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00:07Then, now, forever, together.
00:54Off the heels of succession, tonight is a whole new era of
00:59John Evolve.
01:00Oh, is that my guy?
01:02Stone is back.
01:04Ladies and gentlemen, this right here around the ring is the future of the WWE.
01:13And look, we all know Evolve has been built on ambition, has been built on want, but it
01:20needs authority.
01:22So myself and Shawn Michaels, we put our minds together, and we have come up with the perfect
01:28person to run this place.
01:31So your new Evolve general manager.
01:40Peter, what a shocker.
01:43This is an incredible choice.
01:45The player coach of WWE ID, Timothy Thatcher.
01:50Someone who laid the foundation for Evolve, and now he's running the show.
01:54You know what?
01:55I got to give credit where credit is due.
01:57To Stone, to Shawn Michaels, this is a great call.
02:00Love Timothy Thatcher.
02:01What a way to kick off the new season here on Wednesday nights.
02:05Thatcher dressed up a little bit.
02:07A little bit.
02:08Oh, those are almost slacks.
02:10Look, Tim, no doubt about it, you've been a fantastic WWE ID player, coach, but I think
02:17it's time we expand your role.
02:19All right?
02:19So you're going to be going all around the world to scout independent talent, to help
02:26enhance Evolve, enhance the ID program, and that's why you're going to be the perfect
02:30general manager.
02:37First off, thank you, sir.
02:41I really appreciate the trust that you and Mr. Michaels have in me, and I appreciate everyone
02:48that's around this ring right now, but I'm no general manager.
03:05Evolve is where the work starts.
03:08Hard work is rewarded here.
03:10So it's more like a work site.
03:14So I'm not the GM.
03:17I'm the foreman of Evolve.
03:28Hey, okay.
03:30So, Tim, then as the foreman of Evolve, you're going to have to make some difficult decisions.
03:38So your first two tasks, your Evolve champions, Kendall Gray, Jackson Drake, they're now NXT
03:44full-time superstars.
03:46Yeah, I understand, sir.
03:48I understand, sir.
03:50Evolve is about building.
03:52Building new talent.
03:54Building new opportunities.
03:55One door closes.
03:57Another one opens.
03:58Right?
04:00So champions shouldn't just disappear.
04:04They've got to earn their way out.
04:07So I've asked Kendall and Jackson for one more title defense.
04:12That's going to be their final evolution.
04:18If they win, they get to leave as champion.
04:22The title gets vacated.
04:23If they lose, we got a brand new standard bearer here in Evolve.
04:33Kendall Gray's final evolution will be tonight, and it'll be against the Olympic gold medalist
04:39Tyra May Steele.
04:41Hello!
04:42Talk about a blockbuster.
04:45Talk about a main event.
04:50Next week, Jackson Drake's final evolution will be...
04:57Think about it.
04:59Now you're cooking.
05:00Come on.
05:01Think about it.
05:04Well, we know who wants it, Peter.
05:05Well, any time a title is mentioned.
05:08Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
05:17All of Lewis here's title, he shows up.
05:19If that clown, Jackson Drake, is having one last match here at Evolve, I want it.
05:25Hey!
05:26Hey!
05:27Hey!
05:28None of this!
05:29None of this!
05:30This isn't going off the rails!
05:32Not on my watch!
05:34Hey!
05:35I already know, every time the men's title gets mentioned, here you come storming out
05:40here.
05:40Take him out of here!
05:41I already planned for that.
05:43I got a match for you already.
05:46So, I think we all should clear out of here, because it's time for Harlem to get to work!
05:54All right.
05:55Well, Peter, the foreman already making moves here in Evolve.
05:59Yeah, but who is going to be the final evolution for Jackson Drake?
06:06So crazy.
06:08One last match.
06:09One last title defense.
06:11One last time representing Evolve as champion.
06:15Evolve gave me a place to find myself.
06:17To find confidence inside and outside of the ring.
06:20And I'll never forget the ones that have been supporting me since day one, or chanting my
06:24name since the first time I came out.
06:27This will forever be my first home.
06:30But tonight, tonight's business.
06:34Tyra Mae Steele is dangerous.
06:35She's an Olympic gold medalist, and when it comes to being a technical wrestler, she's
06:39the only one that has me beat.
06:40But that's fine, because I don't back down from any challenges.
06:43I thrive under pressure.
06:45I thrive when things get hard.
06:47It took me months and months to get to the top of the mountain, and I'll be damned if I
06:50don't stay on top.
06:52Chantel Monroe, Callie Armstrong, Wendy Choo, Carmen Petrovich.
06:57You name them, and I've taken them down.
06:59And Tyra Mae Steele is next on my list.
07:01So when I get my hand raised one last time on Evolve, I'm going to walk into NXT full-time
07:07with momentum on my back.
07:10It's time to strap up.
07:15On Saturday, May 9th, after the biggest weekend in WWE, what happens at WrestleMania doesn't
07:23stay there.
07:24Sweet, sweet revenge.
07:27It follows you.
07:28And in Tampa, it hits back.
07:33All scores are settled.
07:35It's personal.
07:37It's backlash.
07:41It's back.
07:50Peter, we're back here on Evolve, and what an opening contest we have.
07:54Oh, I'm very, very excited to see this matchup with Harlem Lewis.
08:00Ho, ho, ho.
08:04You talk about a couple of big guys getting together.
08:11And his opponent, from Akron, Ohio, weighing in at 285 pounds, Sam Holloway.
08:22Certainly the big boy of the ID program.
08:24And Peter, ever since he came to Evolve, Sam Holloway has certainly made an impact, whether
08:29it's a singles competition.
08:30We saw him as a part of Team ID.
08:33But now he's got a big test in front of him from the man who thinks he is the number
08:36one
08:37contender to the Evolve champion.
08:38Well, that's absolutely right, Blake.
08:39Harlem Lewis believes he is the future of Evolve.
08:43And if that is true, you have to make your way by beating competition like hard way, Sam Holloway.
