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00:00The proverbial locker room sellout right here, glued to the monitors.
00:03VIP section is full, the final match in Evolve for Kendall Gray.
00:08Yeah, I'd be lying to you, Blake, if I said I didn't feel a little bit emotional,
00:11knowing this will be the last time we see Kendall Gray walk through that curtain
00:16as our Evolve champion.
00:17She has been one of the true stories since the very beginning of WWE Evolve.
00:22She had the first match in Evolve history.
00:24She was in a match as a crown, the first ever women's champion.
00:27Five television title defenses, won the title at succession.
00:31She's been the MVP for the last year, but can she finish out with the gold?
00:36If you've been with us since the beginning, you've been watching Evolve,
00:39you know the star that Kendall Gray is.
00:42And it's been very satisfying to see Evolve's very own boss lady
00:46become that same star on the NXT stage.
00:49Very proud of Kendall Gray.
00:50So we're set to go.
00:51Let's head to our ring announcer, Mike Rome, to set the table for the final evolution.
00:58The following contest scheduled for one fall is for the Evolve Women's Championship.
01:11Introducing the challenger from Houston, Texas, Olympic gold medalist Tyra Mae Steele.
01:27And her opponent from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is the Evolve Women's Champion, Kendall Gray.
01:43Tyra Mae Steele, the Olympic gold medalist back in the 2020 Olympics, winning the gold in the freestyle.
01:50And then, of course, Kendall Gray undefeated as an amateur in wrestling in the collegiate ranks.
01:55And now, Peter, we're looking at a situation.
01:57Who has the amateur advantage, the champion or the Olympic champion?
02:02Listen, the fact is, on paper, the challenger actually has the advantage in this matchup.
02:09I mean, to say someone is an Olympic gold medalist.
02:12I can't even properly emphasize what that says about the skills of Tyra Mae Steele.
02:18And you see it early on.
02:19But, of course, in this environment, Peter, there's no points.
02:21The takedowns don't necessarily mean the same.
02:23They can certainly give an advantage.
02:24You see Wendy Chu and Laney Luck looking on.
02:26Again, a lot at stake right here.
02:29Kendall Gray has been the cornerstone of the women's division.
02:31Tyra Mae Steele is rising up.
02:32Something has to give tonight on Tubi.
02:34Well, either way, in one scenario, Kendall Gray leaves with the title as Evolve Women's Champion.
02:41That's incredible to picture.
02:43On the flip side, can you imagine what it would mean if Tyra Mae Steele becomes the third ever WWE
02:49Evolve Women's Champion?
02:50Either result is incredibly exciting to picture.
02:53You see a series of reversals right here.
02:55As this is certainly world-class mat wrestling right here on display in our main event.
03:00And that's certainly one of the reasons Foreman Thatcher made this matchup.
03:04Put Tyra Mae Steele in this position.
03:05Nice go behind by Tyra Mae to the roll-up.
03:08And look at this.
03:09This incredible mat wrestling early on.
03:11Just so representative of a wonderful and deep women's division on Evolve
03:17that we've been able to watch for the last year.
03:19Fireman's Carry takedown by Tyra Mae Steele.
03:21And Peter, if you've been watching Evolve ever since the beginning,
03:23that's been the bread and butter of Kendall Gray.
03:25That has to be getting into her head right here.
03:27Yeah, 100%.
03:28But Kendall Gray, the other bread and butter, she absolutely knows.
03:32As a match goes on and gets more intense, she gets better and better.
03:37Tyra Mae puts on the brakes right here as Kendall Gray tries to go for the hip-lock takeover.
03:41Gray trying to find any advantage she can.
03:43Hey, that is the Kendall Gray we've come to know and love over the last year.
03:48And we've speculated for quite some time with Kendall Gray's schedule,
03:51whether it's Tuesday nights, Wednesday nights, weekends all around the country.
03:54Has she been stretched too thin, Peter?
