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00:07Then, now, forever, together.
00:32Hey guys, look, I don't know about you, but to me it feels like the Vanity Project was
00:38born just yesterday.
00:40Bro, we walked in and immediately shook this place.
00:43Well, yeah, guys, we came in and literally walked everyone down.
00:45Dr. Thirst, the first and only champ for 287 days.
00:49That's nasty.
00:50Every challenger who stepped up to you, you just knocked them right back to their place.
00:53Yeah, good point, good point.
00:54I mean, Lince Dorado, beat him, Sean Legacy, Cam Hendrix, he's even beat the
00:59athlete crumbs.
01:01It's easy.
01:02Speaking of which, we even took over NXT.
01:04I mean, we've said it since day one and nothing has changed.
01:07The Vanity Project runs Evolve.
01:09I am the first, only, and longest reigning Evolve champion.
01:12It's not just a slogan, bro.
01:14Vanity Project runs Evolve.
01:15Guys, I've literally heard no lies.
01:17Stop.
01:18Look, man, Timothy Thatcher wants a final evaluation of Heartbreak Drake?
01:23Fine.
01:23Cool.
01:24I will happily give him something to evaluate when I embarrass Aaron Rourke again and cement
01:30myself and the Vanity Project as the foundation of Evolve and the future of WWE.
01:35That's right.
01:36I love the sound of that.
01:37Fees up, boys.
01:38It's gonna be easy.
01:39Light work.
01:46I'm a G-Law holly.
01:47I'm in the holly while I'm in college.
01:49And I'm in my body.
01:50I don't think quicker than whipping or running.
01:52I live on my bed like Harry.
01:53Where are my Batman carrying?
01:55Ain't nobody to get no info.
01:57No.
01:57Key to keep me.
01:58I'm a bro.
01:58Nice god.
02:04Tonight it's the final evolution for The Evolve Champion.
02:08It's another Big-Fight feel here on accumulated.
02:15The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
02:19Introducing first, from Sacramento, California, weighing in at 257 pounds...
02:27Cam Hendricks!
02:28Well, Peter, we saw last week, this one's starting to bubble a little bit,
02:32and tonight, a rivalry that necessarily wasn't there before
02:36has become a little bit personal. Well, doesn't it seem like everything
02:40is personal with this yo-yo Cam Hendricks? I say that respectfully, of course.
02:44As Cam Hendricks has been dominating ever since coming to Wednesday nights, and of course
02:48with his new sidekick at Harley Riggins. Yeah, I like how
02:52each of them were like, how can we be more obnoxious? Let's hang out with each other.
02:56They're certainly leveling up each other in more
03:00ways than one. Some way.
03:09And his opponent, from Singapore
03:12weighing in at 227 pounds, Dante
03:16Chen! A couple of months ago,
03:20Peter, Cam Hendricks, Harley Riggins, the rest of that
03:22PC crew, if you will, kind of came in
03:25infiltrated the system, if you will.
03:27But Dante Chen, he's been the constant.
03:28He's been around for over five years
03:30from NXT. We've seen him on Level Up,
03:32Main Event, Friday Night SmackDown,
03:34TNA Wrestling. He's been
03:35all around the block. And Dante Chen,
03:38a true tested veteran.
03:39But now, Cam Hendricks is
03:42respecting him a little bit. Absolutely, and this is
03:44what makes Evolve so awesome, is because
03:45not only do you get
03:47new jacks like Cam Hendricks finding their
03:50way in the business. Wait for it, Peter.
03:51Hold on. Wait for it. The air's
03:53coming. It's coming. Wait for it now.
03:56Yeah! Do it!
03:57Blake did it. That's a good claw from you.
03:59I'm impressed. But yeah, it's not only
04:02that you get youngsters like Cam Hendricks
04:03who are figuring it out, but you also have guys like
04:05Dante Chen, who have been around,
04:07have learned a bit, and are looking to really
04:09get their name home. We've certainly seen
04:11different sides of the spectrum, I guess.
04:13From the PC side, when you look at Cam Hendricks,
04:15you look at Dante Chen. Peter, does Dante
04:17embody what the PC athlete should be?
04:19Pretty much. I mean, it's hard to
04:21have anything to say about Dante Chen
04:23that's not positive. You see Dante here,
04:25a little bit of an uptick in aggression. We saw that
04:27against True London a couple weeks back, that of
04:29course led to victory. It seems like Dante
04:31Chen playing Mr. Nice Guy anymore.
04:33100%. And that's something that, you know, Robert
04:35Stone used to say all
04:37the time about Dante Chen. Incredibly
04:39talented. But when is he
04:41gonna turn the level up a bit? Obviously
04:43now that criticism more relevant
04:45considering Robert Stone's making the choices
04:47over at NXT. Well, we talk about
04:48Chen being incredibly talented, but the question begs
04:51why did Cam Hendricks not want
04:53Chen on Team PC? Well,
04:55I think you know why, Blake. Let's not be
04:57ignorant. Cam Hendricks is a bad
04:59guy. And Dante Chen is someone
05:01who ultimately is
05:03not only a hard worker, not only talented
05:05in the ring. Oh.
05:06Chen's got some moves. That's right. But he's also
05:09a dude who does things the right way.
05:11That's not how Cam Hendricks has operated for the
05:13second he got here. He has been all
05:15about tipping the scales
05:16for Team PC. And that's not Dante
05:19Chen's way. Chen's so technically sound
05:21here in a series of arm drags. Yeah, he's
05:23teaching a lesson to young Cam Hendricks right
05:25now. Let's get to double digits right here.
05:26I don't, I don't know if I've ever seen
05:28this many arm drags. It's an arm drag fest
05:30here on Tubi. As
05:32Dante Chen taking full advantage
05:34right now against Cam Hendricks.
05:36And also a little bit of extra spice there
05:38to what Dante's bringing, of course, in a way
05:40defending the honor of Tate Wilder.
05:42Yeah, absolutely. And, you know,
05:45everybody was upset and disgusted
05:47about what happened to Tate Wilder
05:49at the hands of Cam Hendricks.
05:50See, and that, that's the Cam Hendricks, you know.
05:52A guy who's going to hide behind Harley
05:53Riggins, and then throw a haymaker.
