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Outside of WrestleMania, WWE Evolution was arguably one of the most hyped pay-per-views in wrestling history. Anchored by a media frenzy that saw the WWE's top stars on just about every major talk show on every major news outlet, Evolution was inescapable. Fueled by two stars (Nikki Bella and Ronda Rousey) that transcend sports entertainment, Evolution was also ripe for disappointment.
Never before in history have a group of athletes had such a spotlight on them. Never before had wrestlers carried such a weight on their shoulders. Never before had wrestlers far exceeded such lofty expectations.
It wasn't long ago that the WWE relegated women to the bathroom break portion of the show. Steeped in meaningless matches, the women were forced into demeaning pillow fights and lingerie dance-offs. In a recent interview with Cathy Kelley, Nikki Bella described with painstaking detail, "You’d come to TV and just be demoralized. It was like, ‘This is our worth?"
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The in-ring action was an afterthought and the matches often finished within several minutes. Women weren't seen as equal to men, so much as they were viewed as a side-show to be gawked at, but never to be taken seriously. The degradation would not last forever. Through their own efforts, the women of the WWE climbed out of the muck and mire of an unfair force-fed stereotype and they did it all on their own. When the machine told them no, they succeeded anyway. When the machine demanded regression, they answered with progress. With everything set against them, the women of the WWE evolved.
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Evolution highlighted every significant era of women's wrestling. Mae Young was represented in the Mae Young Classic Finals Match between Toni Storm and Io Shirai. Alundra Blayze wrestled in the Battle Royal. Trish Stratus and Mickie James opened the show. Nikki Bella passed the proverbial torch to Ronda Rousey in Evolution's stellar main event.
When the spotlight was at its brightest these women weren't blinded. They didn't succumb to the pressure they carried. Instead, they each came through in astounding ways that we will all talk about for years to come. When one tiny misstep meant a misstep for the entire evolution of women's wrestling, the women of the WWE delivered an astounding performance that far exceeded any imaginable expectations.
Join us as we break down the very best, worst, and downright ugliest moments in this special Evolution edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
The Good - Becky Lynch Stands Alone
Years from now when we tell our grandchildren "we were there" stories about WWE Evolution, the match that first will come to mind will be the Last Woman Standing masterpiece between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. In what will likely be this year's Match of the Year, the two women delivered a perfect performance.
Going into the bout there was pure utter unadulterated hatred. It was tangible. It could be felt in every Becky Lynch interview. As her voice cracked over being forgotten and passed over, you could feel Charlotte Flair's shadow dimming the lights.
These two despise each other and after years of 'being held down,' Lynch wasn't going to let anything come between her and the SmackDown Women's Championship. That included the violence she would suffer at the hands of her former best friend. Leading up to their match at Evolution, Lynch and Flair couldn't be around one another without things escalating to a physical level.
The friends turned bitter enemies event engaged in an unforgettable brawl during one of Charlotte's teaching sessions at the NXT Performance Center. Tonight's match began where the brawls left off, as these two women got right back into the swing of brutalizing one another.
On their way to mutual annihilation, Charlotte Flair hit an exquisite moonsault that sent Lynch through a table:
Charlotte wasn't finished there. She utilized a ladder she mysteriously found under the ring to execute a devastating figure eight:
Becky, however, would not be easily bested and although hobbled, eventually utilized the very same ladder to drive Charlotte through the announcer's table:
Becky covered her ex-friend with everything she could find and built a fortress of tables and chairs around Flair. No one thought Flair would make her way up to break the ten count; but, after summoning up all she had left, she did. Flair began beating Lynch with a kendo stick and then hit a devastating spear.
Still, it wasn't enough to beat Lynch, who recovered and then powerbombed Charlotte through a table. Charlotte tried with all her might; but, couldn't find the legs to make the standing ten count.
Lynch was still champion and we had just seen what will perhaps go down as the greatest women's match in wrestling history.
The Good - The Ronda Rousey Era Is Upon Us
Ronda Rousey and Nikki Bella succeeded where many wrestlers failed before. The two Superstars delivered a fantastic build to this match. Rousey attacked Bella's personal relationship with John Cena and diminished all of Bella's personal successes. Bella attacked Rousey's mother, made the claim that she was ashamed of her, and even went as far as to dedicate the match to her.
Additionally, the two Superstars had the misfortune of coming on immediately following the Lynch/Flair match, which was arguably the match of the century. They could have easily folded; but, the two women met all expectations. As The Divas Era clashed with the Evolution Era, both Superstars left the match looking good and each had reason to hold their head high.
Bella was astounding. At 34 years old and coming off a career-threatening neck injury, she is athletically gifted as ever and appeared to be a legitimate challenge to Rousey, a legitimate shoot fighter with near impeccable martial arts skills. Yet, for the majority of the match, it was Bella who appeared the aggressor, as she delivered a devastating attack on Rousey. Nikki oftentimes utilized the aid of her sister Brie Bella, who accompanied her at ringside. This was classic Bella magic.
Rousey was magical as usual. With a commanding ring presence, not seen since the days of Hulk Hogan, Rousey held the Uniondale, NY audience in the proverbial palm of her hand. Her in-ring abilities were as usual, astounding. In a legitimate fight, Nikki Bella has no chance against Rousey; but, Rousey sold every one of Bella's offensive manoeuvres and with the precision of a master.
