[Tessitore] We're coming to you live from Atlanta
as this power-packed WWE weekend continues.
And it does so with one of the most anticipated
fully-loaded cards we've seen in some time.
Welcome to Evolution.
State Farm Arena here in Hotlanta.
A sports town living up to its name with the fired up crowd
ready to support the best women in the industry,
an unprecedented crop of talent all together for an incredibly special night.
Legends of the ring have been arriving, including Bayley,
passionately chasing the Intercontinental Championship.
Tonight she gets exactly what she wants, her chief rivals in a Triple Threat.
Lyra Valkyria has made it here.
She was the inaugural winner of this new championship,
Now, once again, set to be face-to-face with her fellow Irish friend turned foe.
The Man is all about it.
The incomparable Becky Lynch.
She defends the IC championship in a Triple Threat against Bayley and Lyra
right here at Evolution.
Plus, the clock has struck Tiffy Time in the ATL.
Tiffany Stratton is defending her WWE Women's championship.
She said this is about looking to the future, not the past.
Well, the past is now very dangerous and present with a capable living legend.
The Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is out to make history.
Can the seven-time world champion make it a great eight?
And the confidently dynamic Iyo Sky has arrived.
She had her signature performance at WrestleMania to take the title.
Now it's time for an encore at Evolution.
But these crowd here know Mami's always on top.
A fiercely determined Rhea Ripley. Shredded and ready.
With everything she's done, she's never defeated Iyo Sky.
Is tonight the night that changes? We find out.
A historic night of action at Evolution.
["Rise" playing]
[Ripley] I only want one thing,
my Women's World Championship.
[Stratus] I have to rescue that championship
from two massive disappointments.
Jade, I strongly advise you
to proceed with caution.
[Stratton] This isn't gonna be easy. It's not the attitude era anymore.
[presenter] And now,
WWE presents Evolution.
[Tessitore] State Farm Arena is hyped for months now.
We've watch the past championships take wild twists and turns,
and tonight so many of those paths come to a fork in the road.
Good evening, everybody. Thrilled to be with you.
Joe Tessitore here in Atlanta with this great crowd ready to roar
as we welcome you to Evolution.
And tonight we celebrate a group of elite athletes
who have earned this spotlight event.
We are far removed from the Women's Division just breaking through.
What we have here tonight at Evolution with this big crowd
is now the industry norm.
Proven true living legends, rising stars, compelling storylines,
because of what they have accomplished.
Now let's bring out my co-host for the evening.
There are few who have had a bigger impact
on the literal evolution of the Women's Division.
Nights like this just wouldn't have happened without her.
["Welcome to the Queendom" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Taylor] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
Stephanie McMahon!
Ah, what a reception.
What a night for Stephanie McMahon to come out here for Evolution.
I can only imagine what this PLA especially, means to you.
You reflect on the Women's Division, Steph.
What is your take on where things are right now
with the depth and quality we're seeing?
Well, I have to say,
the very first Evolution, you know, we all had so much to prove.
We had to prove that we belonged. We had to prove that we could have our own PLE.
That we could have our own show. That you would all show up.
That you would all watch.
And here we are today, seven years later
where our women are just regularly main eventing.
The depth of the roster and at the performance center in NXT is unbelievable.
The athleticism that I think we all see on display every week.
The Great American Bash that happened yesterday afternoon.
I mean, I think the main roster has a lot cut out for them.
They better watch their backs.
And tonight get ready to be inspired
because we get to do it all over again.
You and I have been talking all week long
as to how excited we are for this loaded card, to be able to host it.
-Let's get into tonight just a little bit. -Okay.
Because, obviously, we've got championship matchups.
We also have one particular rivalry that's been boiling over.
But I'm curious, for you personally, Steph,
the match that you're finding yourself drawn to, what intrigues you here?
Oh, they're all so intriguing. I mean, it's really so hard to pick one.
But if you're gonna force my hand,
I would have to say Jade Cargill versus Naomi in the No Holds Barred match.
I mean, did you see what happened at Saturday Night's Main Event?
Because that was a fight, and we're gonna see a fight tonight.
And the only person who could keep it under control
is Bianca Belair as the special guest referee.
I can't wait.
I think this place is gonna explode
when the EST comes out in that ref uniform here.
Hey, let's get to the folks who are gonna be calling all this great action.
Evolution has arrived.
The great Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.
Thanks a lot, Joe. Thanks, Stephanie.
2015, Stephanie McMahon sat in the middle of that ring
and she ushered in what she called then the Women's Revolution.
She brought Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch and also Sasha Banks to the ring,
to, well, it would move into what would be called an Evolution after that night.
And it was a long time ago for Michael Cole,
but those of us young enough to remember biology class,
evolution never ends.
It just keeps on refining, keeps on improving.
And the women of WWE are gonna show the world that tonight.
Let's get things started with a Triple Threat match.
[crowd cheering]
["Role Model" playing]
[bell dings]
[Taylor] The following is a Triple Threat match.
And it is for
the Women's Intercontinental Championship!
Introducing the challengers.
First, from San Jose, California,
Bayley!
[Cole] You know, Wade, I mentioned three of the Four Horsewomen
a couple of moments ago.
Bayley is the fourth of that group,
and she still has a chip on her shoulder to this day
that she was not brought up at the same time
as the three women I mentioned just a few minutes ago.
Bayley has turned that into an unbelievable career.
[Barrett] Yeah, she's had an A-plus-plus career,
future Hall of Famer, as we always tell you about Bayley.
And even the wording of your statement just then,
Bayley is the fourth of the Four Horsewomen.
To me that is completely wrong.
This is a woman who has proved it time and time again
and may well add one more piece of silverware to the cabinet tonight.
[Cole] Yeah, a tremendous resume that will lead her to the Hall of Fame one day.
A four time World Champion, an NXT Champion, two time Tag Team Champion,
Ms. Money in the Bank, Royal Rumble winner.
Bayley's done it all, except win the Intercontinental Championship.
[crowd cheering]
-["Triumph" playing] -[audience cheering in rhythm]
-[Cole cheering] -[Barrett] Oh, stop.
[Cole, audience cheering]
[Cole] The wings are out tonight.
[Taylor] Next, from Dublin, Ireland,
Lyra Valkyria!
[Cole] Lyra Valkyria, who says she feels alive when she flies,
channeling the Irish god of war, Morrigan,
who decides who lives and who dies on the battlefield.
And for tonight for Lyra Valkyria, the inaugural Intercontinental Champion,
it is about belonging.
She's heard a lot over the past few weeks
that she doesn't deserve to be on the same stage as Becky Lynch and Bayley,
but damn it, she's here tonight.
[Barrett] Yeah, well, bell to bell, in ring. Lyra Valkyria is as good as anyone.
And she has been for the past couple of years, to be fair,
but it's really the personality shift over the past several months.
It's that growth from, really a girl in this industry to a woman.
And it was the stabbing in the back by the Intercontinental Champion, Becky Lynch
that really peeled a new layer off of Lyra Valkyria.
She means business now and she isn't taking a back seat to nobody,
not Bayley and certainly not Becky Lynch.
[Cole] She understands it's hard to trust anyone in WWE.
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[Taylor] And her opponent, from Dublin, Ireland,
she is the Women's Intercontinental Champion,
The Man,
Becky Lynch!
[Cole] And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention our great ring announcer
here tonight at Evolution. None other than another trailblazer, Alicia Taylor.
But turning back to Becky Lynch. In the first Evolution back in 2018, Wade,
she had a Last Woman Standing match where she beat Charlotte.
It has been called one of the greatest matches of all time in WWE.
And many believe that was really the turning point in this entire Evolution.
[Barrett] Yeah, undoubtedly
Becky Lynch absolutely unparalleled when it comes to star appeal.
And then this whole Women's Revolution,
perhaps she was the first woman of them all in the locker room to get her name,
her star value on a par with the very top men of this industry.
That's why she is The Man,
that's why she is the champ,
and that's why she is box office wherever she goes.
-A big time bet. -[Cole] Big.
[Cole] A box office response from the thousands of WWE crowd here tonight
for the seven-time World Champion.
Won an NXT title, a Tag Team Championship on a couple of occasions.
The Royal Rumble as well.
And that's what it's all about,
the Intercontinental Championship that Lyra Valkyria won back earlier this year
to become the inaugural champion.
Becky Lynch would go on to attack Bayley, costing Bayley a match at WrestleMania.
-Then turned her back on Lyra Valkyria. -[bell dings]
And for Becky Lynch, it's about defending the title tonight,
the Intercontinental Championship, defending a Triple Threat match
for the first time ever.
They're on their feet in Atlanta.
And again, Triple Threat rules.
First woman to gain pinfall or submission becomes the intercontinental Champion.
And just like that, Bayley makes sure it starts off one-on-one with Becky Lynch.
[Barrett] Inexperience there from Lyra Valkyria, costing her right off the bat.
Do not take your eyes off either of your opponents in a Triple Threat.
Despite the fact that perhaps you hate Becky more than you do Bayley.
[Cole] Becky Lynch owns a six and three record against Bayley in their career.
Becky has a losing record, however, when it comes to Lyra Valkyria.
Oh, and a nice back suplex by Bayley, who's taken over early in this matchup.
Let's talk about what Bayley needs to do. Oh, and Lyra from behind.
What does she need to do to win the title? I guess…
Remember there's another person in the match.
[Barrett] Yeah, forget the question. I was so taken by Lyra Valkyria.
You're asking me about what does Bayley have to do?
[Cole] Yes, indeed.
[Barrett] Bayley has to solely focus her talents
on eliminating one of these women out of the way
so she can focus exclusively…
Or perhaps Lyra Valkyria. Here we go.
[Cole] And in her fall, kick out at one by Valkyria.
[Barrett] Smartest thing you can do, get one opponent to the floor, drop them.
-Make this a one-on-one matchup. -[Cole] Backslide.
[Barrett] And right now with Big Time Beck… Oh, temporarily down.
That was the opportunity and it's gone,
[Cole] And Becky looking to pin both of these women.
Remember we ended up in this Triple Threat situation
with a double pin a number of weeks ago between Lyra and Bayley.
Now on Becky, and a kick out by the Champ.
And now Lyra Valkyria perhaps looking for Night Wing.
And she hit that on both these women this past Monday.
[Barrett] Becky Lynch taking a knee to the temple,
then being used as a weapon by Lyra Valkyria.
[Cole] And Valkyria off the ropes and swung into Bayley.
[Barrett] So difficult to get any form of momentum this early in the match, but…
[Cole] Crossbody lateral press and a kick out at two by The Man.
[Barrett] Valkyria perhaps finally getting a foothold
and months of frustration, rage and anger outpouring out of the young Dubliner.
[Cole] The official in this matchup, Daphanie LaShaunn, down for the count.
Shoulders down and a kick out at two.
Remember Lyra Valkyria beat Becky Lynch for the NXT Women's Title.
[Barrett] Ancient history, Michael Cole.
That was back when no one really knew about Valkyria.
Now word is out and nobody is taking Valkyria lightly
and moves like this are part of the reason why.
[Cole] Lyra Valkyria torturing Becky Lynch,
making Becky pay and Bayley gonna break things up with a big boot.
[Barrett] Got a little too carried away with a nice submission hold there.
Take your eye off Bayley, leave yourself defenseless.
And now one-on-one again.
[Cole] Up over the top goes Lyra, she'll roll through.
A nice drop kick. Into the corner goes Bayley.
[Barrett] That was an ugly landing for Bayley,
her head and neck snapping back off that bottom turnbuckle.
[Cole] One thing I've noticed is the maturation of Lyra Valkyria.
The growth she's shown in the last number of months,
the support from the WWE crowd.
And now Valkyria. Uh-oh.
Caught by Bayley and Becky, who worked together momentarily.
And now Lyra Valkyria tossed face-first into our announce table.
And it looks like it might be another night like last night
out here at ringside.
[Barrett] Once again a little rush of blood to the head of Lyra Valkyria,
perhaps got a little overexcited,
overestimated her abilities against two of the best.
Who are now throwing down right in front of us.
[Cole] And remember, no countouts, no disqualifications
under Triple Threat rules.
It's only pinfall or submission to win this thing.
No Champion's advantage for Becky.
It's one of the things she was upset about having to defend in a Triple Threat.
[Barrett] Make too many enemies,
it behooves the GM to set up a matchup like this.
You gotta be incredibly careful when you hold gold in WWE.
[Cole] Baseball slide drops Bayley to the floor.
[Barrett] Always stack the deck in your favor
and The Man simply hasn't been able to do that tonight.
[Cole] And Becky, since her return to WWE, eaten up with ego.
-Something changed when she was out. -[Barrett] Ego.
[Barrett] Come on, when you have unmatched finesse like Becky Lynch,
-you can have all the ego in the world. -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] Even more so when you're mistreated
by youngsters like Lyra Valkyria.
[Cole] Mistreated? Wait a minute.
She beat up Bayley, cost her a spot in WrestleMania,
and then she turned on Lyra Valkyria and beat the hell out of her as well.
Valkyria crossbody.
[Barrett] Becky Lynch helped Lyra Valkyria win gold at WrestleMania.
And where was the thanks? Where was the gratitude?
[Cole] Valkyria went for a tornado. DDT on the announce table and
she's driven into the steps by Becky.
Becky Lynch, as resilient as they come.
So much accomplished in her career here in WWE.
[Barrett] Talk about a woman who never paid attention to barriers in her career.
A barrier came in quite handy right there for Becky Lynch.
Now torturing the body of Bayley, a former friend.
[Cole] And now the Beck's throwing her into the barricade.
And Bayley, her right knee…
got tweaked as she came down.
And Becky now, realizing she may have an opportunity.
[Barrett] Yeah, that's really interesting. You hit that barricade,
you think it's a bat, but cover act.
[Cole] Inside leg hooked, and a kick out at two.
But Bayley is in trouble. Her arm, her knee as well.
[Barrett] Let's take another look back at what we just saw here
as Lyra Valkyria going high risk, flattening Bayley on the outside.
But this was the moment the knee of Bayley got tweaked against that barrier.
And Bayley really hasn't looked the same since.
[Cole] Bayley, who was a part of the first Evolution in 2018,
a six-woman Tag Team match.
Bayley looking to win a championship here at the second Evolution.
Bayley now delivers the forearms to Becky
and a kick right back to the midsection by Lynch,
who's pretty much been dominating so far.
[Barrett] You can pick apart Bayley.
Bayley's movement is being hampered by that knee issue. And… Oh!
[Cole] Oh, and hanging Becky up on the 2nd rope.
[Barrett] It shows the caliber of Bayley, that durability,
fighting through a pain barrier, managing to get back on top.
But always thinking, always with a plan up her sleeve, is Becky Lynch.
[Cole] And Becky now, with the ax handle off the top rope.
And Becky quickly into the cover. Looking to retainer championship.
Bayley kicks at two.
So much disdain between Becky Lynch and Bayley.
A lot of that has to do with the competitiveness.
They both came up at the same time at the performance center of NXT.
You're fighting to get to the top, the top level at NXT.
And then Becky, of course, coming to WWE a bit sooner than Bayley.
It's been competitive ever since.
[Barrett] A dog eat dog world.
At the very top there simply are no friendships.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Barrett] It's all transactional.
And the sooner you realize that, the better it is for your career.
And perhaps for her generation,
Big Time Becks recognized it before anybody else.
[Cole] Again, Becky has been controlling Bayley
in what has turned into a one-on-one matchup
after Lyra was driven spine-first to the steps.
[crowd chanting] Bayley, Bayley, Bayley!
[Cole] Trying to drag Bayley up to her feet, Bayley fighting back, however.
A couple of well placed elbows.
[Barrett] They tend to really pick up the pace
when it's one-on-one in a Triple Threat match with one opponent down.
Get the pinfall if you can. Get the submission if you can.
But this is a scramble in the ring now.
-Oh! -[Cole] Went for Rose Plant,
Becky looking for Disarmer.
Roll up by Bayley, kick out.
[Barrett] Lurking in the background, Lyra Valkyria managing to pick herself up.
Keep an eye on that one.
[Cole] Went for the manhandle slam.
Lyra with a double crossbody off the top rope.
And Lyra is so fun to watch.
[Barrett] Got two or three minutes to shake it off, get back in there.
And looks like a brand new woman.
[Cole] And Lyra unloading with that unorthodox offensive style.
But Becky using Lyra as a weapon. And now went for the manhandle slam.
Nice roll through by Lyra Valkyria.
Cover for the win and a kick out at two.
Fast-paced matchup, Triple Threat action.
[Barrett] The reflexes of Lyra Valkyria may be the best in the industry right now.
That was superb.
[Cole] Great suplex, rolled through though.
Becky, caught…
Went in for a fisherman's buster there and shoulders are down, is it enough?
Bayley with an elbow off the top rope.
[Barrett] Lyra Valkyria. That is one way to snap your neck, Lyra.
Take another look at this.
Completely prone is Valkyria, executing that pin.
And that is a horrible amount of abuse for any spine to absorb.
But Bayley ain't gonna care about that.
[Cole] Wade, this crowd is red hot tonight at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
[Barrett] Well, they are getting a show from these three women.
Three of the absolute best.
And Bayley now looking to close in on victory.
[Cole] Bayley with a blow to the back.