05:56A series of cheap shots
05:58here by Cam Hendricks.
06:00As Harley Riggins
06:02and Hendricks getting the last laugh
06:03right now. Referee Chip Danning administering his count.
06:06Dante Chen needs to get back in this one.
06:08Peter, last week we saw the final evolution
06:10of Kendall Gray tonight. It's Jackson
06:11Drake, and will he have the same result
06:13as our winners, Chip? I mean, you have to
06:15imagine that is what all Jackson
06:17Drake has been dreaming about all week
06:19is being able to close out the same
06:21way Kendall Gray did, with a win
06:24over Aaron Rourke, and having
06:25to vacate that title. He
06:27does not want to hand that title over to
06:29Aaron Rourke tonight. Cam Hendricks, of course,
06:31got a recent Evolve Championship opportunity. He would
06:33love to be in that position, but it's
06:35Aaron Rourke tonight, but Cam Hendricks
06:37with a win here, certainly
06:39could get in the mind of Foreman Thatcher
06:41to the cover. Only gets two. I don't even
06:43understand how Cam Hendricks is allowed to be
06:45competing. This is a guy who took out Tate
06:47Wilder, a man who's still not clear,
06:49with a vile attack
06:51in the parking lot outside the PC.
06:53It's disgusting. We know how violent
06:55the parking lot is at the Performance Center,
06:57but never really seen it on Evolve.
07:00No, it's a, it's a,
07:02honestly, it's disgraceful.
07:04It's something, it's one of the things that
07:05always made me proud to be a part of Evolve,
07:07is that people generally do things the right
07:09way. And Cam Hendricks has shown up and
07:11said it's going to be his way, not the right way.
07:13Talk about Hendricks, we talk about Riggins
07:15being on the sore losers, those bullies,
07:17and that was on full display with that attack
07:19on Tate Wilder. And Hendricks looking
07:21to capitalize right here, out of the corner,
07:23and Chen with the drop down, German
07:25suplex! And again, a
07:27lesson there for Cam Hendricks. Took
07:29too long to make his way back to Dante
07:31Chen, who absolutely had the young
07:33man scouted.
07:36And Dante
07:37lives by those three Ps.
07:40Perseverance, preparation.
07:41Peter. And of course, Peter, indeed.
07:43As Dante right now, continuing
07:45the onslaught. Irish whip
07:47reverse here by Cam Hendricks.
07:49Oof! Big boot by Dante.
07:51As Chen's starting to roll a bit now.
07:53Dante Chen wants to shake things up
07:55in the championship rankings
07:57here.
07:59Man, how about the motor of Dante
08:01Chen? Blake, you're at NXT, you're at
08:03main event, you see wrestling constantly.
08:05How about just the general
08:07energy and breath capacity
08:09of Dante Chen? He's always ready indeed.
08:11As Chen, building some steam right here,
08:13Peter, he doesn't normally take to the air!
08:15Pursue a seat into the outside!
08:18As Dante, we talked about
08:20that uptick in aggression, it's on full
08:21display here. Now can he take advantage?
08:23He throws Cam Hendricks back in, can he
08:25finish the job? What a win this would be!
08:27And the springboard, chopping down
08:29the tree! And Peter,
08:31he might start to think about that gentle touch!
08:33Absolutely, you said it earlier,
08:35he's been more aggressive, he's looking for the
08:37gentle touch, wants to finish the
08:39game off! Oh! Here comes that
08:41yo-yo Harley-Riggins! And the
08:43showtime kick!
08:44That should be a disqualification! You would think
08:47so! Oh! Instead it's
08:49lights, Cam,
08:50action!
08:54Here is your winner, Cam
08:58Hendricks!
09:00I don't want to take anything away
09:01from what Cam did there, but
09:03that should not even count!
09:05Harley-Riggins ends up costing Dante
09:07Chen the match! Listen, Cam
09:09Hendricks took advantage, but that's not right, Blake!
09:12Certainly a
09:12questionable call right there, but nonetheless
09:14the numbers game prevails as Cam
09:17Hendricks gets the victory! Absolutely!
09:19If Dante Chen came out strong, and he
09:21really wanted to secure this win, we talked
09:22about him upping the aggression, trying
09:25to get to the championship picture, but
09:26the odds not in his favor late!
09:28You see the distraction from
09:30Harley-Riggins, Cam Hendricks takes
09:32advantage, and takes the victory!
09:36Hey Wilder, where you at? You little
09:38baby, huh? You scared of you?
09:40You gotta take a week off! Yeah, you're a little
09:42dwerp, Tate! Tate of Tyler, nobody
09:44does! We'll break you in half, buddy! Where you at?
09:46You in the medical room, are you scared?
09:48Oh!
09:50Try in the parking lot! Try in the parking lot!
09:52They certainly have some words right there, now it's here!
09:54From Foreman Thatcher!
10:01Things are always evolving.
10:03And being the Foreman, there's a lot of issues
10:05that come across my desk, that you
10:07deserve to be updated on.
10:09I'm gonna leave the vacant women's
10:11championship until next week.
10:12But I do have exciting news!
10:15Brand new talent from North America
10:17and Europe has been found.
10:19The contracts are currently being signed,
10:21so in two weeks, we'll have an
10:23Evolve special that will showcase
10:25these European talents and brand new
10:27WWE ID prospects.
10:29Hey, Tommy! What about It's Ga?
10:32You wanna try that again?
10:37Mr. Foreman, sir?
10:39It's all about It's Ga. What about me?
10:41I mean, take a peek at those peaks!
10:45You want some attention? Oh, yeah.
10:47Do you want some attention? Oh, yeah!
10:49Alright, then! Then in the two weeks,
10:51I'll put you on that special Evolve show.
10:54Yes!
10:55Now you're talking! I love it!
10:57Well, good. Good. Now see yourself out!
11:00It's Ga! It's Ga!
11:02It's Ga! Yes!
11:05Gonna need a lock for that door.
11:09On Saturday, May 9th,
11:11after the biggest weekend in WWE,
11:14what happens at WrestleMania
11:17doesn't stay there.
11:18Sweet, sweet revenge!
11:20It follows you.
11:22And in Tampa,
11:24it hits back.
11:26All scores are settled.
