WWE Evolution 2018 Report Card

Evolution 2018 took place last Sunday night on October 28, 2018, and was a huge success. The Raw Women's Championship, the SmackDown Women's Championship, and the NXT Women's Championship were all defended.

The match card featured Ronda Rousey vs Nikki Bella for the Raw Women's Championship, Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown Women's Championship in a Last Women's Standing Match, Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship, Io Shirai vs Toni Storm in the finals of the Mae Young Classic.

The card also included Alicia Fox and Mickie James against Trish Stratus and Lita in a tag team match, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Natalya against the Riott Squad, and a #1 contenders battle royal.

#7 Alicia Fox & Mickie James vs Lita & Trish Stratus

This famous rivalry between Mickie James & Trish Stratus was rekindled at Evolution in a tag team form.

Result: Lita & Trish defeated Alicia Fox & Mickie James via pinfall when Trish Stratus pinned Mickie James with a Chick Kick.

Grade: B

Analysis: This match was a great match to open the show. It was great that the first thing that the crowd heard was Trish Stratus’s entrance music. The match was pretty solid. For 2 women that have not had singles matches in years, Trish Stratus & Lita looked great.

It was great to see Trish Stratus & Mickie James reignite their old rivalry. Mickie James was great as she helped to hold the entire match together. The only woman that wasn’t really on their game that night was Alicia Fox.

She was late in breaking up the pin and the entire crowd noticed it. That did not stop the match from being a great contest. It is unfortunate that Mickie James was the one that had to be pinned in this matchup but she will not be hurt by this loss as Trish Stratus was able to get retribution after Mickie James beat her several years ago at WrestleMania.

It will be interesting to see if Trish Stratus and Lita stick around after that as others can certainly benefit from competing against them. They can also possibly compete for the potential Women’s Tag Team Titles in the future.

#6 20 Women Battle Royal

Some of WWE's top female stars competed in this battle royal.

Result: Nia Jax gets the victory by last eliminating Ember Moon.

Grade: A-

Analysis: This was one of the best battle royals on the main roster in recent history. The IIconics were wonderfully over in front of the crowd and they honestly didn’t deserve to be the first two eliminated.

At the very least, they were protected since they were eliminated by the rest of the field. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville looked great as well as they were able to use their excellent teamwork to eliminate multiple legends including Molly Holly, Kelly Kelly, and Torrie Wilson.

It will be interesting if we see a feud between Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose since Mandy Rose eliminated Sonya Deville from the battle royal from behind. It was great that the legends didn’t last so long in the match because it was much more important that WWE’s current superstars were showcased.

Carmella and Ivory’s dance break was hilarious. It was also great to see the face-off between Tamina and Nia Jax. It will be interesting to see them as both a team and against each other as a rivalry. It was interesting to see Tamina eliminate Naomi as Naomi was a favorite to win the match.

Asuka looked great as she looked great as she eliminated the likes of Ivory. It is great that WWE promoted the Ember Moon/Asuka rivalry as one of the all great rivalries of the women’s division.

It is great that Ember Moon finally got the chance to get retribution against Asuka. Ember Moon looked great as she was able to eliminate 5 people including the powerful Tamina and Asuka.

It was also a nice tease that Zelina Vega could win the match after hiding under the ring. Ember Moon honestly should’ve gotten the win. It will be cool to see Nia Jax vs Ronda Rousey again as they had a good match at Money in the Bank.

However, Ember Moon vs Ronda Rousey arguably would’ve been a better and more fresh match.

At the very least, Ember Moon has finally gotten the crowd behind her which can get her some momentum in the future.

#5 Mae Young Classic Finals: Io Shirai vs Toni Storm

This was the biggest match of both superstars career.

Result: Toni Storm defeated Io Shirai via pinfall with Storm Zero.

Grade: A-

Analysis: This was a great match. While it was not the best match of the Mae Young Classic (which is understandable because the match could have used some more time), it was still a pretty good match.