03:56Is her schedule going to hold her back in this match?
03:59Well, you know, you bring that up.
04:00Robert Stone used to bring that up.
04:01But the proof is in the pudding.
04:02Here we go into the cover.
04:03Hooks the outside leg.
04:04The proof is in the pudding, Blake.
04:05Has she been stretched too thin?
04:07Has it affected her?
04:08No.
04:08She continues to maintain.
04:10She continues to wear that championship proudly and compete here,
04:14compete on Tuesday nights and on the weekends and all over the world as well.
04:16Tyra May trying to reverse her right there.
04:18Kendall Gray holding her ground.
04:19Look at the mat wrestling exchanges right here.
04:22Counter for counter.
04:23And of course, Tyra May, she feels this is her moment, Peter.
04:26Her first ever WWE Championship opportunity.
04:28Well, listen, these opportunities grow on trees.
04:32The Beal out of the corner.
04:33Ask our former champion, Callie Armstrong, who's been desperate to get a rematch,
04:38a singles rematch against Kendall Gray.
04:40You're never guaranteed another shot.
04:42So Tyra May Steele needs to take advantage.
04:45We talk about those five TV title defenses for Kendall Gray.
04:48One of them coming in Madison Square Garden.
04:50If you go back earlier in the year in 2025, Tyra May Steele winning LFG Season 1
04:55in Madison Square Garden.
04:57Both of these superstars have competed at that high level and they want to take it up a notch here.
05:02I just, if you're sitting here watching this, I just hope you're taking in this moment.
05:07Two talents like Kendall Gray and Tyra May Steele.
05:09One day you will be watching them at WrestleMania.
05:12And you get to see them right now in this Evolve Women's Championship match.
05:16It is truly a moment in history.
05:18Certainly seen the evolution of Kendall Gray's young career here.
05:21Right in and dunk down.
05:25With that belly to belly right there.
05:27Tyra May Steele starting to cook a bit here, Peter.
05:29She's got a ton of momentum coming into this matchup.
05:32We said that and it's so true.
05:34Tyra May Steele has been getting better every week.
05:36Ever since she got to Evolve.
05:38Listen, she had had opportunities at NXT.
05:40She gets down to Evolve and she's been better and better.
05:44Tyra May Steele trying to get the Evolve Women's Championship.
05:46This match continues on Tubi.
05:51Back in action here on Evolve on Tubi.
05:54Big fight feel here, Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg.
05:56Tyra May Steele pushing Kendall Gray to the limit.
06:00I mean, it's beyond big fight feel.
06:02This is just a big fight.
06:04The Evolve Women's Champion Kendall Gray was such a rare opportunity to head to NXT without ever being defeated for
06:10her championship.
06:12Only minutes remaining in Kendall Gray's Evolve career right here.
06:16Will she go to NXT?
06:17Still champion and having to vacate or will Tyra May win the title?
06:22And you see Tyra May with that smile on her face, Peter.
06:25She thinks she's in the driver's seat right here.
06:26It's just so impressive because Tyra May Steele, you meet her outside the ring, she's all smiles, thumbs up, and
06:32dancing.
06:33And then once the bell rings, she becomes this person, this level of competitor, the kind of person who goes
06:39on to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
06:40And you see the richest prize, the Evolve Women's Division right there.
06:44Tyra May Steele, Kendall Gray battling it out right now, center of the ring.
06:47As Tyra with the submission hold, Peter, not many places for Kendall to go.
06:52This is starting to wear on Kendall Gray.
06:54You see that arm cinched in under the chin of the champion.
06:58Referee Joey Gonzalez checking in right now.
07:00Tyra May.
07:01She seems it even tighter.
07:03As you said, Peter, locking it in right underneath the chin of Kendall Gray.
07:07Gray back to her feet right now.
07:09The champion trying to fight off the challenger.
07:12Man.