11:28It's personal.
11:31It's backlash!
11:42The educated differ from the uneducated
11:45as much as the living differ from the dead.
11:47Aristotle 384 BC.
11:50Hmm.
11:51Now that is an interesting concept to ponder.
11:54Actually,
11:56my Ivy League intellect
11:57is what makes me truly different
11:59from the uneducated deadweight around here.
12:01Ha!
12:03Ha!
12:03Excuse me!
12:05Where are my manners?
12:06My name is Braxton Cole.
12:09The epitome of privilege.
12:11An eclectic of excellence.
12:14A top-of-the-class Brown University graduate
12:16and an all-league defensive end football player.
12:19And what sets me apart
12:20from these one-dimensional athletes
12:22is that I am the perfect conglomeration
12:24of brains
12:26and brawn.
12:28Now, while they're working hard, I
12:30am working smart.
12:32And pretty soon, when I'm at the top
12:34of the class in Evolve, you'll all see
12:36why I am straight A's
12:38in every way.
12:42Be gone.
12:44You're taking up my precious oxygen
12:45and I need to get my mental work.
12:55Well, the intelligence is about to be next level
12:57here on Evolve.
13:00The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
13:04It's a new reverse from Chicago, Illinois,
13:08Lainey Luck!
13:10Well, Peter, Lainey Luck waves the flag
13:12in the women's division for the ID program
13:15and hasn't had the best win-loss record
13:17ever since coming to Wednesday nights,
13:18but she continues to fight as the heart of a champion.
13:22Let's see what she brings here tonight.
13:23Listen, that's what it's all about.
13:24You're not always going to get favorable match-ups.
13:26There are going to be L's.
13:28The question is, can you take that L?
13:29Can you hold it?
13:30Can you love that L?
13:31Nurture it and turn it into a W.
13:33You know what I'm saying?
13:33Hi, it's me, Xena.
13:35Double L, Lainey Luck.
13:36See?
13:39And her opponent from Aviv Ukraine,
13:43Xena Sterling!
13:46You can see the evolution of this superstar, Peter.
13:48You go from LFG, of course, to Evolve,
13:51and now Xena Sterling looks to be in a position now
13:53with a vacant women's championship,
13:56wants to put herself right in position.
13:57That's exactly...
13:58You're smarter than you look, Blake Howard.
14:00Exactly where I was going to go.
14:03Now, thanks to the open slot that may exist
14:06because Kendall Gray has moved on to NXT,
14:09these are two women who have a major opportunity.
14:13Neither has had a great fortune when it comes to Ws,
14:16but one of them's coming out with a win tonight
14:18and pushing themselves forward in the women's division.
14:21Great opportunity for Xena Sterling and Lainey Luck.
14:24We know it's a high-stakes night, of course,
14:26with our final Evolution main event,
14:27but this is a high-stakes matchup,
14:28certainly in the women's division.
14:30Bell sounds were underway.
14:31Lainey Luck, Xena Sterling,
14:33and we talked about that evolution of Xena from LFG to Evolve.
14:36Peter, what differences really have you seen from Xena
14:38since coming to Wednesday nights?
14:39Well, listen, she is clearly a more serious competitor.
14:43The learning curve has been tremendous.
14:46You see when people walk through the door at LFG,
14:48their greenest could be nervous, intimidated,
14:51and as you can see right now,
14:53that is not the look of someone who is nervous and intimidated.
14:56It's someone who's ready for the moment.
14:57The question is, can that translate into getting meaningful wins?
15:00A lot of confidence, especially when you're in the learning tree
15:02of someone like Bubba Ray Dudley, Xena Sterling.
15:04Certainly looking up her game here, but Lainey Luck,
15:07here we go into a quick cover, only gets one.
15:09Of all the people to be under the learning tree of,
15:12is anyone more intimidating than Bubba Ray Dudley?
15:15That's the thing.
15:16You end up, it's trial by fire, you know what I mean?
15:19And you come out a stronger competitor because of that.
15:21These two, a couple of pinfall exchanges in the early going,
15:24very back and forth between Lainey Luck and Xena Sterling.
15:28And Peter, we're talking about Lainey Luck,
15:29not just here on Wednesday nights, but ultimately,
15:32has she repped the ID program?
15:34I think she's done a great job.
15:36I mean, listen, everyone is trying to etch their name in stone.
15:40Everyone wants to be the next Kendall Gray, the next Callie Armstrong,
15:45the next Jackson Drake.
15:46Has she done that yet? No, obviously she has not.
15:49But she has repped the program well.
15:50But again, she is also someone who needs to start stacking some wins
15:54and putting herself in a position to be a legitimate contender here on Evolve.
15:58When we talk about that stiff competition,
16:00she's gone one-on-one with the likes of Carmen Petrovic, P.J. Vassa,
16:03certainly some of the top women on the Evolve.
16:05But how many wins?
16:07We'll see how that transpires.
16:09Again, Peter, right now both superstars looking to move up the ladder
16:13as Xena.
16:15Fireman's scary takeover looking to take full advantage
16:17as Xena zeroing in right now.
16:19Of course, former Division I swimmer.
16:21Very well-conditioned athlete is Xena Sterling.
16:23Yeah, both of these ladies very impressive.
16:25I won't lie though, Blake.
16:25It is hard for me not to think about our main event tonight.
16:28I am.
16:29It is Wednesday night.
16:30We go out of the corner.
16:32It is 2B.
16:32It is 2B.
16:32Full attempt.
16:332.
16:34It's a Wednesday night.
16:35It's 2B.
16:36And we have a main event with Jackson Drake defending the title
16:39for the last time ever on Evolve against none other than Aaron Rourke.
16:43That's the mayor of Sparkle City to you and me.
16:45Indeed.
16:46We'll see if that has the same fare as it did last week with the final evolution
16:49of Kendall Gray.
16:50But right now, Lenny Luck taking some full control.
16:52Let's go, Xena.
16:54Sending Xena Sterling to the apron.
16:55It's just you get to see the full spectrum here on Evolve.
16:58Oh!
16:58Look at that.
17:00Absolutely.
17:01You see people find their way and find real success.
17:03Like the Vanity Project over on NXT already.
17:06Capturing tag team gold.
