[opening theme music]
[Stephanie] A revolution started in the WWE.
And because of you,
the Divas Division became the Women's Division.
All of you have inspired people all over the world
with your courage, with your passion, with your unbridled talent.
Women competed in the Middle East for the first time in WWE.
The chant was, "This is hope. This is hope."
I grew up watching women's wrestling, and I knew this is what I wanted to do.
[Banks] This has been a dream since I was a little girl,
realizing how far we've come.
[Bliss] It didn't start with two women or four women or six women.
It took every woman from the day
WWE started having women's wrestling until now.
When I first got signed, I said,
"I want to make women's wrestling the coolest thing on TV."
We wanted to be as good as the men.
It's not like, "You're a girl. You can't do this."
No. You go in there like Wonder Woman, and you're gonna conquer.
Our Women's Division is in the middle of a women's revolution in WWE,
which is in the middle of a women's revolution in the world.
It's hard not to get emotional, because it finally feels like we won.
[Natalya] Every woman who has a gift,
an ability, and a desire to succeed should be able to do that.
Every generation of women took the torch and carried it
until it's time for the next person to take it.
We're all stars, and that's what we are. Women are stars.
[Stephanie] All of these girls are gonna see this
and know that they can accomplish anything in the world,
'cause it is about showing today's generation
that they can be and do anything.
♪ If you're with me, women ♪
Let's go!
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey defends the RAW Women's Championship
against Nikki Bella.
[woman] Not an enemy to make.
[Cole] For the first time ever, the last woman standing match.
This rivalry cannot be controlled.
Oh, my God!
[woman] Trish Stratus is in the house.
[Cole] And fellow Hall of Famer, Lita,
team together again for the first time in a decade.
And the fight's on!
[Stephanie] Over 50 women, then, now, and forever.
[Cole] So much at stake, so much on the line.
[Corey] This is a really, really cool moment.
[Stephanie] What do you say, ladies?
I cannot wait to see history being made.
[narrator] And now, WWE 2K19, The Video Game,
and Kay Jewelers present
WWE Evolution.
[Cole] The world is changing. Sports entertainment is changing.
We are all changing, evolving.
You are looking live at a sold-out Nassau Coliseum.
WWE fans are on hand to witness history.
The first ever all-women's Pay-Per-View event.
This is Evolution.
[intro music playing]
[music continues]
♪ One vision, persistence One fist raised up in the air ♪
♪ This moment, insistence ♪
♪ Tell us no but we don't care ♪
♪ Evolution It's in our hands ♪
♪ This is a revolution You had yours ♪
♪ Come witness Evolution ♪
♪ It's in our hands ♪
♪ This is a revolution ♪
♪ You had yours Now I'll take mine ♪
[guitar solo continues]
♪ Break down your insistence Burn down rage out of control ♪
♪ Rising from the ashes, burn down, There's a brother at war ♪
♪ Evolution It's in our hands ♪
♪ This is a revolution You had yours ♪
♪ Come witness Evolution ♪
♪ It's in our hands This is a revolution ♪
♪ You had yours Now I'll take mine ♪
♪ Evolution ♪
[growls]
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Evolution ♪
-[crowd cheering] -[guitar outro plays]
Hello, again, everybody, and welcome
to a sold-out Nassau Coliseum for Evolution.
Tremendous performance by Lzzy Hale and Nita Strauss,
trailblazers in the music industry.
And I'm with two trailblazers
of the sports entertainment industry with me tonight,
the Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix and, of course, Renee Young.
Renee, I want to start with you.
What does Evolution and this night mean to you?
You know, I feel like from the moment I woke up,
I've had a bit of a lump in my throat.
I'm trying to contain it, but I never, in a million years, would have thought
that I could have been a commentator in WWE,
let alone, here on an all-women's Pay-Per-View,
and it just means the world to me.
Beth, what about you? This has been a long time coming.
This means so much to the prior generations.
Celebrating previous women that have come along,
like Bull Nakano, one of my personal influences,
and also inspiring the generations to come.
I have two daughters, so this has a special meaning for me in my heart.
I'm so excited to be here.
I know you guys have spent much of the day in the locker room,
talking to a lot of the women that's going to be involved tonight.
We'll hear those stories as we move forward.
Now, a reminder, WWE Network Pay-Per-View,
and, of course, the first 30 minutes of Evolution live on Twitter tonight.
Let's get underway.
[bell dings]
Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest
is scheduled for one fall.
[crowd cheering]
[Trish's theme song playing]
Introducing first, from Toronto, Canada,
she is WWE Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus.
[Cole] Trish Stratus, considered by many to be one of the greatest ever.
She debuted in this building, Nassau Coliseum,
as a valet back in 2000, and Beth, then, her career took off.
[Phoenix] Michael, this is a surreal moment for me.
Trish Stratus not only influenced my career greatly,
but just about every female in the locker room for a long time,
considered the gold standard in lady wrestlers.
[Renee] As a kid growing up in Toronto, Canada,
I mean, I've looked up to Trish Stratus for a long time.
[Lita's theme song playing]
[Lilian] Introducing her tag team partner, from Sanford, North Carolina,
she is WWE Hall of Famer, Lita.
[Cole] Lita and Trish teaming together here tonight.
Once they were fierce rivals,
they were the first two women to ever Main Event a match
on Monday Night RAW, tonight, together again.
[Renee] Cole, this is a goosebumps moment.
I cannot believe that we are here witnessing Team Bestie pairing up tonight.
This is unbelievable. This is Evolution.
[Cole] Lita, known as the Extreme.
[Renee] The Queen of Extreme.
[Phoenix] You know, guys, I'll tell you, the risk-takers of today,
there's the woman that wrote the book on high-flying.
[Alexa Bliss' theme song playing]
[Cole] And here comes The Goddess, from Monday Night RAW.
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Alexa Bliss.
[Renee] It's like Halloween came early. Alice in Wonderland's here.
Welcome to WWE Evolution.
[crowd cheering]
I promise you guys, tonight is gonna be an amazing night.
But Trish, Lita, I get it.
I know it is way past your bedtime.
So I'm really going to need you to focus.
Really focus.
Turn your hearing aids all the way up.
And allow me to introduce the true pioneers
of the women's evolution, Alicia Fox and Mickie James.
[Mickie James' theme music playing]
[Cole] Well, it was on WWE.com a couple of days ago,
and Alexa Bliss injured, not competing here tonight.
So Mickie James teams with Alicia Fox.
And there is some truth to what Alexa Bliss did say.
Alicia Fox, Mickie James, really pioneers in the women's division.
[Renee] I thought you were gonna say something about hearing aids there.
But that's not true.
But 100% Mickie James is no doubt gonna be in the WWE Hall of Fame.
-There's no question about that. -And Alicia Fox as well.
[Cole] She's the longest tenured woman on the WWE roster.
[Phoenix] She is, believe it or not.
I had Alicia Fox's first match back at OVW like ages ago.
[Renee] How much does it blow your mind to see
how much these women have grown and developed?
[Phoenix] It's so cool to see where we've gone.
And I mean, also, Renee, let's check out these outfits.
What is going on here?
[Renee] We've got the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, and Alice?
-Alice in Wonderland? -I see that.
I'll get the Mad Hatter. That one makes sense.
[Cole] Of course, Halloween right around the corner, this coming Wednesday.
I'm impressed. Alexa Bliss usually errs on the side
of going with spookier characters.
This is interesting.
[Cole] Mickie James now, guys.
Mickie has been linked to the careers of Trish Stratus and Lita.
I want you to think about this for a moment.
Mickie James, she had the final match
that Trish ever had on Monday Night RAW back in 2006,
and she took out Lita in Lita's retirement match
in Survivor Series 2006.
So Mickie James knows these two women very well.
[Renee] There is so much history in this ring right now.
I think that the entire WWE Universe can feel that right now.
And it's Lita now, starting things off against Mickie James.
-Beth, this has gotta bring back memories. -[Phoenix] This is so cool.
And, you know, when we're talking about Evolution, Trish, Lita,
these are women that evolved over the years
and just were able to change with the times.
I'm really interested to see where they take this.
You guys hear how loud everybody is in here already?
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Lita!
[Cole] Sold out crowd at Nassau Coliseum.
And there is vintage Lita.
[Renee] Lita hasn't missed a step.
The Litacanrana, as she takes Mickie James down.
And Lita now unloading with the right hands.
This became very personal with a lot of the things
that Mickie and Alexa had to say about Lita and Trish.
Alexa Bliss should be lucky she's not in the ring tonight,
the trash she talked about Lita and Trish?
Brutal.
Lita going for that DDT.
And Alicia Fox, who tagged into this match,
now going to come down the hard way by Lita.
Alicia Fox, a former champion in her own right.
In fact, Alicia Fox won her championship here in Nassau Coliseum
at the Fatal 4-Way Pay-Per-View event back in 2010.
Spoke to Alicia about that earlier today.
She said it brought back so many memories to be back in this building tonight.
[Renee] Between her and Trish Statrus, making her debut here.
There's just so much in Nassau Coliseum. It's such a rich history for WWE.
[Phoenix] Mickie might be in trouble here.
-She got found in the hard way. -Uh-oh!
Time to get Stratusfied.
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] And Lita!
[Renee] High risk!
[Cole] A page out of the Hardys' playbook.
[Renee] Lita and Trish, the chemistry is so thick between these two women.
I mean, just to see them jiving in the ring is unreal.
[Cole] And of course, that paying homage to the Hardys' leader,
of course, getting her career started was Matt and Jeff.
[Phoenix] That's right. Team Xtreme set the world on fire at that time.
[Cole] And now, Trish Stratus ducks underneath.
-Big hip toss to Alicia Fox. -[Renee] Ooh, nice!
[Cole] Trish, of course, a seven-time champion.
She is the youngest ever to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
[Phoenix] You think about the path that Trish Stratus had.
-I mean, she came in-- -[Cole] Ooh!
[Phoenix] She came in and became a wrestler before our eyes,
week after week, learning, training. The first in the ring, the last to leave.
[Cole] Yeah, I was talking to some people about Trish the other day,
and they said the thing that they remember about Trish is
how quickly she took to the sport.
She started as a valet, and a few months later, she had her first match.
You know, the way that Trish Stratus is able to light up a room with her charisma.
[crowd chanting] You still got it!
[Cole] The "You still got it" chants.
Trish wants Mickie, and here comes Mickie James.
The rivalry began when Mickie James appeared on the scene
as a fan of Trish Stratus.
[Renee] We're all fans of Trish Stratus,
but Mickie's gonna be on the wrong end of it.
[Phoenix] Guys, I just got goosebumps.
Oh, yeah?
[Cole] Incredible reaction to the past becoming the present.
Trish and Mickie, face-to-face in a WWE ring again,
and Trish now with a right hand.
And Mickie unloading as well.
These women combined have 13 championships.
[Phoenix] Trish getting the better of Mickie.
[Renee] These women arguably the matriarchs of the WWE Evolution.
Trish hits the ropes, Thesz Press! And now, unloading with the right hands.
An incredible atmosphere here tonight at Nassau Coliseum.
[Cole] Mickie caught her with a kick right to the face.
And now Mickie James gonna do what she does best.
And so is Trish Stratus.
Maybe not.
[Renee] Nobody knows Trish Stratus better than Mickie James.
[referee] Hey! Hey!
Trish on the top rope.
[Renee] This is a dangerous place for these two competitors to be.
[Cole] Trish and Mickie exchanging blows.
[Renee] High risk, high reward, Beth.
[referee] Let's go! Down, down, down!
Come on, ladies! Bring it down!
-[Renee] Trish in an awkward position. -[Cole] Are you kidding me?
Trish with a hurricanrana into the cover on Mickie.
Hook to the leg, is it enough?
And a kick out by Mickie at two.
[Renee] Trish is making sure that Alexa Bliss
knows she has not missed a step.
She's still got it, and the WWE Universe knows that, too.
[Phoenix] Guys, Team Bestie has been in complete control.
[Cole] Now Alicia and Mickie now gonna regroup with Alexa Bliss.
Trying to figure out how to get back into this match-up.
Trish and Lita, though, were going for the suicide dives.
And Fox and Mickie James getting out of harm's way.
We're out of here!
[Renee] Looks like Alexa Bliss talking some strategy
with Mickie and Fox here.
[Phoenix] Need to have a huddle with Coach Bliss.
[Cole] Now Lita and Trish are not going to allow
Mickie and Alicia to exit that way.
And now they take the fight out to the floor.
[Renee] Trisha said it best.
She didn't come here to stand and listen to a bunch of baloney.
They came here to show some action and show everybody
what the women's division is capable of.
[Phoenix] That's how they did it in the Attitude Era,
-as they said the other week at… -[crowd groans]
-Ooh! -[Cole] And Lita made Fox pay.
-Is she gonna go for it? -[Renee] Hey, now!
Come on, this is what we're waiting for!
[Cole] Lita heading up to the top rope.
She was going for the Litasault.
And Alexa Bliss got involved.
The official did not see that happen.
The official was over there dealing with Alicia Fox.
And Alexa Bliss doing what she does best, getting involved.
[Phoenix] Mickie James sure saw what happened.
Look at the smile on her face.
[Renee] Mickie James looking for an opportunity here.
[Cole] Yeah, look at her take control with a kick right to the spine of Lita.
And Lita still fighting back.
Four championships for Lita in her career. Tag made.
Here comes Fox.
Alicia Fox is legal.
Double team by Mickie and Alicia.
And now Alicia Fox goes to work.
[Phoenix] Some nice tag team strategy.
Cutting the ring off.
Keeping your opponent close in your corner.
[Renee] Looks like Lita's in a lot of trouble right now.
[Phoenix] I'm curious, Renee,
what's the unpredictability factor here with Alicia Fox?
[Renee] You never know what you'll get with Fox.
She's got limbs all over the place. Could be coming at you from all angles.
[Cole] She's out there. No doubt about that.
[Phoenix] I mean, I'd say Fox--
I mean, I'm concerned that tonight she may go rogue.
[Renee] She could always go rogue.
She's always on the other side of going rogue.
You're the one that's been in the ring with her.
What can these women expect?
[Phoenix] Like I said, that unpredictability.
How do you prepare for an opponent like that?
And Fox is strong.
[Renee] Got to keep your hands up and keep moving forward.
[Cole] And Mickie now controlling Lita.
Mickie James would love to knock off Lita and Trish
one more time in her career.
Remember, she retired Lita back in 2006 in Survivor Series.
[Renee] However, do remember that Trish Stratus did toss Mickie James
over the top rope in the first ever All-Women's Royal Rumble.
[Phoenix] Lita's making an opening here, guys.
There's some space.
[Renee] Oof!
[Cole] And now Mickie with a cheap shot to Trish, drawing Trish into the ring.
[Renee] Do not fire up a Canadian woman like that.
[Cole] That's why I behave myself on Monday night.
[Renee] Good move.
[Cole] And now there goes Mickie James.
And a neck breaker by Mickie.
[Renee] Lita needs some help in there. She's been…
[Cole] Yeah, been in there a long time. Hook of the leg now on Lita.
And one of the things we need to talk about, Beth, is ring rust.
I mean, Trish and Lita have not been in the ring for a very long time.
[Phoenix] You're so right, Michael Cole.
Nothing can prepare you for the cardiovascular shape
you need to be in to get into the ring and have a match.
[Renee] It's completely different.
You can run on the treadmill all day long,
but nothing can be a substitute for what you do each and every week.
[Phoenix] I think when you want to talk about Evolution,
you look at the careers of Lita and Trish. These women stay on the ball every time.
-They look better every time I see them. -[Cole] I agree.
At that point, there's a Northern Lights suplex by Alicia Fox, into the bridge!
And Lita gets the shoulder up at two.
And now Alicia Fox has to learn to control her emotions.
Cannot get outside of herself here, or she could lose this match quickly.
[Renee] Tonight's already an emotional night, Cole,
so we'll see if Alicia Fox can keep it under her captain hat.
[Phoenix] You can see Alexa Bliss has careful watch on Fox's strategy here.
[Cole] And Lita fighting out of this.
And Alicia Fox again trying to turn the tables, and Lita…
-with a reverse DDT. -[Phoenix] There's an opening.
[Renee] That's that ring experience.
Looking for an opportunity and opening.
Lita's got to get to the corner.
[Cole] Lita trying to make it to Trish Stratus to make a tag.
Fox trying to make it to Mickie James.
Tag made, here's Mickie.
Tag to Trish Stratus.
Trish and Mickie are legal.
And Trish Stratus turns it around with a right hand.
-[Phoenix] Ooh! -Another one to Mickie.
[Phoenix] Trish is looking to close this out.
Nice headlock takeovers by Trish.
[Cole] Two in a row by Trish Stratus.
[Phoenix] Mickie looks to be disoriented.
[Cole] And Trish clamps her!
Is it enough to put this match away?
Shoulders are down! Mickie James!
A near-fall for Trish Stratus.
[Phoenix] Trish has got to get the leverage
in a pinning combination like that. She left too much space for the shoulders.
Hey! Hey! Let her go! Let her go!
[Cole] Oh, and a big chop by Trish.
Trish made a career out of those chops.
And delivering them again to Mickie James.
[Phoenix chuckles] Oh!
Put a little stank on it.
Whoa!
[Renee] Here's an opening.
[Cole] Stacking her up. Oh! And a kick-out at two.
[Renee] Mickie James looks like she's getting a little frustrated.
[Cole] Well, Mickie knows what Trish is all about.
She knows the heart and guts of this woman.
-[Phoenix] Guys! -[Cole] Trish underneath.
-Headlock-- -[Phoenix] Can we see some Stratusfaction?
[Cole] Looking for Stratusfaction here.
Delivers it to Mickie James!
Trish Stratus with the cover to put the match away!
And Alicia Fox at the count of two!
Twist of Fate by Lita!
Let's go! Hey, get outta here!
[Renee] Come on, Lita, get up there!
[crowd cheering]
And this is what Lita does best.
[Cole] Lita up top
with a Litasault
to both Mickie and Alicia!
And now, Trish Stratus with a Chick Kick!
Mickie James is down!
-Stratus into the cover! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Cole] Lita and Trish win. -[bell dings]
[Trish Stratus' theme song playing]
[Lilian] Here are your winners,
Lita and Trish Stratus.
[Cole] Things got a little odd there toward the end of the match-up.
But at the end of the night, Trish Stratus and Lita
pick up the victory here at Evolution.
[Renee] Eat your heart out, Alexa Bliss.
[Cole] Lita with the Litasault that she made famous.
And then Trish Stratus with the Chick Kick.
Have you felt this before, Beth?
[Phoenix] I unfortunately have felt that before.
And I went down in a similar fashion.
You are out for the count.
[Renee] Mickie James is stunned.
[Cole] The Attitude Era is back and shiny bright for one night only.
Lita and Trish with the victory to kick off Evolution.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Bella Twins.
[crowd cheering]
Nikki, ahead of your match tonight
against RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey,
how do you respond to those who feel you crossed the line last week
regarding your comments about Ronda's mother being ashamed of her?
Hold on.
Your job as a journalist is to put things into context.
Ronda made it personal when she brought up our love lives first.
-Nikki did nothing wrong. -Exactly.
Brie is exactly right.
But you know what, tonight isn't about pointing fingers
or placing the blame on anyone.
Tonight is about celebrating the women's Evolution.
That's right.
And tonight, Nikki and I are gonna celebrate someone who's inspired us.
Yes, tonight we are going to honor that person.
I am going to dedicate my match to the one, the only,
Ronda Rousey's mother.
I mean, when you think of it, Ronda's mom
has overcome so much adversity and heartbreak
every time her daughter breaks her word.
And she just deserves so much better.
That's why tonight, Brie and I,
we are naming Ronda's mom the honorary member of the Bella Army.
You know, Ronda says that she's going to "end me," that her word is her bond.
Well, guess what?
I am Nikki Bella.
I am fearless and I am a do-something Bella.
And the only thing that's ending tonight is Ronda Rousey's title reign.
Because tonight, when I walk out of my show,
I am walking out as the new RAW Women's Champion.
You have my word.
So my question for you, Beth, is this.
If you're Nikki Bella, why continue to poke Ronda Rousey?
You know, Nikki Bella is, she's looking for some competition
and maybe she's got some tricks up her sleeve.
Nikki's been around for a long time.