It's interesting to see how
the deterioration of the relationship between these two has gone.
[Barrett] It's turned into a brutal slugfest.
I love it. We've got high-flyers, we've got technicians in there.
[Cole] Becky now, from behind. Looking to steal one on Bayley.
Bayley rolls through, catches it with a knee to the nose.
[Barrett] In the nose, might've been the temple, either way,
it has wobbled The Man, Becky Lynch.
[Cole] Up over the top. Sunset flip bomb, Becky into Lyra Valkyria.
Bayley to win the Intercontinental Championship and a kick out at two.
[Barrett] And that right there was the sweet spot
in a Triple Threat match like this. A double whammy, two for the price of one.
Take out both your opponents in one fell swoop.
[Cole] That springboard elbow to Lyra Valkyria.
Bayley trying to win again, hooks the leg, shoulders down.
Lyra manages to power through at two.
And at what point, Wade, does Bayley start to get a bit frustrated?
[Barrett] Well, it's right now apparently, looking at the face of Bayley.
She knows full well she had some real steam, real momentum.
And this was the moment she thought she'd scored victory,
on this late kick out from Valkyria.
What else do you have in store here, Bayley? Gotta move fast.
[Cole] And the problem is Becky Lynch, the champion, is outside the ring.
She does not have to be involved in the decision to lose the title.
Bayley has turned this into a one-on-one matchup momentarily with Valkyria.
[Barrett] That is exactly why champions avoid this predicament at all costs
if they've got any sense.
Becky Lynch backed into a corner here and that championship may be slipping away.
[Cole] Becky back up to the apron though and catches Bayley there
before she can deliver any more offense.
[Barrett] I'm gonna love this one.
Becky Lynch, not a woman who had an easy ride to the top.
And she's not gonna give up her spot at the top of the Intercontinental ranks
to anybody easily.
[Cole] Well again, neither of any of these women have had an easy ride to the top.
All worked their butts off to get here.
Becky now, superplex to Bayley. Quickly into the cover.
[crowd] One, two…
[Cole] Bayley gets the shoulder up, now looking for the disarmer.
This is the… An armbar though.
[Barrett] And that's extended at the elbow.
Bayley unable to block it, but nice reversal.
[Cole] Turns it into a counter and a kick out by Becky.
Becky with an armbar, now going for the disarmer.
That's her finishing move.
[Barrett] And that was blocked well by Bayley, who knows full well the danger.
Might be trying to Rose Plant.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Barrett] Oh, my God!
The Peripeteia off the top row.
And Lyra Valkyria has an opportunity to win the Intercontinental title.
Kick out by Bayley at two. Another near fall.
[Barrett] Well this woman, Lyra Valkyria made a huge name for herself in NXT UK.
And it was this move, the Peripeteia, that scored her gold after gold over there.
Wasn't quite enough despite hitting it so cleanly on two opponents
-here at Evolution. -[Cole] All three women down in the ring.
Triple Threat match for the Intercontinental Championship
to kick us off tonight on Evolution from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
-[Barrett muttering] -[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] I've been singing the praises of Lyra Valkyria for many months now.
The future of WWE, there's no doubt.
Becky Lynch, though, wants to continue to hold on to the goal.
[Barrett] And the reason Lyra Valkyria has done so well in this game
is really because she's used the career of Becky Lynch as the blueprint
to get to the top.
[Cole] Becky with a DDT and an inverted DDT.
Gonna cover Lyra here as Bayley rolled out of the ring.
And Lyra able to stay in it.
[Barrett] Another one of those double whammy,
two for the price of one moves from the veteran Becky Lynch. Think quick.
[Cole] I don't agree with you on the point.
Lyra Valkyria hasn't been on anybody's coattails to get to where she is today.
[Barrett] No, just used her career as the blueprint.
That's her idol. That's the woman she followed in the footsteps of.
Two young women from Dublin, one made it to the top.
The other one, Valkyria said if she can do it, so can I.
No Big Time Becks, no Lyra Valkyria.
[Cole] Becky now, begging Lyra to make it back to her feet.
Looking for the manhandle slam.
Lyra able to turn it around into a pinning combination here.
Another near fall. Becky turns it into a pin of her own.
Lyra Valkyria out at two.
Oh. Lyra, face-first.
And Becky Lynch now,
manhandle slam with authority.
Here's the cover.
Bayley saves the matchup.
[Barrett] Perfect timing from Bayley.
This one ain't slipping away from me, not tonight.
There's fire in the eyes of the role model now.
Two women down, pick your poison, Bayley.
[Cole] And Becky and Bayley now, complete disdain for one another, and it shows.
[both grunting]
[Cole] And Becky met her there.
[Barrett] Gloves off, technique out of the window, who can hit hardest?
-Who can take the harder hit? -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] And who's gonna drop first?
[Cole] Oh, Bayley felt it coming, caught her with a back elbow.
And now Bayley with Becky up on her shoulders.
And Becky takes down.
Oh, Bayley with… Oh, Becky countered.
But Bayley actually got the better end of it.
-Bayley to Belly! Cover! -[crowd] One, two…
Lyra Valkyria breaks things up now.
[Barrett] Oh, man. All three women have now had multiple opportunities
to put this one away but have been denied by the fact
that the third competitor in the match is simply too on the ball this evening.
[Cole] That's Triple Threat rules for you.
First woman to gain pinfall or submission wins the title.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] Now Valkyria losing control of Bayley.
Bayley with a slap and that just fired Lyra up with a enzuigiri.
-Dropping Bayley. -[shouts]
[Barrett] Well, the worst thing Bayley could have done there is
-is simply reawaken… -[Cole] Nightwing! Nightwing by Lyra!
And Bayley's gotta break it up again.
Lyra hit her finishing move, but Bayley saving the matchup.
[Barrett] Oh, man. That could not have been any later from Bayley.
That's almost a photo finish
but this referee, completely sharp, pulling that hand away,
a millimeter from the mat, and a millimeter away from a three count.
[crowd chanting] This is wrestling!
[Cole] Bayley begging for more, Lyra as well.
Bayley now look for the Rose Plant.
Lyra jackknife cover, shoulders down. Is it enough? Kick out by Bayley.
And now looking for a Nightwing on Bayley, Bayley fighting out of it.
Roll up again, may have her here.
Lyra able to capture Bayley into a combination of her own.
[Barrett] All three of these women have been so fast thinking,
so fast moving, so resourceful.
[Cole] Rose plant, finally.
Bayley stacks up Lyra.
-Becky from behind. -[Barrett] Wow!
[Cole] A backslide!
-Becky retains! -[bell dings]
[Taylor] Here is your winner,
and still the Women's Intercontinental Champion,
The Man,
Becky Lynch!
[Cole] Wade, what an incredible way to kick off Evolution,
especially as Becky retains her Intercontinental Championship.
Parts of this should… As both Bayley and Lyra Valkyria…
[Barrett] Oh, man. It was like buying a lotto ticket.
That could have gone anywhere several times in this matchup.
All three women brought that absolute A game tonight,
And there was nothing in it.
The manhandle slam there from Big-Time Becks and Bayley
just was not allowing it to go down like that.
This was the Bayley… Bayley's big moment to capture the goal.
But Lyra Valkyria was there with the denial.
[Cole] Yeah, then Lyra Valkyria looking to put Becky Lynch away
with what she calls nightwing.
Lyra had an opportunity, Bayley had other things in mind.
[Barrett] Could not have been any closer, but this when the rose plant finally hit…
I'll tell you right now, this is the coolest pin I have ever seen
in my entire time watching wrestling.
Outdid it tonight for Becky Lynch
who successfully retained the Women's Intercontinental Championship
-in a classic. -[Cole] And what a battle.
Becky Lynch is still the champion, the Intercontinental Champion.
Yes, to ever do it.
And you know that I am the best to ever do it.
[exclaims] That I'm the best to ever do it!
[Cole] Well, we are in Atlanta, Georgia.
It has been quite the weekend, you know, only three weeks away from SummerSlam,
but yesterday we had Great American Bash.
Last night was Saturday Night's Main Event,
tonight, of course, WWE: Evolution.
Trailblazers,
modern leaders here tonight to celebrate the second women's Evolution,
including the first female general manager in the history of NXT.
There is Ava here tonight.
She has many competitors in action on Evolution.
Also a man who has championed women's wrestling around the world.
He's a former world champion,
he's a Hall of Famer,
he's the world's strongest man,
the man, Mark Henry here tonight at Evolution.
-And also here tonight… -Stop.
-[former wrestler] Excuse me! -[Barrett] Oh, no.
Excuse me!
-[Cole] I'm having-- -Excuse me!
[Barrett] Oh, my eardrums.
[Cole] I'm having flashbacks.
There she is, a former competitor, manager and general manager,
Vickie Guerrero is here live.
[cheering]
[Cole] The championship reign is going to be tested.
Jacy Jayne used her fatal influence enforcers to win the title,
but now faces her biggest challenge yet, Jordynne Grace.
Will Jordynne finish her quest to become the champion,
or will Jacy try more dirty tricks to win?
The NXT Women's Championship is on the line next.
[Jayne] We are the example.
[Henley] We are the leaders.
[Nyx] We are Fatal Influence.
[Cole] Jacy Jayne with the biggest challenge of her career,
the number one luchadora in the world, our NXT women's champion,
Stephanie Vaquer.
Hey, wait a minute, Jasmine Nix has the official.
Fallon Henley, what the hell?
-Two, three. -[bell dings]
[Nash] Here is your winner and the new NXT Women's Champion
Jacy Jayne!
[Jayne] I pulled off the most shocking moments in NXT history.
All is right in the universe because Fatal Influence
is on top where we belong.
[commentator 1] Jacy about to find out what it means
to have a target on your back
as one of these four women will advance to Evolution
and challenge Jayne for the NXT Women's Championship.
[commentator 2] The juggernaut showing what she's capable of.
Oh, my God!
Torture rack bomb.
Wow! And Jordynne Grace…
-[bell dings] -…has done it!
[Grace] From the moment that I stepped foot into a WWE ring,
I had one thought, one singular goal.
To become a champion in the best women's division in the world.
And I sacrificed everything to get to the WWE.
Evolution in Atlanta, I'll finally become the NXT Women's Champion.
I have to.
All right, Jordynne, I'm fully aware that you can bench press more than me.
You'll never carry this division.
Shut up.
Jacy Jayne running her mouth again.
Let's all act surprised.
But I'm not gonna surprise anybody when I beat you.
And when I take that NXT Women's Title from you,
I'm gonna be the one steering this division into the future.
[Jayne] Um, I'm sorry.
Luckily for you, Fatal Influence will always be here to remind you
exactly where you stand.
[Cole] Surely a numbers advantage now for Fatal Influence.
[commentator 2] Jordynne Grace is looking to stand her ground
as a fatal blow just been delivered to Jacy Jayne.
[voice] It's not over until I win.
["Thicc Mama Pump" plays]
Yeah!
[Cole] Jordynne Grace, many call the future of WWE's Women Division.
She is accompanied tonight by the newcomer.
She was one of the hottest free agents in the wrestling world.
Blake Monroe will be out here in support of Jordynne Grace tonight.
Let's show you how this all came about.
It was earlier today during the Evolution Countdown show.
I don't know how many more opportunities I'm gonna have for this title,
so it would really mean a lot to me if you were in my corner.
Jordynne…
But this is your moment. I-I don't wanna take away from it.
You won't, and it would really mean a lot to me if you said yes.
-You know what? I'll see you out there. -[chuckles]
[Barrett] Well, thank you Jordynne Grace.
I've always said there has never been a show in history that couldn't do
with a little more glamour added with Blake Munroe here
at ringside in the corner of the challenger.
We are glamified tonight.
["The Chosen" playing]
[Cole] One of the reasons Blake Monroe is out here
is because of the two women that are flanking Jacy Jayne,
Henley and Nyx are the Fatal Influence.
And we've seen the influence they've had on the career of Jacy Jayne at NXT.
[Barrett] You're absolutely right.
Jacy Jayne, the former Toxic Attraction star,
rebuilt and reconquered as part of Fatal Attraction.
Jacy Jayne has always leveraged relationships
to get ahead and get her ahead she has done in a big way in recent months.
The proof of that being in that shiny NXT Women's Championship
around the waist of the rockstar of NXT, Jacy Jayne.
[Cole] That's Booker T's line, by the way, gimmick infringement, but I get it.
Jacy Jayne winning the championship a couple of months ago
and one of the biggest upsets in NXT history
when she beat Stephanie Vaquer.
[no audible dialogue]
[Cole] Let's head up to our ring announcer, the great Alicia Taylor.
[bell dings]
[crowd cheering]
The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT
Women's Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing first the challenger,
accompanied by Blake Monroe,
From Austin, Texas,
Jordynne Grace!
[crowd cheering]
And her opponent,
accompanied by Jazmyn Nyx and Fallon Henley
representing Fatal Influence,
she is the NXT Women's Champion,
Jacy Jayne!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, this is for the NXT Women's Title.
The winner of this match
will get TNA knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich
at TNA Slammiversary a week from tonight in a winner take all matchup.
The official for the match, Victoria D'Errico.
As we get set for Jayne and Grace here at Evolution,
way back in the first Evolution of 2018,
Shayna Baszler beat Kairi Sane to win the NXT Women's Title.
-[bell dings] -Will we see a title change here tonight?
[Barrett] You know what? I heard you earlier
and I heard a lot of people around the world
refer to Jacy Jayne's victory against Stephanie Vaquer
-as a shock. -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] And there are a bunch of slack-jawed idiots in NXT
-who seem to agree with that statement. -[crowd gasps]
[Cole] Jordynne Grace on the German suplex into the suicide dive
and Jordynne on fire early.
[Barrett] The truth is, if you believed it was a shock,
you simply haven't been paying attention
to how good Jacy Jayne has been for years in NXT.
-[Barrett] Multiple time… -[Cole] Grace, cover!
…Tag Champion and now the crowning glory, the gold around her waist.
Do not underestimate the champ.
She's damn good for a reason.
[Cole] There are many who say that Jacy Jayne
may be the most beatable NXT champion in history.
[Barrett] Well, let's dispel that tonight. That's some Vic Joseph BS.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Henley exclaims]
[Barrett] I don't ever want to hear that again.
-[whoops] -[Barrett] Jacy Jayne is aggressive,
agile, manipulative, and the absolute best.
[Cole] Oh, and a kick to Grace and down goes Jordynne Grace.
-[Barrett] Of the NXT women's division. -[shouting]
[Barrett] But careful there, boot to the jaw may have injured the right foot.
-And that's why I'm the champion! -[Barrett] Jacy Jayne.
[Cole] Henley on the left, Nyx on the right
in the background, cheering Jacy Jayne on.
[Barrett] The cheerleaders very impressed with their leader in Fatal Attraction.
[Cole] Go ahead and call 'em cheerleaders. Let's see what happens to you.
-Nice neck breaker by Jacy Jayne. -They were acting as cheerleaders.
[Cole] Cover now. Hook to the leg and Grace kicks out.
[Barrett] Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's the problem with cheerleaders all of a sudden?
They're fantastic!
And let's take another look at this, which was similarly fantastic.
The throat of Jordynne Grace taking maximum abuse,
and then this running neck breaker
doing some severe damage
and Jordynne Grace, the juggernaut, simply hasn't looked the same since.
[Cole] Yeah, a newcomer to NXT.
When she was a hot free-agent a number of months ago,
before she was signed by Shawn Michaels.
[Barrett] Oh, keep your eyes peeled. Look at this.
This is what they are… were afraid of.
Fallon Henley doing some damage behind the referee's back.
[Cole] And that's the MO of Fatal Influence.
And one of the reasons Jayne keeps the championship.
Cover! Hooks the leg, is it an up on Grace?
-Jordynne powers out. -[Barrett] Like we said earlier,
-Jacy Jayne leverages relationships… -That's right, baby. Come on.
…and she's picked two gems to form Fatal Attraction with.
-Fatal Influence, excuse me. -[speaking indistinctly]
Yep, yep, you got it, you got it, Fallon.
I'm getting chewed out by Fallon Henley here.
[Cole] Yeah, 'cause you said the group wrong.
[Henley] Yeah, Jacy!
[Cole] And how Jacy Jayne in control of Grace.
Grace, of course, a former three-time TNA knockouts champion.
She won an eliminator match
and then a Fatal 4-Way turned this opportunity night.
WWE crowd would know her
from her appearances in the Royal Rumble the past couple of years.
[Barrett] Look at Jacy Jayne just turning it up.
It's like a red rat to a ball
when an opponent has an injury in that ring,
as Jordynne Grace clearly does have a neck issue.
And now Jacy Jayne attacking it with relish.
[Cole] Yeah, Jacy Jayne, controlling Grace here.
All of Grace's game is power, Wade,
and you take out that power when you keep her on the mat like this.
[Barrett] Yes you do. Keep her grounded,
cut off that oxygen, cut off the blood to the head…
-Let's go! -…but powering her way up
and, once again, back to that throat.
This has been a master class from Jacy Jayne,
as you put it, the supposed beatable champ. I don't think so.
[Cole] Well, she got beat at Great American Bash…
Nice spine buster by Grace.