17:07It's pretty crazy.
17:11As Lenny Luck trying to take some risk and land with a bullseye on Xena.
17:14Oh, I like that.
17:14And into the cover.
17:17A near fall there for Lenny Luck.
17:19And Peter, we've been talking about the women's division here,
17:21but ultimately now with the title being vacant,
17:24how wide open is it on Wednesday nights?
17:26At this moment in time, it is as open as it's ever been.
17:30Since the very beginning when Callie Armstrong became our first women's champion,
17:33I would say right now there are as many people as ever
17:36who have a legitimate claim that they should be in the title picture.
17:40We'll certainly see how that one transpires over the next several weeks.
17:43A lot of decisions to be made for Foreman Thatcher
17:46as Xena Sterling belly-back suplex dumps Lenny Luck and she capitalized here.
17:52I mean, you think about the Wendy Chews, the Callie Armstrongs,
17:55the people who have really been competing for a very long time,
17:58but then you can't forget people like P.J. Vassa who have come along
18:01and completely changed the scope of the women's division.
18:04And then superstars like Layla Diggs, Mason Holliday starting to bubble up a little bit.
18:08How about Chantel Monroe? You know she wants to be in the thick of things.
18:11Can't forget about the reflection of perfection as Laney Luck and Xena Sterling going back and forth
18:15right here in the center of the ring.
18:17These two have been very evenly matched throughout, Peter.
18:21Absolutely.
18:22Both with some vicious blows exchanged in the middle of the ring.
18:25As the intensity ramping up a little bit here, Xena some overhand rights.
18:29And Sterling unloading a bit here. We talk about Dante Chin's aggression starting to come out.
18:33We're seeing it here in Xena Sterling.
18:35Yeah, don't let the blue sparkly skirt fool you. She's bringing it.
18:38Oh! Reverse front DDT.
18:41Could that be enough?
18:41Into the cover. Oh!
18:43And Laney Luck at two and three quarters able to press out.
18:46I just think you can't overemphasize how hard all of these youngsters work to get these opportunities.
18:51What it means to make it to the performance center, to be a part of the ID program,
18:55whatever your path was, and then to end up here on Tubi on Wednesday night
18:58with everybody else in the business watching.
19:00Oh!
19:01Everybody settles down to see what everyone is doing on Evolve.
19:04It's a lot of pressure each time one of these wrestlers steps in the room.
19:07Death Valley driver right there into the cover.
19:10And Laney Luck picks up her first win on Evolve.
19:14Here is your winner, Laney Luck!
19:18Peter, you talked about that win-loss record, but right here in front of our eyes,
19:22we see the first dub for Laney Luck.
19:24That's exactly right. It makes me happy because she needed the win
19:27and she ended up getting one tonight over Xena Sterling.
19:32Well, Peter, let's go back and take a look at the action.
19:34You see Laney Luck risking it all right here, really expanding her arsenal of offense,
19:38trying to get the win over Xena Sterling.
19:39But Xena also looking for a big win here on Evolve.
19:42It's that time of the year where both superstars trying to move right up the ranks.
19:46Laney Luck right there with that Death Valley driver into the cover.
19:49And Laney Luck picking up her first win here on Evolve.
19:52Big, big moment here tonight.
19:58Have a perfect day here at the PC Horror Coronas.
20:02Hey, Lince! Lince! Wait up! The Amigo!
20:06Hey, sunglasses off.
20:08I just got to say how sick it is, man, to be able to train at the Performance Center with
20:12a cat like you.
20:13Oh, my bad. My bad.
20:15I remember growing up watching you in the Cruiserweight Classic.
20:18And now look at us, man. We're outside just chopping it up.
20:23Security.
20:23Plus, plus, plus. Catch my vibe.
20:25Lucha lit.
20:27That's basically main man energy.
20:28You're just throwing a mask on it.
20:30You're not just throwing a mask on it.
20:32There's more to that, Catito.
20:33Man, listen, you're going to learn, but I got to go, all right?
20:35Hold on, hold on, hold on.
20:36Before you go, you and me, in the ring, one-on-one.
20:40I think it'd be a killer learning experience.
20:42And also, get to check out how many lives you got left.
20:47Main man.
20:47Yeah.
20:48For Lucha Lit.
20:49That's right.
20:50In the ring.
20:50Uh-huh.
20:51That sounds perfect.
20:52Yeah.
20:53But you know what?
20:54I want to teach you a lesson right now.
20:56You see, when you're in the ring with me, Lucha Lit.
20:59Lisa Dorado!
21:00You're not going to be the main man.
21:02You're going to be the next man.
21:03I'll catch you, all right?
21:04I'm out.
21:05So we got our match.
21:06Oh, we got it.
21:07Perfect.
21:08Perfect.
21:09Sunglasses back.
21:13This April, live from Las Vegas, the best in the world, CM Punk.
21:20I'm the champ, and I call the shots.
21:23Versus the original tribal team, Roman Reigns.
21:26Two of the biggest stars for the World Heavyweight Championship.
21:31Reigns demands an answer.
21:34You will acknowledge me.
21:39WrestleMania.
21:56Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Cappuccino, Joe!
22:02The pot is hot, Peter.
22:05You know what?
22:06Shout out to my dude, Cappuccino Jones.
22:09I got to tell you.
22:10Look at my man with the glasses getting down.
22:12I need to replay that guy.
22:13Oh, look at my man right there.
22:14Oh, he's feeling it.
22:15He's feeling Capp.
22:16He's had maybe too much Cappuccino.
22:18Yeah, he might have had a few too many Cappuccinos.
22:20But man, I'm telling you, this guy has gotten better in every way.
22:23In the ring, the swag, the vibe.
22:26I really dig what Cappuccino Jones is putting down as a singles competitor.
22:30Certainly feeling himself after a tough championship loss a few weeks ago in succession.
22:34But Capp's back and he's ready to roll.
22:37My man with the glasses is feeling.
22:38What's a refill?
22:39Yo, yo, yo.
22:41Yo, the pot is hot tonight.
22:44And I know y'all like that.
22:48And it's going to be a crazy rush when Aaron Rourke walks out the new WWE Evolve Champion.
22:59Aaron.
23:00Dine Peace.
23:02Dine Peace.