She's been at the forefront of this revolution.
You know, who knows what she's got up her sleeve.
Beth, you've seen an angry Ronda Rousey, right?
-I have. -We're gonna see one tonight.
Nonetheless, we have spent the week talking with the women
involved here tonight to find out what Evolution means to them.
Evolution, that's where it all begins.
The women's division marches only to tomorrow.
This is our Evolution.
I mean, it's-it's mind-blowing.
I never thought in a million years
we would be here having our own Pay-Per-View.
I mean, when I was here, we were divas.
Um, we could have never imagined to be in this spot.
I remember many Pay-Per-Views
where literally I was the only female to be out in that ring.
And then all of a sudden, here we are.
What an Evolution where it's all women tonight.
So it's incredible.
All of this is due to everyone's hard work.
Everybody wants change. Everybody wants to make a difference,
and everybody wants to make a name for themselves.
And especially being a woman, you know, we've come so far.
Everywhere. It's happened in Hollywood.
It's happening literally all around the world.
So that's what's a beautiful momentum is that this isn't just WWE.
This is the world changing.
People are talking about this all over the world
because they're supporting what women can do.
And we didn't just earn it.
We worked hard for this.
It wasn't handed to us.
We broke, legit kicked the door down to have this.
So people are going to remember this the rest of their lives.
And I am so happy and honored to be a part of it.
[Cole] We are all honored to be a part of this as well.
WWE Evolution.
[bell dings]
The following is a 20-women Battle Royale.
Now in this match, eliminations occur
when a Superstar is thrown over the top rope
with both feet hitting the floor.
The last remaining Superstar will be declared the winner
and will earn a future
WWE Women's Championship match.
[Naomi's theme song playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Renee] This is a woman to keep your eye on for this Battle Royale.
One of the most athletic Superstars in all of WWE.
[Phoenix] Renee, she makes me wanna dance.
[Lilian] Introducing first, Naomi.
-[Renee] Feeling the glow, Beth? -[Phoenix] I am.
[laughs]
My daughter's favorite Superstar.
[Cole] And Naomi having so much fun not only tonight,
but all week long here at Evolution.
-[Phoenix] Renee, that cape is extra. -[Renee] It's so extra.
-[Phoenix] It's extra. -[Renee] You know what?
At Evolution, you gotta be a little bit extra.
[Cole] And of course, Naomi's husband Jimmy Uso,
also her mixed match talent partner here tonight cheering her on.
And we're also joined by our Spanish announce team
of Marcelo Rodriguez and Carlos Cabrera.
[speaking Spanish]
[Cole] Our German announce team here as well at ringside,
Calvin Knie and Carsten Schaefer.
[speaking German]
[Michelle McCool's theme song playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Lilian] Next, Michelle McCool.
[Cole] Renee, Michelle McCool right here in this building.
Nassau Coliseum became the inaugural Divas Champion back in 2008.
[Renee] Let me make it very clear
that Michelle McCool has the biggest target on her back.
I talked to a lot of the women tonight, and they all want to talk--
[Lilian] Sonya Deville.
[Sonya Deville's theme music playing]
[Cole] Sonya Deville, SmackDown's resident, tough girl.
[Renee] Put your hair up, square up.
[Alundra Blayze's theme music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Lilian] WWE Hall of Famer, Alundra Blayze.
[Renee] Yes!
[Phoenix] Guys, once again, this is a surreal moment for me.
Alundra Blayze's such an influence on myself and my career.
To see that cape just gave me chills.
[Renee] You want to talk about being extra,
-that cape's bringing it, Beth. -[Phoenix] Heck yes, Renee.
[Renee] She's so cool.
[woman] F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S.
[Carmella's theme song playing]
[Lilian] Carmella!
[Cole] Carmella's so proud, she said she wants to be here
to inspire future WWE Superstars.
Of course, the Money in the Bank winner, first ever.
[Renee] R-Truth here in support as well.
Performing a seven-second dance break.
[Cole] R-Truth, of course, Carmella's partner on Mixed Match Challenge.
She tried to take over the panel earlier on the kick-off show.
[Renee] Maybe he wants to enter.
[Lilian] Zelina Vega!
[Cole] Very important night for Zelina Vega here.
[Renee] One hundred percent. Her father passed away at 9/11.
And they used to come to Nassau Coliseum to watch WWE together.
A huge fan of Rey Mysterio. She's had so many influences.
So tonight for her to come full circle here at Nassau Coliseum is a dream.
[Kelly Kelly's theme song playing]
[Lilian] Kelly Kelly!
[Phoenix] Talk about a long-time rival of mine.
Kelly Kelly and I have shared many, many battles in the ring.
She's as tough as she is beautiful.
[Renee] So nice, gotta say her name twice.
[Tamina's theme song playing]
[Lilian] Tamina!
[Cole] On social media earlier tonight,
Tamina said she had goosebumps walking into this building.
[Renee] Kind of think of the journey Tamina's been through.
And now back from nine months on the shelf from the shoulder surgery.
A win tonight would be monumental for her career.
[Ember Moon's theme song playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Lilian] Ember Moon!
[Cole] You know guys, just a few moments ago, Braun Strowman,
who is Ember Moon's Mixed Match Challenge partner,
tweeted out good luck to all the WWE Superstars at Evolution tonight.
Ember Moon is winning the Battle Royal
and bringing gold to #MonsterEclipse.
[Renee] The monster says it, the monster means it.
[Lana's theme music playing]
[Lilian] The Ravishing Russian, Lana!
[Cole] Your girl, Renee!
[Renee] That's my girl!
Listen, I saw Rusev talking about her.
He says there's no way that Lana's not bringing home the gold tonight.
[Maria Kanellis' theme song playing]
[Lilian] Maria Kanellis!
[Phoenix] Maria Kanellis just had a baby, just about what, five months ago?
[Renee] You wanna talk about Evolution,
look at the crime scene with Maria Kanellis.
-[Phoenix] Hold on. -[Renee] Hold the phone.
[Phoenix] I just saw the cutest little baby.
[Mandy Rose's theme song playing]
-[Lilian] Mandy Rose! -[Renee] Good thing Graves is not here.
[Phoenix] Right, Renee?
[Cole] What Renee said was, before she was interrupted by Lillian,
it has been Corey Graves who isn't here tonight,
who of course loves Mandy Rose.
[Renee] It's out of control.
[Molly Holly's theme music playing]
[Lilian] Molly Holly!
[Phoenix] Let's talk about trailblazers, Molly Holly.
They don't come bigger than her.
What a big heart and a big smile.
-[Renee] Look at this pep in her step. -[Phoenix laughs]
[Dana Brooke's theme music playing]
[Lilian] Dana Brooke!
[Cole] And here is a stalwart from Monday Night RAW,
Dana Brooke, who wants to make a statement tonight.
[Phoenix] I've been impressed by Dana Brooke lately.
She seems to be stepping up her game.
[Renee] She's rising to the occasion, no question.
[Nia Jax's theme music playing]
[Lilian] Nia Jax!
[Cole] The Irresistible Force, Nia Jax.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us on Twitter.
You have an opportunity to go to WWENetwork.com
right now to sign up for the WWE Network and enjoy the rest of Evolution.
[Renee] Nia Jax has got to be one of the favorites
in this Battle Royal tonight.
[Phoenix] Guys, believe me, I felt her presence in the ring.
Nia Jax definitely is my favorite.
[Lilian] WWE Hall of Famer, Ivory!
[Cole] Beth, one of my favorite women in the entire world,
Ivory and I did a lot of work together
on a bunch of different pre-shows in the past,
and, again, a Hall of Famer.
[Asuka's theme music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Lilian] Asuka!
[Cole] Winner, of course, of the first ever
Women's Royal Rumble this past January.
The Empress of Tomorrows, Asuka.
And there is Miz, his wife, Maryse.
Miz, of course, is Asuka's partner in the Mixed Match Challenge,
which you can see every Tuesday night at 10:00 on Facebook Watch.
[Renee] Team Asuka!
[Phoenix] Never a lack of confidence from Miz, huh?
[Renee] Never.
[Torrie Wilson's theme music playing]
[Lilian] Torrie Wilson!
[Cole] Torrie Wilson is doing wonderful for herself.
She has a website, Fittensity.com,
where she offers fitness programs for men and women.
[Renee] I do them. They're great.
-[Phoenix] Really? -[Renee] Yeah.
[Phoenix] Cool, Renee. I'll join you one day.
[The IIconics' theme music playing]
[Lilian] And Peyton Royce,
Billie Kay, The IIconics!
It's happening.
The first ever all-women's Pay-Per-View!
[crowd cheering]
And it's taking place right here in
Long Island.
[crowd cheering]
Yeah, you guys, you guys sound weird.
I would get that looked at.
You think that we don't have tacky accents, because that would be…
[together] The worst.
But when we look in that ring,
we see some of the greatest to ever lace up the boots.
We see some of our childhood heroes
who helped pave the way for nights like tonight.
So we want to repay you.
So we'll pave the way for you all.
Right over the top rope!
And back to obscurity!
This is it, ladies.
Your last chance in the spotlight.
Enjoy these precious few seconds.
Because soon, it will all be over.
And you can all go back to doing…
Um, uh…
uh, wh-whatever it is losers
with no purpose in life do.
Tonight is all about the future.
And the future is…
[together] IIconic!
[Cole] And here we go.
The IIconics ready for this Battle Royal. It is underway.
Remember, you eliminate your opponent
when you put 'em over the top rope and both feet hit the floor.
[Renee] I think we're about to see a prime example of that, Cole.
[Phoenix] It might be the most interesting way
I've ever seen competitors enter a battle.
[Cole] Oh, the IIconics!
[Phoenix] They had it coming. I don't feel bad for them.
[Cole] Short-lived Billie Kay and Peyton Royce.
[Phoenix] Can't talk trash to Hall of Famers,
women that have paved the path for them.
[Renee] Who do they think they are?
[Phoenix] Maybe not the best way to endear yourself
to a ring full of women that want to chuck you out.
[Renee] Gotta earn that respect, right, Beth?
[Phoenix] Absolutely.
[Renee] Uh-oh.
[Cole] And now the, the past…
are being surrounded by the present in this Battle Royal.
[Renee] Oh, poor Maria, come on.
[Cole] And a brawl is underway in the Battle Royal at Evolution!
[Renee] With a future championship opportunity on the plate,
this is any woman's match here tonight.
[Phoenix] Imagine what a life-changing experience it would be
to get a championship opportunity.
[Renee] Especially if you haven't been in the ring for some time,
like we were talking before. What if Alundra Blayze wins tonight?
What does that mean for the future of WWE?
[Phoenix] It's a very real possibility, Renee.
[Renee] You talk about Nia Jax being considered
one of the favorites here, no question.
You're talking about tossing a woman over the top rope.
[Cole] Look at Alundra Blayze going right to work at Tamina
in the center of our screen.
[Renee] Smart move. She's a big one to eliminate right off the bat.
Tamina's a force.
[Cole] Yeah, Tamina and Nia Jax are expected to be forces.
And now look at Mandy and Sonya working together
to try to eliminate Molly.
And now Molly is down and out of the Battle Royal.
[overlapping conversations]
[Renee] I talked to Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville.
They said if it came down to the two of them, they both want to win it.
-I don't know how that's gonna pan out. -[Cole] Best friends, Sonya and Mandy.
They like donuts, if you follow them on social media.
[Renee] Who doesn't like donuts, though?
[Phoenix] My husband loves donuts. [laughs]
[Cole] So much at stake.
The winner will get a future championship opportunity.
Double team again by Mandy and Sonya.
[Phoenix] Nice strategy here.
-Got to keep in mind, got to get those-- -[Cole] Oh, Kelly Kelly eliminated!
Sonya and Mandy working as a team and very successful thus far.
[Renee] That's the way you got to do it. It seems to be the right strategy, right,
to be able to team up, work in pairs?
[Phoenix] Absolutely. Laying back, watching the scene,
seeing how it unfolds and striking when the iron's hot.
[Cole] Alundra Blayze all over the ring.
-[Phoenix] How about Tori Wilson, too? -[Cole] Looking to eliminate Deville.
[Renee] I think we can all agree that Alundra Blaze has never lost a step.
[Cole] Uh-oh, look out, look out, look out! Torrie in trouble.
Mandy and Sonya looking to eliminate yet another competitor.
[Phoenix] Not so quick.
[Cole] And Torrie fighting back, though.
Both Sonya and Torrie on the apron.
[Renee] Sonya almost went for it.
[Cole] And Mandy Rose now eliminates Torrie Wilson!
Mandy and Sonya have been incredible!
[Phoenix] Cleaning up.
-[Cole] Wait a minute. -[Phoenix] No!
[Cole] Mandy just eliminated her best friend!
[Phoenix] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Sonya can't believe it!
[Renee] Oh, Mandy's gonna pay for that later.
[Cole] They were working so well together.
[Phoenix] She kept it up.
[Cole] Now every woman for herself in a Battle Royal atmosphere
with a championship on the line.
[Phoenix] I've made that mistake before, Sonya. It hurts.
[Cole] Oh, and Alundra Blayze takes out Asuka and Naomi.
And now Nia Jax, The Irresistible Force, looking to eliminate Alundra Blayze.
-[Renee] See ya, bye. -[Phoenix] She's caught up there.
[Cole] But Alundra eliminated.
[Renee] Maria Kanellis letting everybody know
she's here in WWE and she is ready to fight.
[Cole] You've got to give Maria credit, though,
going right after Nia Jax, and a DDT from Maria.
[Renee] Bold move.
This woman has been in this ring and in this business for a long time.
She knows how to work her way around.
[Phoenix] I don't know, guys.
I think it's gonna take more than just Maria
to get Nia over that top rope.
[Cole] And look at Tamina.
And Maria…
able to knock Tamina down.
[Maria screams]
[Cole] And Maria into the corner.
Maria Kanellis is a ball of fire tonight.
[Renee] It's been eight years since she was a full-time competitor.
It's very impressive.
[Cole] Her husband Mike Kanellis and their newborn baby here
enjoying this match-up.
Oh, a headbutt by Nia, and Maria's out.
[Renee] Oh, right in front of her daughter, too. That's rude.
That's cold-hearted.
[Phoenix] Zelina taking advantage
of what Maria had done earlier to Tamina in the corner.
[Renee] You talk about the emotions that are running so high
tonight at Evolution, but maybe more so for Zelina Vega
considering her relationship with her father
and what she's here to fight for.
[Phoenix] Renee, you said it earlier for the women
-that haven't tasted gold here. -[Cole] A Samoan drop by Tamina.
[Phoenix] This is an opportunity for them to chase,
to get an opportunity against the champion at the time.
[Renee] Women that never thought we were gonna be here,
look at this showdown.
[Cole] We were expecting this for the last couple of weeks
since this Battle Royal was announced,
this showdown between Nia Jax and Tamina.
[both grunt]
-[Renee] That's a Lana thing. -[overlapping chatter]
-Look at Nia and Tamina now. -[Phoenix] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Looking to clean house in the Battle Royal!
[Phoenix] This is completely broken down.
And back to business here in the center of the ring.
Nia and Tamina want a piece of each other.
This is gonna be a nasty brawl.
[Phoenix] It's an old-fashioned call-out.
Don't fight, don't fight.
[indistinct chatter]
[Phoenix] Did she just say, "Don't fight"?
[Renee] Is she a peacemaker here?
-Oh, no, she didn't. -[Cole] Uh-oh, that was not wise, Lana.
The ravishing Russian Lana going after Nia and Tamina.
I guess you got to give Lana credit for having some guts.
[Phoenix] Oh!
[Cole] But the double headbutt.
[Phoenix] Unfortunately, those flurry of kicks had no effect on Nia.
[Cole] And Lana eliminated.
[Renee] Lana was acting a fool. She had that coming.
[Cole] And Nia Jax with a slam to Tamina!
Those two women know each other so well.
Asuka, the Empress of Tomorrow.
The winner of the first ever Royal Rumble event
for women this past January.
Knows how to win an event like this.
Double team now with her friend Naomi.
Dana Brooke getting involved.
-[Renee] Uh-oh. -[Phoenix] Uh-oh.
-[Cole] What on earth do we have here? -[Phoenix] No way.
[Phoenix] What are we gonna see here?
[Cole] Now Tamina.
-And Mandy Rose! -[Phoenix] Oh, my God!
-[Cole] Are you kidding me? -[Renee] Oh!
[Phoenix] I can't believe the ring didn't just fall apart.
[Cole] Quadruple suplex.
[Renee] You guys wanted to see women fight. Tonight they're fighting.
[Phoenix] What an impact.
[Renee] Where did Carmella just come from?
[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] Mella's Money! -[Phoenix] This is--
This is what I was saying, Renee. Looking for those opportunities.
Are we going to get a dance break?
[Renee laughs] Yes!
-[Cole] In the middle of a Battle Royal. -[Renee] Oh, snap!
-[Cole] And look at R-Truth lovin' it! -Get it, girl.
[Phoenix] Oh, my goodness gracious.
[Renee] Past, present, and future, everybody.
Ivory definitely still got it.
[Phoenix] She's the best.
[Cole] Now Mandy Rose looking to eliminate Ivory.
Mandy Rose has had a better night so far in this Battle Royal.
[Renee] Finish the job, Mandy.
You're gonna pay for it.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Carmella from behind!
[Phoenix] Nice little teamwork.
[Cole] Mandy eliminated.
[Renee] Carmella actually won the very first
women's Battle Royal of NXT.
[Cole] And now Michelle McCool involved. And Naomi.
Now Dana Brooke with that springboard elbow.
[Phoenix] Michelle McCool is a force to be reckoned with
in the first ever women's Royal Rumble this year,
eliminating five other competitors.
[Cole] Ember Moon,
The War Goddess eliminates Dana Brooke.
[Phoenix] Dana hit that ring apron hard.
[Renee] She'll be feeling that tomorrow.
-[Cole] And Carmella, though… -Not so fast.
[Cole] Caught by Michelle. Michelle looks better than ever.
Carmella perched up on the top rope.
-A big uppercut by Michelle McCool. -[Phoenix] What strength--
[Cole] Carmella's in deep, deep trouble. She's got to get down from there.
Meanwhile, Naomi and Asuka turn their attention to Nia Jax.
Ember Moon, springboard right into a big boot by Michelle.
[Renee] Michelle McCool don't play.
[Cole] Can you imagine if Michelle McCool can win this Battle Royal tonight
and get a future title opportunity?
[Renee] She looks like she can step right back in the ring any time.
Nice block from Ember.
Michelle's in trouble.
[Cole] And Michelle McCool, after a great performance, is eliminated.
And the field is thinning.
In this Battle Royal, Asuka and Naomi again,
working together as a double team.
Turning their attention to Tamina.
Asuka.
And Naomi and Tamina take her down again!
[Renee] This pair of Naomi and Asuka, they could set the world on fire.
[Cole] And Naomi sent over the top rope and eliminated by Tamina!
[Phoenix] Did you see the elevation on that?
[Renee] My gosh, the height. She got hang time.
-[Phoenix] Nice! -[Cole] Ivory
sending Asuka face first.
Carmella is going after Nia Jax.
And now Nia and Ember, remember, are very good friends,
but it's every woman for herself!
Ember with a DDT planting Nia Jax.
[Phoenix] Carmella looking for it.
[Cole] Rather unique.
[Renee] You got to throw everything against the wall.
[Cole] In a Battle Royal, you do have to do that.
Beth, as the field thins now, does it favor anyone in particular?
[Phoenix] I would say it favors those, like I said, that are remaining smart,
looking for openings and also taking rests.
[Renee] And the favor is always gonna be in Nia Jax's field
until she's eliminated, if she is.
[Cole] Oh, and Carmella's out.
We are now down to five women.
Tamina backing up into the corner to Ember Moon.
Nia Jax, Asuka and Ivory still in this match.
[Phoenix] Let's talk about Ivory hanging in there.
[Cole] Yeah, the Hall of Famer
had a very unique career here at WWE.
[Phoenix] Ooh.
[Renee] What about Tamina to be gone for nine months,
step back into the ring after shoulder surgery?
She looks amazing.
[Phoenix] Renee, it is so hard to rehab an injury.
The fact that she's here competing at Evolution is amazing.
-[Renee] Oh! -[Cole] Oh, look at this.