08:51I got to tell you, every time we're here to call a Holloway match, I'm nervous.
08:55He's going to crack through the table and kill me.
08:58This guy is an incredible athlete, and he's absolutely massive.
09:01We've seen some of those dives over the top.
09:03Certainly brings it at 285 pounds.
09:06Bell sounds right away.
09:07And Harlem Lewis, Peter, he's laser focused on a championship opportunity.
09:11Absolutely.
09:11And he's trying to go right to work at Sam Holloway, which is probably the way you want to
09:14approach someone with this kind of strength.
09:16But it could turn out the wrong way.
09:18As Holloway certainly wants to make his presence felt, he's looking at a title shot of his own
09:21as it's wide open next week.
09:24Who's taking on Jackson Drake in his final evolution?
09:27If you've been with us since the beginning, you've gotten to see some of the best talent
09:30and all of WWE emerge.
09:32And now, with the vacancy that will be created with Jackson Drake and the Vanity Project leaves
09:38us, there is an opportunity for other people to step into those roles.
09:43And we'll certainly see if Tyra Mae Steele can take advantage of her opportunity tonight
09:45against Kendall Gray as Harlem Lewis looking to seize the moment right here.
09:50And Peter, ever since Harlem Lewis returned to Evolve just a couple of months ago, it seems
09:54like Harlem only has one goal, and that's championship game.
09:57Oh my goodness.
10:02That is not the way you want to start things off against Sam Holloway, but you've got to
10:06give Harlem Lewis credit.
10:07He is writhing on the outside right now.
10:10That hurts to just watch.
10:12But you've got to give credit where credit is due.
10:14He is always bringing it 100% when he's around.
10:18He only has one speed.
10:20Sam Holloway been in the ID program for about a year and a half now, and Peter, since the
10:23time we've seen him, how is Holloway impressed as an ID prospect?
10:27Oh, I think Sam Holloway absolutely jumps off the page.
10:31The first thing you see is the size, right?
10:33Oh, look at that.
10:34But then it's that, Blake Howard.
10:35It's stuff like that.
10:36That springboard elbow drop.
10:38That athleticism into the cover.
10:39Only gets two right there.
10:41Of course, we saw him in that recent Haas fight with Drake Moreau here on Evolve.
10:45And Sam Holloway really started to impress, proving he might be the big man in the ID program.
10:49Absolutely.
10:50He could absolutely be the most impressive big man, at least now, that Keanu Carver is
10:56in the ranks of NXT.
10:57And of course, right now, Sam Holloway looking to get the brand new foreman of Evolve.
11:01Timothy Thatcher looking to get his attention right now.
11:03Has Harlem Lewis looking to do the same here.
11:05Harlem Lewis gets flattened with the big boot.
11:07Is Holloway starting to cook here, Peter?
11:09And you see the ups from Holloway.
11:11That leapfrog, you don't usually see it from someone of his size.
11:13By the way, Blake, what do you think of the term foreman instead of GM?
11:16You like it?
11:17It's certainly an interesting twist, but if anyone's a little bit out of the box, it's
11:20Timothy Thatcher.
11:21Absolutely.
11:21He is the perfect person to guide the young talent of Evolve.
11:25Always love seeing that guy.
11:27As you see Sam Holloway going to work, using those long legs to punish Harlem Lewis.
11:33That big extension there by Sam Holloway.
11:37As right now, Harlem Lewis pounding away.
11:40Of course, Harlem Lewis cut off a big win at Succession over Brooks.
11:43Jensen trying to build that momentum.
11:44And a shotgun dropkick out of the corner by Holloway.
11:47Peter, can he capitalize?
11:48Well, Harlem Lewis, I'll tell you what.
11:50Here we go.
11:50Into the cover.
11:51Stacks him up.
11:52Only gets two.
11:53Imagine if Harlem Lewis could stack wins against Brooks Jensen and also Sam Holloway.
12:00It would certainly be very tough for Foreman Thatcher not to make Harlem Lewis the final
12:04evolution of Jackson Drake next week.
12:06That's exactly what everyone is competing for.
12:08Jackson Drake's final match in Evolve.
12:12Say what you want about the Vanity Project.
12:14Drake has been a great and fighting champion.
12:17Who gets to be that final evolution?
12:19What an opportunity.
12:20And of course, we talk about off Succession.
12:22Of course, this past weekend, Vengeance Day for NXT.
12:24A lot bubbling right now on the road to WrestleMania.
12:28Absolutely right.
12:29You know all these guys are seeing what's happening for the Vanity Project in NXT.
12:34What's happening for Kendall Gray in NXT, for Keanu Carver.
12:38Indeed.
12:38A great motivation for all of our young talent here in Evolve.
12:41You can see they take that step to the next level as Sam Holloway looking to take his game
12:44to the next level.
12:45Harlem Lewis fighting him off right here.
12:47Creates a bit of separation and drives that elbow right in the back of the neck.
12:51But Peter can Harlem capitalize.
12:52Well, you know, I've been talking a lot, Blake, about the athleticism of Sam Holloway.
12:55I do not want to shortchange Harlem Lewis.
12:57A great athlete who is jacked up in his own right.
13:00I don't know if you can suplex Sam Holloway there.
13:01A former linebacker in the Italian Football League.
13:04And a gourd buster there by Holloway.
13:07As Holloway looking to zero in right now.
13:10Man, I really enjoy the work of Sam Holloway.
13:12Of course, Harlem Lewis came out to start off the show.
13:15Trying to make his presence felt.
13:16Timothy Thatcher put him right in this position.
13:18There's the Uranaghi.
13:20Center of the ring.
13:20Hooks the outside leg.
13:21And Harlem somehow able to hang on.
13:26And for Sam Holloway, we talk about what a win like this would mean for Harlem Lewis.
13:31But for Holloway as well, he's been impressive.
13:33He's gotten a lot of attention.
13:34But he needs signature wins.
13:36And that's what this would be right now against Harlem Lewis.
13:39To start our night off on Tubi.