23:04Aaron, for real, you got all of our support.
23:07Let's take it home.
23:10Dine Peace.
23:11Dine Peace.
23:14Dine Peace.
23:15Dine Peace.
23:16Dine Peace.
23:17Dine Peace.
23:17Dine Peace.
23:18Dine Peace.
23:18Hey, hey, hey.
23:18But for real though, before that, before that main event goes down, there's something that's been brewing for weeks.
23:29Brooks Jensen, I'm calling you out.
23:34See, no, no, no, for real, you're a student of the game.
23:37You can remember matches from the 80s, the 90s, the 2000s.
23:42But one thing you don't seem to remember is me beating you in the gauntlet match.
23:49Clock it.
23:51But the one thing you keep on bringing up is you beating me with one arm tied behind my back.
23:59So listen real close, Brooks.
24:01This ain't about Team ID versus Team PC.
24:04Nah, nah, nah.
24:05That's over.
24:06This is personal.
24:08This is about me whooping your ass.
24:11So next week.
24:13Next week.
24:17Oh, look who's here.
24:24Personal.
24:25Personal.
24:26Personal.
24:27Cappuccino Jones, you just made the biggest mistake of your life.
24:32You want to make it personal with a bad man that hails from hell.
24:38Bang!
24:39Bang!
24:40Bang!
24:41Bang!
24:42Bang!
24:44Then so be it, Cappuccino.
24:47Cappuccino.
24:47You didn't just call me out.
24:50You just ended your own career.
24:54Well, Peter, a huge grudge match is set.
24:57I cannot wait to see this.
25:00Give me Cappuccino Jones and Brooks Gibson all day long.
25:04The stakes have certainly been raised.
25:07And, Peter, we saw a glimpse of it last week.
25:09And now our own Chewy Martinez sits down with Luka Crucifino.
25:16E-Ball fam, how you doing?
25:17Chewy Martinez here hanging out with my man, Luka Crucifino.
25:22How you doing, sir?
25:23I'm doing excellent.
25:23Good to see you, brother.
25:24Hey.
25:24What are we doing?
25:25What are we doing?
25:26I got a gift for you.
25:26Watch this.
25:27Watch this.
25:27Make me a favor.
25:28Put up two fingers here.
25:29A little peace sign.
25:29Make a love.
25:30All right.
25:31And then connect the hands.
25:32Here you go.
25:32This is for you.
25:33My guy.
25:34Look how beautiful.
25:35Thank you so much, man.
25:36You're welcome.
25:37Welcome to Evolve.
25:38Thank you so much, man.
25:39How you feeling?
25:40I am too blessed to express.
25:42This whole place has been bouncing.
25:44The stars from all over the world have been shining.
25:46Take a look at Kendall Gray.
25:47Take a look at Shawn Legacy.
25:49People that didn't just walk here, Chewy.
25:50They evolved.
25:52They figured it out under these lights.
25:53And now shining bright under the lights of NXT.
25:56It is truly peak inspiration.
25:59And I'm about to loop it all back.
26:02And the whole crowd is going to be rolling with the life of the party as I cruise my way
26:07through Evolve.
26:09I feel it.
26:10I love it, brother.
26:11But I love this partying.
26:11It's going to be a distraction.
26:13You know what, Chewy?
26:13I can see how the outsider might think, hey, Luca, you've got your priorities all mixed up.
26:17Maybe upside down.
26:18Maybe a little helter-skelter.
26:20However, I can promise you on the inside, Cruz figured it out.
26:26That when my energy is vibrating with love, connection is fun, is when I am my most effective.
26:32And effective me is dangerous me.
26:36Let me put it for you this way.
26:37My flow state is my ghost state.
26:41Wow.
26:42And it seems like you've done all the internal work, man.
26:44Yes, sir.
26:45I respect that.
26:45Thank you, man.
26:46It's all blur.
26:48Blur.
26:48I know what that means.
26:50You know what blur is.
26:51But for the folks that are out there that don't know what it means, what does it mean?
26:53Break it down.
26:54Let me tell you.
26:55Blur stands for peace, love, unity, and respect.
26:58It is the staple of the rave community.
27:00Values that we simply do not have here in WWE Evolve.
27:05All we have is people with big egos and insecurities.
27:08And we have big bad Cam Hendricks and Harley Riggins.
27:10Guys that are just simply vibe killers, man.
27:13We need someone to shine the lights and chill.
27:17I think I know who can figure it out.
27:20I think that's Luca.
27:21I think you're right.
27:22Hey, brother.
27:23Thank you so much for your time.
27:25Yes, sir.
27:25Hey.
27:25And this is just a build.
27:27Wait for the beat to drop.
27:29Hello.
27:29Hello.
27:33Cut.
27:35Well, Peter, a whole new Crucifino looks ready to evolve.
27:41And imagine the evolution of the dime piece.
27:46If Aaron Rourke were to walk out Evolve champion tonight.
27:51Last week we talked about it being the biggest match in Tyra Mae Steele's career.
27:55And sometimes we speculate.
27:56Not using hyperbole per se.
27:58But this is without a doubt.
28:00The biggest match of Aaron Rourke's life.
28:02The biggest opportunity he's ever had in professional wrestling.
28:05And now.
28:06Could he be the man to derail Jackson Drake?
28:11It is such a great question.
28:13It's the reason we're all here.
28:14By the way, it looks at the best shape of his life.
28:17I have never seen Aaron Rourke look better.
28:20Shredded and ready for this opportunity.
28:23Trained by greats.
28:26Worked his tail off across the industry to get to Evolve.
28:30And since he's been in Evolve, he's done it as a tag team competitor.
28:34He's done it as a single star.
28:35And he earned this shot against Jackson Drake.
28:44As here comes Evolve champion.
28:47Peter, for the last time.
28:49I guess it's your turn.
28:49Yeah, it's the last time ever.
28:51I gotta do it.
28:53Party's here!
28:54The party is here, folks!
28:57That was like next level stoner.
28:59Well, I had to.
29:00I had to.
29:01It's the last time.
29:02Look at the shredded halves of our champion Jackson Drake.
29:05As he stands by with Swipe Right.
29:07Who recently, by the way, became NXT Tag Team Champions.