Io Shirai showed that she truly is the Genius of the Sky. Her move set was beautiful with the springboard dropkick to the outside and the diving moonsault plancha being the best of them all.

Toni Storm looked great as well. The Snap German Suplex on the apron looked brutal! It was nice to see Toni Storm redeem herself as she has a lot of potential.

Both of these wrestlers will shine on NXT and NXT UK and are both future women's champions.

#4 Bayley, Natalya, & Sasha Banks vs The Riott Squad

All 6 women brought their A-game.

Result: Bayley, Natalya, & Sasha Banks defeated The Riott Squad via pinfall when Sasha Banks pinned Liv Morgan with a Frog Splash.

Grade: A-

Analysis: This match seemed like it would just be a throwaway bout that meant nothing. While it might not mean anything in the future, these 6 women made sure that the crowd wouldn’t see it as a throwaway bout.

All 6 of these competitors brought their A-game. Natalya & Bayley did great as the faces in peril. When Sasha Banks eventually got in the match, she was like a house of fire.

Sasha Banks has arguably done more for the women’s revolution than anybody else on the main roster. The Riott Squad did great as well.

They performed excellent tandem offense and seemed like a true team. These 6 women stole the show and proved the potential value of women’s tag team titles.

#3 NXT Women's Championship: Kairi Sane (c.) vs Shayna Baszler

This was a rematch from the 2017 Mae Young Classic Finals.

Result: Shayna Baszler defeated Kairi Sane via knockout with the Kirafuda Clutch after Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke interfered.

Grade: B+

Analysis: This was a pretty good match. While it wasn’t as good as other matches in the show, it was still pretty great. These two have a lot of chemistry so they have gotten to the point in their career where it seems like no one can stop them.

It can be assumed that these two women will finish their rivalry at NXT Takeover: War Games 2 before Kairi Sane presumably goes to the main roster. Shayna Baszler looks more dangerous than ever now that she has backup.

Whoever does defeat Shayna Baszler will benefit immensely from it whether it is Candice LeRae, Deonna Purrazzo, Io Shirai, or even Mia Yim.

#2 Last Women's Standing SmackDown Women's Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c.) vs Charlotte Flair

This rivalry was finally settled.

Result: Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte Flair after powerbombing her through a table.

Grade: A+

Analysis: What a match!!! This match definitely should have been the main event as these two women stole the show. This match is arguably the best main roster match of the year so far. It was a brutal violent match with insane non-finishes.

These women used chairs, kendo sticks, tables, and even ladders to create a violent, brutal brawl. Charlotte Flair looked determine and every single time Becky Lynch hit her with an insane move, Charlotte Flair got right back up.

It was the right move to have Becky Lynch get the win. As champion, she can move onto feuds with Naomi & Asuka. However, if they want to continue with this feud then Lynch should turn face while Flair turns heel.

#1 Raw Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey (c.) vs Nikki Bella (w./Brie Bella)

Ronda & Nikki had a pretty good match.

Result: Ronda Rousey defeated Nikki Bella via submission with an Armbar.

Grade: B+

Analysis: This was much better than it looked like it would be. Even though this match had no business in being the main event, it was good as the two had the unenviable task of trying to follow that amazing Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair match.

Nikki Bella proved once again that she is actually a really good performer. The periods of time where Nikki Bella had control over Ronda Rousey looked more realistic than it could have been as Nikki Bella only had control when Brie Bella interfered.

When Nikki Bella hit the Alabama Slam and the Rack Attack 2.0, it really seemed like she would get the pin. Ronda Rousey looked great as well as she was able to neutralize both members of the Bella Twins.

The finish of the match looked amazing as well. Due to Nikki Bella's interview after the match, it can be assumed that we won't see the Bella Twins again until the 2019 women's Royal Rumble match. Ronda Rousey will move on to Becky Lynch at Survivor Series and Nia Jax after that.