13:41As Holloway and Lewis back and forth here.
13:43Another big night.
13:44Another big Wednesday on Tubi indeed.
13:46As these two jockeying for position right now.
13:48And Harlem Lewis looking to take full advantage.
13:52Look at the power here, Peter.
13:53Yeah, there's the strength of Harlem Lewis.
13:54But Sam Holloway, savvy.
13:57Double underhook suplex right into the corner.
14:02This is a hell of a way to start things off, Blake.
14:04Here we go.
14:05Hooks that inside leg.
14:07And look at the resourcefulness there of Harlem Lewis putting his foot on the rope.
14:10Peter, that just saved him.
14:12Absolutely.
14:12No, Harlem Lewis knows what he's doing, man.
14:14Listen, I know some people get frustrated because Harlem Lewis is so aggressive.
14:18Whenever the title's mentioned, he shows up.
14:21He's demanding.
14:21But I'll tell you what.
14:23Opportunities sometimes are taken, not given.
14:26And Harlem Lewis understands that.
14:27And Holloway looking to seize the moment right here.
14:30Center of the ring with the big guzzle.
14:32Oh, and Lewis.
14:33Oh, my goodness.
14:34What a counter there, Peter.
14:35Wow.
14:36How is Holloway still standing?
14:38He's not.
14:39And a vicious Larry to the back of the neck.
14:41Harlem Lewis looking to take things to the next level.
14:43We know about his power and strength as Harlem.
14:48He's zeroed in on that Evolve championship.
14:51He wants that opportunity next week against Jackson Drake.
14:55There it is.
14:56Up and down with the boob slag.
14:58And Harlem Lewis picks up the win.
15:01Here is her winner, Harlem Lewis.
15:06Harlem Lewis.
15:07Wow.
15:08I didn't know if Harlem Lewis could get the boob slag done against a man the size of Sam Holloway.
15:15And you see Blake Howard, Harlem Lewis, saying, I want that championship opportunity.
15:21All right.
15:21Let's take a look back here.
15:23It was fast, hard-hitting action throughout Sam Holloway.
15:27Jumping out early on, showing domination.
15:30That massive presence being felt.
15:31But as things go on, time passes, Harlem Lewis cannot be stopped.
15:36And there it is, the boob slag and the dub for Harlem Lewis.
15:40You have to be wondering, Peter, are we looking at the next Evolve champion?
15:45And now let's take a look at the latest evolution of this superstar.
15:57Evolve.
15:58Do you feel that?
15:59Do you feel that base in your chest?
16:00Yes, that spark that's in the air will get ready because Luka Crucifino is arriving.
16:07And when that beat drops, I'm tripping through the lights.
16:12I'm rolling with the rhythm and I'm cruising right to the peak here at WWE Evolve.
16:19And just because I'm vibing, just because I'm smiling, just because I move the way that I do
16:26does not mean that I'm not dangerous.
16:31I've been through the silence.
16:33I found my inner self.
16:36And I figured it out that when Luka Crucifino is vibing on the frequency of love, fluidity
16:44and fun is when he is most effective.
16:48On this mode, nothing can fracture my inner peace or kill my vibe.
16:53My opponents start seeing colors that they didn't even know existed.
16:58I live for the drop and I thrive off the energy of the big moments.
17:02I relish in the euphoria of the crowd.
17:05And when Cruz begins to rise, all my opponents' heads begin to spin.
17:11And I'm ready to make evolve, revolve around Luka Crucifino.
17:23This April, live from Las Vegas, the best in the world, CM Punk.
17:30I'm the champ and I call the shots.
17:33Versus the original Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.
17:36Two of the biggest stars for the World Heavyweight Championship.
17:40Brickness demands an answer, you will acknowledge me, Wrestle Mania.
17:57Yes, finally, I have been waiting for this moment.
18:01And now, I finally get my first ever championship match here in WWE.
18:08Kendall, you walked into this locker room as an undefeated amateur wrestling champion.
18:16Heck, you've defeated every single person that stepped up to you here in Evolve.
18:22But you've never gone against an Olympic gold medalist.
18:27And we both know that the mat and ring are two separate things.
18:32But when that bell rings, it doesn't matter.
18:35What matters is whoever gets that one, two, three.
18:42Now, I know that you're moving on, Kendall.
18:45And this is going to be your final evolution.
18:48Win or lose.
18:50But me?
18:52I?
18:53I can't afford to lose.
18:57And I won't be satisfied until my name is etched in the history books as the Women's Evolve champion.
19:17The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
19:22Introducing first, from Sardin, Ohio, weight 232 pounds, Harley Riggins.
19:32Well, Peter, as we just heard, we're certainly in for a major collision course for the Evolve Women's Championship in
19:37our main event.
19:38But we're looking at two guys right now who haven't made too many other friends around the Performance Center in
19:43recent weeks.
19:44They made clear when they brutally attacked Tate Wilder last week in the BC parking lot.
19:48And now, with Tate Wilder clearly hunting Cam and Harley, we just got word from our new Evolve foreman that
19:54Tate has been escorted out of the building because he's not medically cleared to appear.
19:59And that's why Cam and Harley believe they're the two biggest badasses in Evolve.
20:04And they're out to prove it right now.
20:05And we know Presley's sideline knew to weightlifting injury.
20:08Now, Harley Riggins in here is a singles competitor, but he's got his boy with him in Cam Hendricks.
20:12And we'll see if he can be up for this competition.
20:15Oh, man.
20:19And his opponent, from Yonkers, New York, weighing in at 211 pounds, Trill London!
20:28The electric enigma back here on Evolve.
20:31And Peter, he certainly pushed Dante Chen to the limit the last time out.
20:34As Trill London looks to continue to improve and up his stock on Wednesday nights.
20:39You just used the word, the electric enigma.
20:42Electric is the word.
20:43He, to me, is one of the most exciting, jump-off-the-page superstars we have in all of WWE
20:48in terms of young, young talent developing.
20:51He truly impresses me.