29:11But they're back to support the champs.
29:13And Peter, we talk about, obviously, the evolution of different superstars.
29:17And how they've grown on Evolve.
29:18These two have competed one-on-one on the indies before.
29:20But how was tonight different?
29:22You talked about it.
29:23The stakes.
29:23What this match means.
29:25I mean, it's...
29:26Listen, I don't want to take anything away from big matches on the indies.
29:29As you see our champion holding that title high.
29:32Win or lose.
29:33That's the last time you will see Jackson Drake hold that Evolve championship.
29:36But this is different.
29:38This is about being in the WWE record books.
29:40This is about becoming the WWE Evolve champion.
29:46Challenger is in.
29:47Champion is in.
29:48Flanked by his boys.
29:50Now it's out of Mike Rowe.
29:51To set the table for this final evolution.
29:59The following contest scheduled for one fall.
30:03One fall.
30:04Is for the Evolve championship.
30:11Introducing first the challenger.
30:14From Sparkle City.
30:16Weighing in at 208 pounds.
30:20Aaron Roark.
30:28And his opponent.
30:30Weighing in at 188 pounds.
30:34Representing the Vanity Project.
30:37He is the Evolve champion.
30:42Jackson Drake.
30:46That's the last time Jackson Drake will receive a ring announcement here in Evolve.
30:50But will he still get in still at the end of the match?
30:54Can't believe I have to deal with this emotion two weeks in a row.
30:57Kendall Gray last week for the last time.
30:59And Jackson Drake win, lose, or draw for the last time as Evolve champion.
31:03Peter, you mentioned Kendall Gray last week.
31:05Will we see the same story tonight?
31:07You know that is what Jackson Drake wants more than anything.
31:10To leave as champion.
31:11To have to hand over that title because he chooses to.
31:16Not because it's been won.
31:17As you see again, a full VIP section of support for this incredible main event that we have.
31:25Full of ID talent right there in just two weeks about.
31:28Before NXT returns to Madison Square Garden.
31:30The site where Jackson Drake had a successful title defense against Shawn Legacy late last year.
31:35Now an opportunity here against Aaron Rourke.
31:37But Peter, these are two men that embody not just the ID program, but Evolve itself.
31:41Watch out early pin there for Rourke.
31:43Yeah, completely.
31:44Two totally different guys.
31:46Here we go, Rourke.
31:47I mean, Rourke and Drake are so different as people, as competitors, style-wise.
31:54Oh, roll up.
31:54Rourke.
31:55Nice counter.
31:56The one thing they have in common is an absolute undying love for professional wrestling.
32:01That's what Jackson Drake is, and that's what Aaron Rourke is.
32:05Rourke flips out the belly to back.
32:11As Aaron Rourke's starting to roll right here.
32:13Who's walking out as Evolve Champion?
32:18Keep the camera off.
32:22Everyone's gotta tell.
32:24Battle of the World.
32:29I'm Japanese.
32:30WrestleMania Vegas.
32:32It's anyone's game.
32:39Where we can buckle.
32:41I'll make you stronger.
32:45Boom!
32:50Wednesday guitarrico.
32:52Back in action here on Evolve. You see the richest prize on Wednesday nights here.
32:56Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg, the final evolution of Jackson Drake here in Evolve.
33:01His final matchup again. Will he leave as champion?
33:04Well, we will find out by the end of the night.
33:06And I really hope for your sake, if you're a viewer tonight, you've been watching since we started over a
33:11year ago.
33:12Because you've seen the evolution of Jackson Drake. You saw him compete early on.
33:17And Rourke, oh, we see Brad Baylor trying to get involved.
33:20We know that numbers game really can help the Vanity Project.
33:22Well, that is part of the plan always. And you see Jackson Drake taking advantage of it.
33:26But besides even everything we've seen Jackson Drake do here.
33:29Oh, nice counter by Rourke.
33:30His story going all the way back to being a teenager in the wrestling business in North Carolina.
33:35A young Jackson Drake and a young Javon Evans training together, dreaming of one day getting there.
33:41You see what his best friend Javon Evans has done.
33:44You know this kid is dreaming not just about NXT, but one day having a WrestleMania match against his best
33:49friend.
33:49Tearing it up on Monday nights is the young OG.
33:51And of course, Jackson Drake, he's starting to make his name on Tuesday nights.
33:54But it all started right here on Wednesdays, Peter, as Jackson Drake, the first ever Evolve champion.
33:59And Aaron Rourke, who embodies everything that Evolve represents, from opportunity to growth and development.
34:05Looking to really pay that off right here.
34:08Nice counter by Jackson Drake.
34:09And Peter, whether you like him or not, you can't take anything away from his skills inside the ring.
34:13100% you cannot.
34:14He is one of the most skilled young stars.
34:18I see.
34:18Look at this, though.
34:19He's going to work on the back of the head of Aaron Rourke.
34:21And you can see the aggression turned up right here.
34:24It's a big match for Jackson Drake.
34:26Of course, successful with two title defenses at both Succession 1 and 2.
34:29We'll see if he's able to get the win here tonight against Aaron Rourke.
34:32And head to NXT, having never lost the Evolve championship.
34:36Now, you mentioned Aaron Rourke and how he embodies everything that is Evolve.
34:43Watch out.
34:44And the cover, shoulders are down only one.
34:45And that is the ID program.
34:47It's so true.
34:47He is his own man.
34:49Aaron Rourke does things his own way.
34:51And he has just won people over since the moment he walked in the door.
34:55And I think Jackson Drake, I don't know if he'd admit it publicly,
34:59I think even Jackson Drake has great respect for the work of Aaron Rourke.
35:03You certainly would think so.
35:04Here we go.
35:05Side rushing leg sweep floats over.
35:09Only gets two right there.
35:10And, of course, Aaron Rourke picked up the pin in that huge 10-man tag team match
35:14between the PC and ID matchup a couple weeks back.
35:17And, really, that started to kickstart the momentum for Aaron Rourke
35:19and helping him put him in the position today
35:21and allowing Foreman Thatcher to really honor him with this title opportunity.
35:25There's no question.
35:26Him scoring the pin in that 10-man,
35:27that is the reason Aaron Rourke has this opportunity.