Ultimately, Rousey ended The Divas Era with an armbar; but, she didn't kill it and she didn't bury it. Bella shined and held her own, showing that the Divas could stand toe to toe with the very best this present era has to offer.
While the entire world watched these two household names clash, they each exceeded expectations and while Rousey won this one, Bella can also claim a moral victory of her own. She held her own against The Baddest Woman on the Planet and made the Divas Era proud in the process.
The Good - The Battle Royal
Leading up to Evolution, the most maligned match was unquestionably the battle royal. No one had a good thing to say about it. It was criticized as quickly put together and as lazy booking. Many commentators and armchair quarterbacks claimed the match wouldn't allow the female Superstars the opportunity to shine, as they would in a traditional match. However, the women of the WWE had something else entirely to say about it.
In the end, the Evolution battle royal will go down as one of the best and most memorable battle royals in WWE history. Far exceeding any Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, the Evolution battle royal was far more on par with WrestleMania 2's classic bout won by Andre himself.
First, multiple eras were represented in this bout and the novelty itself kept things interesting; but, it was the in-ring action that actually stole the show. Like a fan controlled video game, dream matchups ensued. Alundra Blayze stood toe to toe with Nia Jax. Torrie Wilson combated the IIconics. Maria Kanellis, Molly Holly, and Ivory all had the opportunity to shine along-side today's brightest stars.
Then there were the feuds that ensued and were rekindled. Mandy Rose turned on her own partner, Sonya Deville, and then promptly eliminated her. I had goosebumps watching Asuka and Ember Moon rekindle their NXT feud. Every time Jax and Tamina turned their attention toward one another, whether it was to brawl or team up, that was obviously special, as well.
The match's ending was exceptionally creative. After eliminating Asuka, Moon stood in the ring with Jax and Tamina. One would expect the babyface to overcome the odds and go on to win the battle royal as a promising young talent; but, that isn't what happened.
After eliminating Tamina, Moon was surprised to find out that Zelina Vega has never actually been eliminated from the match. Vega likely thought she had a great opportunity to win, until Jax got her hands on her and eliminated her with relative ease. Moon followed and Jax was officially declared the match winner.
After the match, Jax paid tribute to Dwayne Johnson's mother Ata Johnson, who has been a part of a rich and storied generational wrestling legacy. History hugged, as the two embraced.
The Bad - The Six Woman Tag Match
The match made little sense on multiple levels. The in-ring action was fine, at times even very good; but, with almost no build, it was difficult to discern why any of these women were actually fighting.
Furthermore, Banks and Bayley were friends. Then they were enemies. They despised each other and beat each other quite brutally. Bayley displayed symptoms of some kind of obsessive derangement toward Sasha and then that mysteriously went away. After being teased a big match between the two, that never happened.
Despite their history of repeated assaults, the two have apparently let bygones be bygones. They are once again friends and Bayley is taking the brunt of the Riott Squad's abuse, just so Sasha won't suffer even an iota of what Bayley already did to Sasha on her own accord.
What about Natalya? Why is she even involved with the match and why would she team with Banks and Bayley in the first place? Since Rousey's main roster debut at the Royal Rumble, Natalya has been tied at the former UFC star's hip. Suddenly, and like an RKO out of nowhere, she was teaming with the dysfunctional duo of Bayley and Sasha Banks? It was all very confusing to start and the match did nothing to clear things up.
Much like The Wyatt Family before them, there was excitement when The Riott Squad debuted on the main roster; but, since that time the trio have acted primarily as enhancement talent, losing far more than winning. At this point, it's difficult to give them a chance to win against anyone, much less take them seriously as legitimate competitors.
The Riott Squad did the job to a team that has no experience. Natalya, Bayley, and Sasha Banks went over; but, on such a spectacular show, the match acted as mid-card fodder and did nothing to progress any of these talented performers. They all deserve better. I just wish WWE creative felt the same.
The Ugly - Dance Breaks
Please, someone make it all stop. Women's wrestling has come too far and there hav been too many roads paved in blood, sweat, and tears for this kind of buffoonery to go on any longer. Please stop the dancing or at least don't dance until after you've perfected the art of wrestling.
Carmella's previous heel character was understandable and despite not being well liked by fans and seen by some as obnoxious, at least she found her own niche. She deserves credit for the progress. Her new dance character is likely going to do for her WWE run what clumsy Emma did for Tenille Dashwood's, as she dances her way into becoming the female version of a Bushwacker. Kids loved The Bushwackers, but they weren't exactly known for their winning ways.
The Evolution battle royal was spectacular; but, it had one unfortunate blemish. The match essentially stopped for Carmella and 56-year-old WWE Hall of Famer Ivory to have a dance break. It was as terrible as it was awkward and brought back memories of women being reduced to mere dancers, rather than the wrestlers they have fought so hard to be recognized as.
In a show that aimed to recognize females for their in-ring accomplishments and for their athletic prowess, we could have all done without the silliness and we certainly didn't need to tarnish a well respected WWE Hall of Famer in the process. Do you know what I would have rather seen Ivory done? Throw other women over the top rope and Carmella would have been an ideal start.