20:53However, he has not caught a ton of breaks in terms of the competition he's had to face.
20:58And that continues with Harley Riggins tonight.
21:00It's certainly been an uphill battle for Trill London.
21:02But just like we saw when he was an NFL cornerback, taking on the top wide receivers around the world,
21:07he's taking on the top competition inside the ring here.
21:10Harley Riggins, whether you like his attitude or not, has certainly proven to be a difference maker since coming to
21:14Evolve.
21:15Is Harley Riggins the number one bully in all of Evolve?
21:19That's a fantastic question.
21:20I think the combination of his attitude, size, and ability makes him, yeah, the number one bully.
21:26As you see, a little response to that number one bully with some arm drags coming from Trill London.
21:30And you can really see the improvements in the ring inside Trill London.
21:33Of course, we go back to that Dante Chen match a few weeks ago.
21:35But even his early training, Trill certainly made a lot of strides from the beginning of Evolve to right now
21:39quite the evolution, if you will.
21:41Very well said.
21:42Again, I really think that given the right opportunities and the ability to just continue to work, Trill London is
21:50someone that you could see one day rocking the WWE Universe, similar to what we're seeing from Javon Evitz right
21:55now.
21:57Absolutely.
21:57We will always say how Evolve meets this talent at the ground level is, oh, Harley with a fistful of
22:02Trill's hair right there.
22:04I hate to see it, but I can't say I'm surprised.
22:06Peter, you have to wonder.
22:07The new man in charge saw that one.
22:08As we found out at the top of the show, we have a new foreman here.
22:11Not a general manager, a foreman here on Evolve.
22:13His name is the ID player coach, Timothy Thatcher.
22:17You're not going to have to bring your lunch pail to work here on Evolve on Wednesday nights.
22:20As you see that electric enigma right here, Trill London.
22:24Big connection with the dropkick, sending Harley Riggins down to the outside.
22:27But with that, with Timothy Thatcher being here, that means tonight everybody has an opportunity.
22:31Watch out.
22:33And Harley meets Cam right there and Trill takes a look on the outside.
22:37Peter.
22:38See, here we go.
22:39Trill.
22:39Where are we going, Trill?
22:40Into position.
22:41He likes to risk it all.
22:42Trill's going to fly.
22:43Whoa.
22:44Whisper in the wind to the outside.
22:46Trill London looking to pick up some momentum right here.
22:49And of course, if you take a look back just a couple of weeks ago here, Trill not on Team
22:54PC.
22:54Certainly might have a different mindset, different values as Harley Riggins.
22:57I think that's absolutely safe to assume.
23:00And Harley released German suplex.
23:03Looking to capitalize here.
23:04Riggins not even going for the cover, Peter.
23:06Just continuing to punish.
23:07Although, listen, I can't blame him for that.
23:08That is a smart thing.
23:09You want to try to get your opponent down, then attack, and get them in the most prone
23:12position to secure a W.
23:15And now Riggins off the rope.
23:17Bam!
23:17Big connection right there.
23:19Let's see if this could end, Trill London.
23:22I think the only thing these guys can relate on is the desire and need to impress the foreman
23:29Timothy Thatcher tonight.
23:30They both know what a win would mean.
23:32Peter, we talk about opportunity tonight, next week, really for the immediate future
23:35here on Evolve.
23:35How big of a chance is this for Harley Riggins to break out as a single star?
23:38Well, it just seems to me, you know, when you're in a tag team like Riggins and Presley,
23:43obviously there are benefits to that.
23:45But the downside is sometimes you can get lost as a talent.
23:47So when your partner goes down, it's unfortunate, but it does provide an opportunity to be seen
23:53in a different light.
23:53And I absolutely believe Harley Riggins understands that.
23:56And we talk about difference makers.
23:57You see Cam Hendricks on the outside.
23:59Cam Hendricks coming to Evolve.
24:00Putting his stamp right in the mix in day one.
24:03He gets an Evolve championship opportunity.
24:05He's already rising right up the ranks.
24:06And of course, they're getting under the skin of other superstars here, like Tate Wilder.
24:11Tate Wilder still not cleared as a result of those actions.
24:13I think charges should be pressed against Cam Hendricks.
24:15I think that goes beyond anything that happens in the performance center.
24:18That was an attack.
24:19That was a crime to me.
24:22Trill London's starting to pick up the pace a bit here, Peter.
24:24Here we go.
24:24In the cover center of the ring.
24:26Man, imagine a win over Harley Riggins for Trill London.
24:29You talk about throwing yourself right in the mix of the division.
24:33That is what a win would mean tonight for Trill London.
24:36We know Timothy Thatcher certainly has a huge decision to make for next week.
24:40Who will Jackson Drake take on in his final evolution?
24:42But Cam Hendricks is up.
24:44And look at Harley Riggins take full advantage.
24:46Absolutely.
24:46That's a smart move, though.
24:47And Trill London cannot get caught off guard like that.
24:50And here we go.
24:52Into the TKO.
24:54And Harley Riggins finds his way to victory.
24:58Here is your winner, Harley Riggins.
25:04That's a very, very tough way to lose.
25:07If you're Trill London, competitive throughout the match.
25:11The distraction from Cam Hendricks.
25:13And now you're Trill London, it's another opportunity that sort of slips through your grasp.
25:17Harley Riggins always done with the numbers game.
25:20Cam Hendricks picking up the pieces right now.
25:23As these two continue their reign here over Evolve.
25:26And listen, Trill London, he was good at multiple times throughout the match.
25:30But again, the attitude, the pressure, the ring awareness.
25:34Harley Riggins getting a win.
25:36Now let's head ringside to our guy, Chewy Martinez.
25:38Standing by with the winner.
25:42Harley, that was pretty impressive, brother.
25:44Your first singles win here at Evolve.
25:45Congratulations.
25:46But Cam's here.
25:47Is this the new tag team?
25:49What's up?
25:49Hey, man.
25:50I know you're a fan.
25:50I know you're a fan, but around here, we do whatever we want, Chewy.