This is incredible.
This is some performance by Ivory.
One more time!
[Cole] And you still got a chance from this sold-out crowd
at Nassau Coliseum!
Ivory up at the top rope celebrating.
Almost cost her there.
[Phoenix] Asuka caught it.
[Renee] Oh! Knee of Ivory.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Here comes Asuka.
-And there goes Ivory! -[Phoenix] Oh! Bye-bye!
[Cole] We are down to four.
Asuka, Ember Moon, Nia Jax and Tamina.
[Renee] What a group.
This is the future.
[Cole] Remember the rivalry that Ember Moon and Asuka had.
One of the great rivalries in NXT history over the NXT Women's Championship.
[Renee] We're about to see some hard hitting, Cole.
[Cole] And here are the NXT champs breaking out here at Nassau Coliseum.
-[Phoenix] Oh, my God! -[Cole] What a backhand by Asuka.
And a knee right to the face of Moon!
[Phoenix] Some of that Joshi Strong style.
[Cole] Asuka hung up. Ember Moon with a kick right to the jaw.
Asuka, however, lands in the ring.
And now Ember Moon looking to eliminate the Empress of Tomorrow.
-Over the top rope and she's out! -[Phoenix] Oh, my gosh.
[Cole] Asuka's out! We're down to three! Nia Jax, Tamina, and Ember Moon!
[Renee] What a move for Ember Moon.
[Phoenix] Guys, that has to be an upset.
[Cole] I agree.
Asuka was my pick to win this entire Battle Royal.
-[Renee] Tamina-- -[Phoenix] Mention Lita.
[Cole] Ember Moon now with a forearm.
Tamina with the power, grabbing Ember Moon.
And plants her.
That spinning side slam.
[Phoenix] Nia Jax was lying in wait.
Looking for that opportunity.
[Renee] Talk about the smart move.
[Cole] Super kick. Down goes Nia.
[Renee] Waited out, and can't avoid a kick to the face.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Ember!
[Renee] Ember is in there with two of the toughest competitors
-the WWE's ever seen. -[Phoenix] Can you hear them right now?
The WWE Universe going wild for Ember Moon.
[Cole] Guys, if Ember can pull this off.
Ember Moon, high risk now, going to the top rope.
Well, you're eliminated if you go over the top rope into the floor.
Ember Moon with an Eclipse.
Just like this past Monday night on RAW!
An Eclipse to Tamina!
-Tamina-- -[Renee] Oh, my gosh!
[Cole] And we are down to friends.
We are down to the buddies.
Ember Moon and Nia Jax.
[Renee] It's always been the spirit of competition between these two,
but now there's a future championship opportunity on the line.
[Cole] Can you imagine if Ember Moon can somehow
eliminate Nia Jax in this match?
[Renee] Ember Moon has future champion written all over her.
[Cole] Nia Jax.
Oh! I guess she said, "The heck with it."
It's every woman for herself and she just bulldozed through Nia Jax.
[Renee] Can't be friends when the bell rings.
[Phoenix] Nia is not interested in wasting any time here.
-[Phoenix] Ooh! -[Cole] What a peel.
And listen to this place.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Ember!
[Cole] "Let's go, Ember" chants
ringing throughout the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York.
-We are sold out tonight. -[Renee] Whoa!
[Cole] Ember Moon out to the apron!
Close to elimination.
What does Nia Jax do?
How does Ember Moon get Nia Jax over the top rope into the floor?
[Phoenix] Ember Moon's got--
She's got to get creative here, Renee.
[Cole] That's what she's looking to do.
Could she somehow power Nia Jax over the top rope?
Nia Jax in trouble!
Moon looking to eliminate Jax!
[Renee] This is insane!
[Cole] Can Ember Moon do it?
Can Ember Moon win the Battle Royal?
-[Renee] What? -Wait a minute.
-[Renee] What? -[Cole] Th-that…
That's Zelina Vega!
-Zelina Vega, I guess-- -[Phoenix] She's still in the game?
[Cole] Yeah, I guess she wasn't eliminated.
[Phoenix] Zelina should have kept her eye on the ball.
[Cole] I think she believes she eliminated Nia and Ember
and that didn't happen.
Both landed on the apron.
[Phoenix] I think she's realizing she just poked the bear.
-[Renee] Oh, this is bad news. -[Cole] Of course, the--
[Renee] Oh, no.
[Cole] The business manager, Andrade Cien Almas on SmackDown LIVE.
Zelina Vega, though, would like to have a career highlight here.
The biggest win of her career.
If she could somehow win this Battle Royal.
[Phoenix] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Oh, my God. Nia may break her in half.
Look at the power of Nia Jax.
[Renee] Oh, this is gonna be bad.
[crowd cheering]
[Phoenix] There's only one way out of this, guys.
-[Renee] That's a long way down. -[Cole] Vega eliminated.
But Nia has-- Has she forgotten?
Has she forgotten that Ember Moon is still in this thing?
Ember Moon with a dropkick.
The final two competitors in the Battle Royal.
[Phoenix] Ember doing a great job of taking advantage of that distraction.
[Renee] Ember's just hacking away at this tree.
Trying to knock it down.
[Cole] Nia Jax, though planting Ember Moon.
[Renee] Ember's done.
[Cole] And now, it's just a matter of time to send Ember over the top rope!
-Nia Jax wins the Battle Royal. -[bell dings]
Nia Jax has a future championship opportunity.
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the Battle Royal,
Nia Jax!
[Cole] Absolutely incredible.
And Nia Jax knows what is at stake, a championship opportunity.
And there you see Ata Johnson, the aunt of Nia Jax,
the mother of The Rock.
A happy belated birthday to Ata Johnson.
Applauding the victory by her niece here tonight in this Battle Royal.
[Renee] Nia Jax is surrounded by a very strong group of women.
And now she gets to go into battle.
[Phoenix] Heritage means so much in that Samoan dynasty.
Congratulations to Nia Jax.
[Cole] What an incredible Battle Royal.
All the participants…
-[Renee] That was wild. -[Cole] …gave 100% tonight.
And this is the closing moments
when Zelina Vega came from out of nowhere.
We thought she'd been eliminated.
Obviously, she hadn't been.
[Phoenix] Unfortunately, Zelina took her eye off the ball.
Celebrated a little bit too early,
and found herself in a very compromising position.
[Cole] Nia's dominance continues.
As she planted Ember Moon.
And that move there would allow Nia Jax to toss Ember Moon over the top rope…
[crowd cheering]
-…and pick up the victory. -[bell dings]
Nia Jax has a title match in her future.
[woman] Nia, congratulations.
Not only did you triumph,
you just made history.
[crowd cheering]
Thank you. I just want to first…
[sighs]
It's amazing because, you know,
I got to share the ring with some incredible talent, you know?
And this means so much more, you know, for my family,
for all of my family.
But right now my mind is in the RAW Women's Championship.
And I know what it's like to be a champ.
And now I'm one step closer to that title again.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, Ronda and Nikki Bella better be ready.
One of those women, they have to face Nia.
Who would you rather face for the RAW Women's Championship?
Nikki Bella or Ronda Rousey?
Well…
Um, I wish the best of luck to Ronda and Nikki.
I hope they have a great match.
And whoever wins, I hope they enjoy the moment
because it won't last long.
[crowd cheering]
[Nia Jax's theme song playing]
[Cole] Nia Jax with a warning for Ronda or Nikki.
Well, you know, guys, earlier this week,
Charlotte, Stephanie and Dana Warrior
were part of an event launching a new partnership with WWE and Girl Up
in a sports club in New York City
to create a culture of sports participation
for girls around the world.
And please welcome everyone from Girl Up
having a great time here tonight participating in WWE Evolution.
So excited for the, for this new campaign.
[Renee] I can't wait to be a part of this. It's something that I truly believe in.
Us participating is awesome.
[Cole] And it's one of the reasons we're here tonight.
The empowerment of women around the world.
Sending great messages.
Sending messages of empowerment and equality.
-I love it. I want to see more of it. -It's so mind-blowing though
when you can see the looks on girls' faces
and being able to have an impact on their lives.
It was our privilege throughout the summer
and of course the fall
to participate in calling the second annual Mae Young Classic.
It was incredible.
Thirty-two women started.
Tonight, we're down to two.
[Mae] Through the years I've wrestled, but I still love it.
I think it's the greatest thing in the world.
[female narrator] WWE Hall of Famer, Mae Young,
originated a movement
that became an Evolution.
[woman] This is an amazing moment for all women in this industry.
[female narrator] And tonight, that Evolution is reignited.
[Cole] We started with 32 Superstars
in this epic Mae Young Classic tournament.
One woman will win!
One woman will make history.
[female narrator] A grueling eight-week tournament
tested their desire,
their resolve,
their passion,
until there were only two.
My name is Toni Storm and I'm from Gold Coast, Australia.
[Cole] Toni Storm is one of the favorites to win it all.
[woman] Toni Storm in the ring, you know we're ready to party tonight.
Last year I made it to semi-finals and that's great.
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[bell dings]
There's no shame losing to Kairi,
but as far as I'm concerned, I didn't get the job done.
[Cole] That young lady has the word "star" written all over her.
[Toni] I've sat around and I've thought about this for over a year now.
I can't let myself down. I can't let my fans down.
[crowd chanting] Toni! Toni! Toni!
[Cole] Storm Zero!
[woman] A career-defining moment for Toni Storm.
I want to win the Mae Young Classic because this is my dream.
[crowd cheering]
My name is Io Shirai.
I'm from Tokyo, Japan.
[Cole] She is known as the Genius of the Sky.
[woman] You're not gonna forget this moment.
Rey Mysterio Jr. is my favorite.
[speaking Japanese]
[Cole] A Tokyo sports newspaper named her
the top wrestler in Japan for the last three years.
And now she's here.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Io!
Let's go, Io!
[speaking Japanese]
[Cole] Asai Moonsault!
Shirai! Is going to Evolution!
It's not over yet. We still got one more match.
[female narrator] For one of these women,
tonight marks the culmination of a lifelong journey.
[woman] These women have been through
some of the most intense battles we've ever seen.
[female narrator] For one, the pursuit for redemption.
I have never felt so much pressure.
[female narrator] For the other, a claim on a worldwide stage.
[Io speaking Japanese]
[Toni] Right now, I'm bruised and I'm beaten
and I feel like I have nothing left, but she's not gonna beat me.
[Io speaking Japanese]
[female narrator] Who will make history?
Who will realize their dream?
Who will be crowned the winner
of the 2018 Mae Young Classic?
[Cole] And the winner will receive a wonderful trophy
here at Nassau Coliseum tonight
to crown the winner of the second annual Mae Young Classic.
And the woman who will be officiating this match, Jessika Carr.
Jessika is an official at NXT.
She will do the honors here tonight.
We're also joined by a number of the competitors
that were involved in the 2018 Mae Young Classic.
You see Rhea Ripley and Meiko Satomura and…
[Renee] Tegan Nox out there.
[Cole] And Nachi as well.
[Toni Storm's theme music playing]
[bell dings]
[Lilian] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is the final round
of the Mae Young Classic Tournament.
Introducing first, from Gold Coast, Australia,
Toni Storm!
[Cole] Toni Storm is a player in the brand new NXT UK brand,
which you can see on the WWE Network every Wednesday
eight o'clock in the UK, three o'clock on the East Coast.
Toni Storm, one of the finalists for the Mae Young Classic,
ready for action here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
And WWE Evolution is presented by WWE 2K19,
the video game being hailed as a phenomenal
and the best 2K title yet, available now.
And by Kay Jewelers, for all the moments, for love, forever.
Toni Storm, indeed, will remember this night forever,
as will this young woman.
[Io Shirai's theme music playing]
[Lilian] And her opponent, from Tokyo, Japan,
Io Shirai!
[Cole] As Io Shirai makes her way to the ring,
I do want to do a shout out to Tegan Nox, who we saw moments ago at ringside.
Tegan was injured in the Mae Young Classic.
She was a pick by many to win the event, she's recovering,
and she says she cannot wait to be back in action.
But Beth, let's talk about the Genius of the Sky, Io Shirai.
[Phoenix] I gotta tell you guys, I am so emotionally invested in this match.
We got to sit at ringside and watch these women
move through each and every single round.
And Io Shirai was nothing short of impressive.
Heavily influenced by Rey Mysterio, she's made her name in Japan,
and she came into the Mae Young Classic and set it on fire.
[Cole] And I'll tell you, Toni Storm,
who in the semifinals beat Japanese legend Meiko Satomura,
in what I thought was the match of the tournament.
An incredible performance and a major upset
by Toni Storm that night.
[Renee] And what a brutal, hard-hitting match that was,
but that shows you exactly what Toni Storm is made of.
You want to talk about moxie and guts?
Toni Storm's got all of it.
[Cole] Io Shirai made it to the finals of the victory over Rhea Ripley.
So Shirai and Storm, one of these women,
will be crowned Mae Young Classic champion.
[Renee] How nervous must these women be, Beth?
[Phoenix] This is such a huge stage. Not only is this the finals--
You know, Renee, last year I sat in the audience
and watched Shayna Baszler versus Kairi Sane in the finals.
-The energy in here is unbelievable. -[bell dings]
[Cole] Speaking of that, later on tonight,
Kairi Sane defends her NXT Women's Championship against Shayna Baszler.
So Toni Storm, Io Shirai set,
we are underway in the finals of the Mae Young Classic.
The world, of course, talking about #WWEEvolution.
So for Toni Storm, Beth, what does she need to do
to knock off the, well, many call her one of the best in the world, Io Shirai?
[Phoenix] Well, first of all, Toni Storm has to keep Io on the ground.
Io is called the Genius of the Sky
because once she gets to that top rope, it's usually the endgame.
Toni's an excellent grappler,
and I think she's got to stick with that style
and keep Io on the mat.
[Cole] Toni Storm at 22 years old.
She was the first women's champion
for the progress promotion in the United Kingdom.
She had wrestled in 13 countries before the age of 20 years old.
And a nice headlock takedown by Toni Storm.
[Renee] For 22 years old to have the experience that Toni Storm has.
And Michael Cole, you said it best earlier
that Toni Storm has "star" written all over her.
[Cole] Yeah, no doubt about that.
Toni Storm, snap suplexes,
British technical grappling, all part of her game.
And showing some sportsmanship as well, and Beth, perhaps a…
[Phoenix] I don't know, I think it's a bit of a mind game, Michael.
I mean, Toni really wants to show she's in control.
She made it far in the Mae Young Classic,
but didn't get it all the way done.
I mean, there's no room for mistakes this year.
[Renee] Toni didn't get it done last year, but Io wasn't able to compete at all.
So tonight she finally gets that opportunity in the finals
with her best friend, Kairi Sane, in the building as well.
[Phoenix] When we talk about pressure, Renee, these layers just keep building.
[Renee] I mean, all the emotions aside,
the fact that one of these women is gonna be able to make a name for herself
on this magnificent platform speaks volumes to their career.
[Cole] Io Shirai was a prized free agent
signed in by WWE NXT.
Toni Storm with a few slaps.
-A nice-- -[Phoenix] Oh, nice!
[Cole] Great counter by Storm.
Didn't go over the top, went to the side instead.
Cover now to win the Classic.
Kick-out by Shirai.
[Phoenix] This is what I like about Toni Storm.
She's, she's so unorthodox with her style--
[Cole] This is what you're talking about, Beth.
Usually you'd go over the top,
but instead, she went to the side ropes and delivered the dropkick.
[Phoenix] Threw off Io and gave her the advantage.
Toni Storm has traveled all over the world.
She's such a mix and an amalgamation of styles,
and she knows how to use that to her advantage.
[Renee] And how important is that to be able to dip into your artillery?
Do you stick Japanese style or do you go British Strong style?
How do you make that decision?
[Phoenix] You have to be adaptable, especially with an opponent like Io.
[Cole] And look at Io Shirai.
-Dropkick to Toni Storm. -[Phoenix] Wow!
[Cole] Toni Storm was mesmerized, and a kip-up by Shirai.
[Renee] Everyone's been insanely mesmerized by Io Shirai
ever since she was announced as participating in the Mae Young Classic.
[Cole] Well, Io Shirai, 2015, 2016, 2017,
Tokyo Joshi Grand Prize winner.
Multi-time champion in Japan.
Oh, and knees right to the midsection.
Cover now on Toni Storm.
And Storm just gets the shoulder up.
And now Shirai looking for a submission move, perhaps.
[Renee] Right into a nice submission, a version of a full nelson here.
[Phoenix] Io looks like she's having fun doing this.
Soak up that moment.
[Cole] WWE Universe invested all night long.
Sold out in Nassau Coliseum.
Again, wherever you're watching us in the world tonight,
the WWE Network, thank you for joining us.
This is the finals of the 2018 Mae Young Classic.
You're looking at two of the best in the world, really the future.
WWE, Io Shirai and Toni Storm.
Storm's in trouble.
Shirai perhaps looking for a tap-out victory
as Toni tries to make it to the bottom ropes.
[Phoenix] Well, Shirai wisely following her opponent.
Rolling with Toni, keeping that hold, putting the pressure on.
Really working that, that maneuver in particular.
Oh, Toni's got to the ropes here.
[Cole] And this is gonna force a break for Io Shirai.
[Phoenix] A lot of pressure placed on the pectoral region
to-to really warm her up.
I mean, Io used a moonsault as a finisher.
[Cole] Beth, let me ask you-- Oh!
With the pace right now,
which one of these women does it help?
[Phoenix] I think this pace favors Io.
She's looking for an opportunity, an opening.
[Cole] Toni Storm, though, ducks underneath.
There's a suplex, and Io lands right on the back of her neck!
[Renee] Look at that power from Toni Storm.
[Phoenix] I spoke too soon.
[Cole] Yeah, Toni Storm known for her suplexes,
and that may turn this around for her.
Toni Storm into the corner.
Backs right up to Io Shirai.
Toni Storm looking to go up high. She is a high flyer as well.
Not just Shirai here.
Storm can get it done at the top of the ropes.
[Renee] Toni Storm does it all.
[Phoenix] And at this level of competition,
the shift in momentum…
[Cole] Io Shirai slowly…
And Toni Storm now may have lost her balance
and that slight hesitation caught her
and allowed Shirai to deliver the dropkick.
[Phoenix] A little tentativeness.
[Renee] How much can a hesitation throw you, Beth?
[Phoenix] Huge. Nobody wants to make a mistake at this stage of the game.
-[Renee] Oh, my God! -[Cole] Shirai top rope moonsault!
The Genius of the Sky connects.
[Renee] I wonder if Charlotte Flair got eyes on that.
[Phoenix] Did you see the elevation of that moonsault?
[Renee] It was an unbelievable. Perfect execution.
[Cole] And Io Shirai, after the hesitation by Storm,
delivers the dropkick.
And this is what she's known for, the moonsault.
[Phoenix] Textbook moonsault.
And it looks like Toni Storm caught every bit of it.
[Cole] And Toni Storm now trying to prevent Shirai
from getting back to her feet as she made it into the ring.
Great defense by Storm.
Now they'll battle out on the apron of the ring.
Toni Storm, Shirai does not want to be out there.
[Phoenix] Very dangerous spot of the ring.
[Cole] Looking perhaps for the Storm Zero,
which is the tiger driver that Storm will use
to put her opponents away.
And again, Io Shirai able to block.
Looking for a backdrop of her own, Toni Storm hanging on to the top rope.
Ooh, a headbutt right to the chin.
[Renee] Bold move.
[Cole] And now a giant suplex on the apron!
[Phoenix] That is the hardest part of the ring.
All of the metal hardware underneath that ring apron.
What an impact.
[Cole] Io Shirai is in trouble.
And the official will begin the count.
[Phoenix] You can see Io's back, the impact from that German suplex.
What an unorthodox choice by Toni Storm,
but that could pay off in a win for her tonight.
[Cole] And Beth, you heard that dull thud as Io Shirai hit the apron.
And now the audience split
with a "Let's go, Toni, let's go, Io" chants.
[Phoenix] I don't think Io knows where she is right now.
[Cole] The official…
As Io Shirai makes it back into the ring to break the count.
Toni Storm perhaps looking for a countout victory.
Now she's gonna go for a pitfall win, and a kick-out by Shirai.
[Renee] You think of the grueling pain both of these women
put themselves through to get to this point.