Last night in the Tag Team matchup,
Blake Monroe and Jordynne Grace knocked off Henley and Jayne
-in the main event tag team match. -Come on, baby.
That woman, Blake Monroe actually pinned the NXT Women's Champion.
[Barrett] Yeah, well this is championship on the line tonight
and that is when the true competitor comes out inside Jacy Jayne.
-[crowd chanting] -[Barrett] Very different animal tonight.
[Cole] And Grace now looks to turn the tables in this matchup.
The majority of the match has been dominated by Jayne early.
[Barrett] Well, Jacy Jayne is a fantastic striker,
but I don't know I'd want to go toe-to-toe with Jordynne Grace
and the power she has in those shoulders.
Jayne was trying to go toe-to-toe and now Jordynne Grace is taking control,
-driving her back to the corner. -[exclaims]
Jacy slips out of harm's way and delivers a chop.
[Barrett] Smart from Jacy Jayne, hit-and-run, keep moving.
[Cole] I don't know what Vic Joseph's talking about.
I'm impressed with Jacy tonight.
[Barrett] Yeah, she's been absolutely incredible.
Vic Joseph has had major issues with Jacy Jayne for years now,
dating back to Toxic Attraction.
So watch his mouth if you ask me.
-[Cole] Grace driving Jayne in the corner… -[Barrett] Ooh!
…three times an now a backslide.
[Cole] Roll through by Jayne.
Went for the knee, blocked by Grace.
[Barrett] Grace has really stepped it up in the last few seconds here.
What is she cooking up here?
[Cole] And there's the power again by Jordynne Grace.
She was once a nationally ranked power lifter.
Set records in squat, bench and deadlift.
Now looking to deadlift Jacy Jayne here.
[Barrett] Jayne completely defenseless with this…
-[Cole] Oh! -…folding power bomb connecting.
One, two…
[Cole] Near fall kick out by Jayne at two. So close for Jordynne Grace.
[Barrett] Have some frustration in the eyes of Jordynne Grace,
who hit one of her biggest shots and is clearly beaten down and wounded.
You might not get many more opportunities like that one, Jordynne.
[Cole] Yeah, Grace has had a couple of opportunities
at the NXT Women's Championship.
-Hopes tonight's the charm. -[both grunting]
[Barrett] Oh, here we go, this could be the big one.
No!
[Cole] Jayne blocking.
[Barrett] I was looking for that pump handle juggernaut driver
but denied by Jayne.
[Cole] Oh! And, speaking of Mark Henry, world's strongest slam delivered by Grace.
Oh, and went for the Vader bomb and rolling out of the way was Jacy Jayne
who misses with a kick and now has her position.
Jacy from behind.
Grace caught her with an elbow.
[Barrett] That was a heavy collision to the jaw of Jacy Jayne,
who's bouncing back immediately.
That is pure toughness from the champ.
[both grunt]
-[Cole] Jordynne Grace… -[grunts]
[Cole] Oh! Runs into a big boot.
Jacy Jayne has looked phenomenal so far in this match.
-[Barrett] Absolutely superb. -[crowd booing]
From what many say is the best Women's Division on planet Earth down in NXT.
That is why Jacy Jayne is the figurehead.
[Cole] That's what heartbreak kid Shawn Michaels
told us on the Countdown show earlier today.
[Barrett] I certainly would not argue with that.
They have been superb week in, week out
-down in Orlando and… -[Cole] Boom! Knee caught flush.
-Let's go, babe. -[cheering] Gotta let her go!
Come on, work!
[Cole] And now that neck breaker,
that draping neck breaker off the second rope.
Cover now by Jayne.
Wise move by the veteran to grab that arm, so Jordynne Grace had to kick out
and couldn't grab the rope for the out.
[Barrett] Yeah, technically perfect.
That was Jayne after this wonderful twisted hanging neck breaker.
Didn't quite get the job done,
but Jordynne Grace now looks broken in a heap on the mat.
Referee taking a close look.
And there is bloodlust in the eyes of the champ Jacy Jayne.
You'll never be champion, Jordynne.
I run this division!
-Two! -[Jordynne exclaiming]
[Cole] Jacy's been called a classic wrestler by many.
She's out wrestling Jordynne Grace as we speak tonight.
She's had grace all out of sorts since this match started.
[Barrett] Yeah, well, you have to think it has been motivational fuel
for Jacy Jayne to hear all the doubters, the naysayers around planet Earth
saying you're not quite good enough, you don't deserve the title.
[Cole] Nobody home though.
Jordynne Grace saving herself, getting out of harm's way.
[Barrett] Jacy Jayne has given the world a lesson so far tonight,
but can she close it out?
[Cole] Sunset flip. Shoulders down, kick out.
Jacy gonna stack up brace now with her title on the line.
Jordynne kicks out.
Another pinning combination by the number one contender.
-[exclaims] -[Cole] Went for a big kick again.
Jordynne Grace though.
-Oh, goodness! -[Barrett groans]
[Cole] Now the champ's in trouble.
-Grace covers! -One!
-Two! -Hooks the outside leg and…
Jayne able to get the shoulder up.
[Barrett] Twisting incoming offense into a reversal
into this piece of brilliance, dropping the heavy artillery on the champ.
Still not quite enough to put this one away, but surely.
Surely we are closing in on a victory here one way or another.
Both women
taking massive amounts of abuse
and Jayne's in peril here.
[Cole] Jordynne Grace a multi-time champion, she knows what it takes.
Don't get frustrated, keep the foot on the gas.
[Barrett] Jordynne Grace's got a list of championships
as long as your arm, pre getting to NXT,
and we might be getting one more added to that list.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Barrett] Holy…
[Cole] Jacy Jayne,
what a kick, as Grace was trying to make it to the top rope.
[Barrett] I've been so impressed with the endurance of Jacy Jayne
so far here tonight.
This has been a hot pace in this match, and Jacy Jayne ain't slowing down.
[Cole] Uh-oh. Oh, pulled her from the top rope.
And Jayne now running knee, Grace is down!
-To retain the title. -[crowd] One, two…
-[Cole] Grace kicks out at two! -[screams]
[Barrett] And that was such a tight pin
from Jacy Jayne who perhaps believes her powers as champ are starting to wane.
Doubt now kicking in.
-Perhaps this is plan B. -[Cole] Uh-oh. Wait a minute.
Henley now tossing the NXT women's title.
Blake Monroe's gonna get involved with a headbutt.
Jacy got the women's title on the ring, the official now.
-Stop! -D'Errico gonna
get into a tug of war now with Jayne.
-Jordynne Grace roll up from behind. -[crowd] One…
-Shoulders down… -…two…
-Jayne kicks at two. -[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Well, the game plan is coming apart at the seams here.
[Cole] Oh, back elbow!
[Barrett] For Jacy Jayne.
[Cole] And now Jazmyn Nyx.
With the NXT women's title in hand.
-And Blake Monroe makes her pay! -[grunts]
[Barrett] Blake Monroe.
It has proven an incredibly wise decision from Jordynne Grace.
-[Cole] And now the… -Finish this up! You got this!
[Cole] They playing field's even.
Grace can turn her attention to Jayne.
[Barrett] We all need a good corner person from time to time,
and tonight your… Wait a second.
-Fallon Henley back in again. -[Cole] On the other side…
Now it's Jacy Jayne trying to regain control.
Grace with a slap.
Jordynne, sending it… Oh!
Uh-oh, backfire!
Backfire, and there's that rolling encore from Jacy Jayne for the win!
-[bell dings] -[crowd cheering]
[Taylor] Here is your winner,
it's still the NXT Women's Champion,
Jacy Jayne!
[Cole] Wait, that…
-[Barrett] Well, that was-- -[Cole] That was an accident, right?
[Barrett] That was a blur.
Blake Monroe, the corner woman for Jordynne Grace
amidst that reversal from Jacy Jayne,
catching Jordynne Grace in the back.
And you're asking me, "Was that accidental?" I still have questions.
[Cole] Jordynne Grace has no idea what just hit her.
[Barrett] Well, you asked me, "Was that an accident?"
I think that is your answer.
Blake Monroe just stuck it to Jordynne Grace.
The real question is why?
[Cole] Man, I'm shocked.
-[no audible dialogue] -[Cole] Blake Monroe was out here
to try to neutralize Fatal Influence
and it looked like she was doing just that, Wade.
[Barrett] Well, she did exactly that.
Completely wiped out the corner women of Jacy Jayne
then holding this championship.
Seemed to be a game plan here
then there was the quick reversal, then blasting to the back of Jordynne Grace.
With the LXT championship,
and one rolling encore later from Jacy Jayne.
[Taylor] Here is your winner…
-[Barrett] And all we are left with… -it's still…
[Barrett] …are questions.
[Cole] Oh, there's one question that was answered.
-Jacy Jayne is still… -I'll never be known as
-the people's champion -…your NXT Women's Champion.
-[crowd cheering] -["Reigning Warriors" playing]
[bell dings]
[Taylor] The following Fatal 4-Way match is for
the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.
Introducing first,
the team of Kairi Sane and Asuka!
The Kabuki Warriors!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Two times Asuka and Kairi Sane
have held the Women's Tag Team titles together.
An opportunity to win gold for a third time here tonight.
They've got a massive issue with The Judgment Day.
Raquel Rodriguez, Roxanne Perez,
the Tag Team Champions looking to settle it here tonight.
[Barrett] Oh, man, I've spent all week
trying to get ready, trying to get ready for Asuka
and I've just failed once again.
'Cause nobody is ready for Asuka.
And combine her with Kairi Sane, the Pirate Princess,
who doesn't love pirates, who doesn't love princesses?
Join those two together and it becomes unstoppable,
just like the Kabuki Warriors.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Came in together for the first time since Backlash 2024 in Lyon, France.
The night that injured her knee,
would miss 13 months of action
before returning with a vengeance last month.
["Tortured Minds" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Taylor] Next, the team of The team of Zaria
and the NXT Women's North American Champion
Sol Ruca!
[Cole] Still the North American champion,
Sol Ruca knocked off Izzi Dame at the Great American Bash yesterday.
-[barks] -This is a very unique team,
an odd couple, so to speak,
but very successful way to pull off a massive upset tonight.
[Barrett] They may be covering off each other's weaknesses
and Sol Ruca has been turning heads for the past two or three years in NXT,
of course, capped off with that NXT.
North American Champion, she's also the WWE Women's Speed champ.
So, win another title tonight,
and we may as well call Sol Ruca the belt collector.
We'll need to check another bag at the airport if she pulls that off.
[Cole] Shawn Michaels on the Countdown show earlier today
talking about all the Division 1 athletes
that have come into the program at NXT and turned in to be superstars,
one of those, of course, Sol Ruca,
who is a gymnast at the University of Oregon,
teams up with Zaria here tonight.
-["All Hail The Queen" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Bow down ♪
♪ All hail the queen ♪
[cheering continues]
-["The Fury" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Taylor] Next,
the team of Charlotte Flair
and Alexa Bliss.
[Cole] It almost seems like they're starting to get along.
Maybe a little.
[Barrett] Well, you've got to communicate with Charlotte Flair
in the only language Charlotte Flair understands.
That is the language of success, the language of championships.
Now they had a lapsed friendship
that Bliss has been trying to rekindle for the past couple of months,
fell on deaf ears, until suddenly, before Charlotte's eyes,
was dangled the opportunity to win Tag gold and then, "We're on the same page.
Let's go out there, let's get this done."
[Cole] Charlotte Flair saying in an interview this week
that it was Paige who she really looked up to when she came into this business,
wanted to be just like her.
Charlotte's gone on to become a 14-time world champion.
She penned a letter to the Players' Tribune this week, did Charlotte.
She talked about doing things on her terms now.
She's loose, she's having fun and says Alexa Bliss is helping in a lot of that.
[Barrett] It's no secret Charlotte has really been
the least popular member of the women's locker room
over the past several months.
Perhaps the one person who saw through that was Alexa Bliss,
and things have turned around now for Charlotte Flair,
who's actually getting cheered.
-[crowd cheering] -["Rulers of the World" playing]
[Taylor] And they're opponents,
representing The Judgment Day,
they are the WWE Women's Tag Team Champion's,
-Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez! -[no audible dialogue]
[Cole] Aw, man. There's much to talk about.
Of course Judgment Day has all the gold.
They're the Tag Team Champions.
McDonagh and Bálor are the men's tag team champions.
Dominick, the intercontinental champion.
Judgment Day ruling Monday Night Raw again.
But what's interesting about this
is Liv Morgan, of course, out for a number of months with a shoulder injury.
So Roxanne Perez has replaced her alongside Raquel Rodriguez,
but, Wade, tonight under these circumstances in Evolution
is actually the first time.
That Roxanne and Raquel have teamed together as they defend the Tag title.
[Barrett] Well, this is that pruent moment
that GM Nick Aldis was insisting they have to go through.
Yeah, I will give you an opportunity.
I'll let you replace Liv Morgan, Roxanne,
but right off the bat you are gonna be in there with three of the best,
one from Raw, one from SmackDown, one from NXT.
If you really want to be a Tag Champion, let's see you do it the hard way tonight.
[Cole] So, this is a Fatal 4-Way matchup for the Women's Tag Team Championship.
First team in a pinning or submission will be the champs.
Two women will start in the ring.
You can tag anybody you want into this matchup.
[Barrett] And I'm already noticing issues between Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne,
the current Tag Champs.
For how much longer, I don't know,
and I'm not sure Raquel has ever fully bought in
to Roxanne Perez being her tag partner.
And if they can't get on the same page, pretty damn quick here,
it's gonna be the shortest reign of all time.
-[Cole] Well, it is indeed a trust issue… -[bell dings]
…as it comes to Raquel and Roxanne.
So we'll have to see who's gonna start this match up off
for their respective teams.
It's Kairi Sane going right to work on Roxanne Perez, and this is interesting…
-Let's go! -…because of course Kairi was in the ring
-the night that Liv Morgan got injured. -[grunting]
Judgment Day blames Kairi Sane even though it was a freak accident.
[Barrett] Just when Perez had her back turned there
and got caught by Kairi Sane,
-I saw the shake of the head from… -[both grunting]
-[Cole] Oh! -[Barrett] Raquel Rodriguez,
who was far from impressed with her tag partner's start there.
[Cole] This is a massive match for Roxanne
to try to prove herself to Raquel on The Judgment Day.
-[both grunting] -[Barrett] Absolutely.
She really is gonna have to prove it here now.
Of course Roxanne has been superb since debuting on Raw and SmackDown.
-We saw… -[Cole] Ooh!
-[Barrett] We saw her at the-- -[Cole] That got by Kairi
a kick out by Roxanne.
[Barrett] Royal Rumble breaking records earlier this year.
Incredible performance also at Money in the Bank
and the Elimination Chamber.
There's no doubting that Roxanne Perez is damn good.
[Cole] And here's Asuka, the Empress of Tomorrow,
and the Kabuki Warriors working together now.
Double team on Perez.
[Barrett] Dominant players in the women's Tag ranks in history.
[Cole] Oh, and a basement drop kick by Kairi Sane.
Interesting history with Asuka and a lot of people in this matchup.
Asuka's a four-time Tag Team Champion.
-[exclaiming] -Two with Kairi Sane,
but she held one with Charlotte and also one with Alexa Bliss.
[Barrett] And she's also highly motivated. Let's not forget that.
Two weeks ago, Night of Champions,
Asuka lost out in the final of the Queen of the Ring tournament
to Jade Cargill and Asuka doesn't like losing.
Doesn't often happen twice in a row.
-[grunts, exclaims] -[crowd gasping, cheering]
[Cole] And now Raquel Rodriguez, the powerhouse.
We talked this week about it being the first Evolution
when she was training at the Performance Center.
She would look on, biting her nails,
wanting to be a part of what she called a beautiful presentation,
and now she has the opportunity to do just that tonight.
And showing off her power to the Kabuki Warriors.
[Barrett] This is the Raquel I've wanted here
on Raw and SmackDown for so long.
This is the version of Raquel that we saw in NXT,
the version of Raquel that completely dominated,
the version of Raquel that came out to play two weeks ago
in Night of Champions against Rhea Ripley.
And Raquel is just wrecking shop.
[Cole] Raquel Rodriguez, who said she was inspired by Chyna
and also Beth Phoenix
-to get into the wrestling ring. -Come on, get her!
[Cole] Said she was much taller,
bigger than most people in her high school,
and she felt awkward about that.
She looked at people like Chyna and Beth Phoenix
and said, "Hey, if they can be comfortable in their body, so can I."
and that's what Raquel has been able to do as she's burst on the scene in WWE.
[Barrett] Roxanne in the early goings here, has taken a hell of a beating,
but keeping on moving, keeping on taking shots
and I don't think Roxanne saw the tag there!
[Cole] Oh, and here's Alexa Bliss.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And what an ovation for Bliss.
The former five-time world champion takes down Perez.
-[Barrett] Judging by crowds… -[Cole] Oh!
…Bliss might be the most popular member of the women's locker room.
This place exploding.
Oh, a nasty move there from Roxanne,
almost went for the eyeballs, I think, of Alexa Bliss,
didn't quite get a clear shot of it,
but whatever it was,
-it worked around nicely. -[Cole] Tag!
And again you can tag yourself into this matchup, tag anybody you want.