25:55I like what you did to Tate Wilder in the parking lot.
25:57Yeah, why is he crying?
25:58He's coming back.
25:59You know that, right?
26:00No one's concerned.
26:00Kick his ass again.
26:01Hey, we're in the ass-kicking business.
26:03And businesses, booming.
26:06Peter, the gatekeeper's here.
26:08Hey, who's picked last at recess?
26:11Who's picked last at recess?
26:13Hey, Dante, Dante, Dante.
26:14What are you, Matt?
26:14We didn't pick you for TPC?
26:16He does.
26:19I never would have joined you guys.
26:21I welcome the ID talent.
26:23You guys don't represent the PC.
26:25Yeah, right.
26:25You are a disgrace.
26:28What?
26:29What'd you say?
26:29I can't stand by and see what you did to Tate and stay silent.
26:34Dante, you coming out here pretty bold, stepping up to us.
26:37But you want to test that toughness, why don't you fight me next week?
26:40See what happens when you step in the ring with Showtime.
26:43Hey, let me aim right now.
26:44Let me aim right now.
26:44You're on.
26:46Hey!
26:48I think Timothy Thatcher will sign off on that, y'all.
26:51Dante Chen versus Cam Hendricks next week.
26:54But you know what?
26:54We have some history being made when we come back.
26:56Kendall Gray will defend her title one last time, y'all.
27:00Woo!
27:05Everyone's got to tell.
27:12WrestleMania Vegas.
27:14It's anyone's game.
27:21Oh, I'll see you again.
27:36Oh, I'll see you again.
27:42Hi, Aaron.
27:43Hello, Mr. Thatcher, or should I call you Mr. Foreman now?
27:48Very spiffy.
27:50Mr. Foreman, please.
27:51All right, Mr. Foreman.
27:53It's okay.
27:53It's okay?
27:54Yeah.
27:54All right, Timothy.
27:55Let me not waste time.
27:57Let me just get it all out, okay?
27:58Yes, sir.
28:00I truly believe in this life opportunities are earned,
28:03not because we think we deserve them.
28:06And next week, Jackson Drake, he gets to have his final evolution.
28:12See what I did there?
28:13His curtain call, his final time in the spotlight of Evolve,
28:17and he gets to have his last chance to walk out there as champion.
28:21And Jackson has earned that.
28:25But you know what he doesn't deserve?
28:27To leave here as champion.
28:30He doesn't deserve to walk out there one last time,
28:33hold up the belt, and then vacate it like he's built this place.
28:37I mean, the Vanity Project has been doing the same song and dance
28:42since day one of WWE ID.
28:45Cheap shots, shortcuts, inflated egos, and my personal worst?
28:51Horrendous outfit choices.
28:53Horrendous.
28:54I mean, they even have the nerve to say that they've built this
28:58and run this place.
29:01My final straw was that ten-man tag.
29:04They just poof, gone, up and left.
29:07Left us for a three-on-five against a pack of wolves.
29:10But you rose to the occasion.
29:12I mean, I'll never not take a compliment.
29:16But we survived that match.
29:18But that's what Evolve does.
29:19We survive, we grow, and we earn.
29:24And truthfully, I feel like I represent Evolve.
29:31Opportunity, development, improvement.
29:33You've seen it firsthand.
29:35For the last year, I've been giving my all to show
29:38that I'm the diamond in the rough here in the ID program.
29:41And I'm damn proud to represent WWE ID.
29:45I mean, you've improved your game in every aspect.
29:50It's time I step up to be the leader.
29:53It's time the Dime Piece stands in the spotlight.
29:58I'm just...
30:00I'm just looking for an opportunity.
30:03I'm the man that stops Jackson from rewriting history.
30:09I'm the man to make sure his evolution ends,
30:13but mine begins.
30:15I'm the man to make sure that championship stays here,
30:20right where it belongs.
30:24Respectfully, I'm asking you to give me this match.
30:29Please.
30:32I mean, Harlem Lewis did make a compelling argument.
30:36That's true.
30:38But I think he'll get his time.
30:40It's your time next week.
30:43Really?
30:43Yeah.
30:45Thank you, Timothy.
30:46Thank you, Mr. Foreman.
30:50Of course, sir.
30:51Good luck.
31:00Well, Peter, major breaking news there.
31:02The opportunity of a lifetime for Aaron Roark next Wednesday.
31:06Now, listen.
31:07There is no one more deserving in the locker room than Aaron Roark from day one.
31:13He's done it as a tag competitor.
31:14He's done it as a singles competitor.
31:16I am so excited for Aaron Roark.
31:19He's certainly been building some momentum in recent weeks.
31:22Maybe not the favorite coming in to get the opportunity against Jackson Drake,
31:25but he certainly has secured that for next week.
31:28But you want to talk about some momentum, Peter.
31:30How about the challenger in our first ever final evolution right here for Kendall Gray?
31:34Tyra Mae Steele from the Olympic gold medal right here to evolve.
31:38And she's ready, Peter, to add some more gold.
31:42We've talked about this.
31:43Tyra Mae Steele has been on a roll week after week after week.
31:48The momentum has been building for Tyra Mae Steele.
31:51And now she gets the shot of a lifetime.
31:56It'll be very interesting to see how this one plays out.
31:59She's had her target on Kendall Gray ever since coming to Tubi.
32:05The challenger is in.
32:08Peter, here comes the champion.
32:09And you know, the proverbial locker room sellout right here.
32:12Glued to the monitors.
32:13The VIP section is full.
32:15The final match in Evolve for Kendall Gray.
32:18Yeah, I'd be lying to you, Blake, if I said I didn't feel a little bit emotional
32:21knowing this will be the last time we see Kendall Gray walk through that curtain
32:26as our Evolve champion.
32:27She has been one of the true stories since the very beginning of WWE Evolve.
32:32She had the first match in Evolve history.
32:34She was in a match to the crown, the first ever women's champion.
32:37Five television title defenses.
32:40Won the title at succession.
