First time in the history! (for them at least ...)

wrestling 021 & tv review 062

WWE

Evolution

2018

[ WWE ]

[28th of October, 2018]

[3 hrs 23 min, Pop culture, Sports Entertainment, Wrestling]

I should've been a lot more faster but there's no point crying over the past. Let's get on with the first ever all-women WWE PPV! (For them anyway ...)

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Having all these legends back is a good way to pay a proper tribute to the history and letting them in on this historic event is only appropriate. With that being said, it's up to them to be physically ready to be fit for a full match and Lita and Trish Stratus step up to the plate to be fighting together against Mickie James and Alicia Fox with Alexa Bliss on tow. The latter unfortunately suffered a concussion and as a precaution was not let to be in the match herself but she did at least get involved a little to pay off the buildup and lessen the sting. The bout itself is solid despite a little evident ring rust and a couple of mistimes with a number of throwback highlights of their signature moves as well as a little journey down the memory lane with that famous feud between Trish and Mickie. It was a perfect way to start off the night as we start with the right step forward.

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Michelle McCool, Alundra Blayze, Kelly Kelly, Molly Holly, Ivory, and Torrie Wilson. With Maria Kanellis as well that actually return to action (but was out for awhile to cater to her pregnancy), these are the names that pave their way for today's crop of talents and having them involved in this Battle Royal is just fitting, letting them get involved without asking too much out of them but still getting a piece of the action. The storytelling is great throughout with the Iconics getting a justified beatdown and elimination by the Legends after talking trash and then the subsequent staredown between the old and the new. The teamup between Mandy and Sonya shows their chemistry but it was every woman for herself after a sudden betrayal and then the two big forces in the ring in Tamina and Nia Jax is the overrunning element of the match. The admittedly nice multiple person Suplex lead to an impromptu dance break with Carmella and then surprisingly Ivory! It's nice to embrace the fun sometimes. McCool got a little time in the sunshine and after a cool tag move, Naomi succumbs to Tamina in the end. The aforementioned dancing machine end it on a high for the veterans and then there were four, with Asuka fighting it out with Ember Moon to reignite their NXT rivalry. The latter getting the upper hand this time around and works her way to be the final two, or so we think. Selena Vega tries to sneak in a win but couldn't overcome the mountain that is Nia Jax and despite being the fan favourite, so is Moon, leaving the Samoan the winner of the Royale and getting a title opportunity in the future.

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Let's get back to the one that started it all and finish it once and for all. This is the final of the Mae Young Classic of 2018 and we see Toni Storm fighting against Io Shirai to gain the coveted trophy. Being the first with the serious stipulation on the line, these two great admirers of each other presents the best technicality of the Pay-Per-View and after a state of feeling out, the former begins to apply her own pressure with that smart change of direction on the ropes and the Snap German Suplex while the latter being an all-rounder apply a submissive hold and using her speed to catch the opponent off-guard. Her moniker of the Genius of the Sky is certainly isn't an overstatement at all as she effortlessly jumps on the ropes just like her idol and then transition as fast as lightning into a over the top turnbuckle Moonsault like it is nothing! That hard German Suplex at the edge of the mat certainly cut her momentum short though but after winning the following exchange of blows, she almost gets her way being again catches by surprise with a strong Lariat and then the Storm Zero that she kicks out just in time. The comeback is on yet again when the Japanese is able to pay homage to Rey Mysterio with a 619 and then a springboard roll up but when she is about to end it with her signature Asai Moonsault, the Australian puts up her legs as the last resort and follows it up again with her patented Storm Zero and actually gains the pin! The camaraderie is always a beautiful sight to see at the end there as Triple H ending the tournament by giving the winner the trophy and ending it on a high. I can't wait to see how they will thrive in the NXT and I can't wait what next year's edition will bring!

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A breather of a tag team match between the Riot Squad and Bayley, Sasha Banks and Natalya and while we might have seen these too many times on RAW, it is still an entertaining bout nonetheless, with a couple of highlights between that kick of Bayley to the ring post and that bump on the divider. That self sacrifice of Bayley for Sasha is certainly heartfelt! That double sharpshooter is a feat to properly done by the Hart and it ends really smoothly, as it should considering the amount of talents in the ring. I hope they'll be in the main title contention soon ...