Here's Zaria. Zaria from Australia,
She's in her first championship at NXT or WWE.
She's grim, she's intense.
I talked to Vic Joseph from NXT about her.
He said that she is a rare monster.
[Barrett] Doesn't tend to say too much.
Zaria tends to let her body do the talking,
and right now the conversation is one way,
and it's all gone the direction of Alexa Bliss.
-There we go! -[Cole] Zaria now
going to deliver an F5 to put her opponents away,
has Alexa Bliss up on her shoulders.
Look at the power now of Zaria.
Bliss though, go right to the back of the leg,
great veteran move by Bliss.
Come on, Zaria, you're stronger!
[both grunting]
-Go! -[Cole] And Zaria now
powering Bliss up into a vertical suplex.
Maybe Raquel isn't the most powerful woman in the match.
[Barrett] A tag there from Sol Ruca.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh, and welcome Sol Ruca!
-Face first cover for the tag titles… -One, two!
…and a kick out by Bliss.
[Barrett] To be clear, this is the third match in 48 hours
for Sol Ruca competing on SmackDown,
competing yesterday at the Great American Bash
and again here right now.
It's a big ask for anyone, but ain't Sol Ruca backing away.
-She's here to fight. -[Cole] Unless she's trying to make a tag.
Ruca made sure it didn't happen.
-[Bliss screams] -[Cole] And Ruca now
taken Alexa Bliss for a right around the world. Face first goes Bliss.
[Barrett] That was awesome.
[Cole] Ruca's such a great athlete, mentioned before a gymnast in Oregon.
[Barrett] Incredible agility track and field specialist too.
There isn't too much that Sol Ruca can't do,
and we haven't even mentioned the surfing yet,
but now Big Mami Cool back in there.
[Cole] And Raquel Rodriguez not allowing Bliss to make a tag.
[crowd booing]
-[Cole] Bliss sent into the corner. -[grunts]
[Cole] Raquel Rodriguez splashed to Alexa Bliss.
[Barrett] Slowly but surely appears to be a little chemistry and trust
-growing between Roxanne and Raquel. The… -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] Oh, fat chance! But that was a miss.
-[Cole] Tag! -[crowd roars]
[Cole] Listen to the ovation for the 14-time world champion,
Charlotte Flair, cross-body to both members of Judgment Day.
[Cole] She, of course, was part of that tremendous last woman standing match
with Becky Lynch and Evolution 2018.
Many say it's one of the greatest matches of all time,
and now Flair unloading on Judgment Day in this Tag Title match.
[Barrett] This audience becoming completely uncouth.
What a 180 response from just two months ago for Charlotte Flair.
[Cole] And Flair, with a clothesline, is fired up.
Sol Ruca runs into a boat.
Roxanne Perez.
-[grunts] -[Cole] Going for a ride!
-[crowd cheering] -[Barrett] The greatest resume of all time
and we just saw a glimpse on the last 60 seconds of exactly why.
She said it earlier, she's having fun now.
Raquel over the top rope
bounced right into our announcement table.
[grunting]
[Cole] Boot now to Zaria Behind, Roxanne Perez.
-Looking to steal a win here. -One, two!
Charlotte's got a kick out.
[Barrett] So cunning is Roxanne Perez almost stealing it there from…
[Cole] Oh! Spear.
-Cover by Charlotte! -One…
-About to split Roxanne in half. -…two…
But somehow the Prodigy stays in it.
[Barrett] Oh, man, this was the Charlotte Flair greatest hits,
and that was the greatest hit of them all.
Tight pin wasn't quite enough.
And Charlotte Flair is just getting warmed up now.
[Cole] Think about the first Evolution back in 2018.
We didn't have tag champs at that point for the women's division
for the first time ever, they've been defended at this great event.
Charlotte Flair now perhaps looking for a figure 4 to the figure 8.
Raquel Rodriguez though.
Stops her in tracks and now comes to the aid actually of Roxanne,
which is interesting.
[Barrett] Well, had to come to aid, or you're gonna lose the tag gold
-I suppose in the process-- -[Cole] Asuka!
[Barrett] You're right. That chemistry is growing,
but it might be for nothing if the Kabuki Warriors can get the job done.
-[Cole] German suplex from Asuka. -[screams]
[Cole] Sol Ruca.
Welcome to show as the she's sent halfway across the ring.
[Barrett] And this is Asuka saying to Charlotte Flair,
"Yeah, I was impressed, but watch this, I'm even better."
[Cole] Asuka, one of the most accomplished performers
in WWE Women's Division history.
[Barrett] Quirky charisma that people absolutely love.
[Cole] Kairi Sane with a neck breaker.
[Barrett] There was a tag, Kairi Sane now legal I believe.
[Cole] Here's the cover.
-Try to win a gold for a third time. -One, two…
And Zaria breaking things up,
so fun to watch the Kabuki Warriors back in action.
So crisp and talented.
[Barrett] When you talk about tag chemistry…
-[Cole] Tag. -…they really are the favorites
in this one, but you can only win if you are legal
and right now I think it's Zaria and Kairi Sane in there.
And this one breaking down in a hurry.
Refeee beginning to lose control.
Bad fist to the jaw.
Getting peppered with shots now from the Kabuki Warriors.
[Cole] A way to take down Zaria.
[Barrett] Whatever it was, it were,
there might not be a human being alive who can withstand that kind of offense.
-[grunting] -[fan] Come on, Zaria!
[Cole] Now look at Zaria, the power.
That double suplex and now Ruca begging for a tag, she'll get it.
The uber athletic.
Sol Ruca now gonna work a double team with her partner, Zaria.
Covered by Ruca.
Oh, and pulling.
Everybody over Charlotte Flair.
Things have really gotten chaotic now.
[Barrett] Charlotte Flair's just got that danger gene, she sends it. Wait!
[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett, Cole] Sol Snatcher!
[Barrett] Executed to perfection on an unwitting Charlotte Flair.
[Cole] It brought both of us out of our seat at the same time
[Barrett] What a move.
[Cole] Now Alexa Bliss lands on her feet.
Alexa with her sister Abigail.
-Ruca able to counter. -[shouting]
[grunts]
[Barrett] Now this NXT duo looking to team up on Alexa Bliss.
Might be the only way you can take Bliss down.
[Cole] Zaria looking for the spear, she spears her own partner.
Obviously an accident, obviously inadvertent,
not what we saw with Blake Monroe earlier, but obviously inadvertent in this one.
[Barrett] Well that was brilliant from Charlotte Flair,
who pulled Alexa Bliss out of the way at a critical moment.
Zaria just didn't have the ability to slow down in time,
and poor Sol Ruca,
three matches in 48 hours may be a little too much
after that takedown from her own tag partner.
[Cole] And action fast and furious now,
Raquel Rodriguez with a clothesline to Charlotte flair.
[Barrett] I love that clothesline of Raquel.
[Cole] Roxanne Perez pop rocks.
[Barrett] And I'm struggling to keep up with who's even legal.
I hope the referee's doing a better job at this point.
There's bodies everywhere.
-[Cole] Well, definitely-- -[Barrett] So fast-paced.
[Cole] LaShaunn is a much better official than you are.
And Alexa Bliss now jumped over the top rope,
taking out the Kabuki Warriors.
And also Zaria.
[crowd chanting]
The Tag Team champions have taken over.
Roxanne Perez suicide dive to take out Charlotte Flair.
And now Raquel Rodriguez turns her attention to Sol Ruca,
looking for the Tejano bomb.
Sol is way up and down.
-Raquel cover, stacks her up. -One, two, three!
-[Cole] They win the match… -[bell dings]
…and retain the titles.
[Taylor] Here are your winners
and still the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez.
[Cole] So, Raquel seems to be buying in.
Roxanne upheld her end of the bargain, and I wonder if Morgan's watching,
and wonder what she thinks about this team of Raquel and Roxanne.
[Barrett] Well, it's never nice seeing somebody else with your Championship.
But Big Mami Cool and Roxanne got the job done tonight.
This was the friendly fire moment that took down Sol Ruca.
Well, this was a little earlier in the match
when Sol was working over Alexa Bliss.
You see Charlotte pulling her tag partner out of the way
Zaria not able to put the brakes on.
And clearly bonds being built between Bliss and Charlotte,
but there's nothing you can do from this point
because Big Mami Cool, top control.
And Sol Ruca, whose body has been wreaked over the last couple of days…
-One, two, three! -…in multiple matches,
was the unfortunate victim of the powerhouse
and now solidified as tag champs, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez.
Judgment Day get the job done tonight.
[Stratton] What time is it?
[crowd] Tiffy time!
What time is it?
-[crowd] Tiffy time! -[both groan]
[crowd cheering]
[Stratton] Since becoming champion, I have realized
that there has been a target on my back.
Some people thought I was in over my head and that I'd let the pressure get to me.
-I am always ready. -[crowd cheering]
Come on!
[Cole] Tiffany Stratton finds herself in the spotlight of WrestleMania
against the 14-time world champion.
What a win at WrestleMania for Tiffany Stratton.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Ultimate physical test.
[crowd groan]
[Cole] Tiffany Stratton is the last woman one standing.
Now my sights are set on Evolution.
And tonight, I have a surprise for everybody.
-["Time to Rock and Roll" plays] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] A Hall of Famer.
Perhaps, the greatest Women's Champion of all time.
Trishy, what would Evolution be without some stratusfaction?
So I would like to offer you the opportunity to face me at Evolution
for the WWE Women's Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Stratus] I've always said that careers are made of moments.
[Barrett] What a thunderous ovation for Trish Stratus here in her hometown.
[Cole] Well, it's Tiffy and Trishy time in Toronto.
What a moment for Tiffany Stratton
to be able to team up with her idol Trish Stratus the Hall of Famer returning.
Tiff, you gave me one of my most special moments
by allowing me to wrestle live in front of my kids.
But you know what does have a pretty nice ring to it?
Eight-time champion.
I would just like to make one thing clear.
It's not the attitude era anymore. This isn't gonna be easy.
[Stratus] I'm gonna do what I've been doing for 25 years,
that is deliver stratusfaction.
[pop music plays]
[Stratton] It's called Evolution for a reason.
Once I beat her, maybe then I'll be considered one of the GOATs.
["This Is What We Live For" plays]
Tiff, I love you, but I will become an eight-time champion.
[Cole] A career-defining moment.
Tiffany Stratton, Trish Stratus at Evolution.
["Time to Rock & Roll" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus.
Her first singles match in 18 years.
And it's for the WWE Women's Championship.
And speaking of the Championship, you notice your gear tonight, Wade?
Talked to Trish earlier on today.
She says she's paying homage to the OG women's title
from what she called the Golden Era.
[Barrett] Any era that involves Trish Stratus is the Golden Era
as far as I'm concerned.
Great superstar, Hall of Famer, and quite frankly,
the baddest woman who has ever walked the face of the planet.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's get it out early.
Thank you, Trish.
[Cole] We're gonna become an eight-time World Champion tonight.
[crowd cheering]
["Tiffy Time" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] On January 3rd of this year,
Tiffany Stratton cashed in a Money in the Bank contract
to defeat Nia Jax to win the WWE women's title.
Over the past seven months, Wade,
she has knocked off the likes of Nia Jax on three different occasions,
-including a Last Woman Standing match. -[Barrett] Ooh.
-She's beaten Charlotte at WrestleMania. -[Barrett] Ooh.
[Cole] She knocked off Bayley.
And tonight, an opportunity to take out a Hall of Famer in Trish Stratus.
What a year for Tiffany Stratton.
[Barrett] Oh, what a three to four years since Trish…
Excuse me, Tiffany Stratton debuted in NXT.
Tiffany has done nothing but show…
What time is it?
…an astounding capacity to learn, adapt and grow,
no matter the obstacle put in her path.
She is slowly but surely carving out an all-timer career
and she is just getting started in this game.
-[Barrett] Sky is the limit. -[Stratton] What time is it?
[Cole] Interesting relationship between these two women,
we'll get into in just a moment.
Right after Alicia Taylor.
[bell dings]
The following contest scheduled for one fall…
[crowd] One fall!
…is for the WWE
Woman's Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing first, the challenger,
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
WWE Hall of Famer,
Trish Stratus!
[crowd cheering]
And her opponent,
from Brior Lake, Minnesota,
she is
the WWE Women's Champion,
Tiffany Stratton!
[Cole] Many comparisons between Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus.
Both women winning their first world championship at 25 years old.
In fact, Trish was a mentor to Tiffany Stratton
through much of Tiffany's first WrestleMania season this year.
In fact, they teamed together back in March in Trish's hometown of Toronto,
part of the Elimination Chamber event
-in a tag team matchup… -[bell dings]
…and were very successful.
[Barrett] Yeah, these two are actually good friends
and Trish acted as a kind of mentor at times
during her early days as the champ for Tiffany Stratton,
but I did interview them both at SmackDown
and things got a little heated between them
when Tiffany Stratton was implying she was doing a massive favor
to the Hall of Famer, Trish, by granting her this opportunity.
Trish retorting,
"No, I earned this. And I'm gonna be teaching you a lesson tonight."
-[Cole] Yeah, Trish Stratus… -[crowd chanting]
…she's someone who's dedicated her life to the business.
She'd love to win the title tonight
and if she does win the championship, Wade,
how does that change the landscape of WWE?
[Barrett] It would be an ultimate shock for me.
It is so hard to stay razor-sharp as you mentioned yourself,
there just hasn't been those reps for Trish Stratus of late,
or even in recent years when it comes to singles competition.
And you can go to the treadmill all you want,
you can work out in a gym, go in the swimming pool,
there's no matching reps in that ring.
And you and I were there last night, Saturday Night Main Event,
and what a matchup it was between Gunther
and the Hall of Famer, Goldberg, looking for one last hurrah.
This is kind of, to me, the women's equivalent of that kind of match.
[Cole] Well, Trish Stratus has not said this would be
her last match as Goldberg did.
And now it's Stratus now. Nice takedown to Tiffany Stratton.
[crowd cheering]
Trish just doesn't lose a step, does she?
[Barrett] She does not. Looking razor-sharp.
But the longer this goes on,
I start to question the endurance of Trish Stratus
given what I've said about match sharpness and lack of reps,
and the same cannot be said for the young champ, Stratton.
[Cole] Friendship goes out the window
when the Women's Championship is on the line.
And now the fisticuffs begin.
[Barrett] Yeah, this is more like it.
Forget the sportsmanship, throw that out the window.
I wanna scrap. How badly do you want the gold, Trish?
Because I know this woman wants to keep it in the worst way.
One, two…
[Cole] Pull up now by Stratton to retain. And Stratus able to get the shoulder up.
[Barrett] And I've been so impressed with Tiffany Stratton,
she's not one of those newcomers to Raw and SmackDown
who's gonna walk around on eggshells.
Believes she is firmly entitled to the spotlight right now
and is not gonna be pushed around by anybody in the locker room.
[Cole] Well, wait, she's earned it, right?
I mean, Tiffany Stratton has lived up to the hype.
[Barrett] Undoubtedly. It's a game-changing superstar for me.
-[crowd cheering] -She has gymnastic abilities,
former Miss Team USA athlete alongside the likes of Simone Biles,
and she knows exactly how to use that skill set
and translate it to our industry.
[Cole] Oh, snap suplex. And, uh, tried to bury Trish on the apron.
-Trish was able to counter. -[both grunting]
-And now Stratus sending… -[groans]
…Tiffany Stratton to the floor.
[Barrett] And that stratusphere to the outside so well executed.
A deep playbook for Trish Stratus,
and it's already coming in handy in this one,
catching the champ by surprise there.
[Cole] Again, champions advantage for Tiffany in this match.
-Trish must pin or submit the champion. -[crowd chanting]
-[both grunting] -[Cole] Missing wildly.
Trish Stratus now. A nice spinebuster delivered.
-One, two… -Is it enough to put her away?
And a shoulder up by Stratton, the champion.
Trish Stratus, seven times in her career the lady's been a champion.
Actually won the Hardcore Title once in her Hall of Fame career.
You know, back at the first Evolution, she teamed with her best friend, Lita…
[grunting]
…to beat Mickie James and Alicia Fox.
And now Trish Stratus mounting Tiffany Stratton
in delivering the right hands.
[Barrett] It's one thing getting the upper hand on someone like Tiffany Stratton,
it's another thing maintaining it.
And now Trish is doing a hell of a job at that right here.
[Cole] Oh, and down goes Stratton off the Tornado DDT.
-One, two… -Cover again by Stratus.
Stratton's gotta power out again.
[Barrett] And Stratton just hasn't really got out of the blocks tonight.
I was not anticipating this after the wars we saw,
as you mentioned, with Charlotte at WrestleMania 41,
and of course, multiple times with the powerhouse, Nia Jax.
-[Stratus grunts] -[crowd exclaim]
[Barrett] This looks like a Tiffany Stratton who was almost unprepared
for this kind of onslaught from Trish.
[Cole] But again we talked about how well they know each other.
Trish Stratus helped train Tiffany Stratton earlier this year,
knows a lot about the champion.
[Barrett] Don't forget the winner of this match…
will flee to go on to SummerSlam
to compete against the Queen of the Ring winner,
Jade Cargill in a few weeks.
[Cole] Yeah, three weeks from this weekend.
[Barrett] Real motivation.