07:13Oh, Kendall Gray using those elbows to escape the grasp of Tyra May Steele.
07:18Then a big right hand to follow.
07:19And Gray, oh, almost get dumped again.
07:22Nice counter.
07:23Kendall with the cover only gets two.
07:26Oh, man, Kendall bouncing back after that choke hold that she had on her for 90 seconds.
07:32Kendall Gray has found her wind again.
07:34Here she is.
07:35Oof.
07:36Well, that wasn't a move I'd expect to see in the Olympics, but it certainly was effective.
07:39As Tyra May with her eyes on the prize here.
07:43Tyra May Steele with a championship on her mind.
07:46And for us, we also just have to appreciate the closing moments of Kendall Gray's evolved career.
07:52Can it end as champion?
07:53Look at the raw power.
07:55And ragged all of Kendall Gray.
07:58That gut wrench suplex up and over.
08:00Tyra May's locked in, Peter.
08:01It's 20-20 all over again and just off the back end of the Olympics.
08:05Tyra May feeling as motivated as ever.
08:07Look at her just picking Kendall Gray up off the ground.
08:11Gut wrench tossing her.
08:13And Gray barely able to get to her feet right here.
08:16She's a bit stunned.
08:18Oof.
08:19Another gut wrench toss.
08:21Will we get to see one last time Kendall Gray take those straps down and enter the gray area?
08:27And you have to be wondering here.
08:28Tyra May might be looking for that German suplex.
08:31If she can connect on that wings of glory.
08:33We're looking at a brand new evolved women's champion.
08:35Well, it's a great point, Blake.
08:36And she does seem to have Kendall Gray prone right now.
08:38There's a cover.
08:39Center of the ring.
08:41Again, only two.
08:42You're gonna need to do more.
08:43You're gonna have to do more to finish Kendall Gray.
08:45And that's what it looks like she's doing.
08:46Going back to work.
08:48Foreman Thatcher laying down a huge main event.
08:50His first week on the job.
08:52And we'll see if Tyra May Steele could take full advantage right here.
08:56The evolved universe starting to rally a bit.
08:58And Kendall Gray in a bad spot.
09:00She's being bent in half by Tyra May Steele.
09:02And, of course, Kendall said she wanted to come out here alone, Peter.
09:05No Wren Sinclair.
09:05She's getting it done all on Kendall Gray's time.
09:09Oh, man.
09:10Kendall's being bent backwards.
09:12Certainly gonna be tough to go to the gray area in this predicament.
09:15And look at Tyra May wrenching back.
09:16Peter, she wants the gold.
09:17Absolutely.
09:18I am so impressed with the gear Tyra May Steele is hitting right now.
09:21And we shouldn't be surprised.
09:23She's an Olympic gold medalist for a reason.
09:25You see that confidence growing here in Tyra May Steele.
09:27We saw her a little bit last year.
09:28And her evolution now into the number one contender
09:31to the Evolve Women's Championship.
09:33These two going back and forth once again.
09:35And Tyra May looking to take full advantage now.
09:38Going for that gun wrench one more time.
09:40Oh, Gray spins right out.
09:42Oh, but misses with the right hand.
09:44These two build some momentum right now.
09:46Oh, they collide in the center of the ring, Peter.
09:49Champion is down.
09:50Challenger is down.
09:50The Evolve Women's Championship hanging the balance in our main event here on Tubi.
09:55Do you remember where you were when Kendall Gray defended her championship against a young Tyra May Steele?
10:02Here we are, the Evolve Universe looking on in Kendall Gray's last Evolve match.
10:09Kendall Gray can't quite think about Tuesday nights yet.
10:11She's got to worry about Tyra May Steele right in front of her.
10:14And the Olympic gold medalist.
10:15See, there's the savvy.
10:17There's the ring awareness of our champion.
10:19As Kendall creates that separation one more time, she might be looking to take Tyra to that gray area.
10:24But you can see she's still favoring her midsection.