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Now we are in for a treat as we have the three Championships across the Brands are on the line, starting with the one of the best told feuds in NXT history (that started at last year's Mae Young Classic) with Shayna Baszler trying to win back the belt from Kairi Sane. A submission specialist against a Japanese strong style is always a wonder to see especially with these two that have incredible chemistry with each other and after having faced each other already before, both are always trying to gain the advantage as fast as they can and although the defending Champion does gain an advantage early on, a throw to the steel stairs brings the momentum to the challenger as her always effective and devastating arm submission and manipulation keeps the fiery underdog at bay. Despite that, the Japanese still soldier on and unleashing a flurry of offenses and then that hard Spear but after trying to end it, the American will not take it lying down and cut it short by working on the injured arm yet again by holding her up on it just like that. It doesn't goes her way though and she suffers an over the top rope Cross Body Slam after rolling out to avoid her devastating elbow. And then the throw over the barrier on the MMA Horsewomen, allowing Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shaffir to get involved and allow the Queen of Spade to gain the Title back as the first two-time NXT Women's Champion. Like I said before, this might be the first seed planted for the Horsewomen to be in the limelight, first in NXT and then possibly the main roster. I can't wait!

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The cull main event of the evening is by far the best match in terms of storytelling and the stake as we see a last woman standing match between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch for the Smackdown's Women's Championship. While we start with a clash of egos, they do not take awhile to start to beat each other down just to get the counts going and when it starts to spill outside of the ring, a kendo stick is being applied right away by the Champion on the body of the challenger but when it would not suffice, there they go again challenging each other by throwing chair after chair into the ring until they cover the middle of the ring. They are being used by each of them, severely numbing each other in the process. In the process, a table is set up and of course someone has to go through it, that's the rule. While the first one is not applied to get the desired effect, they remain professional and reset and change the backflip into a frontflip and voila! If a table is not enough, a ladder is introduced (a clear foreshadowing of the next PPV ...) and while the Queen has to be thrown on top of it first, she recoups with a chop block of the leg and use it to benefit her Figure Eight. To escape the punishment, the Man goes through the crowd and of course a mini brawl ensues. The belt then being introduced literally on Flair's head as Lynch takes advantage of her setup and apply her own Leg Drop off the ladder and breaks the announcer's table away. When that still can't keep her down, she gets desperate and begins to pile all the chairs (even the broken table!) on top of her as a last ditch effort. Just like a zombie rises from the grave, the Lass is afraid of her life when she sees Charlotte rises from the ashes like a phoenix full of rage, suffering her wrath next with kendo stick blows and her patented Spear. She won't still be the Champ without using every bit of opportunity to keep the belt and she does just that by cutting the Moonsault short and give her a devastating Powerbomb instead on the table below., and that proves to be just about enough to retain her title for at least until the next PPV.

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And then there is one. The matchup between the leader of the old against the leader of the new, this will be high on the entertainment value at the least with Ronda Rousey defending her RAW Women's Championship against the returning Nikki Bella with Brie Bella at her side. The decision of the overconfident Champion to let the challenger be and let her off the hook in the opening proves to be her undoing as the extra body on the side is used to gain unfair advantage against her, from the throws to the steel post to the blindsided punch. Ronda is always great in selling the moves of the opponents and she uses that to gain sympathy as Brie focuses the attack on her abdomen time and time again but after that failed Cross Body off the top turnbuckle, she slickly avoid a running baseball slide and decides enough is enough. One way to teach the always interfering Brie is to put her in her twin's Slam (I can't remember the name ...) as well and after her signature war cry, all hell breaks loose as she applies her offense on the defending Bella. The twin at the sideline puts her body on the line to let her competing sister pulls out an Alabama Slam and then the Rack Attack out of nowhere, but to no avail. It is always high risk to get on the turnbuckle and Brie gets the short stick as she get caught in a never before seen move (to me at least) and roll down in a thud and of course suffer the always lethal Armbar.

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It's a nice way to end the night, especially with all the roster lining up at the entrance, kayfabe be damned!

Execution = around 90% with a full lineup of exceptional wrestling!

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P.S. I miss hearing Lillian Garcia's voice again. What a nostalgia trip!

P.P.S. Some of the semifinalists of the MYC are at the ringside (with Rhea Ripley keeping her heel persona of course) but I'm just glad seeing Tegan Nox smiling once again after that unfortunate freak injury!

P.P.P.S. Referee Marc Kiyota has done a great job in monitoring the Last Woman Standing match, and since I know the official will check on them by letting them respond back by squeezing his fingers each time, I was just relieved that they always did the squeeze back every time. I should cover this video of wrestling's unwritten rules next time ... oh, if you pay a closer attention, you can see him helping to conclude the ladder spot by discreetly pushing the steel chair closer to Becky's grasp. It won't end if she does not get the out of reach chair, so he helps in the best way he can. He even step on the ladder to count her down as a guise to not let the ladder tumble!