But we are getting a generational dream match in my opinion.
Right here and now.
The champ starting to assert herself somewhat.
[Cole] The official in this matchup, Jessika Carr,
looking on as Stratton and Trish Stratus have had a stalemate in the early going.
Stratton now using her gymnastics background
to deliver that back elbow to Stratus.
[Barrett] She may be the greatest athlete in the industry,
and that was effortless for Tiffany Stratton.
-[Cole] Oh, suplex into the knees! -[Barrett] Oh, wow!
[Cole] Unique offensive move by Stratton, and a kick out by Stratus.
[Barrett] And how brilliant is that from Tiffany Stratton?
You're in there with a friend who you've tagged with and knows you well.
Let's pull out something a little different from the playbook here.
This's kind of modified Falcon arrow-type move
into a backbreaker, knees up. I don't even know what you call that.
I'm sure some nerd online will correct me. But, wow, that was impressive.
[Cole] Now, they've been correcting me and you all night.
And now, uh, Tiffany Stratton will send Stratus across the ring into the corner,
Stratus now.
Shoulders down. Roll-through by Tiffany tough.
And a basement dropkick to Stratus.
[Barrett] Such a devastating move.
Such quick reactions. Able to get up and back on the attack like that.
[Cole] And now Tiffany, we're gonna head up to the top rope,
Stratus is in trouble.
-Tiffany Stratton… -What time is it?
-…gonna fly with a swanton. -[Barrett] Ooh.
-Oh, my goodness. Cover for the win. -One, two…
And somehow Trish gets the shoulder up, but what about the impact of the swanton?
[Barrett] This is a visual oxymoron,
something this beautiful should not be so painful.
But it is tense all around for Tiffany Stratton.
But hats off to Trish who's still… still clinging on right now.
[Cole] And Stratton now with…
The second rope was knocked off by Trish Stratus.
Perhaps looking for the prettiest moonsault ever.
Stratton's finishing maneuver.
But now Trish Stratus has taken over.
-Trish now. -[Barrett] Whoa.
[Cole] Looking for that patented bulldog, perhaps.
[Barrett] Too much left in the tank of the champion here.
[Cole] And now Tiffany Stratton sent to the mat.
[Barrett] Stratuspheres once again.
It's worked twice, and a big kick to the head.
-One, two… -[Cole] Quick kick action by Trish.
Kick out at two by Stratton.
[Barrett] Well, you can never question the toughness of Tiffany Stratton.
After the six months she's had here in WWE.
-And the wars she has been in. -[crowd cheering]
Will not be going down without a major fight.
[Cole] Classic Trish, went for stratusfaction.
Blocked by Tiffany Stratton, who's now got Trish up on her shoulders.
Rolling senton.
And now Tiffany, top rope.
-Moonsault on knees up! -[Barrett] Ooh.
Baited in there by Trish Stratus. And here we go, Cole.
[Cole] And now she hits the stratusfaction.
-Trish for the win. For the championship. -One, two…
-Kick out at two! -[crowd groan]
[Barrett] And that, if you are a Trish Stratus fan,
or apparently Trish Stratus herself, is the moment your heart sinks.
Knees up, here. Perfectly baited in the champ.
There's the bulldog. Stratusfaction guaranteed.
One, two…
Until that guarantee was canceled with that kick out
from Tiffany Stratton.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] Trish Stratus showing why she's one of the best ever.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] The Hall of Famer.
[Barrett] Really showing out tonight here in Atlanta at Evolution.
[Cole] And now, Trish…
Trish heading up to the top rope.
[Barrett] Not typically a high-flyer.
[Cole] Trish Stratus looking for a moonsault.
-Tiffany Stratton got the knees up. -[crowd groan]
Trish Stratus tried to pull one out of her best friend's playbook, Lita,
with a moonsault.
-An Alabama slam by Tiffany. -[crowd groan]
[Barrett] I mean, hard on the back of the head, and now in the drop zone.
[Cole] Prettiest moonsault ever.
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[Cole] Tiffany retains.
[bell dings]
["Tiffy Time" playing]
[Taylor] Here is your winner
and still the WWE Women's Champion,
Tiffany Stratton!
[Cole] Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Bayley.
Trish Stratus among those that Tiffany Stratton has slayed.
Along this over seven-month reign as the champion.
[Barrett] Well, this was when Trish Stratus perhaps overestimated.
Tried to give Tiffany a taste of her own medicine with that moonsault.
But nobody does it better.
You are better than the rest.
-And that is the prettiest moonsault… -[crowd] One, two, three!
…you will ever see.
-[bell dings] -And it got the dub tonight.
Big retention for the champ whose legend continues to grow.
[Cole] It is indeed Tiffy Time at Evolution.
What an impressive performance by Tiffany Stratton.
[Barrett] Trish Stratus too. It was superb tonight.
Overcompeted and came within a whisker of victory.
But you gotta be pretty damn special if you're gonna take…
I'm your forever champ.
…the gold away from this woman.
[Cole] Tiffany Stratton, an impressive victory tonight
over that woman, the Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus,
who once again stood out on the grand stage.
[crowd cheering]
[cheering continues]
[crowd chanting]
["Time to Rock & Roll" playing]
[Cole] You know, Wade, you have to wonder every time you see Trish Stratus
compete at this point in her career, whether it's the final time.
But Trish Stratus, once again, impressive tonight.
[Naomi] Undervalued.
Underappreciated.
Underestimated.
Jade, you hate the fact that no matter what you do,
I'm the one with the power to take it all away.
Just like I took away months from your career.
[siren blaring]
Just like I took away the tag titles.
Just like I took away the Big 3.
[laughing]
Because I told y'all I was done accepting scraps.
And look at me now. Ms. Money in the Bank.
[bell dings]
So I strongly advise you to proceed with caution.
Naomi took everything away from me.
She took my friendships,
my title
and my health.
I refuse to let anyone take one more thing away from me.
[Cole] The powerhouse who was taken WWE by storm.
[Cargill] I'ma keep climbing regardless.
I am the storm,
and I can't wait to tear through this Queen of the Ring tournament.
And when the dust settles, I will be your next Queen of the Ring.
[Cole] Caught, intercepted by Cargill.
[Barrett] Jade Cargill is your Queen of the Ring.
[Cole] Jade Cargill has an opportunity to win her first singles championship.
She's going to SummerSlam.
[Naomi exclaims]
Should've proceeded with caution. [laughing]
Are you okay?
I'm tired of this once and for all, get me Naomi!
[commentator] And look who's back home.
Bianca Belair.
She's been dealing with an injury that's had her out of action.
[Barrett] Naomi blames Cargill
for breaking up a friendship with Bianca Belair.
Bianca, please, it's been way too long.
What is there to talk about?
What do you want from me?
Look, I know our friendship has been off the rails lately.
Let's just let the past be the past and move forward.
We were best friends and you my trust.
You took our friend and threw her on the windshield of a car
and you lied about it to me for months. I trusted you.
You know, Bianca, I would hate for something bad to happen to you right here
and right now.
[Cole] Well, right here, right now, a storm is on its way to the ring.
[Barrett] But clearly, no trust left whatsoever
between any of the former members of the Big 3.
SmackDown is my home, and right now my home is divided.
[commentator] Jade and Naomi.
No holds barred, no restrictions at Evolution.
[wrestler] I've made a little arrangement.
Allow me to introduce someone who can maintain order
in your no holds barred match.
[Cole] Oh, yeah!
Bianca Belair will be the special guest referee
for this No Holds Barred match.
[bell dings]
[Taylor] The following
is a No Holds Barred Match!
In this match there are no countouts,
no disqualifications,
no holds barred.
The only way to win is by pinball or submission.
["Watch Me Shine" plays]
[Taylor] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome special guest referee
Bianca Belair!
[Cole] You know, Wade, we were talking earlier today
about whether Bianca Belair can call this one down the middle.
Issues with both of these women.
[Barrett] Yeah, where do Belair's loyalties really lie?
Hasn't spoken to either Naomi or Jade, really since Elimination Chamber.
Has stated she trusts neither woman.
Naomi broke into Belair's house a couple of months ago,
made threats to Belair's family.
But then Cargill never clued in the fact that it was Naomi who attacked Cargill
and allowed Belair to then tag with Naomi
potentially putting Belair in the line of fire
to this lunatic version of Naomi. So…
[Cole] So what you're saying is Bianca should call this down the middle
because she doesn't favor either one of these women.
[Barrett] Well, that might be a point, but we did see Belair refereeing
a little earlier this year between Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley,
and I will say I thought it was a terrible performance.
Far from EST it was W-O-R-S-T.
That spells "worst".
[Cole] Messed a lot of things up on the road of WrestleMania, didn't it?
Yes, indeed. So hopefully Belair gets her act together in the stripes tonight.
[Cole] And there is the woman who carries the briefcase, the contract,
Money in the Bank.
[Taylor] Introducing first,
from Orlando, Florida,
Ms. Money in the Bank,
Naomi!
[Cole] Not thinking about the contract tonight,
she's thinking about surviving Jade Cargill in No Holds Barred.
Pinfall or submission is how you win.
No countouts, no disqualifications. Really, Wade, anything goes.
[Barrett] Well, you are a brave man predicting
what Naomi is thinking right now
because this is a disturbed manic version of a superstar we have known and loved
for the past 15 plus years.
It's very difficult to love Naomi at the moment 'cause this woman is unhinged.
[Cole] Well, if you like evil, you can love her.
I certainly do love the outfits of Naomi,
perhaps the best dressed superstar of them all as creative as they come
and you best heed that warning, proceed with caution.
["A Storm Is Coming" plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Taylor] And her opponent,
from Vero Beach, Florida,
the 2025 Queen of the Ring,
Jade Cargill!
[Cole] This is the 4th Women's No Holds Barred match in WWE history,
the first for Jade Cargo and Naomi tonight.
Jade, of course, beat Naomi back at WrestleMania.
Naomi wasted little time heading out to the aisleway,
trying to use the briefcase and Jade Cargill.
[Barrett] You may not have heard it amidst the roar and the music,
but there was a ding ding ding from the referee.
Bianca Belair, we are officially underway.
And now, as you said, Cole, no holds barred from this point on.
[Cole] And what Bianca Belair needs to do, Wade,
is pretty much count the one-two-three, or call the tap out
if there's a submission because anything goes.
No countouts, no disqualifications. Naomi driven into the steel step.
Jade Cargill as angry as they come.
against a woman who put her through a car window,
cost her a number of months of her career, cost her a Tag Team championship.
[Barrett] The beginning of the end of the Big 3,
but it is an end…
-[Cole] Oh! -…quite arrived yet.
I suspect the end comes one way or another at the conclusion of this matchup.
[Cole] You know, Naomi, you mentioned the change in attitude before,
she really went off the deep end when she started to become extremely jealous of
the burdening relationship between Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
[Barrett] Yeah, she was treated as the third member of the--
[Cole exclaims] A Kendo stick to no avail. And Cargill with a kick to the midsection.
[Barrett] Of the Big 3, by most importantly Jade Cargill
and there was some bitterness that developed within Naomi,
her perspective being that the newcomer Jade Cargill had simply stepped over her.
And was essentially treating her like a Funkadactyl,
and that just ain't good enough.
[Cole] Talk about the past.
There's, uh, Jade Cargill now, drags out a table.
[Barrett] Jade Cargill, the greatest physical specimen
this industry has ever seen,
-male or female. -[shouting]
I was wrong earlier, there is an end point to evolution,
and that end point apparently is Jade Cargill.
[Cole] And let's not forget Jade Cargill is the Queen of the Ring.
She won the tournament.
She already has a guaranteed title opportunity
against now Tiffany Stratus at SummerSlam for the WWE Women's championship.
[Barrett] Which is why you need Naomi firmly in the rear view mirror
so you can focus exclusively on that opponent.
[Cole] Yeah, because Naomi has the, uh, wild card in her pocket,
the contract, she can cast it any time, any place, make no mistake about it.
Whatever happens tonight,
she's gonna target Jade or Tiffany come SummerSlam.
And now Naomi, Kendo stick in hand. And it's Naomi's turn.
The reason she wears caution tape.
-Oh. -[Barrett groans]
[Cole] It'll look like a crime scene out here pretty soon.
[Barrett] I don't care how big your muscles are,
your body simply cannot be protected
against this crazed woman swinging a Kendo stick with wilder…
[Cole] What happened to Naomi?
She used to feel the glow, have so much fun.
[Barrett] Well, something snapped, it was just a level of disrespect.
And someone with talent, the ability, the background of Naomi,
it ain't good enough.
[Cole] Well, you call it disrespect, I call it jealousy.
[Barrett] You can call it whatever you want,
it's led to unparalleled success for Naomi,
including becoming Ms. Money in the Bank.
And who knows? At future date, may be a champion.
[Cole] Naomi tossing chairs and trash cans into the ring.
Speared by Cargill!
Right here in front of us, the impact to Naomi.
[Barrett] Who puts razor blades on their ring gear?
How crazy I have to be, but…
[Cole] Uh, Jade Cargill and…
Got a toolbox the size of my truck.
[Barrett] I bet you can't lift it as easily as Jade Cargill,
just swung that thing in the ring.
-[Cole] My wife has to help me. -[Barrett laughs]
[Cole] And now setting up the steel chair.
Oh, and a kick right to the shoulder.
[Barrett] Jade Cargill getting softened up by the minute here.
[Cole] And now… Naomi face-first to cargo off the steel chair!
Covered by Naomi looking to win No Holds Barred.
And a kick out at two by the Storm.
[Barrett] It really is a matchup that favors two things in competitors.
Number one, physical toughness, obviously, and I'll…
Not put too much in between these two.
The other part that really favors you is who is the most cutthroat,
and I think we all know the answer to that.
It is the woman
who is now about to dig deep into the aforementioned toolbox.
[Cole] Not too sure that Jade…
I think she's got a killer instinct as well, Wade.
And now a steel chain.
I don't have one of those in my toolbox.
Naomi now gonna use the…
the chain to her advantage.
Trying to rearrange the facial features of Jade Cargill here.
[Belair shouting]
[Barrett] Joe, completely legal. Bianca Belair getting in close.
Really just to see if there is a submission.
But the power of the storm battling out of this one.
[Cole] And Jade Cargill saving herself there, being able to power out.
And now it's Naomi set to the center of the ring.
[Barrett] Simply anticipated
that the powers of Jade Cargill were beginning to fade.
Big error there from Naomi.
Oh, boy, this has turned around in a hurry.
[Cole] And now Cargill wrapping her fist with that steel chain.
-Naomi's right into the right hand. -[Barrett] Oh!
Oh, there was no pull on that one at all, just cleaning the clock.
Naomi.
[Cole] Jade Cargill just grabbed the camera from the cameraman, and now…
-Gonna be up close and personal. -[Barrett] Oh!
Well, that's gonna be expensive for TKO.
Those things are about 100 grand each.
Come on! Get back up!
[Cole] There goes her paycheck.
And now Jade.
Oh, trash can tossed down to the… the top of Naomi.
And Jade now measuring Naomi. Oh! And a big kick.
[Barrett] Palm kick, bull's-eye, the one you can't see coming
with a garbage can on your head, Naomi.
[Cole] And Naomi, the grouch.
[Barrett] Absorbing that with the face.
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] And now Jade Cargill with that… that toolbox that she's living…
lifting it above her head.
She's gonna try to… to crush Naomi here.
And Naomi just rolled out of harm's way.
[Barrett] Oh, my God, that was from about 12 feet in the air.
And you heard the thud when it landed, packed with tools.
[Cole] That would have crippled Naomi.
And now Cargill.
Naomi drives her kidney-first into the apron.
And now Cargill sent right into our announce table.
[Barrett] Got out of the way quick this time.
I got nailed by Cargill a few weeks ago, not twice.
[Cole] It's been dangerous out here, Wade, the past couple of nights.
[Barrett] Yes, it has.
Even Joe Tess got caught up a few days ago.
[yells]
-[Cole] Oh! Oh, goodness. -[Barrett] Ooh!
[Cole] Right into a TV monitor that we have in front of our announce desk here.
-Calls in it the short circuit. -Are you okay?
[Cole] Bianca Belair's got to check on Jade.
[crowd chanting]
Oh, you can smell the… the smoke and almost burning skin or hair here.
Naomi.
[Barrett] Well, I'll be surprised if Jade Cargill didn't get electrocuted there.
[Cole] Which you may… may well have is…
Naomi now drags the… the table out from underneath the ring.
Cargill has barely moved.
Allowing Naomi to do what she wants to set up the table,
to use her however she wants.
[Barrett] I suppose you can't submit if you're unconscious.
Belair taking a very close look at her former friend, Jade Cargill.
Are you good? You don't have to do this.
You don't have to. We can just stop right now.
-You okay? You wanna keep going? -[panting]
[grunts]
[Cole] Obviously concerned.
Bianca Belair to the well-being of Jade Cargill.
Oh, and Naomi.
Loan Seguri there, almost a basement in Seguri to the back of the neck.
[Barrett] And at this point, clearly Naomi can slow things down to her own pace
because there's nothing coming.
[Cole] Oh, look at this. Using the legs of that table as a weapon.
Driving them into the face and the eyes of Jade Cargill.
Trying to disfigure the Storm.