They left it all in the ring during the Mae Young Classic.
[Cole] Toni with a forearm.
-[Renee] Ooh! -[Cole] Blocks.
And Shirai looking to fire up.
[Phoenix] Again we're seeing that Japanese hard-hitting style.
[Cole] That Japanese strong style as Io Shirai unloads on Toni Storm.
And look at Shirai go.
[Phoenix] Toni can barely keep her arms up in defense.
[Renee] Toni's down.
[Cole] And again Shirai with a right.
And an uppercut.
[Phoenix] What a palm strike.
-[Cole] Toni Storm with a clothesline! -[Phoenix] Oh!
Turned Io Shirai inside out.
[Cole] And Toni Storm now perhaps going for the Storm Zero.
There it is!
Shoulders down! Will Storm do it here?
Toni Storm almost had her!
And a kick-out by Shirai.
[Phoenix] The look of disappointment on Toni's face.
[Cole] Can you believe she kicked out, Beth?
[Phoenix] I cannot.
It looks like Io's seeing stars right now.
[Renee] Io's taking a beating.
A good instinctual move by Io to get out of the way,
get to the ropes, take a breather.
[Cole] Well, Toni Storm's got to get right back on the attack.
She cannot get frustrated.
Has to do what she can to try to put Shirai away again.
[Phoenix] The pace of this match so far has been very methodical.
[Cole] Toni Storm known as the Lightning Down Under.
The Gold Coast of Australia needs to strike again here.
And the woman from Tokyo, Japan, Io Shirai,
hanging Toni Storm up on the middle rope.
And Shirai, little homage to Ray Mysterio with a 619.
Ray, of course, returning to SmackDown LIVE a couple of weeks ago.
Shirai's hero is Ray Mysterio.
-[Phoenix] Beautiful! -[Cole] Sunset flip over the top!
Shoulders are down!
Cover! Thought she had her.
And Storm able to survive now.
[Phoenix] So close.
One of Io's specialties is that springboard.
She can use it in a variety of ways.
[Cole] And turn that one into a sunset flip
and almost put Toni Storm away.
These women so evenly matched in the Mae Young Classic finale.
[Phoenix] Io talked about being part of Evolution.
She just said, "I will win. I'm number one. Keep it simple."
[Cole] Shirai up the double knees,
drags Toni Storm back to the middle of the ring.
And it looks like she's gonna go up top
and look for the patented Asai Moonsault, which will put her opponent away here
and perhaps bring her the Mae Young Classic championship.
-[Phoenix] She's feeling it, guys. -[Cole] Genius of the Sky!
-Storm got her knees up! -[Phoenix] Oh! Knees up!
[Cole] Storm got her knees up!
She's got Shirai in position once again!
Storm Zero!
Shoulders down!
Here's the cover!
Toni Storm wins the Mae Young Classic.
[Toni Storm's theme music playing]
[Phoenix] Unbelievable. What a victory for Toni Storm.
Put her name on the map.
She has made history amongst all the women in WWE.
[Renee] All of the emotion pouring out.
Congratulations to that young lady.
She's worked so hard.
[Phoenix] A 22 years old to have this notch under her belt.
She will surely be a future champion in WWE.
[Cole] Other competitors, including you saw Rhea Ripley
on the left-hand side of your screen, who is involved,
of course, with Toni Storm at the NXT UK show,
did not seem too happy, but nonetheless,
Toni Storm wins, and we've talked about it.
Toni Storm is gonna be a bona fide star.
I don't think there's any doubt about that.
She has it all. She has charisma, tremendous athleticism.
She wins the Mae Young Classic.
[Renee] She oozes cool, too.
[Phoenix] Absolutely, Renee. Everywhere that Toni Storm goes, people watch.
[Cole] But let's not forget about Io Shirai
and what this woman will accomplish here in WWE.
Forget what happened tonight. Shirai is one of the best in the world.
[Renee] She's been deemed that before she ever stepped foot here in WWE,
so now the doors are blasted wide open for Io Shirai.
[Cole] The Genius of the Sky takes to the sky with a moonsault.
And right then and there, we thought Shirai was on her way to a victory.
[Phoenix] Here we see Toni Storm taking advantage.
Io taking a huge fall on the hardest part of the ring.
This was a turning point for the match.
[Cole] And this is the first Storm Zero.
And we thought this was it.
But somehow, Io Shirai with the heart and guts to kick-out.
[Phoenix] Io does what she does best.
Heads to the top rope,
hits a beautiful moonsault,
Toni Storm counters,
is able to hook her for the Storm Zero,
and we see history made tonight
as she wins the Mae Young Classic.
[Cole] There is a Storm a-brewing!
-Toni Storm. -[bell dings]
As she hugs Io Shirai here at the finals.
An incredible moment in the ring here.
The man who is responsible for NXT,
and of course, the NXT UK show and so many other things in WWE,
our COO Triple H is in the ring.
Along with his wife and the commissioner of Monday Night RAW, Stephanie McMahon.
There is Sarah Amato.
She is the assistant head coach in NXT.
And the woman really responsible for the success of all the women in NXT.
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen,
your winner of the 2018 Mae Young Classic,
Toni Storm!
[Cole] Beth, what must Toni Storm be feeling right now?
[Phoenix] It's literally gotta be a thousand things at once.
I mean, this young lady, the sky's the limit.
What a moment to make history
on our history-making Pay-Per-View tonight, Evolution.
[Renee] Must feel so surreal for her right now.
[Cole] Remember this tournament and the scope of it.
Thirty-two women among the best in the world
from all over the world competed.
And it came down to tonight.
Shirai and Storm in a great battle at Evolution.
Storm wins the 2018 Mae Young Classic.
Congratulations to all 32 women
who were a part of this event.
[Renee] We'd like to extend a very special thank you
to Little Mix for "Salute",
an official theme song of WWE Evolution.
It's from the album Salute, available now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Cole] And Evolution means a little different things for everybody.
Let's take another look at what it means to a lot of the Superstars here in WWE.
Evolution is…
huge.
It's a moving word.
It's…
emotional.
It's what women have fought for and worked for
through eras, through decades.
It's hard to even wrap my head around because I dreamed about what today is
so many times when I was in the ring and when I was competing.
And I never actually believed it was possible.
I think about where I started.
What happened? How did it start?
It didn't just start with me.
It started with all the wonderful women before me.
And myself, as a fighter, wanting a certain thing,
when I started, we had the marquee
with the name at the bottom, meaning "and more"
My name was "and more."
This ain't, this ain't acceptable.
I need, we need to change.
And so they gave it, and it said "Women's."
And I thought, "Oh, my God, we are going somewhere.
"This is great."
An evolution is starting.
And so to see it kind of come to a head right now
and to see this historical moment
and be able to, you know, watch it, experience it firsthand
is a dream come true for me and I think many other women
who really love and appreciate women's wrestling.
Us to set examples for young women to come
and hopefully to make it easier for the next generation
and the girls to come in after us so they don't have to fight for these things,
it'll just become the norm, um,
is my goal and is my purpose,
and I hope that's what's happening here.
We're gonna break history.
And this isn't the end.
[The Riott Squad's theme music playing]
[bell dings]
[Lilian] The following contest is a six-woman tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, and Ruby Riott,
The Riott Squad!
[Renee] The Riott Squad out here paying homage
to a couple of guys from horror movies.
Sarah's got Leatherface, Ruby's Jigsaw, Liv, Pennywise.
[Cole] WWE Evolution, of course, a global event here
on the WWE Network,
and we are joined by our international row of announcers,
as usual on all Pay-Per-View events,
including our Portuguese team of Marco Alfaro and Roberto Figueroa.
[speaking Portuguese]
[Cole] Our Russian team of Moti Margolin and Zhan Pomerantsev.
[speaking Russian]
[Cole] And the Japanese team of Shun Yamaguchi and Funaki.
[speaking Japanese]
[Cole] Our Hindi team of Obaid Kadwani and Shez Sardar.
[speaking Hindi]
[Cole] Our French team of Ray Rougeau and Jean Brassard.
[speaking French]
[Cole] And our Mandarin team of Meng Ai and Sean Deng.
[speaking Mandarin]
[Cole] And The Riott Squad set for six-woman tag team action.
And guess what?
It's boss time!
[Renee] Heck, yes!
[Lilian] Their opponents, first, from Boston, Massachusetts,
Sasha Banks!
[Sasha Banks' theme song playing]
[Cole] In my estimation, one of the women that have created all this.
[Renee] Looks like she's taking it all in right now.
She's earned every moment.
[Natalya's theme music playing]
[Renee] Beth, did you get your goosebumps yet?
[Phoenix] I got them, Renee!
[Lilian] Next, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
Natalya!
[Cole] Hey, Beth, did you see your friend Natalya
on Rachel Ray this week with Ronda Rousey?
[Phoenix] I did, and Maddie was trying to get all her camera time in, as usual.
-[Renee] She gets to use the EVOO? -[Phoenix laughs]
[Bayley's theme song playing]
[Lilian] And their tag team partner, from San Jose, California,
Bayley!
[Cole] All three of these women, former champions.
But let's talk a little bit about what Bayley and Sasha Banks
have accomplished to get us to this moment here tonight at Evolution.
Back at NXT, involved in the match of the year at NXT TakeOver, Brooklyn,
then they were involved in the first ever Iron Man match.
A classic between Sasha and Bayley,
and now they find themselves on this stage here tonight.
[Renee] They've had some troubles during their relationship, of course.
But tonight, definitely on a unified front with Bayley, Sasha and Natalya.
Three women that just live and breathe sports entertainment.
[Cole] And look at Finn Bálor's here!
Of course, Bayley's partner in Mixed Match Challenge on Tuesday nights.
Hey, you know, Sasha Banks was on that show,
The Real, this past week,
and she talked a lot about her cousin, Snoop Dogg,
and how he really inspired her to become a legit boss at WWE.
[Renee] For her to be able to get the opportunities.
We've seen so many pictures of Sasha Banks with so many of the women of the past,
and I think that being cousins with Snoop Dogg
probably helped her get in the door a little bit.
So what does this night, though, Beth, mean for The Riott Squad?
[Phoenix] You know what? I said it earlier.
I feel like The Riott Squad may be the close, most close-knit group
we have in WWE right now.
I mean, they got tattoos of the day that they debuted together,
all matching tattoos, because it means so much to them to be loyal to each other.
[Cole] So it's Liv Morgan starting things off with Natalya.
Liv Morgan, of course, the resident juvenile delinquent,
in her words, of The Riott Squad.
[Renee] She's like the bratty one of the bunch, Cole.
[Cole] Well, she calls herself a millennial.
She says she's a rebel, and right there shows her free spirit
as she just angers Natalya.
[Phoenix] Guys, one thing you do not do is slap a Hart,
especially not that Hart.
[Cole] Natalya, of course, a graduate of the famous Hart Dungeon.
She is the first-ever third-generation woman wrestler.
[Phoenix] Oh, my gosh.
[Cole] Liv Morgan now mocking Natalya and pays for it.
[Renee] Clocked in the face.
[Cole] Tag made. Here comes Sasha Banks.
[Phoenix] Natalya's slaps sit with you for awhile.
[Cole] Sasha a four-time women's champion.
[Phoenix] Homage to Jim and Bret Hart.
A nice Hart Attack there, executed perfectly.
[Cole] Sasha Banks,
of course, also involved in the first-ever Hell in a Cell match.
This is Sarah Logan from The Riott Squad.
Sarah Logan, part of the Youngsborn Fight Group.
[Renee] I love her style. I love watching her in the ring.
-[Cole] She's a viking. -She is a viking, and--
[Cole] Nice arm drag by Banks.
-[Renee] To bring that into the ring… -[Cole] Dropkick!
[Renee] Can't wait to see where her career goes.
[Cole] Cover by Sasha Banks. And a kick-out by Sarah.
[Phoenix] I really like Sarah Logan's style.
I just love that smash-mouth, get-her-done style.
[Cole] Does leatherwork. Her belt she made.
Part of the whole viking thing.
[Renee] She's also dressed up as Leatherface tonight.
[Cole] With a knee right to the face.
Oh, and there are the double knees.
A Meteora from Sasha Banks and…
Logan now, hooked on the second rope by Bailey.
[Phoenix] You know, Renee, check out everybody's wardrobe game tonight.
[Renee] Nobody's messing around tonight.
It is seqins or nothing.
[Cole] I had to wear sunglasses with yours.
[Renee] Mine's a little much, sorry.
[Phoenix] I did not get the sequins memo.
-[Renee] Like an Elton John knock-off. -[Cole] Look at Bayley!
Sliding through the bottom rope, delivering a dropkick.
And down goes Sarah Logan.
[Renee] Do you think that Bayley and Sasha and Natalia
have time today to take in what all of Evolution means?
[Phoenix] Absolutely. We saw--
I had a conversation with them earlier, actually.
And we all got emotional about what this means.
Just to have the opportunity to perform.
[Cole] Oh, and Sarah Logan pinning Bayley on the ring post!
-Great teamwork by The Riott Squad. -[Renee] Perfect timing.
[Cole] To draw the attention, Sarah Logan able to connect.
Man, I'll tell you, I love The Riott Squad.
You talked about it earlier, Beth.
Here, watch Bayley now.
Off the distraction, and Logan capitalized.
The most tight-knit unit in WWE today.
And that woman right there, Ruby Riott, is a future champion.
[Renee] We're here talking about Evolution.
-I feel like The Riott Squad is just-- -[Cole] Cover. Cover by Logan.
Hooks the leg. Kick-out by Bayley.
[Renee] They're another extension of where this Evolution can go.
[Cole] Tag made. And here comes Liv Morgan.
[Phoenix] And we see The Riott Squad targeting that abdominal region.
Bayley hit that ring post and didn't even move.
[Cole] You know, Liv Morgan with an interesting story.
When she was young, she said she had times
where she didn't feel like she could go on and didn't care if she lived.
And now she believes in herself.
She believes she's going to be the best.
She has a great outlook on life.
And hence the reason her name is Liv.
[Renee] I did not know that. What an interesting story.
Today's actually-- It's her four-year anniversary with WWE as well.
I saw her tweet about that and celebrating, obviously, here tonight.
[Cole] Liv, a very unique individual.
I've had a lot of different conversations with her.
[Renee] Well, there's so many layers to Liv Morgan.
You can see this beautiful girl from Jersey that wants to fight.
But she's just this onion.
There's so many different layers that I'm sure we'll see
over the course of her career, she's so young.
[Phoenix] She's certainly doing a great job
of inspiring the WWE Universe now.
[Cole] And here comes Logan again.
[referee] Two! Three!
[Cole] Sarah Logan, such an interesting character.
She wrestles Bayley down to the mat again.
[Renee] Looks like she's ready to wrestle a bear.
[Cole] Yeah, the powerhouse of the team, brought up in the backwoods of Kentucky.
[Phoenix] Sarah Logan has an amateur wrestling background.
She spent time in Japan.
She knows her grappling.
-[Cole] She knows her hunting, too. -She sure does.
[Cole] She's brought up in the backwoods of Kentucky,
hunting for her food with her family.
-[Renee] What doesn't she do? -[Cole] Did a lot of farming as well.
[Cole] Tag again.
[Phoenix] Salt of the earth kind of gal. I like it.
[Cole] Ruby Riott in the match-up for the first time.
Logan caught Bayley with a forearm. And Logan is legal.
Here's the cover.
And a kick-out.
[Phoenix] This is really smart by The Riott Squad.
You know, these quick in and out tags.
Nobody's in there long enough to get tired except for Bayley.
They're putting the hurt on right now.
Oh!
[Cole] And Bayley bounced off the top turnbuckle.
And now Logan unloading.
[Renee] It's been a lot of talk if Sasha, Bayley and Natalia
were gonna be able to be a unified force enough.
I mean, look at The Riott Squad. Look at them.
[Cole] I think they're gonna have to be a unified force
because The Riott Squad is about to take over Monday Night RAW.
[Renee] They've been running it for a little minute now.
[Phoenix] Guys, Bayley's close here.
[Cole] Needs to make a tag. Logan launched off the top turnbuckle.
Bayley trying to crawl to the corner.
[Phoenix] Those ribs so damaged in that ring post.
[Cole] But again, great job by Logan not allowing Bayley to make the tag.
Bayley wants it! Oh, and down go Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan.
Bayley wants to fight back out of the corner.
[Phoenix] A happy accident for Bayley.
Might have created that opening.
[Cole] And look at Ruby Riott.
[referee] One. Bring it in. You made a tag.
[Cole] And now Ruby gonna go to work on Bayley.
[Renee] Ruby, the most experienced of The Riott Squad trio.
[Cole] And Liv Morgan got caught.
Bayley rolls through.
That sliding clothesline
takes out Ruby.
And now Natalya and Sasha try to get the WWE Universe into this match.
[Renee] Bayley's dreamt of this moment since she was a little girl.
She's not going down without a fight.
[Phoenix] There's a long way to the other side of that ring.
[Cole] This is the opening Bayley needs.
And look at-- Now it's Logan and Natalya.
Logan not allowing Natalya to make the tag.
And now Liv Morgan again not allowing Bayley to get into the corner.
[Phoenix] Guys, I am really impressed
at what The Riott Squad is doing right now.
They are working like a well-oiled machine.
[Renee] I was just going to use those exact same words.
-They're amazing to watch. -[Cole] Bayley, kick to the face of Ruby.
Liv Morgan runs into a boot by Bayley as well.
And now Riott into a back elbow.
Bayley with an opportunity to make a tag.
Liv Morgan hung on top rope.
Can Bayley get there? Riott not gonna allow it to happen.
Trying to drag Bayley back center of the ring.
-Bayley creates space. -[Phoenix] She's got it!
-[Cole] Here's Sasha! -[Phoenix] Boss time.
Sasha Banks.
A ball of fire with a dropkick.
[Phoenix] Oh, you hear that?
[Cole] What a kick.
[crowd cheering]
Lands on the apron. Sasha caught her with a knee.
[Phoenix] Absolutely no wasted movement from Sasha Banks.
[Cole] Top rope, Sasha. Meteora!
Down goes Riott!
Cover-- Kick-out.
[Phoenix] Can't get frustrated, Sasha.
Got to keep your eye on the ball.
[Renee] Sasha and Bayley, half of the original four horsewomen
here in WWE that helped to pave this way.
[Renee] Ruby Riott is looking to create her own path tonight.
[Phoenix] Ruby's the wily veteran in all this.
[Cole] Sasha was going for the backstabber,
which would turn into the Bank Statement. Shoulders down now.
[Renee] Nice crucifix roll-up.
[Cole] Oh, and a knee caught her.
Kick to the face by Ruby Riott.
Ruby and Sasha have had some battles over the past few weeks on RAW.
Tag. Bayley's legal.
I don't think Ruby Riott realizes, backstabber.
Bayley-to-Belly! Cover!
Hook to the leg!
-What the-- -[groans]
Sasha Banks was knocked into Bayley by Liv Morgan,
who saved this match.
[referee] Two! Get out of here. You two, get out of here!
[Cole] Ruby Riott was done.
[Renee] Sarah Logan just dragged Ruby to safety.
[Cole] Off the backstabber into the Bayley-to-Belly.
Logan now makes the tag. She's legal.
Sasha Banks is legal as well.
Sasha blasts Morgan off the apron.
Logan-- Meteora by Banks!
[Renee] Sasha Banks is feeling it.
[crowd cheering]
[Phoenix] What's she thinking, guys?
-[Cole] Sasha up over the top. -[Phoenix] Flying-- High risk!
[Cole] Oh! Sasha got caught up in the top rope, landed hard on the apron.
-[Phoenix] Oh, my gosh! -The Riott Squad to take over.
[Cole] Sasha Banks trying to go over the top rope, got caught.
She landed hard.
The Riott Squad able to turn it into a three-on-one.
Now Logan looking for the victory.
Hooks the leg here on Sasha Banks.
Almost had her, and a kick-out.
[Phoenix] That was brutal.
[Cole] And Sasha hit the apron hard.
[Renee] She went neck first right into it.
[Cole] And watch The Riott Squad now just driving Banks to the barricade.
[Phoenix] The impact of Sasha Banks' back hitting that guard rail.
Now she's in a bad spot, guys.
[Renee] This is gonna get ugly.
