woman tag
Don't get me wrong, readers. I thought Sasha Banks, Bayley, Natalya and The Riott Squad did the best with what they were given. I just felt that in a pay-per-view event with so much historical significance, this was just a weird throwaway match. A match with no stakes that could have happened on RAW.
What made this match even worse in my eyes was the botch from Sasha Banks. Banks is a great wrestler and one of the best workers in the whole division. It's just when she tries to fly that she messes things up and leaves a black mark on an otherwise flawless performance.
Two of the Four Horsewomen got to be part of a great match that will be talked about for a long time to come. The other two were part of a meaningless match that will be forgotten by RAW this week.
#4 Best/worst: Nia Jax's win
Many women from the past and present competed in the Battle Royal. Nia Jax stood victorious when all was said and done. She will now go up against Ronda Rousey for the prestigious RAW Women's Championship. This is a match that should be a big ticket affair.
However, I can't help but think this match would have been a great opportunity to launch Ember Moon and make her a top tier superstar. Maybe even have Asuka win the Battle Royal and reclaim her place at the top of SmackDown Live. Nia Jax is great and supremely talented but it felt like she did not really need the win.
That said, Nia Jax has worked her way up and earned her spot at the top of the division. I'm curious to see how her rivalry with Ronda Rousey does play out.
Also, can we have some tears for The Goddess, who missed out on a great opportunity?
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