[Barrett] What an emphatic statement that would be.
Well, you beat your opponent, take an eyeball out in the process.
[Cole] And Naomi laughing about it.
Like, she thinks that the… It's sick.
[Barrett] It's No Holds Barred.
Those are technically the rules, however distasteful it may be.
[Cole] Now Naomi sending Cargill to the apron.
And this may be over pretty shortly.
[Barrett] And Cargill, it appears, should not have signed up for this matchup.
-Not with this opponent. -[Cole] Yeah, dangerous.
Naomi.
[Barrett] What have you let yourself in for here, Jade?
[Cole] Yeah, something happened.
A couple of screws loose in Naomi as of late.
You can't wipe the smirk off the face of Ms. Money in the Bank.
[Cole] Oh! Through the table goes Cargill.
And now Naomi.
[Belair] Are you okay? Are you okay? Hey!
[Cole] Gotta get Cargill back in the ring to try to pick up the victory.
Naomi still simmering after that loss at WrestleMania has not forgotten it.
[Barrett] And still Naomi isn't done.
I mean, there's nothing coming back the way of offense from Jade Cargill.
Oh!
[Cole] Planted on the chair, covered by Naomi.
For the win, No Holds Barred,
kick out by Cargill.
[Barrett] Oh, it was a sluggish kick out by Jade Cargill.
I'm astounded there was a kick out at all.
But that tank is running dry for the Storm here.
This was the long way through the Slim Jim table when Jade Cargill…
Body battered and broken tonight
by a woman who has been completely dominant unhinged, demented, sadistic.
[Cole] You know, we mentioned earlier that Cargill's got the title opportunity
at SummerSlam already three weeks away.
But you have to wonder what a loss and No Holds Barred
to her bitter enemy Naomi would do to her psyche heading into that match.
[Barrett] We've got the psyche. I'm more concerned about the body.
Three weeks to recover is not much after this kind of abuse.
[Cole] And Naomi has just been punishing Cargill.
And looking perhaps for the death blow here.
[Barrett] And it's as good as over for me right now.
And Belair helpless to do anything because Cargill just won't give up.
[Cole] And now with the chair placed on the body of Cargill.
Naomi gonna make her way up to the rope.
Cargill with a chair to the spine.
Recovery by Cargill.
[Barrett] Well, this is crazy, Cole. This is crazy durability.
And what the hell?
[Cole] From up there?
No way! To break her in half!
Through the table!
Jaded through the table!
[crowd] One, two three!
-[Cole] Cargill with the win! -[bell dings]
[Taylor] Here is your winner!
Jade Cargill!
[Cole] Man, what a performance by the Queen of the Ring.
The number one contender for the WWE Women's championship, Jade Cargill.
We learned a lot about the Storm tonight.
[Barrett] Wow! Just one shot was all it took.
After 90% of the abuse going the way of the Storm.
Naomi just taking too long, taking an eye off Jade Cargill.
And this one shot through the table.
Jaded.
Jade Cargill proving she's as gutsy as they come.
She's unyielding as they come and may well be unbreakable.
[Cole] Jade Cargill with revenge here tonight.
To win a No Holds Barred over Naomi.
[rock music playing]
[Taylor] Candice LeRae!
[Cole] The ring filling up.
WWE superstars for a Battle Royal
in which the winner gets a world title opportunity
at Clash in Paris.
[Taylor] From San Diego, California,
Nia Jax!
[Cole] You know, way back in 2018 at the very first Evolution,
Nia Jax won the women's Battle Royal.
Can she do it again tonight and earn a championship opportunity?
[Barrett] I mean, she's automatically installed as my favorite.
Too strong for the field, but add to that her body,
the poison pixie, Candice LeRae apparently by her side,
Candice LeRae sometimes with DIY here tonight,
realigning with Nia Jax. That has to be the pick.
That's the woman the rest of the field needs to watch out for.
[Cole] And this one.
[Taylor] From San Fernando, Chile!
Stephanie Vaquer!
[Cole] You know, Wade,
almost one year to the day, Stephanie Vaquer
made her debut in WWE.
And what a career she's had so far.
NXT Women's champion,
NXT North American's champion,
only woman to hold those two titles at the same time.
Of course, now a member of the Monday Night Raw roster
and a golden opportunity here tonight to perhaps earn a world title opportunity.
[Barrett] And you missed the most important part.
A lot of women's heads have gone bouncy-bouncy over the past 12 months,
thanks to Vaquer.
If that happens tonight, the roof is coming off this place.
-[Cole] The devil's kiss. -[Barrett] Bouncy-bouncy.
So that's what you call it.
[Taylor] From Tokyo, Japan.
She is the WWE Women's
United States Champion
Giulia!
[Cole] First on the scene around the same time as Stephanie Vaquer
took over NXT, won the championship.
Now she's the United States champion dominating Friday Night SmackDown.
Giulia is a joy to watch.
[Barrett] Yeah, came into WWE with a huge global reputation.
Well earned.
That reputation seems to grow week by week
as does the trophy cabinet.
We've got one right here, the United States Championship.
You mentioned we could add to that very soon with victory here tonight
and progress through to Clash in Paris.
[Cole] Again, the rules of the Battle Royal.
You go over the top rope, both feet hit the floor, you are eliminated.
The last woman in the ring will earn an opportunity,
the world title Clash in Paris, the end of August.
[Barrett] Look at how the women have aligned themselves here.
They seem to have aligned themselves as an NXT corner.
There's a SmackDown corner, and there's a Raw corner.
We may have three separate factions here.
[Cole] Well, from familiarity, of course, friendships.
[bell dings]
And now we're under way. Battle Royal.
Any type of strategy, Wade, for this type of thing?
[Barrett] Keep away from Nia Jax.
[Cole] And look at Nia Jax.
[Barrett] You simply didn't get the memo in time.
[Cole] Nia eliminated Tatum Paxley.
She's now eliminated.
Izzi Dame.
Nia Jax, who holds elimination records in the women's Royal Rumble,
is always dominant in these kind of events.
[Barrett] Well, two NXT superstars thrown out earlier.
Now two other NXT superstars.
Kelani Jordan and Jaida Parker trying to team up against Nia Jax.
Best leaving that to someone else, ladies.
[Cole] And Kelani Jordan now on the apron knocked into…
The NXT women, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley, who were eliminated.
[Barrett] Now Jordynne's feet have not touched the floor here.
Technically, she is still legal.
[Cole] Yes, she's on our announce table,
[Barrett] I mean, you're kind of stuck on an island now, Kelani.
It might be night over.
[Cole] Not sure if Kelani can make the jump to the apron.
[Barrett] No chance, not without a run up.
[Cole] Tremendous athlete. We know all about it.
Former North American champion.
[Barrett] I think she's trying to be creative here.
[Cole] At the barricade behind us.
And Kelani trying to figure out what she needs to do here.
[Barrett] This is where you need to study your Kofi Kingston tapes
ahead of this kind of matchup.
[Cole] Yeah, the way Kofi has survived the Royal Rumble over the years.
Meanwhile, the Battle Royals inside the ring.
[Barrett] Jaida Parker, what a powerhouse she is.
I have my eye on her.
[Cole] Look at Kelani Jordan now.
Kelani was a gymnast, remember?
At Michigan State, and she's showing off now.
Her feet haven't touched the floor.
Kelani now, feet under the bottom rope,
great core strength, pulls herself back in.
To the Battle Royal, what a performance by Kelani Jordan.
[Barrett] Nice job, Kelani.
Rare skill set, and using it to full effect to stay alive now.
[Cole] Down goes Lola Vice.
[Barrett] And it would be a huge shock if one of the NXT women pull this off,
but my pick of them all has to be Lash Legend.
She is going to the top in this industry.
She's been superb at NXT.
And you get a little taste of that right now, Ivy Nile.
[Cole] You're calling cameras out of here for our director Lee.
Great shot of Lash Legend and her power moments ago.
And now Nia Jax speaking of power, goes right after Lash Legend.
Nia has been so dominating over the years.
[Barrett] I tell you right now, powerful women do not like other powerful women.
That's how it works in the game of WWE.
And now Nia Jax is trying to sweep out Lash Legend
before she gets any kind of momentum here.
[Cole] And now look at Stephanie Vaquer
with the headbutts to Ivy Nile in the corner.
Chad Gable made a point before he went out with injury
to tell Ivy Nile to take out Stephanie Vaquer.
And that appears to be what Ivy's trying to do here.
Well, Nile is about as aggressive a superstar as I've ever seen.
Pitbull by name, pitbull by nature.
But, whoa, herself hanging there is about to get dragged out.
By Vaquer with that arm bar.
[Cole] And look at Giulia, big smile on her face,
the opportunity to eliminate Ivy Nile, and she does.
[Barrett] Don't turn your back on Nikki Bella.
[Cole] Nikki Bella is in the main event of the first Evolution.
Ronda Rousey, back in 2018.
She returns to the scene tonight for an opportunity…
at a championship perhaps.
Gotta tap into those Hall of Fame credentials,
does Nikki Bella, to try and get some momentum here.
[Cole] Interesting stare off now
between the United States champion Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer.
Told you about their relationship over the past year in WWE.
[Barrett] Really do not like each other, both billed as the future.
Pretty much entered at the same time as you mentioned.
[Cole] And Stephanie now with the forearm to Giulia.
Exchanging blows in the middle of the ring, headbutt by Giulia.
One by Vaquer.
[Barrett] So difficult with so many bodies fighting around you
to try and get some space.
[Cole] Head butts. Both women still on their feet.
[Barrett] Scrambling the brains of one another here,
and no one seemingly getting an advantage.
[Cole] Nice suplex by Stephanie.
[Barrett] That changed quickly, didn't it?
[Cole] And Nikki Bella now getting involved.
Goes after Vaquer.
Natalya in there pulling the…
-[Cole] You're gonna get your wish. -[Barrett] Here we go.
[Cole] Hope Booker T's watching.
-Went for the devil's kiss. -[Barrett] Boom!
[Cole] And Chelsea Green breaking things up.
[Barrett] I love Chelsea, but that was an error, Chelsea.
Nobody wanted that.
[Cole] Uh, showing complete disrespect to Nikki Bella.
Nikki now AA takedown, mounts and pounds.
And now the Secret Hervice for Chelsea Green get involved.
And now a triple team on Nikki.
[Barrett] A well-oiled machine is the Secret Hervice.
Now we're gonna save Nikki Bella.
[Barrett] Might need a little more oil after that one.
And Maxxine!
[Barrett] Bodies are dropping now, hopes are fading for certain women here
who cannot pick themselves up.
[Cole] Maxxine Dupri.
[Barrett] So much better than Otis's version.
[Cole] Much better.
And now the elbow delivered.
[Barrett] Maxxine who's been training in Natalya and Tyson Kidd's dungeon.
[screams]
[Cole] Not quite sure what that was all about.
[Barrett] Oh, no.
[Cole] Now Natalya gonna do one of her own!
[Barrett] Go for it, Natalya! You're a technician.
[Cole] Now Kelani Jordan going after
the most winningest woman in the WWE, Natalya.
[Barrett] Big discus. Clothesline there from Natalya.
About to power out the young up-and-comer.
[Cole] And now from behind, Jaida Parker eliminates Natalya.
[Barrett] There are two sides to Natalya, the helper and the decimator.
[Cole] And now Maxxine upset over the fact
that Jaida Parker eliminated her mentor Natalya.
And I would not bite many women in a slugfest against Jaida Parker.
This is one powerful woman.
[Cole] Get in it. To your point.
We're gonna just lift up and dump Maxxine over the top rope.
[Barrett] A real mean streak.
There's Jaida Parker. Oh!
[Cole] Oh, and off the apron and eliminated is Maxxine.
And now Jaida Parker looking to eliminate Candice LeRae.
[Barrett] It's a nice one, Jaida Parker.
You got to pounce when you get the opportunity in this game,
but that veteran Wiles of Candice LeRae keeping her in this one.
[Cole] Jaida Parker now knocks…
Candice Michelle.
[Barrett] Candice LeRae, you're doing it again!
[Cole laughs] Always do that. It is Evolution.
[Cole laughing]
[Barrett] She is gonna kill you. She was so upset.
[Cole] I knew. She told me that last time.
-[Barrett laughs] -[Cole] And now look at Secret Hervice.
[Barrett] Oh, the Long Back Attack in stereo.
[Cole] Michin!
-Get up here! -[screams]
You're a disgrace. You know that, Michael Cole.
[Cole] Oh, and dumped out Jaida Parker.
[Barrett] Two on one is always gonna give you the advantage in this kind of game.
A nice effort though from NXT's Jaida Parker,
but Kelani Jordan still in this one for the black and gold brand.
-[Cole] Nia Jax. -[Barrett] Spoke too soon. No, I didn't.
[Cole] Climbing up to apron,
and Candice Michelle, who was eliminated in the match,
but again no disqualifications, and Kelani Jordan has been eliminated
by Candice LeRae.
[Barrett] Please, you said Candice LeRae, didn't you?
[Cole] I did. Candice LeRae.
[Barrett] I'm at my wits end. Oh, nice on Lash Legend
dropping Nia Jax. What a statement that is.
And rolling out under the bottom rope was Nia Jax.
Technically, of course, not eliminated there.
Referee's got their eyes on that one.
[Cole] Zelina Vega looking for code red against Giulia,
the woman who took the United States championship from her.
Jax right now on the apron.
[Barrett] A dangerous place to fight it out in a battle.
Or one slip and it's all over, or one knee to the jaw,
and it might be all over, but Vega hanging on here.
What but a great few weeks for Zelina Vega losing that United States championship
that you mention. It might be about to get worse.
[Cole] Giulia looking to put Zelina away. Zelina on the apron.
-[thuds] -Oh, bounce off the post!
Giulia trying to hang on.
[Barrett] Pray you don't break her fingertips!
[Cole] And Zelina Vega eliminates the United States women's champion.
[Barrett] Little bit of payback for Miss Vega there.
Our anime aficionado.
Set your heart ablaze, Zelina.
[Cole] And now B-Fab and Piper Niven going after each other.
Nobody home is Piper. Heads into the corner.
B-Fab now with a big kick.
Uh-oh, Piper dumping B-Fab out of the match.
[Barrett] And this is starting to get dangerous
for all of the women in this matchup aside from Chelsea and the Secret Hervice.
[Cole] Michin was eliminated on the other side of the ring.
Michin is out.
She was eliminated.
Michin now out trying to eliminate Chelsea Green.
Alba Fyre just sacrificed herself.
-[Barrett] No, no, she went through the… -[Cole] Oh, through the…
-Yeah, you're right. -[Barrett] The middle row,
but Alba Fyre is still legal.
-[Cole] Exactly right. -[Barrett] Saving the head.
Chelsea Green.
[Cole] That was a great move by Alba Fire.
Saving Chelsea Green, did not go over the top rope.
[Barrett] Pays you to know the rules of this kind of match
and use them to your advantage.
That's exactly what Alba Fyre did there.
Tough in the heat of the battle.
Oh, what a showdown this is.
[Cole] Yeah, Lash Legend and Zelina Vega.
Huge size differential.
[Barrett] Like a bumblebee against the rhino,
and the rhino is winning.
[Cole] Lash trying to eliminate Zelina Vega.
Zelina now though, trying to turn the tables.
Lash in trouble trying to hang on.
[Barrett] Lash is just too strong.
What a perfectly built athlete, Lash Legend is.
The WNBA standout.
[Cole] Pressing Zelina Vega.
And Zelina's eliminated.
Now Piper and Chelsea working together,
going after Lash Legend as the field begins to thin out.
[Barrett] Yeah, this is when you really start targeting
the biggest threats in the matchup,
and clearly that threat at this moment in time
is Lash Legend for my money.
[Cole] And Chelsea and her Secret Hervice.
[Barrett] Salute! Stand up and salute!
[Cole] For what?
Oh, and from behind, Alba Fyre dumped out by Nikki Bella.
[Barrett] You never attacked somebody who is saluting Chelsea Green.
That was a cheap shot by Nikki Bella.
Watch and learn!
Watch and learn! You especially!
[Cole] Chelsea Green saying, "Watch and learn" as she mocks Nikki Bella now.
[Barrett] And mocking Lola Vice.
-[Cole] Nikki used to do that. -[Barrett] So does Lola Vice currently.
And here she is. She did not take it kindly.
[Cole] And now Chelsea Green…
with Lola up on her shoulders.
-And now Chelsea Green doing squats. -[Barrett] A workout.
[Cole] Oh! And a Spear by Nikki.
-There you go. -[Barrett] Get in there, Cole.
Show 'em what you can do. Shake those hips.
-You do it in the bar often enough. -[Cole] My hips don't like that.
As Piper Niven blaster Nikki Bella and Lola Vice.
[Barrett] The hips don't lie, do they, Michael Cole?
And neither does Piper Niven
when she says she's gonna get in that ring and call some chaos.
[Cole] The powerhouse.
Lola Vice on the apron trying to hang on in this matchup.
[Barrett] Lola's got those MMA credentials. I don't know if…
[Cole] Oh! In a headbutt, Lola's out.
[Barrett] That is illegal in MMA, but not here in this Battle Royal.
[Cole] And now Stephanie and Nikki Bella looking to eliminate Piper Niven,
and they do!