[Cole] Liv Morgan top rope, double team!
Good night, Sasha.
[Phoenix] Almost like a Doomsday Device.
[Renee] They're gonna continue to pick Sasha Banks apart.
[Cole] All those three quick tags allows that to happen.
The double team. Logan's legal.
Hooks both legs. And now it's Natalia saving the match-up.
Natalia sent through the second rope by Logan again.
[Renee] Sasha Banks is left on her own.
[Phoenix] You can see, guys,
how well The Riott Squad protects the interests of the team.
They're always watching each other, always looking to help each other out.
[Renee] The Riott Squad think that so many things
have been handed to women like the likes of Sasha,
like the likes of Bayley, Natalia.
[Cole] I don't agree with that. -[Renee] I don't either. That's from them.
[Cole] Bayley, Sasha, Natalia have earned everything they've gotten.
And Liv Morgan--
That enzuigiri tag now to Ruby Riott.
Ruby going up to the top rope and looking to put this match-up away.
-[Phoenix] Bayley's-- -[Cole] What the--
A-and Bayley, Bayley protecting her friend, Sasha Banks!
And Ruby Riott connecting.
And here's the cover now on Sasha.
And a kick-out by Banks.
Bayley sacrificing herself
after she saw what Banks went through moments ago.
[Renee] Bayley was willing to take the bullet for her friend.
[Phoenix] The Riott Squad is in disbelief.
[Cole] I'm in disbelief.
I can't believe Bayley did that after all the problems
that Bayley and Banks have had.
[Phoenix] They're best friends, Cole. We got to drop that.
They've moved on. They're on the same page, clearly.
[Cole] And look across the ring. No one in Sasha Banks' corner.
Nobody for Sasha Banks to tag.
Liv Morgan misses wildly.
Banks a-- Tag made.
Here comes Ruby Riott.
Sasha Banks just looking to survive.
Now Sarah Logan.
Again, the frequent tags which allow the double team.
Nobody home. Sasha rolls out of the way.
Natalya's on the apron, tag made.
Here comes Natalya!
[Phoenix] Like a house of fire!
[Cole] German suplex!
Oh, Logan with an elbow caught Natalya in the nose.
Ruby Riott made the tag.
I don't think Natalya realizes that a tag was made.
[Phoenix] Nice counter on the wheelbarrow.
[Cole] And I believe did Morgan make a tag, as well?
Natalya stacking up both these, Ruby and Logan.
-[Phoenix] We've seen this before, guys. -[Renee] No way.
[Cole] She's going for a double sharpshooter here.
[crowd cheering]
[Renee] If there's ever a place to do it, it's here tonight at Evolution.
Put everybody in their place.
[Cole] Natalya looking for a double sharpshooter
on Logan and Riott!
What's gonna happen here?
This is going to happen. Liv Morgan is legal.
And she was lying in wait.
Cover on Natalya! Hooks the legs!
Oh, and Natalya kicked out.
But what a great move by The Riott Squad.
[Renee] Again, they're always keeping an eye on each other.
Looking out for each other's interest. The group above all.
[Phoenix] They move and think as one unit.
[Renee] You got to ask, is that their recipe for success here in WWE?
They've got it figured out.
[Cole] So far, it has been.
Sasha, Bayley are out.
Natalya with no one to tag.
Liv Morgan going to continue the attack.
[Renee] Liv Morgan has been doing damage this match.
This has essentially turned into a singles match.
We've just got two competitors left in the ring.
[Cole] Liv Morgan caught by Natalya.
Bayley tagged. Bayley's legal.
Morgan's in trouble.
There's the powerbomb.
-Bayley off the top rope with the elbow! -[Phoenix] Nice!
[Cole] Sasha Banks is now legal with the tag!
Sasha Banks up to the top rope!
Banks gonna pay homage to her hero, Eddie Guerrero,
with the Frog Splash!
The cover! Banks, Bayley, Natalya win!
[Lilian] Here are your winners.
Natalya, Bayley and Sasha Banks.
[Phoenix] What a physical match-up we've just witnessed, guys.
[Renee] We're going to have a very mad Riott Squad on Monday Night RAW.
Mark my words.
[Cole] But for now, the celebration from Natalya, Bayley and Sasha Banks.
And you know what, women?
Soak up this moment.
Because we are here tonight partly because of those three women in the ring.
Bayley, Natalya and Sasha Banks.
And all that they've accomplished here in WWE.
[Renee] Those three women paying homage to legends, to their heroes.
[Cole] The Riott Squad looking good early with the teamwork.
They dominated much of this match-up,
including this three-on-one assault of Sasha Banks.
[Renee] That was brutal.
[Phoenix] We see how on the other end of things,
the team of Natalya, Bayley and Sasha
pulled out a little teamwork of their own.
[Cole] You talked about it, Renee, paying homage to their heroes.
Of course, the powerbomb and the elbow.
Bayley, of course, a big Macho Man Randy Savage fan.
And then the Frog Splash to Eddie Guerrero from Sasha Banks.
One, two, three!
[Cole] Listen, take nothing away from The Riott Squad tonight.
You looked at the future tonight, folks.
The Riott Squad are going to be major players in WWE.
[Renee] See a lot of championships amongst those women.
[Cole] Congratulations to Natalya, Sasha and Bayley.
An emotional night for all involved.
The significance of Evolution today is that we're all making history together.
When I was full-time here, there was just a handful of women.
And now to see so many getting the opportunity to do what they love,
it's just, for me, fun to see them showcased.
[Alicia] Evolution means everything to me.
It-- I'm not going to--
[sniffles]
This is the biggest match of my career.
We're breaking the glass ceilings. We're breaking barriers.
And it's a real test of how hard the women are constantly working.
And we're constantly uplifting each other.
[Molly] Just be inspired that women from all over the world
can follow their dreams and accomplish them
and be a part of something as amazing as Evolution.
To trailblaze a whole other path for other ones to come up is just--
I'm sorry, that's kind of crazy.
[Stephanie] When I think of my three little girls
that will be in the audience tonight, twelve, ten, and eight, it's for them.
It's so that when they grow up,
there doesn't have to be a first-ever.
It's just the way that it is.
That's what today is all about.
This Pay-Per-View that we're having where it's all women,
that young girls and young boys are going to look up
and see that women just can do whatever they put their mind to.
And it's very special to me personally, and I know to every woman on the card.
You know, on a personal note, I just want to say how honored
and privileged I am to be a part of this event.
Um, all of these women have inspired me throughout my career,
including the two that I'm working with tonight,
Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix and, of course, Renee Young.
Yeah, I would love to just give a quick shout-out
to all of the men that have helped us get to this spot.
You've been a huge champion for me for my entire career here,
but there's a ton of men in the back
that have also helped us get to this spot, so thank you all.
Well, we are going to continue with action now because for the first time ever
on a WWE Pay-Per-View event,
the NXT Women's Championship will be defended.
Kairi Sane, well, she renews her rivalry against Shayna Baszler.
Kairi, of course, the champion. Shayna is the challenger.
And it was last year where Kairi Sane burst on the scene.
[man 1] Kairi Sane with the Insane Elbow!
Sane has beaten Shayna Baszler to win the first-ever Mae Young Classic.
NXT Kairi Sane is here.
[man 2] She really has captured the hearts of the WWE Universe.
Bon voyage.
[man 1] What the-- Oh, Shayna Baszler!
The Submission Magician!
[man 2] She hasn't forgotten that loss.
[man 3] Kairi Sane is out!
[man 1] Shayna Baszler, the Queen of Spades.
Decorated mixed martial artist.
Top ten in the world.
[man 4] She is dangerous, malicious, calculated.
[man 1] We have a new NXT Women's Champion!
[man 4] I'm just trying to imagine the women's division
under the reign of Shayna Baszler.
[Shayna] You are living in a fantasy world.
Pretending you're a pirate.
You don't have what it takes.
[Kairi] I can beat you.
[man 4] Shayna Baszler says that Sane lacks the killer instinct.
But we'll see if Kairi proves her wrong
and becomes the new NXT Women's Champion.
[crowd] One, two, three!
[man 1] We've got a new champion!
The Pirate Princess secured the ultimate treasure,
the NXT Women's Championship.
Kairi did not beat me tonight, I lost.
She got lucky.
She's not a real champion.
[man 1] Oh, my God.
Enjoy your little pirate treasure fantasy while you can, Kairi.
I'm gonna drop anchor on this championship reign
and take back my title.
You can have your rematch at Evolution.
[Shayna] It's fitting that I'm one of the featured stars
on a show that's called Evolution.
I'm the very reason this women's division has evolved.
No one else has fear as their ally.
[man 2] Shayna Baszler is absolutely sadistic.
I have defeated Shayna Baszler twice.
[man 4] Oh, man!
[man 1] Shayna Baszler just wiped out Kairi Sane!
And I will do it again at Evolution.
[man 1] Sane striking back against Shayna Baszler.
[man 4] Oh!
[man 2] The Queen of Spades.
[man 1] The Pirate Princess.
There will be no mercy at Evolution.
[Shayna Baszler's theme music playing]
[Cole] She is known as the Queen of Spades.
The Submission Magician.
And that's one of the most dangerous women at WWE today.
[Phoenix] Shayna has certainly brought
an incredibly dangerous style here to WWE.
Her MMA background comes into play each and every time she's in the ring.
She does things I've never seen before to the arm
that are vicious, sadistic, and I've got to tell you,
Shayna has a presence unlike anything I've ever seen.
[Cole] And you see Superstars from the NXT brand
watching the NXT Women's Championship match-up.
One thing I do want to say about Shayna Baszler
is she has a killer instinct.
And why is that important?
Because Shayna Baszler, throughout this entire rivalry with Kairi Sane
has questioned the killer instinct of the champion Sane.
[Renee] Listen, if it's do or die here tonight
with Shayna and Kairi, if Kairi does not show up
and try to put away Shayna like she has before,
this could be the end of this rivalry altogether.
[Kairi Sane's theme music playing]
[Cole] She is known as the Pirate Princess,
the winner of the inaugural Mae Young Classic
and the current NXT Women's Champion, Kairi Sane.
She hails from Japan.
The pirate persona is really true to life for her
because she is a yachting expert.
She's won world titles in the sport.
[Renee] This is unbelievable. I mean, just even hearing her music,
there's so much hope and inspiration behind Kairi Sane.
[Cole] And she, of course, carries the NXT Women's Championship
in the treasure chest.
Very proud of that title.
Kairi Sane, that is the real deal.
[Phoenix] Kairi Sane is the real deal.
You know, she has this persona,
and she does a great job of appealing to all of us in the audience with it.
But I'll tell you, when push comes to shove, she's a competitor.
Don't count her out.
She's certainly not the underdog in any scenario.
[Renee] We're watching Shayna Baszler
this year at ringside, seeing her stalk the ring.
This is clearly annoying her watching Kairi Sane
get her love from the WWE Universe.
[Phoenix] You know, Renee, I've heard Shayna say
she approaches a match like a lion playing with its prey.
She says she doesn't hunt to eat.
She hunts because she likes to.
[Cole] Kairi Sane won the championship at NXT TakeOver, Brooklyn
the night before SummerSlam.
And you heard what Baszler said about the loss.
She said that, "I didn't lose. She didn't beat me.
"I lost the championship."
She said she dropped the ball herself.
She was embarrassed.
She wants to right that wrong here tonight.
[Renee] Kairi Sane taking her moment.
Take it all in.
[Phoenix] I will say, it's hard to argue that Kairi Sane won on a fluke.
[bell dings]
[Kayla] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
It's for the NXT Women's Championship!
Introducing the challenger,
from Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
Shayna Baszler!
[crowd cheering]
And her opponent,
from Yamaguchi, Japan,
she is the NXT Women's Champion,
Kairi Sane!
[Cole] Shout out again, Jessika Carr from NXT,
officiating this match-up, Kayla Braxton, of course doing the ring announcing.
And as we get started here, I would like to shout out
to the women responsible for so much success at the NXT brand,
and Sarah Amato, of course the assistant head coach,
Serena Deeb, Sarah Stock as well,
have done so much for the development of the women here at NXT.
[Renee] There's women in all capacities of this company
-that help to propel us all forward. -[Cole] So for the first time ever,
the NXT Women's Championship is defended on a WWE Pay-Per-View event.
Kairi Sane on the right, Shayna Baszler on the left.
For Baszler, it is about strikes, it is about submission.
For Sane, it is about staying away from Baszler
and trying to take to the sky
and deliver the Insane Elbow to put Baszler away.
[Renee] The number one worldwide trend, WWE Evolution.
[Phoenix] You guys, I saw these two tear the roof off of the place
in the finals of the Mae Young Classic last year.
I expect to see the same this year.
We are gonna see a clinic.
[Renee] I got to talk to Shayna Baszler's good friend, Ronda Rousey,
and Rousey just said Shayna had such incredible work ethic,
but she's more than an athlete, more than a performer.
She's fought when women weren't supposed to fight.
Ronda was a fan of Shayna before she even got involved in the game.
[Cole] And Shayna knows how to perform on the big stage.
She won her first NXT Championship WrestleMania weekend
at NXT TakeOver, New Orleans.
Kairi Sane, of course, winning in Brooklyn on SummerSlam weekend.
And there's Kairi Sane with a leg sweep,
taking down Baszler, and that caught Shayna off guard.
[Phoenix] Shayna may be her own worst enemy in this--
[Cole] And got caught by Kairi Sane. Nice takedown, went for the kick.
Baszler, though, from behind, trying to wrestle Sane down to the mat.
Sane able to get out of that, whipped across the ring.
Baszler misses with a kick.
Sane went for the back elbow, and Shayna caught her here again.
[Phoenix] Shayna's sleeper.
[Renee] Shayna looks like she's ready to close this match out early.
[Cole] And remember, Shayna's got to be careful as she grabs the hair there
because of the champion's advantage tonight.
Sane with a neck breaker.
Shayna Baszler needs to pin or submit Kairi Sane
in order to win the championship.
And Sane now-- Oh, and there is that sliding clothesline.
[Renee] Kairi gathers a lot of her impact from her speed.
[Cole] Calls that the Sliding D, that clothesline.
Follows it up with the boots right to the midsection.
Kairi on the apron.
And Kairi Sane is taking the fight to Shayna Baszler.
Baszler, again, we mentioned, killer instinct for Sane.
[Renee] Michael, I'm really surprised to see this approach from Kairi.
Kairi up on the top of the steps, up over the top, lands on her feet.
Baszler runs into a massive slap by Sane
that drops her to her knees.
And again, Kairi Sane taking the fight to Shayna here tonight.
And Baszler driving Kairi Sane into the steps,
into the ring now to break the count.
Kairi is in trouble, and a dangerous Baszler on the pursuit.
[Phoenix] Shayna's got to get Kairi back in the ring.
The title cannot change hands on a countout.
[Cole] Exactly, champion's advantage.
Baszler into the ring. Sane's in trouble holding the midsection.
[Renee] Shayna just has such a sadistic approach.
[Cole] Watch this now.
It was Kairi catching the boot of Baszler.
-Now watch the-- Oh! -[Renee] Oh!
The impact of Kairi running right into those steel steps.
[Cole] Oh, and you weaken the arm now of Sane,
and it sets you up for so many of Baszler's submission.
The hammer lock, arm bar.
Oh! Face first goes Sane.
For the cover to win the championship here tonight.
[Phoenix] Shayna's so dangerous because she's really proficient in throws.
She knows her judo.
She knows all kinds of MMA styles.
She really can use it to get you in some dangerous positions.
[Cole] And this is where she is so dangerous to your point, Beth.
The body part manipulation that Baszler is capable of.
Now working on the wrist and the fingers and the hand and the arm of Kairi Sane.
And Sane now in trouble.
-[Phoenix] Oh, my gosh! -[Cole] Trying to make--
And look at the way that her arm is bent.
On the ropes. The official--
-[Phoenix] That is an unnatural place-- -[Cole] The count of five--
She may have broken Kairi Sane's hand!
[Renee] Talk about this brutal approach that Shayna Baszler has.
That's such a perfect example. That was disgusting.
[Phoenix] Your arm is not meant to bend in those ways.
[Cole] There's the cover and a kick-out by Kairi Sane again.
But if this continues and if this happens again,
this match is over.
Baszler right to the left hand of Kairi Sane.
And now look at the position of Kairi's arm.
[Phoenix] Shayna's got a nice key lock applied there.
Applying the pressure, standing up gives it more leverage.
You know, Kairi being a shorter opponent--
[Cole] Oh, look at Kairi trying to steal one here!
Rolling her up and Shayna kicked out.
[Phoenix] I'd like to see more of that from Kairi.
More stick and move if she can just get free.
[Renee] That's the key here, Beth. Can she get free?
Shayna Baszler's all over her.
[Phoenix] The problem is, once you get in the clutches
of a submission expert like Shayna, you are in big trouble.
[Renee] We know Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey are such close friends.
Both of them, you can see the looks on their face change.
[Cole] Oh, my God!
How much can Kairi take?
She may have a broken hand.
She could have a dislocated shoulder.
And Shayna Baszler showing no remorse.
[Phoenix] And here's what I was talking about, the lion playing with their prey.
Shayna really enjoys watching her opponent in pain.
Watch this. Baszler.
Oh, my God!
And Kairi, though, fighting back.
Baszler with a smile on her face.
And Kairi Sane…
[Renee] Kairi showing why she's the NXT Women's Champion.
[Cole] I don't know if you want to get into a fist fight with Shayna Baszler.
[Phoenix] I got to agree with you. I'm surprised to see this from Kairi.
[Cole] A kick to the bad arm.
[Phoenix] It's showing a lot of heart.
[Cole] And there's the speed of Kairi Sane.
And now, it's the speed of Baszler with a running knee!
And Sane caught her with a backhand.
I didn't think she got all of it, but it stunned Baszler.
[Renee] Sometimes it just takes that quick tap
right to the jaw and take it down.
[Cole] And now both women are down center of the ring.
Baszler and, of course, the champion, Kairi Sane.
[crowd chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT!
[Cole] And the NXT chants begin here at Nassau Coliseum.
Kairi somehow trying to get Baszler
into a submission position here.
Shayna! Shayna?
[Cole] Kairi Sane going for what she calls the Ikari.
That bent-over submission now on Shayna Baszler.
[Phoenix] Will the damage done to her arm come into play?
[Cole] Yeah, perhaps it did because Baszler was able
to get out of it, went right back to the arm on the attack.
[Renee] She's got ripped tendons, maybe a broken finger.
You can't escape that.
[Phoenix] Look at the pain on Kairi's face.
Again, that hammerlock position.
[Cole] Driven into the turnbuckle. Shoulder first.
Kairi Sane delivers a smack and then another one.
And Baszler trying to cover up in the corner.
Kairi Sane now on the attack trying to build some momentum.
[Phoenix] She's still in this, guys.
[Cole] And now the referee Jessika Carr looking to back Sane off on the attack.
[crowd cheering]
[Renee] Kairi Sane's had success over Shayna Baszler before.
It wouldn't be an upset here tonight.
[Cole] Kairi, of course, won the championship from Shayna Baszler.
Kairi with a spear!
Can she take advantage?
[screams] Come on!
[Phoenix] A huge asset in Kairi Sane's treasure chest is her resilience.
[Cole] Kairi Sane going to walk the plank.
[Phoenix] We've seen this before.
[Cole] Oh, buries her shoulder in the midsection of Shayna Baszler.
And now Kairi, there's that neck breaker.
Can Kairi put her away and retain the championship?
Hook to the leg! And, oh, no! Kick-out by Shayna Baszler.
[Phoenix] But you can see, Michael, with each and every effort Kairi makes,
that arm is coming into play.
She continues to hold it.
I think some serious damage might have been done.
How much does it throw off your body
when you're favoring a certain body part, Beth?
[Phoenix] Particularly, when you have a move set
that you're relying on, it makes everything more challenging.
You have to adapt, you have to be resilient,
you have to figure out a different way to do it.
[Cole] Kairi's going up to the top rope!
And now Shayna Baszler quickly back to her feet.
A kick to the back of the neck.
And now continues to work on the injured arm of Kairi Sane.
Look at this! Torturing Kairi!
Kairi Sane screaming in pain
and Baszler breaking before the five count.
That would've got her disqualified.
[Renee] Shayna just lifted Kairi Sane a foot in the air.