10:26She's still a bit hurt.
10:27And Gray.
10:29Irish whip reverse now.
10:31Tyra May charges in.
10:32Oh, and Kendall.
10:33Takes one out of Tyra's playbook.
10:37A suplex of her own for Kendall Gray.
10:39Here we go.
10:40It's time to enter the gray area.
10:43The straps are down.
10:45And Kendall's ready to roll the drop down.
10:47T-Bone.
10:49This is when Kendall Gray gets to that next level.
10:52Take a look at her eyes there, Peter.
10:53She's locked in.
10:55Kendall Gray looking to seize the moment.
10:57We've seen this so many times from our champion.
11:00Can she do it one more time?
11:02Looking to risk it all.
11:03Oh, a DDT out of the corner.
11:05Oh, goodness.
11:05Dig it deeper in the playbook.
11:07There's the cover.
11:08And Tyra May hangs on.
11:10Oh, man.
11:11I thought that DDT might have put Tyra May Steele to sleep.
11:13As you see Lainey Luck and Wendy Chu looking on.
11:16Wendy Chu, a veteran of Evolve.
11:18Lainey Luck, of course, waving the flag in the ID program.
11:22Both locked in here.
11:23And what we understand, Peter, in the back.
11:25Everyone's eyes glued on the monitors for this huge main event.
11:28Wendy Chu with her own history, of course, with Kendall Gray.
11:31She knows what our champion's capable of.
11:33And she heads to the top rope.
11:34What's she looking for here, Blake?
11:36Oh, watch out.
11:37As Tyra May all the way up top.
11:39Compromising position.
11:40Might be looking for an overhead belly to belly.
11:42And Kendall looking to fight off.
11:46And now Kendall rarefied air here, Peter.
11:48Yeah, she does not spend a lot of time up here, but she got the separation.
11:52And Kendall off the top.
11:54And Tyra May looks to take advantage.
11:56Olympic slam.
11:57Here we go.
11:58Center of the ring.
11:58There's the cover.
11:59Hooks the outside leg.
12:00Shoulders are down.
12:01My goodness.
12:03I thought that mistake was really gonna cost Kendall Gray her championship.
12:07And if you look at Tyra May's face, Peter, she certainly thought that was her opportunity to become Evolve Women's
12:13Champion.
12:14Yeah, Kendall really, really made a rare mistake.
12:17She does not do that often.
12:19And to Tyra May still's credit, she took advantage of the moment and almost won the championship.
12:24These two set the pace for the final evolution.
12:27Kendall Gray almost goes for the crucifix there in a wheelbarrow position.
12:31Gray.
12:32Oh, counter.
12:35Wings of glory.
12:37What a gifted arsenal from such a young athlete.
12:42And, oh, Kendall with a counter.
12:45Into the roll up.
12:46Shoulders are down.
12:47Oh, back the other way.
12:48Tyra's got her.
12:49No.
12:49These two exchanging pinfalls right in the center of the ring.
12:53No.
12:53Kendall catches her with shades of gray.
12:55There's the cover.
12:56And Kendall finishes as champion.
13:00Here is your winner, and still the Evolve Women's Champion, Kendall Gray.
13:10What do you say about that matchup, Blake?
13:13Absolute back and forth action from bell to bell.
13:16And Kendall Gray standing tall as our champion still.
13:22Unbelievable stuff in the final evolution of Kendall Gray here on Evolve.
13:27And again, like I said, back and forth.
13:29The Evolve Arena on fire.
13:31The Olympic gold medalist Tyra May Steele using all of the weapons in her arsenal.
13:36Suplex after suplex.
13:37So close.
13:39But in the final evolution of Kendall Gray, it leads to what may be the biggest win of her career.
13:45Shades of Gray.
13:47And she'll now vacate the championship and march into NXT.
13:51Ready to make a statement.
13:52You're a bitwise.
13:54You have L