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] And now Chelsea Green is all alone without the Secret Hervice.
-And it's… -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] Hold on, hold on!
Hold on!
-We are going bouncy-bouncy!
[Cole] It's the Devil's Kiss by Stephanie Vaquer.
[crowd chanting]
[Barrett] Who needs Booker T
when you've got an entire arena doing it for you?
[Cole] Nikki Bella. Chelsea up top.
Good night, Chelsea.
And Chelsea Green eliminated.
And Nia from behind.
[Barrett] Nia, who got knocked out of the ring
under the bottom rope a little earlier.
Yeah, that's more like it. Best one yet.
[Cole] Nia Jax with Nikki into the corner.
[Barrett] Oh, that's irate that she lost her championship earlier this year.
[Cole] Oh, great hurricane Rana by Nikki Bella taking out Nia.
Nikki looks great in the ring.
[Barrett] Nikki looks absolutely fantastic.
Has not missed a step, but can she get this one finished up?
I don't think so, the way this is looking.
[Cole] On the apron now, Nikki trying to drag Nia Jax over the top rope.
Not sure how this is gonna work out, but maybe it will.
[Barrett] They'll choke her out in the process. Whoa!
[Cole] Lash Legend eliminates Nikki Bella.
[Barrett] Wasn't the woman she was aiming for.
-[Cole] And we are down to three. -[Barrett] But it worked out the same.
[Cole] Lash, Nia, Stephanie.
And interesting enough, all three brands, NXT, Raw and SmackDown…
are represented in the final three of the Battle Royal.
[Barrett] Oh, man, pick a winner from here.
How good is Lash Legend?
[Cole] Look at Legend and her power! The power of legend!
Trying to eliminate Nia Jax.
-[Barrett] Oh, my God. What… -[Cole] Stephanie from behind as well!
Nia on the apron.
[Barrett] What a feat of strength there from Lash Legend.
And now it's two on one.
-[Cole] Lash Legend. -[Barrett] Oh!
[Cole] Stephanie Vaquer trying to eliminate Nia Jax,
who's trying to hang on, who's trying to survive.
Big kick by legend.
[Barrett] God, that was impressive from Lash. Can she finish the job?
[Cole] And now using Stephanie Vaquer as a weapon. Nia still hanging on.
And now Jax is eliminated! And we're down to Stephanie and Lash.
[Barrett] The favorite is out of here.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh, and Lash with a big kick.
You could hear the explosion in this place.
[Barrett] Oh, those legs are so long, so difficult to evade,
and now the power of Lash Legend comes to the fore.
[Cole] One of these two women are gonna earn a world title opportunity
at Clash in Paris.
Will it be Vaquer? Will it be Legend?
Somebody could pick up the biggest winner of their career here tonight.
619 by Vaquer.
[Barrett] The one taking their career to new heights imminently.
[Cole] Stephanie's gotta get back in the ring.
Springboard off the top by Lash Legend, the powerhouse Legend,
marching around the ring with Stephanie Vaquer.
[Barrett] Lash is the absolute best, isn't she?
[Cole] And now Stephanie over the top rope.
Legend over the top rope as well.
[Barrett] Legend's got that grip strength. That wrist caught up there in the ropes.
[Cole] Yeah, trying to hang on here. Both women on the apron.
[Barrett] Lash's getting choked out by those legs though.
[Cole] Stephanie Vaquer doing what she can on the apron now.
Devil's Curse to Legend.
Legend eliminated!
-Stephanie Vaquer is going to Paris! -[bell dings]
[rock music playing]
[Taylor] Here is your winner!
Stephanie Vaquer!
[Barrett] Well, that was the greatest Battle Royal I may have ever seen,
and currently Michael Cole is getting assaulted by Nia Jax.
He's getting force fed a drink at ringside,
but let's not take the attention away from Stephanie Vaquer
who went bouncy-bouncy with that Devil's Kiss
at exactly the right moment against Lash Legend, who was phenomenal tonight.
And I cannot wait till we see more of her on Raw and SmackDown.
This is the moment Nikki Bella got booted out by Lash Legend
just as she was working over Nia Jax. Incredible.
Welcome to the big time Lash Legend
with this maneuver,
ousting Nia Jax
with a display of sheer power assisted by Stephanie Vaquer.
And shortly, we will be down, 2-2.
[Cole] It came down to Vaquer and Legend.
And off a Devil's Kiss,
-Stephanie Vaquer punches her ticket… -[bell dings]
…to the biggest match of her career
at Clash in Paris.
Let's go up to Stephanie McMahon.
[music stops]
Stephanie Vaquer, congratulations on an incredible victory
and incredible performance.
And I have to ask you, and please bear with me,
I'm gonna try to ask you in Spanish
[in English] This… This is difficult for me.
English is not my first language.
But wrestling…
Wrestling is my favorite language.
[crowd cheers]
And I need to say thank you.
And every woman before me and before us.
Because for that reason now we can make history.
Thank you every woman made the way for tonight.
Evolution is a big show.
And this experience in my career, it's amazing.
And I promise… I promise…
I will keep working hard
because I promise…
you will remember my name forever.
[in English] Ladies and gentlemen, your 2025 Evolution Battle Royal winner.
Stephanie Vaquer!
[Cole] Stephanie's going to Paris at the end of August
for an opportunity in a world title.
Congratulations to the Battle Royal winner, Stephanie Vaquer.
What a first year in WWE.
[Barrett] Wrestling is Stephanie Vaquer's first language.
She has displayed a Shakespearean level grasp of it
over the past 12 months.
And that does not bode well for the rest of the women's locker room,
especially whomever her opponent may be at Clash in Paris.
[Cole] Congratulations to Stephanie Vaquer.
Hey, I need a favor.
Can you watch my back when I go back
-and apologize to Candice LeRae? -[Barrett] Absolutely not.
You're in big trouble tonight.
[Cole] Hey, ladies and gentlemen,
once more, the Genius of the Sky and the Eradicator meet in the ring.
Rhea Ripley looks to change the narrative of her history against Iyo Sky,
who wants to continue her sheer dominance over Rhea.
Two women with so much history, so many moments,
and so many memories add to their storied saga tonight.
Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky for the Women's World Championship is next.
[commentator 1] You've never defeated Iyo Sky in singles competition.
Does that affect your psyche at all going into this match?
[Cole] Cover on Ripley!
-[bell ringing] -Sky wins!
[commentator 2] Over the moonsault! Needed a cover!
[Cole] Iyo's reign continues in NXT.
Iyo Sky counter!
Iyo Sky is the World Champion!
Over the moonsault!
Cover, Belair!
Iyo Sky wins!
Rhea Ripley has never defeated Iyo Sky in a one-on-one matchup.
[Ripley] Iyo's always had my number every step of the way,
whether it was the Mae Young Classic, to NXT,
now for my Women's World Championship.
That's always gonna be on my mind,
but I'm someone that likes to put this doubt
into the fire that really sets me alight.
Mami is the most dominant woman within this company.
[commentator 2] Rhea Ripley is a genuine badass.
How can you not be impressed?
[Ripley] This is my division.
Because Mami is always on top!
Welcome to Monday night Mami! [laughs]
With Evolution just around the corner,
I feel like I need to start getting my priorities straight.
[Cole] The Women's World Champion, Iyo Sky.
You are wrong about one thing.
You are not on top,
not without this.
Nobody in this division can stop me.
[Cole] From world stardom, to the top of the world!
[Sky] It's my era!
[Barrett] One of the greatest in-ring competitors
the women's division has ever seen.
Nobody in this division will ever take this championship from Iyo Sky!
I want to defend against the best.
That means defending against
Rhea Ripley!
Iyo, I have nothing but respect for you.
And if that is what you want,
then I just want you to know that I'm gonna stop at nothing
to get this back.
So at Evolution,
Rhea Ripley versus Iyo Sky for the Women's World Championship…
You're on.
[Cole] What a gutsy move by Iyo Sky.
Who will be the Women's World Champion?
[Iyo, Ripley] I am the real Women's World Champion.
["Demon In Your Dreams" by def rebel playing]
[Cole] So much has been made of one statistic,
the fact that Rhea Ripley has never defeated Iyo Sky in her career.
I had the opportunity to talk to Rhea Ripley this afternoon.
I asked her about that.
She looked me in the eyes and she said, "Cole, guess what?
I own it. That's on me.
I haven't been able to get the job done against Iyo Sky,
but I'm done talking about it.
Tonight, I'm gonna prove to the world why Mami is always on top."
[Barrett] And those to me, Cole, are just hollow words until you get the job done.
In your career you tend to favor fighting against certain superstars
with certain styles.
I always like taking on the smaller guys, the cruiserweights.
I personally struggle against any of the guys who are bigger than me.
Now Ripley may well have found her own kryptonite in the form of Iyo Sky
and that top talk, the mantra…
I think it belies the fact that Ripley in her head may well already feel defeated.
She's never gonna admit that publicly,
but this, to Ripley, may be Mission: Impossible.
[Cole] Rhea looking to win her forth World Championship.
She competed at the very first Evolution in 2018,
defending the NXT United Kingdom championship.
She's won Tag titles and NXT titles in the Royal Rumble.
But tonight would feel oh-so good for the Eradicator.
[music ends]
["Tokyo Shock" by def rebel playing]
The Women's World Champion, Iyo Sky.
-[crowd chanting] Iyo! -Remember what happened back in March.
When Iyo Sky shocked everyone, taking the Championship from Rhea Ripley.
Paving her way to WrestleMania.
[Barrett] WrestleMania, where she went on to defend that Championship
in a Triple Threat match against Belair and Rhea Ripley.
And Rhea Ripley has always been of the opinion
she never really got a fair shake in a one-on-one rematch for the gold
against the woman who dethroned her, Iyo Sky.
Well that changes tonight. There can be no excuses
after this evening's main event from Rhea Bloody Ripley.
[Cole] The Genius of the Sky.
One of the greatest wrestlers on the planet today.
Former Money in the Bank winner, a two-time world champion,
couple time Tag champ, NXT, NXT Tag titles as well…
Let's head up to Alicia Taylor.
[bell dings]
The following contest scheduled for one fall is for
the Women's World Championship!
Introducing first, the challenger,
from Adelaide, South Australia,
Rhea
Ripley!
And to her opponent,
from Tokyo, Japan,
she is
the Women's World Champion,
Iyo Sky!
[Cole] It is the main event tonight.
Of the second ever WWE Evolution,
the all women's premium live event that has wowed since the start tonight.
Tiffany Stratton earlier on defending the WWE Women's Championship
against Trish Stratus
in what was Trish's first singles match for a title in 18 years.
And now Iyo Sky defends the Women's World title
against Rhea Bloody Ripley.
Official Jessika Carr will work this match up, and we are underway.
Wade, let's talk about the strategy in this,
especially for Rhea Ripley, who's never beaten Iyo Sky.
That's in her mind. It's in her… It's going to affect her mentally perhaps.
-How does she get it out of her head? -[Barrett] What was that Ted Lasso quote?
Be a goldfish. You've simply got to forget the past, if possible.
Block it out right now.
Realize you are in there with a human being.
This is not kryptonite.
You are the dominator, and you have to reinforce that now against Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Iyo wants to create space, stay away from Rhea Ripley,
allow her speed and agility in her high flying maneuvers to take over.
For Rhea Ripley, you want to wear Iyo Sky down,
use your power, take her out of her game.
[Barrett] And for me this is the two best female wrestlers on planet Earth in 2025,
highly appropriate that we're closing out this incredible PLE
with these two battling it out for the gold.
The question remains though, who is one and who is two?
[Cole] You know, Wade, a lot was made of… back in…
At Night of Champions,
that Rhea Ripley needed to win over Raquel Rodriguez in that street fight.
It was a must-win…
Rhea, cover and a kick out… And she did. She did the job.
She picked up the victory.
This is a must win tonight, I believe, for Rhea Ripley.
[Barrett] Yeah, and that match up against Raquel at Night of Champions
was a major momentum builder,
and this really is a momentum game,
you start to believe a little differently
when you rack up those Ws that you've historically perhaps struggled with.
[Cole] Snapmare and Iyo lands on her feet.
[Barrett] And the mocking, the mind games getting right in the head of Rhea Ripley.
Yeah, Rhea, that one normally works, doesn't it?
Not tonight, not against me.
[Cole] Healthy show of respect.
Remember it was Iyo Sky who chose
to defend her title at Evolution against Rhea Ripley.
Said she wanted to face the best in the world.
I'm sure the fact that she hasn't lost to Rhea probably figured into that as well.
[Barrett] Yeah, I don't believe a word of that from Iyo Sky.
She wanted to beat a woman who she truly believes cannot beat her,
and that woman is Rhea Ripley.
What a statement it would be to pull out yet another win against the Eradicator.
[Cole] Iyo with a leapfrog up over the top.
Rhea Ripley able to fly through and tells Iyo Sky, "Bring it."
Iyo went for the sunset flip, Rhea able to hold on.
And looking to overpower the Women's World Champion, she sends her into the corner.
[Barrett] None of this is surprising to Iyo Sky,
she's tasted the power of Ripley before,
but importantly she knows how to neutralize it.
[Cole] Yeah. Iyo realizes that she's stuck in the corner there
trying to make her way out and Rhea Ripley said, "Hey, I had you."
Now she's the one playing mind games.
[Barrett] That chess game in the early going…
You already know this, okay?
I respect you.
I respect you, too.
Good.
So let's fight.
[Cole] Respect goes out the window when the fight starts, right?
[Barrett] Nobody came here for a show of respect.
We came here for a bloodbath between two of the greatest on the planet.
[Cole] Iyo got caught going up over the top, but she was able to recover.
[Barrett] Now we're heading that way.
[Cole] And Iyo Sky… Rhea Ripley… Oh!
Ran into the drop kick that time.
[Barrett] Heaviest shot so far in the match and it comes from Iyo Sky.
-[Cole] Champion… -Again gets in the head of Ripley.
[Cole] Champion's advantage too for Iyo.
Gotta to be pinned or submitted to lose the title tonight.
Went for a suicide dive and Rhea caught her with a forearm
and now Rhea Ripley in control.
[Barrett] That is what you call a retort from Mami.
[Cole] Iyo Sky does not want to be in this predicament…
Lands on the apron, kick back to Ripley.
[Barrett] Iyo Sky, better than anyone at keeping opponents… Oh!
[Cole] Moonsault takes out Rhea.
[Barrett] I'll tell you right now, Iyo Sky,
one of the most reckless superstars I have ever watched.
Mainly reckless with her own body.
Went for broke here and Mami had the answer
but quickly coming up with a plan B.
Iyo Sky taking flight with a major sting to Rhea Ripley.
[Cole] Rhea sent back into the ring. Iyo Sky now on the attack,
realizes she's in control.
Sky, now top rope. Rhea, not sure where she's at.
Iyo Sky, look at that!
Double knees, turns it into a pinning combination, and a kick out.
[Barrett] And now getting Rhea Ripley all tied up.
Cannot see where the next attack is coming from,
and Ripley's game plan just hasn't worked so far.
[Cole] And again Iyo Sky able to wrestle Rhea Ripley
down on the mat into a cross face here.
[Barrett] And again it's Iyo Sky with the upper hand
and Rhea Ripley just isn't used to that,
she's being out-wrestled, out-maneuvered, out-thought…
[Cole] Wade, did you ever have anyone in your career
that you could not beat, that always had your number?
[Barrett] Yeah, anyone with a pulse pretty much as I recall.
I think Sheamus knocked my block off more than one occasion,
so I'll probably say him. Ooh!
This is just a… Oh!
[Cole] Iyo bouncing Rhea off the apron and the World Champ in control.
[Barrett] And Rhea Ripley at this point in the match,
and it's still technically the early goings,
looks like a mannequin getting rag dolled around at will by the champ Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Iyo Sky just has Rhea Ripley's number, there's no doubt about it.
The one opponent that Rhea just cannot solve the puzzle of.
Rhea on the apron now.
And now Iyo Sky caught by Rhea Ripley.
[Barrett] Lifted with one hand, but again Iyo Sky gets out of there.
[Cole] And now both women fighting on the apron.
And a physical contest. Expected it this way.
Oh, and a knee!
What a thunderous knee by Ripley.
And now Rhea sending Iyo into the announce table face first!
[Barrett] Oh, and this is a hard announced table.
This is a rare announced table we use,
that is solid metal on the corner, this ain't wood anymore.
Two!
And the jaw of Iyo Sky went flush into it.
[Cole] And Rhea, realizing that she can't win via count out, broke the count,
went back out to get the champ.
[Barrett] You've finally got the upper hand, Rhea,
you've gotta make it count.
[Cole] Iyo driven into the barricade hard.
[Barrett] That is one way to put an exclamation point
on the damage you are now doing to the champ.
[Cole] Yeah, Sky bounced off the steps and suddenly Rhea Ripley's in control.
[Barrett] And soaking up that early pressure was the Eradicator.
Perhaps Iyo Sky got a little ahead of herself.
There was a big smile on Iyo Sky's face
for the opening five or six minutes of this one.
Well that smile has been wiped away, and Mami is back.
[crowd chanting] Mami! Mami!
[Cole] Mami chants here from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Rhea Ripley now, showing off her power
as she lifts Sky up and delivers a knee to the spine, a backbreaker.