32:41She's been the MVP for the last year.
32:43But can she finish out with the gold?
32:46If you've been with us since the beginning, you've been watching Evolve,
32:49you know the star that Kendall Gray is.
32:52And it's been very satisfying to see Evolve's very own boss lady become that same star on the NXT stage.
32:59Very proud of Kendall Gray.
33:00So we're set to go.
33:01Let's head to our ring announcer, Mike Roan, to set the table for the final Evolution.
33:08The following contest scheduled for one fall is for the Evolve Women's Championship.
33:21Introducing the challenger from Houston, Texas, Olympic gold medalist Tyra Mae Steele.
33:37And her opponent from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is the Evolve Women's Champion, Kendall Gray.
33:53Tyra Mae Steele, the Olympic gold medalist back in the 2020 Olympics, winning the gold in the freestyle.
34:00And then, of course, Kendall Gray undefeated as an amateur in wrestling in the collegiate ranks.
34:05And now, Peter, we're looking at a situation.
34:07Who has the amateur advantage, the champion or the Olympic champion?
34:12Listen, the fact is, on paper, the challenger actually has the advantage in this matchup.
34:19I mean, to say someone is an Olympic gold medalist.
34:22I can't even properly emphasize what that says about the skills of Tyra Mae Steele.
34:28And you see it early on.
34:29But, of course, in this environment, Peter, there's no points.
34:31The takedowns don't necessarily mean the same.
34:33They could certainly give an advantage.
34:35You see Wendy Chu and Laney Luck looking on.
34:37Again, a lot at stake right here.
34:39Kendall Gray has been the cornerstone of the women's division.
34:41Tyra Mae Steele is rising up.
34:42Something has to give tonight on Tubi.
34:44Well, either way, in one scenario, Kendall Gray leaves with the title as Evolve Women's Champion.
34:52That's incredible to picture.
34:53On the flip side, can you imagine what it would mean if Tyra Mae Steele becomes the third ever WWE
34:59Evolve Women's Champion?
35:01Either result is incredibly exciting to picture.
35:03You see a series of reversals right here.
35:05As this is certainly world-class mat wrestling right here on display in our main event.
35:09And that's certainly one of the reasons Foreman Thatcher made this matchup.
35:14Put Tyra Mae Steele in this position.
35:15Nice go-behind by Tyra Mae to the roll-up.
35:18And look at this incredible mat wrestling early on.
35:21Just so representative of a wonderful and deep women's division on Evolve that we've been able to watch for the
35:28last year.
35:29Fireman's Carry takedown by Tyra Mae Steele.
35:31And Peter, if you've been watching Evolve ever since the beginning, that's been the bread and butter of Kendall Gray.
35:35That has to be getting into her head right here.
35:37Yeah, 100%.
35:38But Kendall Gray, the other bread and butter, she absolutely knows as a match goes on and gets more intense,
35:44she gets better and better.
35:47Tyra Mae puts on the brakes right here as Kendall Gray tries to go for the hip-lock takeover.
35:51Gray trying to find any advantage she can.
35:54That is the Kendall Gray we've come to know and love over the last year.
35:58And we've speculated for quite some time with Kendall Gray's schedule, whether it's Tuesday nights, Wednesday nights, weekends all around
36:04the country.
36:04Has she been stretched too thin, Peter? Is her schedule going to hold her back in this matchup?
36:09Well, you know, you bring that up. Robert Stone used to bring that up, but the proof is in the
36:12pudding.
36:12Here we go into the cover. Hooks the outside leg.
36:14The proof is in the pudding, Blake. Has she been stretched too thin? Has it affected her? No!
36:18She continues to maintain, she continues to wear that championship proudly and compete here, compete on Tuesday nights and on
36:25the weekends and all over the world as well.
36:27Tyra Mae trying to reverse her right there. Kendall Gray holding her ground.
36:29Look at the mat and wrestling exchanges right here. Counter for counter.
36:33And of course Tyra Mae, she feels this is her moment, Peter. Her first ever WWE Championship opportunity.
36:38Well, listen, these opportunities grow on trees. The Beal out of the corner.
36:43Ask our former champion, Callie Armstrong, who's been desperate to get a rematch, a singles rematch against Kendall Gray.
36:50You're never guaranteed another shot. So Tyra Mae Steele needs to take advantage.
36:55We talk about those five TV title defenses for Kendall Gray, one of them coming in Madison Square Garden.
37:00If you go back earlier in the year in 2025, Tyra Mae Steele winning LFG season one in Madison Square
37:06Garden.
37:07Both of these superstars have competed at that high level and they want to take it up a notch here.
37:12I just, if you're sitting here watching this, I just hope you're taking in this moment.
37:17Two talents like Kendall Gray and Tyra Mae Steele. One day you will be watching them at WrestleMania.
37:22And you get to see them right now in this Evolve Women's Championship match. It is truly a moment in
37:28history.
37:28Certainly seen the evolution of Kendall Gray's young career here.
37:31Right in and dunked down.
37:35With that belly to belly right there. Tyra Mae Steele starting to cook a bit here, Peter.
37:39She's got a ton of momentum coming into this matchup.
37:41We said that and it's so true. Tyra Mae Steele has been getting better every week, ever since she got
37:47to Evolve.
37:48Listen, she had had opportunities at NXT. She gets down to Evolve and she's been better and better.
37:54Tyra Mae Steele trying to get the Evolve Women's Championship. This match continues on Tubi.
38:06In Vegas, everything's a game. Some nights, it's played without cards or dice. Just tension. Every move measured. Every look.
38:22A strategy sharpened.
38:26Always. Always. Watching your back.
38:34Prepared for anything.
38:40Never knowing who the real threat is.
38:51Or who might show up at the table.