[Phoenix] She could have ripped Kairi's shoulder right out of the socket.
[Cole] And now mocking the Pirate Princess.
This woman, Shayna Baszler, has absolutely no compassion.
[Phoenix] Look at the power of Shayna Baszler
holding Kairi by her entire weight
and just dropping her to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
[Renee] For Kairi Sane to have her own weight dragged on her body like that.
What damage has already been inflicted?
Shayna could be closing in on her
second women's championship in NXT.
Oh! A DDT, though!
Desperation move by Kairi Sane.
And now Kairi's gonna go up top.
And Kairi's gonna look to put Shayna Baszler away with the Insane Elbow.
And Shayna wisely rolls out of harm's way.
Now what's Kairi going to do?
What's Kairi doing?
From the top rope.
Cross body!
Right here in front of us, taking out Shayna Baszler.
What a move by Kairi Sane,
the champion, putting it all on the line!
[Renee] Kairi Sane throwing caution to the wind.
This is women's wrestling.
What a move to see up close.
[Cole] And look at Shayna Baszler sidestepping Kairi
and throwing her into the barricade.
And now Shayna Baszler dropped right into the laps
of the front row here at Evolution.
[screams]
I believe that front row is filled with some of the NXT women's Superstars.
[Renee] It's wiped out.
[Cole] And now Kairi brings Baszler back into the arena.
And listen to this-- Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute!
Guys, that's Jessamyn Duke!
That's Jessamyn Duke!
That is Shayna Baszler's buddy, one of The Four Horsewomen!
[Phoenix] And a vicious backfist takes care of Jessamyn.
[Cole] And the official did not see what was going on.
But meanwhile, Sane and Baszler back into the ring.
And now Kairi Sane going to go up to the top rope.
And now this!
Wait a minute. That-that-- Is that-- That's Marina Shafir, I think.
Baszler's other buddy.
And a backhand by Sane takes her out.
[Kairi yells indistinctly]
[Cole] And meanwhile, from behind, Shayna Baszler.
Baszler looking to lock it in!
Looking to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch!
And there it is! It's in on Kairi Sane!
Rolls through! Shoulders down!
And Baszler at two.
[Renee] Shayna thought she had Kairi distracted there.
[Phoenix] That's how Kairi brought home the NXT Women's Champion before.
[Cole] And look at this roll through.
Shoulders down. Kick-out by Baszler.
And now Duke got involved!
And the official didn't see it!
And now the Kirifuda Clutch by Shayna Baszler!
Center of the ring!
Baszler's got Kairi in trouble!
Is Kairi gonna tap?
[Renee] Kairi's barely conscious!
Oh, she's fading fast.
[Cole] The official is right there.
Kairi Sane is fading.
The Kirifuda Clutch is locked in by Shayna Baszler.
[Renee] Kairi Sane is struggling with every ounce of her body right now.
[Cole] How much does Kairi have left?
[Phoenix] You can see the color draining from Kairi Sane's face.
[Cole] Is Kairi going to be able to somehow get out of this move?
Baszler's got it locked in.
Kairi Sane is fading!
-Kairi's in trouble. -[Phoenix] She's almost down.
[Cole] Kairi Sane, does she have one last gasp in her?
-Kairi Sane, I believe… -[Phoenix] She's down.
[Cole] …is down and out.
-Kairi Sane is out. -[Phoenix] We gotta call that.
[Cole] The official will award the NXT Women's Championship to Shayna Baszler.
[Lilian] Your winner and new
NXT Women's Champion,
Shayna Baszler.
[Cole] Shayna Baszler makes history tonight,
becoming the first ever two-time NXT Women's Champion.
But the other story here tonight is this.
The Four Horsewomen of MMA were Shayna Baszler,
Marina Shafir, Jessamyn Duke and Ronda Rousey.
Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke helped Shayna Baszler
win the NXT Women's Championship here tonight.
[Phoenix] Cole, Shayna may have made history,
but I got to tell you, this feels like a tainted victory.
[Cole] Oh, of course it's a tainted victory.
I mean, Shayna Baszler dominated much of that match.
I won't take that away from Baszler.
But the fact that her friends got involved,
the official was dealing with Kairi Sane
and didn't see Duke,
which allowed Shayna Baszler to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch.
What a match-up.
And this is Shayna Baszler launched right into the front row.
All the NXT Women's Superstars were here in support of this match tonight.
Now I want you to watch this.
From behind, Jessamyn Duke grabbing the hair of Kairi Sane.
That was the first involvement.
[Phoenix] Kairi Sane doing her best to fend off the attack from Jessamyn Duke,
and then Marina Shafir getting involved the second time.
Kairi had to defend against two people.
[Cole] And Shafir paid for it with that backhand by Kairi Sane.
And now Jessamyn Duke with a kick that the official never saw.
And Kairi Sane landed in the lap of Shayna Baszler.
The Kirifuda Clutch,
a valiant effort by the former champion, Kairi Sane,
until she could go no more.
She passed out to Shayna Baszler,
who wins her second NXT Women's Championship.
[Renee] Cole, you talk about The Four Horsewomen
and Ronda Rousey said she's a big believer in fate and destiny,
and these things happen for a reason.
[Cole] And Shayna Baszler going to celebrate
with her friends, Shafir and Duke.
Baszler, again, the NXT Women's Champion,
which does not bode well for the rest of the NXT Women's Locker Room.
Shayna Baszler is a force to be reckoned with.
But I don't believe we have heard the last, Beth, of Kairi Sane.
[Phoenix] We absolutely haven't heard the last of Kairi Sane.
She had such an incredible showing tonight.
We can't take anything away from Kairi.
[Cole] But, Renee, Shayna Baszler,
especially with Duke and Shafir in her corner,
may be the most dangerous woman around today.
We talk about The Four Horsewomen.
We have our version of The Four Horsewomen.
Now we have two versions of The Four Horsewomen in WWE,
all making their presence known,
that's gonna be dangerous for the entire women's division.
That could happen in the future.
Tonight is about the past, the present and the future.
It is about the Evolution of the women's division here in WWE.
Throughout the night, we've been talking to Superstars
about what this night means to them.
The first ever women's Pay-Per-View.
What more could you ask for?
It's a dream come true.
It's-it's… it's incredible.
It's so important for every little girl watching this that it can happen for them.
The barriers can be broken.
This is a celebration of women for the WWE
to be able to come forward and show their creativity, their talent.
There's just so much hard work and incredible sacrifices
that were put into this.
It's years and years and years and years in the making.
[Natalya] I'm proud to be here to support my nieces,
um, especially Nia Jax and Tamina Snuka,
and all the Superstars in professional wrestling,
the women's wrestling.
In ten months, we've accomplished so much.
So much.
Just imagine what the next ten months will bring for us.
Imagine what the next year will bring for us.
It's important that it happens,
and I'm so happy to be a witness and to be a part of this.
Well, we just witnessed the NXT Women's Championship Match.
Coming up, we have the SmackDown Women's Title and the RAW Women's Title,
including, for the first time ever,
a last-woman-standing match in WWE.
The champion is Becky Lynch.
The challenger is Charlotte Flair.
You win this match when you incapacitate your opponent
so they cannot make it to their feet by a count of ten.
A match-up of former best friends turned bitter enemies.
[Edge] I'd like to introduce my first guest here on The Cutting Edge,
the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Becky Lynch.
Becky, thanks for coming on the show.
You and I have a lot of similarities.
I get that you think you're making the right choice
in throwing away your friendship with Charlotte.
[Cole] Oh, Becky! That's your best friend!
[man] Was the best friend.
I had to fight and scratch for every inch that I earned just like you.
[Cole] Becky Lynch has won the title!
But the choices you're making, they will stain your soul.
[Cole] There is pure disdain in the eyes of Becky Lynch.
It ends with you sitting in your home,
staring at the championships on the wall
by yourself.
Here's the kicker.
You won't even like yourself.
You're right.
I, I don't like myself.
I love myself.
[crowd cheering]
Now, I am relentless.
[Cole] If she can bridge into the Figure Eight,
we may have a new champion.
[man] Becky's got a hold of her championship.
[Cole] Becky saves her title via disqualification.
[Becky] I am better than The Queen.
[Cole] The friendship is long gone.
Now stop being so condescending to the champ and get out of my ring.
Careful you don't hurt your neck again going through those ropes.
[Charlotte Flair's theme music playing]
I'm sorry, Edge.
It really doesn't matter what you say
because all she cares about is that championship.
That's why you ran at Super Showdown.
[Cole] Becky using her champion's advantage here and taking a hike.
And that's why you ran last week.
[man] And Charlotte is not going to allow Becky Lynch to escape that easily.
[Charlotte] You love what you've become?
[Cole] Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!
Oh, my God!
[man] Charlotte Flair just speared the women's champion through the LED wall.
[groans]
[Cole] It's incredible news.
Becky Lynch defends her title in the first-ever
Last Woman Standing Match against Charlotte Flair.
How do you feel about being in your first-ever Last Woman Standing Match?
-I'm honored and-- -[Becky] I have a question.
Uh, who invited you here?
You want some advice? You got to do what I'm doing.
You got to strike them before they strike you.
[clamoring]
[man] These two former best friends, intent on destroying one another.
[Charlotte] At WWE Evolution,
when I win back my SmackDown Women's Championship,
I won't just be standing over a defeated opponent.
[Cole] This rivalry cannot be controlled.
[Charlotte] I'll be standing over a friend who lost her way.
Who are you?
You're never getting that--
[bell rings]
The following contest is a Last Woman Standing Match
for the SmackDown Women's Championship!
In this match, there are no countouts, no pinfalls,
no submissions and no disqualifications.
The only way to win is to incapacitate your opponent
until she cannot stand back up before the referee's count of ten!
[Charlotte Flair's theme music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, Charlotte Flair is a seven-time Women's Champion.
She is, of course, the daughter of two-time Hall of Famer Ric Flair,
who moments ago tweeted out
that the most incredible female athletes
are assembled at one time and at one place.
This is a historic night for women of all sports,
so proud and ready to enjoy Evolution.
I saw Paige earlier today.
He was, of course, so excited for not only this match, but the entire evening.
[Renee] Watching Ric Flair beam over his daughter
and also just the rest of the women
that helped to build this foundation where it's at today
speaks volumes of where we're headed.
[Phoenix] Yeah, Ric's eyes were full of tears,
and I know he is so proud of everything that Charlotte's done,
and this moment means a lot to him.
[Cole] You know, 29 years ago today,
Ric Flair was involved in the very first Halloween Havoc,
and also, when I spoke to Ric earlier,
he said he gave Charlotte a lot of pointers
because Ric Flair was actually involved
in a Last Man Standing Match with Triple H back in 2005,
so he knows what this is all about.
Charlotte, ready to go.
She looks to win back the SmackDown Women's Championship.
[Phoenix] Talk about an athlete in her prime,
you're looking at one.
[Renee] Charlotte Flair has 24 Pay-Per-View wins under her belt,
the most of any woman in WWE.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Phoenix] See the emotional weight on Charlotte.
[Becky Lynch's theme song playing]
[Cole] And there is the SmackDown Women's Champion,
the very confident, the very cocky Becky Lynch.
For a moment, I would like to take us back
to July 13, 2015.
That was the night that Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks,
and that woman, Charlotte Flair,
debuted on Monday Night RAW, introduced by Stephanie McMahon,
and that was the night, really, that everything changed.
[Renee] These women have been changing the game in every capacity
since they've joined WWE.
And Becky Lynch, if you heard earlier before,
when she joined WWE, she got signed here.
She wanted to make women's wrestling the coolest thing in the world,
and right now, she's done a damn good job of it.
[Cole] Since that night in 2015,
when these two women burst on the scene on Monday Night RAW,
they have had 11 one-on-one matches.
Listen to this.
Five, five, and one.
[Renee] Wow. Wow.
Charlotte Flair is so stoic in the ring right now.
Doesn't want to make eye contact with Becky Lynch.
[Cole] Can't blame her.
[Phoenix] No denying what these women have contributed to the women's Evolution.
[crowd mumbling Becky Lynch's theme song]
Introducing the challenger,
from the Queen City,
Charlotte Flair!
Her opponent, from Dublin, Ireland,
she is the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Becky Lynch!
[Cole] Last month at the Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View event,
Becky Lynch beat Charlotte Flair for the title.
[crowd chanting] Becky! Becky! Becky!
[Cole] At SummerSlam, Becky stabbed her best friend, Charlotte Flair,
in the back to begin this all.
It is about the SmackDown Women's Championship,
Becky, the champion, Charlotte, the challenger,
there are no pinfalls, there are no submissions,
there are no countouts, disqualifications.
There's no champion's advantage.
You win this match when your opponent cannot get up
for a count of ten for the first time ever on WWE.
Last Woman Standing, Lynch-Charlotte, live.
[Renee] The roof is about to be blown off Nassau Coliseum.
[Cole] Everything these women have been through.
[Renee] Cut that tension with a knife. It is thick in here.
[Phoenix] Becky is reveling right now in the fact that Charlotte feels rattled.
[Cole] Charlotte went for the big boot.
Becky as well, blocked by Charlotte Flair.
Remember, these women know each other so well.
And Becky Lynch said, "It's all about me.
It's mine. It's my title. It's my time."
Oh, and Charlotte Flair said, "Uh-uh."
The thing about Becky Lynch is-- Charlotte now does the Flair Strut.
The thing about Becky Lynch is that it's not just Charlotte.
If you read Becky Lynch's social media posts,
she has alienated the entire locker room.
[Renee] It's going on to absolutely everybody.
Becky feels like she's been wronged by every person in every capacity of WWE.
I don't think that's accurate, but that's how she feels.
It's gotten to her to the top. I say keep rolling with it.
[Cole] A kip-up by Charlotte, not too fast, Becky.
Charlotte Flair with a double-leg takedown.
[Phoenix] The build to a Last Woman Standing Match,
-it's when two competitors just can't-- -[Renee] Oh!
[Phoenix] They can't get past their differences.
They can't resolve it in any other way.
This is a last-resort type of match.
[Renee] Listen, the week's building up to this match-up.
[Cole] Mocking the Flair Sturt, now delivering an elbow.
Becky Lynch fired up tonight.
Oh, and a big leg drop across the throat of Charlotte.
-[Phoenix] The emotion-- -[Cole] Wait a minute.
Just to interrupt, Beth.
Becky said, "Count." First count of the match-up.
The referee would count as far as he can
till Charlotte makes it to her feet. Now it's waved off.
If the referee had gotten to ten, Becky would've won the match-up.
[Renee] Charlotte doesn't look totally sure-footed right now.
[Phoenix] You're absolutely right, there's no advantage
for Becky to stay in this any longer than she has to.
[Cole] And now Becky Lynch, now reversal.
Charlotte into the corner, up over the top.
The great athleticism of the great Charlotte Flair,
the seven-time champion,
who has been on such big stages throughout her career,
been successful at every level, as has Becky Lynch.
I don't understand why Becky's got this chip on her shoulder
as she drops Charlotte to the mat.
[Phoenix] Becky said to Charlotte she's had seven titles
and failed seven times to elevate them to the top of the business.
I didn't just win this title, I saved the title.
[Cole] And again, the official counting. Charlotte struggles back to her feet.
And looking for the Beck-sploder. And there it is!
Becky Lynch punishing Charlotte Flair in the early going.
And again, the official will begin the count.
And this is interesting, Beth, because you have to wonder,
what does it take to keep an opponent down for a tenth count?
[Phoenix] Like I said, not just any opponent, but Charlotte Flair.
Charlotte Flair rises to the occasion.
She beat the undefeated Asuka at WrestleMania.
We've seen her in high-pressure situations,
and we've seen her succeed.
[Cole] Charlotte sidestepping Becky, and there is the Charlotte big boot.
Drops Becky Lynch to the mat.
Now the referee begins the count on Becky.
[Renee] Beth, both these women know each other so well,
you can imagine that someone's got to dig deep and pull something out.
[Phoenix] That's right, Renee.
At one point, let's not forget, they were best friends.
[Renee] Rode together, stayed in hotels together.
They've been through all of it, this entire journey up until this point.
[Cole] Charlotte bounced off the mid turnbuckle.
[Phoenix] I feel all the heartbreak and pain has turned
to just resentment and anger at this point.
[Cole] Now, Charlotte dumped out through the second rope.
And now Becky Lynch, what does she have in mind?
The official now, Mike Chioda, the senior official at WWE,
is now beginning to count to Charlotte.
At a count of three, and now Becky Lynch--
-[Renee] Oh, no. -[Cole] Oh, look out, guys.
Becky Lynch perhaps looking for some toys.
Charlotte makes it back to her feet.
-Becky now with a kendo stick… -[women] Oh!
[Phoenix] Oh!
[Renee] Brutal strikes from the kendo stick.
[Cole] Perfectly legal in a Last Woman Standing Match.
[Renee] The thuds, the pain from a kendo stick.
Beth, have you ever been stricken with a kendo stick?
[Phoenix] I have, Renee, and Becky Lynch's approach is relentless.
[Cole] And Becky just punishing Charlotte.
[Renee] Charlotte can't get away from Becky right now.
[Cole] Well, this has been all pent up by Becky Lynch.
Charlotte now with a block.
Just survival instincts by Charlotte.
[Phoenix] Sometimes that pain,
that pain can make you alert in different ways.
I can see Charlotte firing up.
[Renee] These women are not leaving Nassau Coliseum
the same women they were when they walked in.
[Cole] Well, that's what happens in these Last Person Standing Matches.
You talk to anybody who's ever been in one,
their career has never been the same.
They're altered in this type of match,
not only physically, but mentally,
in what you have to force your body to go through.
[Renee] What is Becky Lynch looking for now?
A steel chair.
[Cole] And it's-- And then to be in a match like this,
when you have to punish someone that was so close to you,
and a former best friend, and now Charlotte, though,
rising up and tossing chairs into the ring.
[Phoenix] She's got the same idea, guys.
[Renee] These two women were like family.
[Phoenix] They're almost challenging each other right now.
Like, what do you got?
[Renee] Looks like they're setting the stage for some damage.
[Cole] Chair after chair being tossed into the ring.
And this is not good, no matter how you look at it.
[Phoenix] You toss another one in there.
That's another chair that can be used against you.
[Cole] The official can't stop any of this.
The only reason the official is here is to count to ten.
That's all he does.
[Phoenix] Guys, this is making me really nervous.
The impact from a steel chair.
[Cole] Becky Lynch just threw a kendo stick our way.
Good thing you're still quick, Beth.
I-- Sometimes.
I saw my life flash before my eyes.
[Cole] And Charlotte is dragging a table out from under the ring.
Becky Lynch is gonna have none of that.
Off the steps down goes Charlotte Flair.
Becky's just different. She's changed. She has a different attitude.
Everything about her--
[Phoenix] She's making everything personal lately.
-[Renee] She has. -[Phoenix] She's vindictive.
[Renee] She's been put in this spot. She said there were so many times
she wasn't willing to cross the line to get it done.
Now she said there's no line she won't cross.
-It's bad news for Charlotte. -[Cole] There's the suplex by Charlotte.
[Phoenix] Is that the case, Renee? Or is that just her perspective?
Is she just feeling bitter at this point?
Is she jealous of her friend?
[Renee] If she wins tonight, she's celebrating alone. That's for sure.
-[crowd chanting] Becky! Becky! Becky! -[referee] Five!
[Cole] And now Becky with a steel chair in hand.
Oh, and right to the spine of Charlotte.
And Becky again looking to punish Charlotte Flair right to the midsection.
[Renee] Becky said, "This Sunday,
I'm gonna beat you so bad you'll never forgive me."
[Charlotte groans]
[Cole] Oh, again, a thunderous blow.
[Renee] Did you hear that impact echoed throughout the Coliseum?
[Phoenix] Becky just dragging Charlotte by her hair,
complete disdain and disrespect.
[Renee] Becky's in such control right now, too.
It's a very bad situation for Charlotte Flair.
[Phoenix] Totally unnerving.
[Cole] And Charlotte back into the ring.
Becky Lynch continues the assault now on Charlotte.
[Renee] With a dozen steel chairs inside the ring.
[Phoenix] This is bad news for both of these competitors.
-Those steel chairs do not feel good. -Three!
Four!