[Barrett] Laser focused now is Rhea Ripley on doubling down on every attack.
[Cole] And trapping Sky on the top rope.
Focusing on the core.
Rhea, cover. Hooks the leg, forcing Iyo to kick out.
[Barrett] Still deciding if the focus is on the core or the face or the arm.
It's been a full body attack, really, from Rhea Ripley
and now once again going back to that mid-section.
That could be the strategy for Ripley,
whatever she's been cooking up in the build up to this one.
[Cole] My sources are telling me that Yoshi Tatsu
had your number when you were wrestling. As Rhea Ripley now…
[Barrett] Don't do me like that!
I love the tats but I don't think he ever beat me.
[Cole] …continues to control Iyo Sky, center of the ring,
for the Women's World Championship and our main event at Evolution.
Iyo Sky, great pinning combination, wise move by the veteran Sky,
but Rhea Ripley with a drop kick right to the face.
Cover!
Iyo has to kick at two.
[Barrett] Iyo's hurting now and that look in the eye of Ripley is the cogs turning.
Oh, God.
[Cole] And Rhea getting frustrated now.
[Barrett] That almost hit us, whatever that was.
[Cole] And again she's frustrated, Wade, not being able to put Iyo Sky away.
[Barrett] Well, take your frustrations out on your opponent,
and she may well be about to do that.
[Cole] They're trying to do this now in a version of an abdominal stretch here.
Remember, working the core of the World Champion, Iyo Sky.
[Barrett] There was a scream that was emitted…
-I wanna fight! -[screams]
…from the lungs of Iyo Sky that I haven't heard from her in a long time.
[continues screaming]
[Cole] Rhea punishing the World Champ.
[Barrett] Guttural roar from Iyo Sky. Must be in agony at this point.
[Cole] Back to her feet.
Left hands to Rhea. Rhea with a right of her own.
Iyo doubled over in pain as Rhea has taken over now.
Iyo Sky now trying to build a little momentum,
ducks underneath the clothesline.
Iyo Sky, DDT!
[Barrett] Spiked on the top of Rhea Ripley's head.
[Cole] And just when you thought Iyo was down and out, she rallies.
[Barrett] Yeah, Iyo really needed this,
had been under the cosh for several minutes, but pull out this…
Little bit of daylight!
Don't celebrate too soon!
Collapsing immediately after both women down.
[crowd] This is awesome!
[Cole] Turning point in this match, perhaps.
Iyo, the champion, Rhea, the challenger.
A great rivalry, but a lopsided one.
Rhea hopes to turn the tables tonight.
Iyo blocks and now unloading with the right hands to Rhea Ripley.
Look at Iyo go.
Oh, Rhea said, "Oh, interception."
-Oh, face first goes Ripley! -[Barrett] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Stomp to the mid-section!
[Barrett] Ripley tried to tuck and roll through that but ended up eating it.
Perhaps collarbone first, perhaps face first…
Regardless, she has wobbled now, and the champ taken over again.
[Cole] Iyo Sky with a suplex to Ripley.
[Barrett] And Ripley is really rocked here now.
[Cole] Talk about a package of dynamite.
[Barrett] Well, I'm looking in the eyes of Ripley on the outside,
she has no clue where she's at.
-Iyo Sky is about to pick up a head-- -Iyo now, suicide dive takes out Ripley
right in front of us.
[Barrett] Ripley looking like jelly on the outside.
[Cole] And now Iyo, heading back up to the top rope.
Rhea Ripley on spaghetti legs here.
Iyo Sky gets the front kick, down goes Rhea.
[Barrett] What a bull's-eye,
and that is the last thing you ever wanna see this deep into a match up.
Iyo Sky, laughing off the pain.
[Cole] And firing up the WWE crowd here in Atlanta.
[Barrett] Here's your kryptonite, Rhea Ripley.
[Cole] Iyo Sky, bullet train attack.
[Barrett] Sky just looks fresh as a daisy.
[Cole] Cover to retain.
One, two…
[Cole] Kick out by Rhea at two.
[Barrett] What an assertive few moments there from Iyo Sky.
Take a look back at this suicide dive.
From Rhea Ripley, who was all over the place on the outside
and it got even worse once she was thrown back in the ring.
[Cole] What a physical matchup.
The longer this goes, the more toll it takes on these women's bodies.
[Barrett] Well, the truth is, these two women…
the only way they're gonna be pinned or submitted
is by absorbing a major physical toll.
[Cole] Iyo could be looking for an over the moonsault.
Rhea Ripley, though, gonna meet her on the top rope.
Rhea Ripley, Iyo lands on her feet.
Rhea dropped on the back of her head.
[Barrett] And again that is hot.
[Cole] Nobody home! Ripley with an opening, and a clubbing blow to the spine.
[Barrett] And that was a heavy shot from Ripley, and what is she cooking up here?
[Cole] Oh, and all bounced it neck first off the turnbuckle.
Or was is the back? Nonetheless, it was dangerous and effective.
[Barrett] But again, once that flurry
from Rhea Ripley was absorbed by the champ,
immediately biting back was Iyo Sky.
It must be so demoralizing for Rhea Ripley.
Your best shots are seemingly bouncing off Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Yeah, Iyo never say die, as Rhea Ripley drops to a counter and block.
And now with Iyo Sky, lands on her feet off the body drop.
And now Iyo!
[Barrett] Uppercut after uppercut after uppercut.
[Cole] Oh, and a kick by Rhea. Now Rhea Ripley, a stomp to the foot.
Face first off the knee.
Went for a DDT. Ripley able to counter.
Use the power to her advantage.
Went for a vertical suplex, Iyo Sky drops behind.
Ooh, and the elbow caught her.
[Barrett] Never seen a woman with so many counters as Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Oh, my goodness!
[Barrett] Oh, God, a poison rana to Rhea Ripley, who may be out cold.
[Cole] And Rhea somehow kicks out at two, as Iyo was looking to retain.
-Poison rana! -Such a difficult move to pull off.
But in a flash!
That is why Iyo Sky may well confirm herself imminently
as the greatest wrestler on planet Earth.
[Cole] I'm not arguing with you.
It has been a hell of a night at Evolution here in Atlanta.
In our main event, Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky going toe to toe
for the Women's World Championship and supremacy of Monday Night Raw.
[Barrett] I can just feel the adrenaline in this arena,
they're witnessing something very special
and it looks like Ripley is close to getting put to the sword, or is it?
[Cole] Iyo Sky once again trying to go to the sky.
[Barrett] Where she's at her most devastating,
and of course, Rhea Ripley knows that as well as anybody.
[Cole] Yeah, trying to play defense again.
Sky now up to the top rope. Not sure what she can do here.
Rhea's close to the corner.
And now Rhea Ripley dumps Sky to the top turnbuckle.
[Barrett] There was a wobble this deep in the match up
and Ripley wasn't gonna hesitate.
[Cole] Razor's edge!
[Barrett] Little trick from her buddy Damian Priest.
[Cole] Sit-out powerbomb!
One, two…
Iyo's still in it!
[Barrett] Take another look at this Damian Priest, very impressed with that one!
And this was perhaps even more impressive!
Deadly sit-out powerbomb.
But saved the most impressive part for that kick out from Iyo Sky.
[Cole] And Rhea Ripley again getting frustrated,
could not believe that was a two count.
As she questions the official Jessika Carr.
Look at the look on the face of Rhea Ripley.
How many times have you seen that look of disbelief?
Of almost like, I don't know if I can do this, in the eyes of Rhea.
[Barrett] It's doubt in the mind of Ripley that has existed all along
because of Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Look at Iyo now, hook her with the riptide.
Iyo Sky able to catch her in a sleeper.
Rhea backing Iyo into the corner trying to break the sleeper hold, finally does.
[Barrett] Fighting her way out of that. This deep in a match,
the last thing you need is your neck and throat compressed.
You're already gasping for oxygen.
-What a haymaker to the jaw there. -[Cole] What a match.
Physical as it can be.
[Barrett] Wouldn't expect anything less out of these two.
[Cole] What's Rhea going to do here?
[Barrett] She can do whatever she wants, there is no resistance. Oh, God.
[Cole] Looked like for a superplex. Iyo Sky able to shift her balance.
Watch the hair.
[Cole] Land on the apron, the official Jessika Carr saying watch the hair.
[Barrett] Great wriggle from Iyo Sky at the right moment,
just popped Rhea Ripley off balance.
Got away out of trouble.
[Cole] Iyo top rope… Oh, no!
Rhea ducked out of harm's way. Iyo inadvertently hit their official.
Jessika Carr has been knocked out of the ring.
[Barrett] Jessika Carr is in agony on the outside.
[Cole] And a headbutt!
Rhea Ripley now with a riptide to Sky!
One, two, three! Rhea Ripley has Sky pinned, but there's no official!
[crowd] Eight, nine, ten…
[Cole] The referee was taken out of this match.
Rhea Ripley had the damn match won, but there was no official to count.
[Barrett] Well, this must feel like a curse to Rhea Ripley.
You can't win with the referee in the ring,
you can't win with the referee out of the ring,
but for all intents and purposes, this one should have been over.
[Cole] Yeah, Rhea Ripley should be the Women's World Champion now.
Rhea Ripley angry, frustrated.
I believe she's about to take that frustration out on Iyo Sky.
[Barrett] Well, keep stacking that offense.
You have to keep Iyo Sky down eventually.
We're either gonna get a new ref…
Or Jessika Carr might recover, but this is spilling out all over the place here.
[Cole] Yeah, another razor's edge and then the kick drives Iyo Sky
into the front row here in Atlanta.
[Barrett] Now normally you'd be worried about a counter at this point,
but I guess that's not happening right now anyway.
[Cole] Yeah, who the hell's gonna count?
Ripley and Sky fighting into the WWE universe here at State Farm Arena.
[Barrett] And Rhea Ripley understandably has now completely lost it.
[Cole] She should be the Women's World Champion.
This is all frustration now, coming out, oozing out of the pores of Rhea Ripley.
She finally had Iyo Sky beaten,
but there's no official to make the count
and now Rhea Ripley unloading on the champion.
-And a headbutt! -[Barrett] My God, you heard that.
[Cole] I'm not quite sure what Rhea Ripley is capable of…
[Barrett] Rhea Ripley needs to get it together and fast.
…in the state of mind that she is in right now.
[Barrett] This match is still ongoing, of course.
[Cole] There's no officials, nobody to count.
[Barrett] But it's getting damn ugly.
[Cole] And now, in the equipment cases over there in the…
In the corner of this arena.
Rhea Ripley with Iyo Sky up top, Iyo Sky trying to shift her weight,
Rhea Ripley with the power.
Iyo trying to hang on up from up there!
[Barrett] Clinging on by the fingertips just in the nick of time,
'cause that was gonna be nasty as hell.
[Cole] Rhea collapsing to the floor.
Iyo Sky collapsing as well, in what has been a physical and a tasking matchup.
-[Barrett] Oh, no. -[Cole] Come on, what's Iyo thinking?
[Barrett] Oh, no.
Don't do it, Iyo.
[Cole] Iyo, climbing up high!
[Barrett] Never more comfortable than when in the air.
[Cole] The Genius in the Sky, with Ripley in trouble.
[Barrett] The highest risk of them all!
[Cole] Iyo with a crossbody!
And Iyo and Rhea are down.
Iyo had to be 20 feet in the air.
And both women are down.
[Barrett] Putting her body on the line, upon that landing, Iyo Sky.
Screaming in agony, and I think Rhea Ripley…
Incapable of screaming in agony.
Well, this has swung once again.
[Cole] And now Iyo Sky back on her feet,
trying to drag Rhea Ripley around the arena and continue the punishment.
Again our official Jessika Carr was taken out by a missile drop kick
moments ago and is still out of the matchup. The match continues.
[Barrett] Two women knocking the hell out of each other
in pursuit of excellence, in pursuit of greatness,
in pursuit of history.
[Cole] And again this isn't last woman standing.
It's not a No Holds Barred match.
It's a traditional championship match.
[Barrett] And if the referee's down, it's technically legal.
[Cole] Rhea dumped back into the ringside area now
by Iyo Sky, the world champ who has put on a clinic tonight.
[Barrett] Not a Rhea Ripley I've ever seen looking like this before.
A shadow of her former self.
[Cole] Oh, my God, not into the announce table!
Oh, my goodness, Iyo Sky went ribs first into the corner of the announce table,
[Barrett] And those ribs were worked over by Rhea Ripley earlier in the match up.
[Cole] And Rhea dumping Iyo back into the ring, but Rhea still down and out.
Rhea gasping for air.
[Barrett] Rhea has had her chest caved in by a flying Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Iyo Sky just had her ribs caved in by the side of our announce table.
[Barrett] Referee had her ribs caved in too. Lot of ribs getting caved in tonight
but the match continues.
[Cole] Rhea trying to drag herself up to the apron.
Iyo Sky now meets her there, looking for a sunset flip bomb.
Rhea Ripley now in trouble outside the ring.
Powerbomb!
[Barrett] Oh, the tingles, the thunderbolts, shooting up the spine.
[Cole] This match has been absolutely incredible.
Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley putting it all on the line.
Again with Rhea Ripley in position,
the Genius of the Sky looking to go up top.
Looking to fly.
The official's coming to.
Iyo Sky hits it. The over the moonsault and Rhea kick at two!
Rhea kicked at two!
Now it's Iyo Sky's turn.
Now it's Iyo Sky's turn to say what the hell do I do now?
[Barrett] Holy hell.
[Cole] The over the moonsault.
And for all intents and purposes, this was over.
[Barrett] Like a truck had only hit Rhea Ripley,
and then you hit your nuclear bomb on her.
And Ripley kicks out.
[crowd] Rhea, Rhea, Rhea!
[Cole] It is our main event. For the Women's World Championship.
It has been brutal. It has been a fight.
It has been a classic Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky.
[Barrett] Heinous and merciless. Oh!
Two women putting in performances of extreme distinction.
[Cole] Iyo going to the top rope yet again, Genius of the Sky,
as Rhea Ripley rolls out to the apron, perhaps saving herself.
[Barrett] Crushing blow there to Iyo Sky.
Hope's faded for both women.
[Cole] Not quite sure Iyo's trying to do here, dragging Rhea back to her feet.
Now trash talking Rhea.
Bounced off the steel post.
And Ripley now with a smile on her face.
Maybe she believes the momentum is starting to shift here, Wade.
With Iyo Sky in trouble in the top rope, Rhea Ripley's gonna…
is gonna climb the ropes now.
Ask Raquel Rodriguez all about this!
[Barrett] Rhea Ripley tapping into something different tonight,
and it needs it against this version of Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Tonight it's from the top rope.
Oh, my goodness! Spanish fly!
Both women are down!
Iyo's out!
Rhea's out! World title's on the line.
[Barrett] It is a sh--
["Last Warning" by def rebel playing]
[Cole] Oh, my God.
Naomi! Naomi!
Ms. Money in the Bank!
-[Barrett] With a referee in tow! -[Cole] Oh, my God!
Naomi,
who took on the No Holds Barred match earlier tonight,
is coming down to the ring!
With a contract!
[Taylor] Ladies and gentlemen, Naomi is cashing in…
-[Cole] Oh, my God! -…her Money in the Bank contract!
-This is now a triple thread match… -[bell dings]
[Cole] And again, it's a Triple Threat match.
…World Championship!
It's a triple thread match! Anything goes!
She can use the briefcase as a weapon.
There are no disqualifications under Triple Threat rules!
[Barrett] Officially cashed in against two completely decimated women!
[Cole] Rhea Ripley off the post. Split leg and moonsault!
Cover by Naomi!
-Two, three! -Naomi's the world champion!
Holy cow, Naomi's the world champion!
[Taylor] Here is your winner!
And new
Women's World Champion!
Naomi!
[Cole] Wade, the entire world thought Naomi was focused
on Tiffany Stratton in the WWE Women's Championship,
but tonight she shocked everyone.
And cashed in on Iyo Sky for the Women's World title.
[Barrett] Well, what an epic matchup
between Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley who took each other to hell and back.
But earlier tonight, Naomi,
who lost that matchup, that no holds barred matchup, with Jade Cargill…
Well, she was later to win and the gold, it is a change in hands.
Here at Evolution.
[Cole] The Spanish fly left both men… women down in the ring,
and Naomi seized her opportunity.
Ms. Money in the Bank, would rush down to the ring.
Inside that briefcase, a contract that Naomi could cash in anytime she wants
for a World Championship opportunity, and she chose tonight.
Now remember, this became a triple threat match,
which means you can use the briefcase because there are no disqualifications.
Naomi dumps Rhea Ripley, then she turns her attention to the champion
and a split leg and moonsault gives Naomi her third world championship.
[Barrett] Well, Naomi is crazed, she's sadistic.
She's unhinged.
But she's the champion.
Timing could not have been better.
[Cole] Caution, caution, caution.
Naomi rules the division as the Women's World Champion
and boy, oh boy has the landscape ever changed
from Monday Night Raw at WWE.
After a hellacious battle between Iyo and Ripley, Naomi took advantage
and wins the World Championship.
It's been a long time coming for Naomi.
Once again after many, many years, she's on top of the mountain
as the Women's World Champion. rs, she's on top of the mountain