35:30One opportunity begets another.
35:32And now Aaron Rourke is on the precipice of history.
35:35Could he be the second-ever WWE Evolve champion?
35:39Has Rourke in a fight right here.
35:41Certainly, as you pointed out,
35:42Peter, in the best shape of his young career.
35:44Walks right into a knee of Jackson Drake.
35:46The champ creates a separation,
35:48but look at the dying piece from up top.
35:51He throws up the V.
35:52Jackson Drake doing Jackson Drake things.
35:55Stopped to the back of Aaron Rourke.
35:58Trying to do some damage to that lower lumbar region right here.
36:00Now Jackson Drake has Rourke up.
36:03And a Fisherman's Brain Buster into the cover.
36:06Man.
36:07Gary Marcus says it's only two and a half.
36:09What an exclamation point it would be to the first year of Evolve
36:12that Kendall Gray wins out on her last match,
36:16ends her time here as champion.
36:17If Jackson Drake were to be able to do the same thing,
36:20think about what that says about the championship reigns
36:23of our men's and women's champions.
36:25Indeed, as Aaron Rourke right now in the receiving end of some punishment.
36:29We talked about that mutual respect potentially to Jackson Drake
36:32towards Aaron Rourke, whether we'd like to admit it or not.
36:34Two people that don't have necessarily any respect are Swipe Wright.
36:38Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes.
36:39We saw them walk out on that 10-man tag,
36:41not really showing a whole lot of respect to their fellow ID mate.
36:44No, but they have respect for each other.
36:45I mean, Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor,
36:47they have great respect for one another.
36:49And no matter what, no matter how little respect they show to anyone,
36:53you have to respect the way they operate as a tag team.
36:56And Rourke, look at this counter right here.
36:58Oh.
37:01And Rourke, look at that.
37:03Oh, dials it up with the area code in Sparkle City.
37:06That's right.
37:07I didn't know that Sparkle City had that area code, but absolutely a 619.
37:12Here we go.
37:13Aaron Rourke starting to build a little steam right here, Peter.
37:17Oh, man.
37:17This is the most momentum we've seen from Rourke in this matchup.
37:20He's locked in on the championship.
37:23Oh, man.
37:24And Jackson Drake now goes for the big swipe.
37:26And look at Rourke back up on his feet.
37:27Bam!
37:28Big super kick.
37:29Aaron Rourke into position again.
37:31Trip and release suplex.
37:32Aaron Rourke so dangerous with his hands and his feet
37:35as you saw that back super kick connecting to the chin of the champion.
37:39The momentum sent Drake back up on his feet.
37:41He's in the far side corner.
37:43Aaron Rourke zeroing in on his target here.
37:45Oh!
37:46And meets the back elbow at Jackson Drake.
37:48The champ creates separation.
37:49Rourke back up top one more time.
37:51The second time's the charm.
37:52Oh, and he sent the champ flying and landing on his back.
37:56Great work by Aaron Rourke to take advantage of that situation.
38:00Eat the feet.
38:01Here we go.
38:02Center of the ring.
38:02Hooks the outside leg.
38:03Shoulders are down.
38:05Oh, man.
38:06I cannot imagine the internet breaking if Aaron Rourke were to beat Jackson Drake
38:11for the Evolve Championship tonight.
38:18Dial it up.
38:19Looks at Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor.
38:20Might have wasted too much time.
38:21And Drake!
38:22The German suplex in the corner.
38:25Well, that's the thing.
38:26In a situation like this, a massive matchup,
38:29Aaron Rourke has to remember the moment.
38:32You cannot get caught up in any sort of theatrics
38:34or trying to prove a point.
38:35You just got to score.
38:37Oh!
38:38And there, Rourke fighting off the champion.
38:41Nice counter with the Uranagi.
38:42Rourke.
38:43Oh, man.
38:43That's the innovative offense, Blake.
38:45Drops the elbow.
38:46Close to the ropes.
38:47Could it be?
38:48And Drake able to hang on.
38:50Rourke starting to build some momentum right here, Peter.
38:52Think about the people Jackson Drake has survived.
38:56This man has survived Keanu Carver.
38:58All right?
38:59So think about what that would mean if Aaron Rourke is the man to dethrone Jackson Drake.
39:06We're talking about looking at a new era on Evolve coming up in just two weeks.
39:10Some brand new talent coming, some ID talent, talent from all over Europe.
39:14The stacked divisions will continue to grow, but who's going to sit at the top?
39:17We don't know, or is it going to be Aaron Rourke?
39:20Well, listen.
39:21Here we go on the outside now.
39:23As Drake and Rourke, they're going back and forth right here, Peter.
39:28Precarious position.
39:29I don't know which man is more comfortable out on the apron.
39:32We've seen Jackson Drake operate out here before.
39:35Oh, to the throat of Rourke.
39:37That's the hardest part of the ring, and Drake looking to dial something up right now.
39:41What is he thinking?
39:42He can't be serious.
39:43The flags off the apron.
39:45All the way to the floor.
39:48Drake is down.
39:49Rourke is down.
39:50Peter, the Evolve championship, hanging the balance.
39:53This match continues on Tubi.
39:58I want to break some big news.
40:00NXT will be bringing one of its biggest PLEs to one of the greatest wrestling cities in all the world.
40:07On Saturday, April 4th.
40:08Get ready for a fight.
40:11NXT stands up in St. Louis.
40:14The stakes are high.
40:16The world is watching.
40:17And only the best.
40:19Stand and deliver.
40:21NXT Stand and Deliver.
40:23Saturday, April 4th.
40:30Back in action here on Evolve as Aaron Rourke certainly feeling the effects of what we saw right before the
40:35break.
40:37As Rourke here looking for the challenge.
40:39Let's take another look right now.
40:40Jackson Drake, the suplex from the apron all the way to the floor, rocking his challenge.
40:47Some blood in the mouth of our champion as well.
40:50The Evolve universe really rallying behind the challenger right now.
40:52Jackson Drake, he's locked in.
40:57And Aaron Rourke in a bad spot, man.
40:59You can see he is out of it.
41:01And the Carolina Reaper starting to unload.
41:05And Peter, we thought there might have been some respect before.
41:07We're not seeing it right now.
41:09Rourke might be out.