[Cole] Becky Lynch, who--
Oh! Onto the chairs goes Charlotte Flair.
[Renee] Steel on flesh.
[Cole] Becky has really developed this almost cult following
by some members of the WWE Universe who believe what she's saying,
believe she's been through this terrible struggle.
And Becky Lynch deserves an opportunity.
Becky isn't from a family that's considered royalty
in sports-entertained by the Flairs.
And Becky's worked hard to get to where she is today.
Becky's told us that story,
and of course, the audience has bought into it.
[Phoenix] Charlotte's in big trouble here.
She's already felt those steel chairs.
[all exclaim]
[Cole] Back suplex onto the chairs!
[Phoenix] The impact high on Becky's neck!
[Cole] And now both women are down.
And the official begins the count.
Three!
Four!
[Cole] If neither woman makes it to her feet by a count of ten,
Becky will retain the championship.
[Renee] Becky struggling to move.
Seven!
[Cole] Count of seven, Charlotte now wisely rolls out of the ring.
Becky's back to her feet as well.
Charlotte landed on the ground, so she was on her feet.
And this match continues.
[Phoenix] You can--
[Cole] Watch this.
Back suplex, boom, right to the chairs!
[Phoenix] If you take a look at Charlotte's back,
you can see the welts rising from the kendo stick shots earlier.
How much can these two women take?
[Cole] Becky Lynch just-- Charlotte lands hard on the apron.
[Phoenix] You see the table coming into play.
[Cole] And now, Becky gonna set the table up.
Meanwhile, outside, Charlotte is down.
The official counts.
This allows Becky to set up the table to use for offense.
Charlotte Flair now using our announce table
to try to help herself back to her feet.
And she is back to her feet before the ref gets to five.
[Renee] I know Charlotte Flair is so decorated amongst the women here,
but I don't think there's any way that Lynch is leaving
without the championship tonight.
[Phoenix] Renee, this just feels personal. This feels ugly.
[Cole] She was looking for the suplex, perhaps trying--
Oh! She plants Charlotte right onto the steel chairs.
A vicious, remorseless Becky Lynch.
One!
Two!
[Cole] Charlotte is in all kinds of trouble.
She has really been dominated in this match
by the champion Becky Lynch.
The official at five.
Six!
[Cole] Now at six. Charlotte struggling to her feet.
At a count of seven, can she get back to her feet?
Count of eight! Becky Lynch-- Wise move by Becky.
She saw Charlotte make it back to her feet,
was right back on the attack.
[Phoenix] I feel like this is the most
we've ever seen Charlotte Flair on the defense.
[Cole] A great point, Beth.
Normally Charlotte is so in control.
And now, Charlotte placed on the table.
[Phoenix] Becky looks to be upping the ante here.
[Cole] Terrible situation for Charlotte Flair if Becky Lynch--
[Renee] If Charlotte wasn't in trouble moments ago,
this could be it. This could close out the entire night.
[Cole] Becky to the top rope. Charlotte though, able to block.
And now Charlotte begins to stomp away on the SmackDown Women's Champion.
[Renee] Time to see the grit of Charlotte Flair
bubble up to the surface.
[Cole] Now, we're gonna see the mean streak
that Charlotte Flair possesses.
If anyone ever challenges Charlotte Flair for not being a hard worker,
being handed anything she's earned,
you're barking up the wrong tree.
[Cole] Charlotte wasn't handed anything.
Charlotte's here today because of what she's accomplished.
And Charlotte now looks to climb to the top rope.
Becky's on the table.
Charlotte is in position.
She's gonna deliver on the moonsault!
And she just got a bit of the moonsault.
[Phoenix] And both women down for the count.
[Cole] And it's a good thing, though, Beth.
She didn't get all the moonsault
because she would've went through Becky and through the table.
Charlotte only got part of it.
Both women rolled off the table as the referee begins to count.
[Renee] Think of the impact when you hit the table.
It's brutal.
[Cole] Indeed.
Not taking anything away from what those two women just went through,
but it could have been a hell of a lot worse.
[Renee] The second time could be the charm.
[Phoenix] It looks like Charlotte's got a hell of a lot worse in mind, guys.
[Cole] Well, Charlotte setting the table back up.
Becky Lynch is--
I don't even know if she knows where she is right now.
[Phoenix] I think she knows where she is.
[Cole] Is Charlotte gonna try this again?
Charlotte gonna head up to the top rope now.
-[Renee] Dust yourself off and try again. -[Cole] No moonsault this time.
-Instead, Charlotte's going to-- -[Renee] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Are you kidding me?
[Phoenix] Charlotte Flair sacrificing her own body!
[referee] One!
[Renee] Becky Lynch looks out of it right now.
[Cole] So does Charlotte.
-[referee] Three! -[Cole] A count of three.
[Phoenix] The table completely decimated.
-Five! -[Cole] We're now halfway.
One of these women has to make it to their feet before a count of ten
to win the championship or else Becky's gonna keep it.
[Renee] There's some life left in these ladies yet.
[Cole] Count of eight.
Count of nine. Charlotte back to her feet.
Becky back to her feet.
-[Renee] Barely. -[Cole] A close call for both these women.
[Phoenix] You can see where this rivalry has taken us, guys.
Charlotte throwing caution to the wind,
doing a beautiful senton off the top rope, decimating that table.
It looks like Becky got the worst of it.
[Renee] Yeah, look at this now. We've got a ladder in the mix.
Ladder matches have ruined the careers of so many Superstars.
[Cole] Hey TLC isn't until December.
[Phoenix] And, Cole, Renee, look at the carnage in the ring already.
There's nowhere to move.
Anywhere you move, you're gonna get hurt.
[Cole] Now Becky Lynch did not want Charlotte to use that ladder.
[Phoenix] Oh, that ladder could be coming down.
Smart move on Becky.
[Renee] Got to think on your feet in these high-pressure situations.
[Cole] Yeah, but what's Becky gonna do with this ladder?
[Phoenix] That's the unpredictability of dealing with weapons like these.
You just never know.
[Cole] You've been in matches like this in your career?
[Phoenix] They're all X factors. They're all X factors.
Something that you may pick up to use as a weapon might blow up in your face.
[Cole] In fact, Beth, you were in a ladder match.
[Phoenix] I was in a ladder match and a tables match.
-And let me tell you-- -[all exclaim]
[Cole] A spine-buckling slam onto the ladder!
[Renee] Charlotte's done.
[Phoenix] Nothing but steel and flesh.
[Cole] There's no give in those ladders, is there?
[Phoenix] Absolutely no give on the--
[Cole] Watch this. Watch this and listen.
Boom!
[Renee] There's no easy way to land on top of a ladder.
[Phoenix] The small of Charlotte's back
landing right on the corner of that ladder.
She's had all the damage from that kendo stick earlier.
[Cole] And again, if you look at the disbelief on the face of Becky,
that Charlotte was able to make it back to her feet
after being slammed onto the ladder.
And now, the chop block by Charlotte Flair.
And perhaps she's gonna set up Becky Lynch
for the Figure-Four and then the Figure-Eight.
If she locks that in, she can keep it on all day long until Becky passes out.
Oh, what the -- Wait a minute.
[Phoenix] Charlotte getting a little innovative here.
[Renee] This is a creative move.
[Cole] My God, she's not gonna do--
She's not gonna use the ladder with this, is she?
[Renee] If she locks this in, this is a historic moment right here.
[Phoenix] Everything's game, guys.
[Cole] My God, Becky Lynch is trapped.
Charlotte has Becky Lynch trapped in the ladder.
And now, right to the knee.
[Renee] Could totally blow out her ACL, MCL.
[Cole] And it's a great move because you can't stand.
You can't stand, you can't get back to your feet before a count of ten, right?
[Renee] You've got no tendons to hold your body together.
You're going down.
[Cole] And now Charlotte continues to hammer away on the knee of Becky Lynch,
using the ladder to her advantage.
And Becky, Charlotte trying to trap her yet again.
Oh, my God, this is bad. This is bad.
[Phoenix] That's why it's so difficult.
[Cole] Oh, my God, are you kidding me, Beth? Look at this.
[Phoenix] Charlotte knows what works for her.
She knows that Figure-Eight has brought many championships home to her.
She's found a way to make it even more damaging.
[Cole] Charlotte with a Figure-Eight!
Becky Lynch is locked in the ladder!
Charlotte with a Figure-Eight! Becky's tapping!
Becky's tapping out, but it doesn't matter!
Tap outs don't matter.
No submissions in this match
as Charlotte continues to punish the champion!
[Phoenix] Look at the strength and leverage from Charlotte Flair.
The angle on Becky's knee wrapped around that steel.
[Cole] Well, Becky, Becky trying to make it to the steel chair.
And she has it.
Becky looking to use that to break the hold, and she did.
-[Renee] Desperation move by Becky Lynch. -[Cole] Smart move, though.
[Phoenix] Whatever it takes at this point. Becky's knees have got to be done.
[Cole] Charlotte's leg isn't feeling too well either
after the blast of the chair.
[Phoenix] And you think about it, guys, this is a Last Woman Standing Match.
Charlotte did a very smart thing here by taking out Becky's legs.
Can she stand after that?
[Renee] You know, this mess is matchy-- Sorry, this match is messy.
It could come down to strategy.
Five!
[Phoenix] These women know psychological warfare.
[Cole] The official, Mike Chioda, count of seven.
Becky Lynch now rolls out of the ring, lands on her feet.
That will break the count.
Charlotte's got to make it back to her feet here, and Charlotte does.
[Phoenix] It might have been the only way
Becky could've saved the championship at this point.
[Cole] Oh, wait a minute. Becky Lynch right here in front of us at our table.
Dangerous situation for Becky Lynch.
Charlotte now gonna begin the assault.
Charlotte's running into the steps.
[Phoenix] Becky doing what she can
to create some space to recover a little bit.
[Renee] Becky needs to prop to the side of this ring to keep up on her feet.
-Stay down! -[Phoenix] Still counts, Renee.
[Cole] Listen to Becky. Becky's screaming.
Becky can't even stand after what Charlotte put her through in the ladder.
Charlotte can't make it back to her feet either.
[Renee] How are either of these women still going?
[Cole] And meanwhile-- Oh, Charlotte!
Back it off, Becky.
[Cole] Driven into the post by Becky,
and now the official begins counting again.
Three!
Four!
[Phoenix] Charlotte looks like she's dazed.
[Renee] Charlotte's trying her damnedest to get to her feet.
[Cole] What is-- Oh, where's Becky going?
Becky just grabbed her championship, and now she's walking.
Is she walking out of the arena?
And Charlotte now in pursuit.
-Charlotte in pursuit. -[Renee] We've seen her do this before.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Oh!
Oh!
[Cole] Oh, and look at Charlotte delivering chops.
[Phoenix] This battle is broken out into the stands.
[Renee] Oh, and Charlotte's ready to fight.
[Cole] Oh, and again a chop by Charlotte.
Remember, falls count anywhere, it doesn't matter.
I should say, it's a Last Woman Standing.
But you can still battle out in the arena.
And when you don't make it back to a count of ten,
it can take place anywhere in this arena.
[Phoenix] Basically, Michael, nothing and no one
can contain these two women at this point.
[Renee] Yeah, look at the floor they're on now, pure concrete.
So many X-Factors, so many dangerous things in this environment.
Where do you think you're going?
[Cole] Oh, and a chop again by Charlotte.
[Phoenix] See the trash talking Charlotte's doing
-in between each chop, too. -[Renee] Think of how personal this is.
These women are beating the hell out of each other,
but there's a reason behind it.
Absolute disdain, jealousy.
[Phoenix] I mean, and Becky abandoned Charlotte
during some tough times in her life.
Her dad was sick.
Imagine your best friend bailing on you when you need them most.
[Renee] It's a brutal move, coward move.
[Cole] And now Charlotte making her way back to the ringside area.
Look at her now.
That's the German announce table that she is ripping apart here.
Oh, my God, now Charlotte, she wants to inflict more punishment,
more damage on Becky Lynch.
And Becky bounced right off our announce table.
Head first on our announce table.
[Cole] And again!
And you see the look in the eyes of Charlotte Flair.
[Phoenix] Charlotte's stopping at absolutely nothing tonight.
[Cole] Absolute disdain
for Becky Lynch from Charlotte Flair.
[Renee] Did you hear the impact of Becky's face bouncing off the desk?
Connection from all limbs.
Right now setting a ladder up right in front
of the German announce table.
Becky is still down and out.
[Renee] What is she doing with the ladder?
[Cole] She's obviously planning to use it because she's setting it up here.
[Phoenix] Ladders are widely regarded as the most dangerous--
[Cole] Oh, Becky, Becky using her championship!
Blasting it on the face of Charlotte Flair.
[woman] Why don't you run away again, Becky?
That's the only way you're ever going to get my title.
That's the only way you're going to get my title, you understand?
You understand?
[Cole] And now it's Becky's turn
to drive Charlotte into the table to our left.
And now Charlotte Flair being set up on the table by Becky Lynch.
[Renee] Oh--
[Cole] Oh, my God, somebody get her off there.
Becky Lynch is now gonna climb the ladder
that Charlotte Flair set up.
Becky Lynch is going up top!
-Somebody stop Becky Lynch! -[Renee] Oh!
[Cole] Land drop off the ladder, through Charlotte, through the table!
[Renee] No one's getting up from that. There's no way.
[referee] One!
[Cole] And now the referee at a count of two.
Will either one of these women make it back to their feet?
[Renee] It's a miracle if either of these women stand here.
[Phoenix] These women have gone to places we've never seen before.
Six!
Seven!
[Cole] And now it's Becky Lynch back to her feet.
The official continues the count.
Charlotte trying to drag herself back up to her feet.
Can Charlotte Flair make it up before a count of ten?
And Becky Lynch now driving a boot right into the face of Charlotte!
And now this relentless assault!
All of this disdain pouring out of Becky Lynch!
[Phoenix] Guys, Charlotte just said, "That's all you've got?"
Egging each other on, worse for wear.
[Cole] And whatever that did, it just sent Becky Lynch off.
[Phoenix] Oh, come on.
[Cole] And she continues to look to bury Charlotte Flair.
Bury under chairs here.
Bury under the table here at ringside.
And now grabbing Renee's chair.
Becky Lynch is burying Charlotte.
Hoping to bury Charlotte Flair's career.
Chairs as well.
[Phoenix] Charlotte's not standing now.
[Cole] I wish the official would count to end this darn match.
Charlotte Flair can't even move.
Charlotte is buried in the rubble.
[crowd] Two!
[Cole] Becky Lynch…
[crowd] Three!
Four!
[Cole] Count of five.
There is no movement underneath this rubble.
A count of six now.
Charlotte Flair beginning to move.
Charlotte Flair trying to make it back to her feet.
Can Charlotte beat the ten count?
-She's up. -[Renee] Oh, my God.
[Cole] She's up! Charlotte is up.
Charlotte has risen.
[Phoenix] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Becky Lynch can't believe it!
[Renee] What a warrior.
[Cole] Becky Lynch is backing off.
Becky Lynch begging, begging for mercy.
-How is Charlotte Flair on her feet? -[Renee] Barely.
[Cole] And now the kendo stick!
And now Charlotte Flair unloading on Becky Lynch!
Shot after shot after shot!
[Phoenix] It's almost as if Becky knew she had this coming.
[Cole] Becky Lynch never expected Charlotte Flair--
-Spear! -[women] Oh!
[Cole] To rise from the rubble.
[Phoenix] Becky Lynch just got turned inside out.
[referee] One!
Two!
[Refee] We don't call this an Evolution for nothing.
It's matches like this that put people on the map and end careers.
[Phoenix] Charlotte's dragging Becky's body.
She's got something in mind.
[Cole] Now Charlotte--
Again, Charlotte looking to use a table to her advantage.
I still cannot get over the fact that Charlotte is still in this match.
[Renee] Did you see the look on Charlotte Flair's face
when she stood to her feet again?
That was unbelievable.
[Phoenix] An absolute warrior, Renee.
This is what I was saying about Charlotte rising to the occasion
and these pressure cookers
and the emotions driving these two women.
I think it's safe to say neither will be the same after tonight.
[Renee] The bumps and bruises that go all the way
to the bone-deep into the muscle tissue.
[Cole] Now Charlotte with Becky Lynch on the table.
Charlotte closing in perhaps
on what would be an eighth championship in WWE.
[Phoenix] A historic eighth championship.
[Cole] Becky back to her feet.
Charlotte Flair is in trouble.
Becky Lynch--
-Powerbomb through the table! -[Renee] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
And now the count by the official.
Will Charlotte make it to her feet this time
after a massive powerbomb from Becky Lynch to the table?
Now a count of four.
[Renee] Counting on rage and adrenaline at this point.
[Cole] Can Charlotte stand?
Her spine smashed through the table.
Count of six.
Charlotte trying to make it back to her feet.
Count of seven now!
Can she make it back?
Official to count of eight!
Charlotte back to her knees!
-[bell dings] -It's over!
-Becky Lynch! -[crowd cheering]
Becky Lynch retains the title!
[Jojo] Here is your winner
and still the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Becky Lynch!
[Cole] Standing ovation from the WWE fans here tonight
for these two women who made history.
There is a connection between Becky Lynch and many of these WWE fans
because many believe that Becky Lynch was held back.
That Becky Lynch didn't have the royal lineage
to be a Superstar here in WWE.
That she deserved moments like these.
And Becky Lynch now has those moments.
She is the SmackDown Women's Champion.
[Renee] Becky Lynch, if she had any doubters left in this building,
she just shut them down.
[Phoenix] Saying whether or not she deserved any opportunities,
she's taken them.
And you have to respect her for that.
[Cole] What an incredible match.
The first ever Last Woman Standing Match in WWE.
-Now, I still cannot believe this. -[Renee] This is insane.
[Cole] Becky Lynch with the double leg drop
driving Charlotte through the table.
And the fact that Charlotte was able to rise from the rubble
and then get a measure of revenge with the attacks with the kendo stick.
And of course, this massive spear.
But this was the defining moment.
Becky Lynch with a powerbomb through the table.
And Charlotte Flair would stay down with a count of ten.
Becky Lynch retains her SmackDown Women's Championship.
It's only fitting that these two women had this type of match tonight.
Because as I mentioned before,
when they came to Monday Night RAW together with Sasha Banks, things changed.
And we were well on our way to WWE Evolution.
Coming up next, it is the RAW Women's Championship.
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey, the Baddest Woman on the Planet,
will meet Nikki Bella one-on-one
in a match that has become extremely personal
as Nikki Bella looks to cement her legacy
if she can knock off The Baddest Woman on the Planet.
[man 1] We're talking about a woman who changed the entire sports industry.
She became a household name by defying odds.
[Ronda] I am much more than a pretty face.
[man 2] Look in the eyes of Ronda Rousey.
[Cole] The absolute intensity!
How intimidating is Ronda?
[upbeat music playing]
-[bell rings] -[Cole] Ronda Rousey's done it!
[man 3] Congratulations to the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
[Nikki] We couldn't be more proud
than you representing this division as the champion.
[music continues]
[Cole] Oh, my God!
Why?
[Nikki] You want an explanation?
We don't owe you one.
You're nothing but a loser who doesn't deserve it.
You walked into an Evolution that my sister and I started.
I am the longest reigning Divas champion.
[Cole] Her record-setting reign is 301 days.
A little bit of twin magic.
Doesn't count if you don't get caught.
[Nikki] We made Diva mean something.
Our hit reality shows made the world want to see us
and women's wrestling even more.
We have broken more barriers than you ever have.
We have knocked down more doors.
The only door you ever knocked down was the door to John Cena's bedroom.
[crowd cheering]
When you guys came running up to me after my WrestleMania performance…
Match of the night.
…I thought, "How cool are these ladies?"
You, like, literally gave us goosebumps.
I was too idealistic.
You guys weren't there to support me.
You were there because there was a camera pointed at me.
Anyone who thinks that sounds really jealous of us.
[Nikki] You don't even compare to us at all.
I mean, your mother is already ashamed of you.
Imagine what your mother is going to think
when a Diva will beat you for your title.
[Ronda] My word is my bond.
Come Sunday, I will end you.
I give you my word.
[Nikki Bella's theme song playing]
[Cole] Nikki Bella accompanied by her sister Brie.
They call it the Bella Army.