39:03Wrestlemania Vegas
39:08It's anyone's game
39:16Back in action here on Evolve on Tubi
39:19Big fight feel here
39:20Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg
39:22Tyra Mae Steele pushing Kendall Gray to the limit
39:25I mean it's beyond big fight feel
39:28This is just a big fight
39:29The Evolve Women's Champion Kendall Gray
39:31Was such a rare opportunity
39:33To head to NXT without ever
39:35Being defeated for her championship
39:37Only minutes remaining
39:39In Kendall Gray's Evolve career
39:41Right here, will she go to NXT
39:43Still champion and having to vacate
39:45Or will Tyra Mae win the title
39:48And you see Tyra Mae
39:49With that smile on her face, Peter
39:50She thinks she's in the driver's seat right here
39:52It's just, it's so impressive
39:53Because Tyra Mae Steele
39:55You meet her outside the ring
39:56She's all smiles, thumbs up, and dancing
39:58And then once the bell rings
40:00She becomes this person
40:02This level of competitor
40:03The kind of person
40:04Who goes on to win a gold medal
40:05At the Olympics
40:06And you see the richest prize
40:08The Evolve Women's Division right there
40:09Tyra Mae Steele, Kendall Gray
40:11Battling it out right now
40:12Center of the ring
40:13As Tyra
40:14With the submission hold, Peter
40:16Not many places for Kendall to go
40:17This is starting to wear on Kendall Gray
40:20You see that arm cinched in
40:22Under the chin of the champion
40:24Referee Joey Gonzalez checking in right now
40:26Tyra Mae
40:27She cinched it even tighter
40:29As you said, Peter
40:31Locking it in right underneath the chin
40:32Of Kendall Gray
40:33Gray back to her feet right now
40:34The champion
40:35Trying to fight off the challenger
40:37Man
40:39Oh, Kendall Gray using those elbows
40:41To escape the grasp of Tyra Mae Steele
40:44Then a big right hand to follow
40:45And Gray, oh
40:47Almost get dumped again
40:48Nice counter
40:49Kendall with the cover
40:50Only gets two
40:51Oh, man
40:52Kendall bouncing back
40:53After that choke hold
40:55That she had on her
40:56For 90 seconds
40:58Kendall Gray has found her win again
41:00Here she is
41:00Oof
41:01Well, that wasn't a move
41:02I'd expect to see in the Olympics
41:03But it certainly was effective
41:05As Tyra Mae with her eyes on the prize here
41:09Tyra Mae Steele
41:10With a championship on her mind
41:12And for us
41:13We also just have to appreciate
41:15The closing moments
41:16Of Kendall Gray's evolved career
41:18Can it end as champion?
41:19Look at the raw power
41:21Man, ragdolling Kendall Gray
41:23That gut wrench suplex up and over
41:25Tyra Mae's locked in, Peter
41:27It's 20-20 all over again
41:29And just off the back end of the Olympics
41:31Tyra Mae feeling as motivated as ever
41:33Look at her just picking
41:34Picking Kendall Gray up off the ground
41:36Gut wrench tossing her
41:39And Gray
41:40Barely able to get to her feet right here
41:42She's a bit stunned
41:44Oof
41:45Another gut wrench toss
41:46Will we get to see one last time
41:49Kendall Gray take those straps down
41:51And enter the gray area
41:52And you have to be wondering here
41:54Tyra Mae might be looking for that German suplex
41:56If she can connect on that wings of glory
41:58We're looking at a brand new
41:59Evolved Women's Champion
42:00Well, it's a great point, Blake
42:02And she does seem to have Kendall Gray prone right now
42:04Here we go, there's a cover
42:05Center of the ring
42:07Again, only two
42:08You're gonna need to do more
42:09You're gonna have to do more to finish Kendall Gray
42:11And that's what it looks like she's doing
42:12Going back to work
42:14Foreman Thatcher laying down a huge main event
42:16His first week on the job
42:18And we'll see if Tyra Mae Steele
42:20Could take full advantage right here
42:21The Evolved Universe
42:22Starting to rally a bit
42:24And Kendall Gray in a bad spot
42:25She's being bent in half by Tyra Mae Steele
42:28And of course, Kendall said she wanted to come out here alone
42:30Peter, no Ren Sinclair
42:31She's getting it done
42:32All on Kendall Gray's time
42:35Oh man, Kendall's being bent backwards
42:37Certainly gonna be tough to go to the gray area in this predicament
42:40And look at Tyra Mae wrenching back
42:42Peter, she wants the gold
42:43Absolutely, I am so impressed with the gear
42:45Tyra Mae Steele is hitting right now
42:47And we shouldn't be surprised
42:48She's an Olympic gold medalist for a reason
42:50You see that confidence growing here in Tyra Mae Steele
42:53We saw her a little bit last year
42:54And her evolution now
42:56Into the number one contender to the Evolved Women's Championship
42:58These two going back and forth once again
43:00And Tyra Mae looking to take full advantage now
43:03Going for that gut wrench one more time
43:05Oh, Gray spins right out
43:08Oh, but misses with the right hand
43:09These two build some momentum right now
43:11Oh, they collide in the center of the ring, Peter
43:14Champion is down
43:15Challenger is down
43:16The Evolved Women's Championship
43:17Hanging the balance in our main event here on Tubi
43:20Do you remember where you were
43:22When Kendall Gray defended her championship
43:26Against a young Tyra Mae Steele
43:28Here we are, the Evolved Universe looking on
43:31In Kendall Gray's last Evolved match
43:34Kendall Gray can't quite think about Tuesday nights yet
43:37She's got to worry about Tyra Mae Steele right in front of her
43:39And the Olympic gold medalist
43:41See, there's the savvy
43:42There's the ring awareness of our champion
43:44As Kendall creates that separation one more time
43:48She might be looking to take Tyra to that gray area
43:50But you can see she's still favoring her midsection
43:52She's still a bit hurt
43:53And Gray
43:55Irish Ripper first now
43:56Tyra Mae charges in
43:58Oh, and Kendall
43:59Takes one out of Tyra's playbook
44:02A suplex of her own for Kendall Gray
44:05Here we go
44:05It's time to enter the gray area
44:08The straps are down
44:10And Kendall's ready to roll the drop down
44:13T-Bone
44:14This is when Kendall Gray gets to that next level
44:18Take a look at her eyes there, Peter
44:19She's locked in
44:20Kendall Gray
44:21Look at her seize the moment
44:23We've seen this so many times from our champion
44:25Can she do it one more time?