41:10Everyone who ever talked to you was right.
41:12You don't belong here.
41:14You don't belong here.
41:16You don't belong here.
41:16Look at the fight here.
41:18Oh, man.
41:19Aaron Rourke.
41:20He's worked his entire life for this type of opportunity.
41:23He's going to go down swinging.
41:24Aaron Rourke.
41:25What's he looking to do here?
41:26Oh.
41:26It's a spinning toehold perhaps.
41:28Here we go.
41:28Half crab.
41:29Oh.
41:30I like this.
41:31Look at the torque on the lower back here of Jackson Drake.
41:33Peter, he's right in the center of the ring.
41:34No, this is a very smart move from Aaron Rourke.
41:37Not only is he holding on to that leg, but the kick's to the back of Jackson Drake.
41:41Rourke starting to unleash.
41:43Swipe right none too pleased.
41:44And Rourke now.
41:49And you see Rourke, he believes it.
41:51Looking to fulfill his destiny right here.
41:53Drake with the counter.
41:55Oh.
41:55Version of an Ushiguroshi right there.
41:58Let's see what Drake can do.
41:59Off the ropes.
42:00Oh.
42:01Big punt.
42:02Oh, that could be it.
42:03Center of the ring.
42:04And Rourke kicks out at one.
42:05All right.
42:06Look at Aaron Rourke kicking out at one.
42:08And look at the disbelief on the face of the champion.
42:10Jackson Drake has unlocked the inner dragon of Aaron Rourke.
42:15Set up powerbomb.
42:16Oh, two and a half.
42:21And Rourke knows he missed that opportunity.
42:24And the champ lives to see another day.
42:30Drake scratching and clawing Rourke.
42:32Feeling that frustration here.
42:34Ricky smokes.
42:35He might be feeling that title slipping out of Vanity Project's grasp.
42:39And now Drake taking a moment with Baylor and Smokes.
42:43A little Vanity Project conference there.
42:45But Aaron Rourke trying to keep his foot on the gas right now.
42:48Oh, man.
42:49This is one of those moments.
42:51Your entire life could go differently, Blake.
42:54Oh.
42:54Referee Jerry Marcus got inadvertently struck right there.
42:57In the midst of this final evolution of Jackson Drake.
43:00Wait a minute.
43:01Baylor and Smokes are in.
43:02Oh, this isn't right.
43:03Super swipe.
43:06Drops Rourke center of the ring.
43:07It can't end like this.
43:09Oh, that is it.
43:10Drake with the cover.
43:11No.
43:11Aaron Rourke came this far.
43:12One, two.
43:14Oh.
43:15And Rourke is still alive.
43:17And you can hear and feel the electricity in the Evolve Arena here at the Performance Center
43:24in Orlando.
43:26Jackson Drake and the Vanity Project may have ripped all the pages out of the playbook, Peter.
43:31They've got nothing left.
43:32Aaron Rourke eats the super swipe and somehow kicks out.
43:37And Rourke sends Drake on the way to the floor taking out swipe right.
43:42But you know, Aaron Rourke, that's not going to be enough.
43:45He's going to want to add.
43:47Aaron Rourke is going to want to fly.
43:49He's going to lay it all on the line.
43:52And down goes Smokes and Baylor, but the champion's back in the ring.
43:55You see that?
43:56The champ smartly gets out of it and manages to avoid the damage.
44:00And now, oh.
44:02A big kick.
44:03I don't know if it was quite unaliving, but he might be setting him up right now as Jackson
44:07Drake in fireman's carry position looks to execute.
44:11Oh.
44:12Burning hammer.
44:13Center of the ring.
44:14Oh, here comes the unaliving.
44:15That's step one.
44:16Building some steam.
44:17Oh.
44:17And right to the back of the neck.
44:20Aaron Rourke.
44:21A valiant effort.
44:23And Jackson Drake will not retain quite yet.
44:27Wait, wait.
44:28I have called nearly every Jackson Drake match in EVOL.
44:32I don't know if I've seen anyone kick out of an unaliving like that and connect into the
44:37back of the head.
44:37But that's what Aaron Rourke just did.
44:40You see Drake, that frustration setting in.
44:42But he's got to continue, Peter.
44:44This title hanging the balance.
44:45You see the VIP section.
44:46They're in disbelief.
44:47Here comes Drake charging at nobody home.
44:51And Rourke.
44:52Oh.
44:53Feels the enziguri right to the back of the head.
44:56Drake now.
44:58Look at the look of insanity.
45:01And he's nearly folded in half by Aaron Rourke.
45:04Oh.
45:05Aaron Rourke is hitting a different gear.
45:08I've never seen this from Rourke before.
45:10He's up top, Peter.
45:11And he's going.
45:13One, two, three, four.
45:16And Aaron Rourke fulfills his destiny.
45:19Here is your winner and the new EVOL champion, Aaron Rourke.
45:34You see the looks of disbelief.
45:37Aaron Rourke is your second ever WWE EVOLV champion.
45:45The genuine emotion pouring out right here in the EVOLV arena.
45:49Aaron Rourke, the biggest moment of his career.
45:56Absolutely incredible moment to witness.
46:00The final evolution of Jackson Drake came and it delivered just as he has the last 300 days.
46:08The precision of Heartbreak Drake was on full display early on.
46:12The vanity project thought they'd be celebrating, but the dime piece had other intentions.
46:18Drake couldn't get the best of it right there.
46:20And once again, goes forward.
46:21But Aaron Rourke putting a stop to the champion's offense.
46:25And then Aaron from the top on cloud nine.
46:29And that is enough for the win.
46:31And now, Peter, he's sitting on cloud nine atop the EVOLV division.
46:36True, genuine emotion.
46:38It's all raw.
46:39It's all coming out right here.
46:41You see the superstars from the back.
46:43The entire EVOLV locker, men's and women's, emptying out to show support for Aaron Rourke right here.
46:49ID Prospects, PC talent.
46:51An incredible moment here for Aaron Rourke.
46:55Oh, a little too excited right there.
46:58The celebration continues through all the ups and downs, trials and tribulations.
47:03The ID Prospect has built momentum, shined through, made history,
47:07and officially taken a vault to Sparkle City.
47:11You
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