Nikki Bella, a two-time Women's Champion.
But she has been playing mind games with Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] They also call this the Bella-lution.
We're witnessing it first-hand, Cole.
[Cole] Earlier on tonight, the Bella twins said
they are dedicating this match to Ronda Rousey's mother.
Making her an honorary Bella tonight.
And it's just gotta be grating to Ronda.
[Phoenix] I know how important family is to Ronda Rousey.
You bring her mom into this, you're asking for more trouble, Nikki.
[Cole] Ronda's mom, of course, has meant so much to Ronda's career.
First American to win a Judo World Title.
She helped train Ronda Rousey.
Became a Judo Champion as well.
And as you mentioned before, Renee, the Bella-lution flag, of course,
the Bellas believe that they're the reason there's an Evolution tonight.
[Renee] I don't agree-- I'm sorry. I do agree with them.
I think that they were the first women that were part of the #GiveDivasAChance.
They've been here through the entire journey
of all the women here in WWE.
Now they get to reap the benefits.
[Ronda Rousey's theme song playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] What an ovation for the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
When you talk about women's Evolution,
not only in sports entertainment, but around the world,
you really have to talk about Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] Ronda Rousey at one point was the most googled person
in the entire world.
She's held in such high regard
of the likes of somebody like Serena Williams.
Some of these amazing women that have broken down barriers in other sports,
and now Ronda Rousey is here
as a RAW Women's Champion, holding that championship
the exact same regard as her MMA, UFC, judo championships.
[Phoenix] Renee, I totally agree with you,
and I think that the Bella Twins definitely
were at the forefront of the Divas revolution.
However, the difference between Nicole Bella and Ronda Rousey
is that Ronda's not looking for any props.
She just does these things.
[Renee] I'll give you that.
[Phoenix] Nikki is looking for a pat on the back.
[Jojo] The following contest is for the RAW Women's Championship!
Introducing the challenger, accompanied by Brie Bella,
from Scottsdale, Arizona,
Nikki Bella!
[crowd cheering]
[Renee] Nikki doesn't look fazed by this at all.
[Jojo] Her opponent,
from Venice, California,
she is the RAW Women's Champion,
the Baddest Woman on the Planet,
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey!
[crowd cheering]
[Renee] Beth, how nervous should Nikki Bella be right now?
[Phoenix] You know what?
Nikki would not come to a high-profile match,
the Main Event of Evolution,
for the RAW Women's Championship unprepared.
I feel strongly she has something up her sleeve.
[Renee] You see the training she's doing on Instagram.
She's always posting videos, working out, training in all different areas.
She'll be firing on all cylinders tonight.
[Cole] For Nikki Bella, it's her first title opportunity since 2015.
Ronda Rousey is undefeated since arriving at WWE!
Nice take down by Ronda Rousey, Nikki Bella…
-[Renee] Ronda Rousey stated very proudly. -[Cole] Toying there with Nikki.
Saying, "Get back on your feet, Nikki,
after I showed you I could do that."
[Renee] Ronda says, "I'm not arrogant.
I just know I'm the best."
[Cole] Nikki Bella, of course, the more experienced of the two.
Many, many years in the ring here at WWE, a two-time champion.
Another great throw by Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] Nikki Bella has more experience in WWE,
but all the accolades of Ronda Rousey in judo, MMA, UFC, Strikeforce.
She's no rookie to this kind of situation.
[Cole] You saw what Ronda was doing there.
She grabbed the arm of Nikki Bella to tell Nikki,
"Listen, I can lock that arm bar on you whenever I want."
[Renee] Again!
[Phoenix] I'm not sure this is the best strategy
for Nikki to go hold for hold with Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] Ronda Rousey wants to make sure Nikki Bella doesn't take another selfie.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you,
and I'm never gonna do it again.
[Renee] She's literally using Nikki Bella as a puppet.
[Cole] I'm not sure Nikki Bella did not expect this.
Perhaps she did coming in tonight.
That's why she was playing the mind games with Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] Ronda Rousey's been playing mind games,
talking about Nikki Bella's love life,
the doors she's been knocking down, the things she's done to get to the top.
-That's mind games. -[Phoenix] I can speak from experience.
Nikki's worked very hard over the years.
One thing she's very good at, though, is working smarter, not harder.
[Cole] Now Ronda Rousey out in pursuit.
Now Brie Bella gets in Rousey's face!
And allows Nikki Bella to take control!
The Bella Twins at their best.
Brie running interference, Nikki driving Ronda to the post,
and then Nikki Bella was just doing push-ups,
mocking Ronda Rousey, center of the ring.
[Phoenix] Why not, Cole? Rousey was mocking Nicole earlier.
[Cole] And now Brie Bella throwing Ronda off the post!
The official was dealing with Nikki.
And that's where the Bella factor comes into play.
[Renee] That's what happens when you got another woman in your corner.
You got another set of hands.
[Cole] And just like that, Nikki Bella has taken over.
Looking to win the RAW Women's Title. Here's the cover on Rousey.
Kick-out at one.
[Phoenix] The Bella Twins were not successful in WWE
for over a decade by just sitting around.
They've been watching. They've been learning.
They scouted Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] They find ways to be successful in every avenue they work in.
In reality television…
[Cole] Here's the Bella factor that I talked about.
That's the first part.
And watch Nikki, she draws the official,
and it allows Brie Bella to drive Ronda into the post again.
[Brie] Where's your mom, Ronda?
[Phoenix] Imagine what a vindication it would be for Nikki
to have a win over Ronda Rousey and become the champion tonight?
[Renee] It would be unbelievable to see how Ronda Rousey
would react to a loss on such a grand stage.
[Cole] Well, Nikki and Brie were offended by all the fanfare
that Ronda Rousey got on arrival here at WWE.
[Phoenix] The Bella Twins have put in the work.
I think that they should be able to bask in the glory of all that.
[Cole] Nikki now dominating Rousey.
Nikki Bella has a mean streak.
She's very dangerous in the ring.
Take nothing away from her.
[Phoenix] This is a bad spot for Rousey to be in,
for anyone to just use the term "Diva" at the Bella Twins
and not include athletes and fighters. That's wrong.
[Cole] Rousey driven into the barricade, now bounced off the apron again.
Nikki Bella…
And remember, she's got to get Rousey in the ring.
This is not a Last Woman Standing Match.
Nikki has to pin or submit the champion to win the title.
[Phoenix] As long as Nikki remains conscious of the count,
gets Rousey in the ring, she's doing a great job
by using every part of the ring and the barricade that she can.
[Cole] Nikki into the cover, hook of the leg.
Rousey able to get the shoulder up again. Near fall for Bella.
Come on, Nikki! You have this!
[Cole] This match means so much, Renee, for the Bella brand.
[Renee] It means everything to them. If they suffer a loss tonight,
that's a huge deficit for them going forward.
Can't talk that much trash and then not show up in the ring.
[Cole] Look at Nikki.
[Phoenix] Nikki's got a tight headlock locked on Rousey, cutting off the airway.
[Cole] And Ronda…
[Phoenix] You see Ronda just struggling in this position.
[Cole] Trying to get back to her feet and make it to the ropes.
And now Nikki, again with the push-ups and a big old smile on her face.
And Rousey able to momentarily break the hold.
[Renee] What a veteran move from Nikki Bella.
And Rousey creating some space here.
[Cole] Ronda appears to be in trouble.
Ronda Rousey. You saw the look on her face.
[Renee] She looks so-- Ooh!
-[Cole] Ronda trying to fight back as-- -[Renee] Oh!
[Cole] Again, another cheap shot.
[Renee] Brie clocked her right in the face.
[Phoenix] The twin magic is clearly coming into play tonight.
The Bella Twins know each other inside and out.
And Brie is out here scouting this match.
[Renee] If I had a twin sister I built an entire empire with,
you better believe I'd be there too.
[Phoenix] Brie has just as much to gain from this as Nikki.
[Cole] Oh, and again, Ronda being punished here!
Rousey's in trouble.
Nikki Bella in complete control.
[Phoenix] Renee, imagine the social media barrage
that would happen if Nikki defeats Ronda here tonight.
[Renee] There'd be a lot of #DNBs floating around.
[Cole] Covered by Nikki to win the RAW Women's Title.
And Rousey gets the shoulder up.
Just watch this.
Boom! Right off the post!
[Renee] Ronda Rousey's teeth just hit the steel of the post.
[Phoenix] Nikki heading right back to working the neck.
Putting some torque on it.
[Cole] Ronda in all kinds of trouble trying to find a way out of this.
Now an abdominal stretch for Nikki Bella
as she drives her fists into the midsection of Rousey.
[Phoenix] You can see the strength of Ronda here.
[Ronda groaning]
Nikki hooking the leg.
She's got a tight abdominal stretch.
[Renee] If you wanna go strength for strength with Rousey,
that could be a bad move, but Nikki Bella looks strong right now.
[Phoenix] I'm impressed, guys. Look at this nice submission hold.
You can see the leverage that Nicole has.
And Ronda's in pain, guys.
[Cole] This is the first-ever all-women's Pay-Per-View event.
WWE Evolution, we are live tonight at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
It's been an incredible evening
as Ronda Rousey looks to retain her RAW Women's Championship.
But she is in a battle here against Nikki Bella of the Bella Twins.
[Renee] Nikki Bella knows just how hot the women's division is right now
for her to have a comeback.
Oh!
[Cole] And Ronda Rousey creates some separation,
trying to shake the cobwebs and get back into this thing.
For Nikki to have a comeback and regain the RAW Women's Championship
right now will be huge for her career.
Oh!
[Phoenix] Huge springboard kick to the face.
[Cole] Here's the cover, hook of the leg, and a kick-out by Ronda.
[Renee] Nikki Bella's got to temper her emotions right now.
[Phoenix] Take a look at this. Nikki finds an opening.
Uses the springboard kick to level Ronda Rousey.
[Cole] Now Ronda back into the corner.
And Nikki Bella, again, burying the shoulders.
And I'll tell you what, guys, I did not expect this.
I know Nikki Bella's good. She's a two-time champion.
But she has been dominating Ronda Rousey here.
[Renee] Anyone that was booing the Bella Twins earlier,
they're gonna be regretting it.
[Cole] And listen to the WWE Universe here at Nassau Coliseum.
Nikki Bella with Ronda Rousey perched on the top rope.
[Phoenix] Nikki going for a superplex here.
[Cole] Ronda able to block.
Strikes to the midsection of Nikki.
[Phoenix] Ronda doesn't have a ton of experience.
Causing some interference again.
And it allows Nikki to take control.
Brie has been quite the factor outside the ring tonight.
[Phoenix] Absolutely.
And we know that Ronda hasn't had a ton of experience on the top rope.
This is a dangerous position for her to be in.
-Nikki struggling to get the leverage. -[Cole] Ronda blocking again, Beth.
[Phoenix] Absolutely, the power of Ronda Rousey.
She's proven again and again.
[Renee] This is a big opening for Ronda Rousey.
-She sees it. -[Phoenix] She sees a risk.
[Cole] Ronda does not go to the top rope often.
[Phoenix] She does today.
[Cole] Very rarely have seen Ronda Rousey--
[all exclaim]
Nikki Bella moved out of the way.
[Renee] See the distance Ronda Rousey cleared on that.
[Cole] Incredible opportunity here for Nikki Bella.
[Phoenix] Nikki Bella's got to capitalize on this moment.
[Cole] Brie Bella directing traffic.
Cheering Nikki on.
Now Nikki Bella.
Oh, nobody home. Went for the baseball slide.
Ronda able to pull herself up by the ropes.
[Renee] Nikki Bella holding her neck there.
[Phoenix] For a high-level athlete like Ronda Rousey, this time, this space,
this could be everything that she needs to get back on her feet.
[Renee] Is Nikki okay?
[Cole] Is Ronda okay?
That's the question of both of these women in this match.
Nikki back into the ring.
Oh, kick blocked by Ronda.
-[Phoenix] Uh-oh. -Uh-oh, intensity change.
Face change.
Nikki's shoved down. Ronda, though.
Not much she has left. She rolls through now.
-Nikki up on her shoulders. -[Renee] Oh, my…
[Phoenix] What an incredible display of power.
[Cole] And Brie Bella now trying to hold on with Nikki.
Oh, and now Ronda putting Brie up on her shoulders as well!
-[Phoenix] No way! -[Renee] Oh, my God.
[Phoenix] What are we going to see?
[Cole] Trying to hang on. Now, separation.
[Renee] This is unbelievable.
-[Phoenix] What are we gonna see? -[Cole] Ronda Rousey, incredible!
And out of control for the Bellas!
That was absolutely amazing!
[Phoenix] How much did that take out of Ronda Rousey?
[Renee] Both Bellas down for the count.
[Phoenix] And will this be enough to keep Brie out of the match?
[Renee] Enough to teach her a lesson, that's for sure.
Come on, Nikki!
-[grunts] -[Phoenix] Ronda's got that war cry.
[Renee] She's fired up.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Ronda in fight mode. Nikki Bella better--
Oh! Nikki driven into the corner.
Come on, you can make it. Get up. Good girl.
And now, the strikes by Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] It's a barrage of punches.
-Ooh! -[Cole] Nikki set across the ring.
Ronda Rousey now unloading with the right hands.
Nikki trying to cover up.
This is vintage Rousey.
[Phoenix] This is personal.
-[Renee] Oh! -[Phoenix] Nice.
[Renee] What a thud.
[Cole] Gonna continue to punish Nikki Bella.
[Phoenix] Nikki Bella's getting rag-dolled all over the center of the ring.
Get up!
Show some courage. Get up.
[Cole] Ronda's saying to Nikki, "Get up. Get up. Take the punishment."
[Phoenix] Rousey getting a little payback.
-[Renee] Oh, a little psych-out. -[Cole] Oh, and a slap.
Payback from Monday night.
[Phoenix] I'm sure that one's for her mom.
Get up.
Are you ready?
[Phoenix] What are we gonna see? Oh!
[Renee] The second half of this match has been all Rousey.
[Phoenix] Absolutely, Renee. You said it best.
Nikki's just been rag-dolled across this ring.
[Renee] Ronda Rousey's doing what Rousey does.
She gets rowdy.
[Cole] And now Nikki Bella trying to escape into the WWE Universe.
And Ronda Rousey not going to allow it to happen.
[Phoenix] Ronda's not done yet.
[Cole] And now Brie Bella…
went for a slap.
Ronda Rousey…
[Phoenix] Ronda…
[indistinct conversation]
-[Cole] Ronda gonna make Brie-- -[Renee] Oh!
Brie Bella's down behind the announce table.
Ronda Rousey's closing in.
-[women] Oh! -[Renee] Nikki Bella!
[Phoenix] Alabama Slam from Nikki Bella!
[Cole] Trying to win the RAW Women's Championship!
And a kick-out by Rousey.
[Phoenix] A two and a half count. And Nikki is frustrated.
We've had bodies flying.
[Renee] Can't believe the turn on that for Nikki Bella.
I thought that was going to be all Rousey in the ring.
[Cole] Man, this has been an incredible match
for the RAW Women's Championship.
[Phoenix] Both women have made this personal,
dragging each other's business.
[Cole] Oh, and into the post goes Ronda Rousey.
Nikki Bella looking for the Rack Attack!
The Rack Attack 2.0! Here's the cover!
-Can she put Ronda away? -[crowd] One, two--
Rousey kicks out at two.
Nikki Bella almost won the RAW Women's Championship.
[Renee] Shock on Nikki Bella's face.
[Cole] Nikki can't believe it.
She's throwing a temper tantrum.
[Renee] She's got to get her emotions.
[Phoenix] Well, she's literally thrown every trick in the book
at Ronda Rousey, and she continues to stay in this match.
[Renee] She keeps finding a new way. She's got to keep her emotions in check
if she wants to walk away with the championship tonight.
[Cole] Oh, Ronda has Nikki Bella.
[Renee] Almost got a little Bri-mode there.
-Oh! -[Cole] Down goes Rousey.
What does Nikki Bella do now?
What does Ronda Rousey do?
Quickly to the second rope.
Oh, my goodness!
That is a small, a small package.
[Renee] Ronda's got her arm.
[Cole] Ronda, now she's got Nikki where she wants her.
[Phoenix] Nikki has got to get to a rope and fast!
-[Cole] Armbar! -Oh!
[Cole] Nowhere for Nikki to go!
-She taps out! -[bell dings]
Ronda Rousey retains the title!
[Renee] Nikki's arm must've just popped out of the socket.
[Lilian] Here is your winner by submission,
and still the RAW Women's Champion,
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey!
[Ronda Rousey's theme song playing]
[Phoenix] What an intense battle.
-The disappointment on Nicole's face. -[Renee] Fully defeated.
You step in the ring against the Baddest Women on the Planet,
you get it handed to you.
[Phoenix] We see Ronda Rousey continuing to prove it week in and week out
that she belongs at the forefront of the women's revolution.
[Renee] Anyone wants to talk trash to Ronda Rousey, you get the armbar.
[Cole] Now, Ronda Rousey, of course,
there's her husband celebrating here tonight.
And it is no doubt that Ronda Rousey is the now.
And Ronda Rousey is the future.
Because Ronda Rousey is the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
Ronda overcame a lot in this match-up, including what we call the Bella Factor.
Brie Bella getting involved on a number of occasions
to tip the scales in favor of her sister, Nikki Bella.
[Ronda groans]
[Phoenix] The vicious strategy of the Bella Twins.
Ronda did her best to stay where she had to,
but we saw an incredible feat of strength here.
What does this woman have?
She was able to overcome both Bella Twins at the same time.
[Renee] There is nothing Ronda Rousey cannot do.
[Cole] Yeah, but the Bellas were not done there.
Nikki Bella…
One, two--
…almost had the RAW Women's Championship there.
[Phoenix] Nikki Bella literally every trick in the book.
All the bombs with the RAW Women's Champion,
would kick out at the very last second.
Ronda does what she does best, which is put on the hurt.
[Renee] Oh, man.
[Phoenix] And make history tonight at Evolution.
[Cole] Yeah, the armbar forces Nikki Bella to tap out.
And Ronda Rousey continues her domination here at WWE.
And on Monday Night RAW.
[inaudible]
It's not over.
[Renee] What an unbelievable night we've had.
What a representation of the women of WWE.
[Cole] Ronda Rousey was in a fight tonight,
but she retains her Women's Championship.
Ronda Rousey celebrating, of course,
with the WWE Universe who came out here tonight.
Ronda Rousey, so impressive,
and she's been so important to the women's Evolution as well.
[Renee] And Ronda Rousey goes exactly where she belongs,
dead center of that WWE ring,
reigning strong as the RAW Women's Champion.
[Phoenix] Guys, I am so proud to have witnessed this moment with all of you.
What an amazing night.
[Renee] Anyone who ever doubted Ronda Rousey
making the transition into WWE has just been proven wrong.
She shows up time and time again.
[Cole] And look at who that is.
Nia Jax, who won the Women's Battle Royal earlier tonight,
she now has a future championship opportunity against Ronda Rousey.
[Renee] I can't wait to see that.
Irresistible Force and the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
[Cole] Yeah, it's amazing how Ronda has been
just taken in by the WWE fans
and really falling in love with the RAW Women's Champion
and Ronda again reciprocating.
[Phoenix] And you see these young men and women
looking at Ronda Rousey and they see a role model.
This is a night that we can all be so proud of.
[Cole] And look at this.
The entire women's locker room has come out to the stage
here tonight to celebrate with Ronda Rousey.
[cheering]
[Renee] What a beautiful show of respect.
[Cole] What a night it's been.
An historic night at WWE Evolution.
Thank you for joining us from Nassau Coliseum.
Thank you for witnessing history
as we relive some of the moments of Evolution.
[Molly] Evolution is huge.
It's a moving word.
It's emotional.
It's what women have fought for and worked for through eras.
It means that anything is possible.
[Ember] There's no limits for us.
[Nikki] You go in there like Wonder Woman, and you're going to conquer.
Because it is about showing today's generation.
[Nia] Women just can do whatever they put their mind to.
This is our time as women to show that we can Main Event, we can deliver.
Every woman in the company has a gift.
We did this together. We pushed each other to be the best.
[Charlotte] We are as good as the men.
[Iyo] This is our Evolution.
["Salute" by Little Mix playing]
[song continues] le Mix playing]