44:27Looking to risk it all
44:28Oh, a DDT out of the corner
44:30Oh, goodness
44:31Take it deeper in the playbook
44:32There's the cover
44:34And Tyra Mae hangs on
44:36Oh, man, I thought that DDT might have put Tyra Mae Steele to sleep
44:39As you see Lainey Luck and Wendy Chu looking on
44:42Wendy Chu, a veteran of Evolve
44:44Lainey Luck, of course
44:45Waving the flag in the ID program
44:47Both locked in here
44:49And what we understand, Peter, in the back
44:50Everyone's eyes glued on the monitors
44:52For this huge main event
44:54Wendy Chu with her own history, of course
44:56With Kendall Gray
44:56She knows what our champion's capable of
44:59And she heads to the top rope
45:00What's she looking for here, Blake?
45:02Oh, watch out
45:03As Tyra Mae
45:03All the way up top
45:05Compromising position
45:06Might be looking for an overhead belly-to-belly
45:08And Kendall
45:09Looking to fight off
45:11And now Kendall rarefied air here, Peter
45:14Yeah, she does not spend a lot of time up here
45:15But she got the separation
45:17And Kendall off the top
45:19And Tyra Mae looks to take advantage
45:21Olympic slam
45:22Here we go
45:23Center of the ring
45:24There's the cover
45:25Hooks the outside leg
45:26Shoulders are down
45:27Oh, my goodness
45:28I thought that mistake
45:29Was really going to cost Kendall Gray her championship
45:32And if you look at Tyra Mae's face, Peter
45:35She certainly thought that was her opportunity
45:37To become Evolve Women's Champion
45:39Yeah, Kendall really, really made a rare mistake
45:43She does not do that often
45:45And to Tyra Mae's still credit
45:47She took advantage of the moment
45:48And almost won the championship
45:50These two set the pace for the final evolution
45:52Kendall Gray
45:53Almost goes for the crucifix there
45:55In a wheelbarer position
45:56Gray
45:58Oh, cut her
46:01Wings of glory
46:03What a gifted arsenal from such a young athlete
46:08And, oh
46:09Kendall with the counter
46:10Into the roll-up
46:11Shoulders are down
46:12Oh, back the other way
46:14Tyra's got her
46:14No
46:15These two exchanging pinfalls
46:17Right in the center of the ring
46:18Kendall catches her
46:19With shades of gray
46:21There's the cover
46:22And Kendall
46:23Finishes
46:23As champion
46:26Here is your winner
46:27And still
46:29The Evolve Women's Champion
46:31Kendall Gray
46:35What do you say about that matchup, Blake?
46:39Absolute back and forth action
46:40From bell to bell
46:41And Kendall Gray
46:43Standing tall
46:45As our champion
46:46Still
46:46Unbelievable stuff
46:49In the final evolution
46:50Of Kendall Gray
46:52Here on Evolve
46:53And again, like I said
46:54Back and forth
46:55The Evolve Arena
46:56On fire
46:57The Olympic gold medalist
46:58Tyra Maysteel
46:59Using all of the weapons
47:01In her arsenal
47:01Suplex after suplex
47:03So close
47:04But
47:05In the final evolution
47:06Of Kendall Gray
47:07It leads to what may be
47:09The biggest win
47:10Of her career
47:11Shades of gray
47:12And she'll now
47:13Vacate the championship
47:15And march into NXT
47:17Ready to make a statement
47:21I'm speechless
47:24You know, I just want to say
47:25Thank you
47:26To each and every one of you
47:27For coming out here
47:28And supporting me
47:30Since day one
47:34Evolve gave me a place
47:35To find myself
47:36To find confidence
47:37Inside and outside
47:39Of the ring
47:39And I wouldn't be able
47:41To do it without
47:41Any of you guys
47:42So thank you
47:45And just like
47:46I've been taking over
47:47Evolve
47:48I'm gonna be taking over
47:49NXT
47:50Every Tuesday
47:52Thank you guys
47:54Truthfully
47:54Thank you
48:00Well Peter
48:01That was certainly
48:01A true instant classic
48:03And from an undefeated amateur
48:05To the NIL program
48:06To the first match
48:07In Evolve history
48:08The women's championship
48:10Victory at Succession
48:11Now Kendall brings
48:12The gray area
48:13To NXT
48:28One of the hottest stars
48:30In all of professional wrestling
48:32She's the boss lady
48:33For a reason
48:34She's got the damn good
48:36When people look in the history books
48:3820 years from now
48:39They're gonna see the name
48:40Kendall Gray
48:42The Evolve women's champion
48:44This girl is gonna show
48:46That I'm built
48:46For big moments
48:52Whoever's willing
48:53To try to take this championship
48:55Away from me
48:57You better make sure
48:58You're able to
48:59Stepper to the gray area
49:00The clouds rolling
49:02No skies will fill the day
49:04My thunder walls
49:06Will own the world
49:07With one thing left to say
49:09I'll be confident
49:11I'll be strong and loud
49:14So stand up tall
49:16Break down the wall
49:17When both feet are the ground
49:19Turning rainfall
49:22Look at me go
49:24I'm a singing
49:25Blue song
49:26Give me room
49:28I'm gonna break them all
49:30It's unmistakable
49:33I've been down in my whole life
49:35I was the only female
49:36On my high school men's wrestling team
49:38Now you're looking at a three-time
49:40Undefeated national champion
49:41With a 61-0
49:43Perfect record
49:44The world is starting to take notice
49:46The gray graphs are a coming
49:48And now she's gonna do
49:49What she does best
49:50If you've been with us
49:52Since the beginning
49:52You've been watching Evolve
49:54You know the star
49:55That Kendall Gray is
49:56I'm here to make history
49:58I'm here to make history
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