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WWE EVOLVE TV REPORT
JULY 16, 2025
ORLANDO, FLA. AT WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER
AIRED ON TUBI
REPORT BY DAVID MILLER, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone
Interviewer: Chuey Martinez
-The show opened with a recap of Kali Armstrong’s successful title defense against Natalya last week, followed by the sneak attack by Jin Tala. They also previewed tonight’s Evolve title match with Lince Dorado challenging Jackson Drake.
-The Vanity Project and Lince Dorado were shown entering the building.
(1) KYLIE RAE vs. TYRA MAE STEELE vs. CHANTEL MONROE – Triple Threat match
Rae and Steele pinballed Monroe for a minute before tossing her out of the ring. Steele and Rae then faced off, with Steele showing off her superior mat wrestling. Monroe ran back in and a series of quick near-falls ensued. Rae hit a beautfiul suicide dive through the ropes and onto her opponents on the floor.
Rae hit a springboard moonsault onto Monroe for two. More quick near-falls kept the referee extremely busy. Steele lifted Monroe for what appeared to be an attempt at an Attitude Adjustment, but Monroe landed on her feet and hit a codebreaker. Rae broke up the pin attempt and got into a shoving match with Monroe. Steele grabbed Monroe from behind and shoved her into Rae, who went flying out of the ring. She then delivered a German suplex on Monroe into a bridge for the pin.
WINNER: Tyra Mae Steele at 4:44.
(Miller’s Take: This was a really good opening match. As is usually the case in Evolve, it was a very short match, but these ladies packed a lot of action into that four minutes. Although this match was obviously a way to get Steele over as a big player, Rae and Monroe both shined and came out of the match looking good in defeat.)
-Chuey Martinez conducted a sit-down interview with Jin Tala. He asked, “How are you doing, friend…buddy?” Tala, stone-faced, replied, “Who said I’m your buddy?” He said everyone who sits in that chair is kind of his buddy, but this feels different. He said she hasn’t been playing nice with the other kids on the playground. She said she realized she had to be ruthlessly aggressive. She said she was told at LFG that she wasn’t aggressive enough and that’s why she was eliminated. She added that she is going to create opportunities by any means necessary. She told Chuey that they could have gotten the nice version of Jin Tala, but now they’re getting the cutthroat version. Chuey wished her luck in her upcoming match with Carlee Bright and extended his hand, which was met with nothing but a cold stare from Tala. He awkwardly ended the interview. [c]
-Stevie Turner was talking with Jordan Oasis in the back. He said he’d be watching the main event and mentioned Swipe Right. Stevie told him if he could find a tag partner, she’d make a tag team match for him against Swipe Right next week.
(2) JIN TALA vs. CARLEE BRIGHT (w/Kendal Grey)
Bright sprinted to the ring and immediately took down Tala with a Thesz press and pummeled her. The referee separated them and called for the bell. As soon as the bell rang, Bright went on the attack again, smothering her opponent in the corner with a series of elbows. She took the fight to the outside and relentlessly beat on Tala.
Jin finally got the upper hand on the outside, rolled Bright into the ring, and went to work on her. Bright came back with a jumping neck breaker and a standing shooting star press for a two-count. As Bright was trying to pull Tala’s arms out of their sockets, she motioned to Grey on the outside to look behind her. Grey turned around to see Wendy Choo standing there. As Choo flashed Grey and evil grin, a distracted Bright fell victim to Tala’s Direct Effect for the three-count.
WINNER: Jin Tala at 3:08.
(Miller’s Take: Carlee Bright showed fantastic intensity here, as she tore into Tala with a purpose and pretty much had the upper hand all the way until Choo showed up. I love the “Sleepy Psycho” gimmick, and Choo pulls it off to perfection.)
-After the match, Grey turned around to find that Choo had myseriously disappeared.
-In the locker room, Ridge Holland approached Tate Wilder. They exchanged some words. Holland said Wilder didn’t belong here. He walked off as Tate looked peeved. [c]
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
Check out the latest episode of “Wrestling Coast to Coast” with Chris Maitland and Justin McClelland, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
(3) TATE WILDER vs. EDRIS ENOFE
The announcers talked about Wilder being a cowboy just in case anyone had forgotten that he’s a cowboy. Enofe slapped Tate after they released their initial tie-up. Tate quickly responded in kind with a slap of his own, a dropkick, and a series of punches in the corner. With Enofe lying on the floor, Wilder hit an amazing shooting star press off the apron to the floor. Yeah, that was impressive.
Back in the ring, Enofe slowed down the pace and took control with a chinlock. He mounted him from behind and landed a series of forearms to the back of the head. Wilder was game though, and fought back, but he missed a moonsault. Enofe connected with a neckbreaker variation for the pin.
WINNER: Edris Enofe at 4:23.
(Miller’s Take: Cowboy jokes aside, Wilder looked impressive here. He can hit some big moves, but he needs to prove that he has more knowledge of the basics and ring psychology. He’s still very young, so the kid has potential. Enofe, of course, looked amazing.)
-As Enofe gloated mid-ring, Dante Chen came out. He told Enofe he looked impressive tonight. He apologized to Enofe, then decked him with a stiff right to the jaw.
-Backstage, Keanu Carver said Sean Legacy would wind up on a table next to his mentor. He said he was putting the entire WWE ID program on notice.
-The Vanity Project complained about the upcoming tag team match with Jordan Oasis and a mystery partner as Jackson Drake prepared for his title defense.
-Lince Dorado was shown lacing up his mask and getting ready. [c]
-Stevie Turner lamented that she must have left her door unlocked again as Edris Enofe burst in to complain about what just happened to him. He accused her of favoritism and stuck his finger in her face. She promptly slapped his finger away and put him in his place. She gave him a match against Chen and then told him to get out of her office.
-The announcers ran down the card for next week.
(4) JACKSON DRAKE (c) vs. LINCE DORADO – Evolve Championship match
Drake mocked Dorado a bit and was his usual cocky self, but was soon overwhelmed by Dorado’s lucha skills. They cut to commercial very early into the match. [c]
Back from the break, Dorado was in control. As Dorado was perched on the top turnbuckle, Drake shoved him off to the floor. He dove onto him on the floor, then threw him back in the ring and took over. Dorado fired up and got some near-falls. He applied an armbar, but Drake escaped. He set for a shooting star press, but was distracted when The Vanity Project’s music hit. Nobody came out, but it distracted Dorado long enough for Drake to take the advantage. Robert Stone marveled at the genius of playing the music as a distraction, yet adhering to the stipulation of not coming out.
Drake hit some big moves, but couldn’t take out Dorado. As Dorado was trying to re-enter the ring from the outside, Ricky Smokes poked his head out from under the ring and grabbed his leg, allowing Drake to hit a knee. Another knee to the face allowed Drake to secure the win.
WINNER: Jackson Drake at 11:24 to retain the Evolve Championship.
(Miller’s Take: This was fine for what it was. The Vanity Project, as expected, ultimately found a way to insert themselves into the match and protect their champion.)
-After the match, Brooks Jensen jumped Drake from behind and clubbed him behind the head, then clotheslined him inside out and scrammed before The Vanity Project ran to the ring to tend to their fallen champ.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Really good show this week. Honestly, the first two matches were the best of the card. I didn’t expect to see Brooks Jensen, so that was a nice surprise. I imagine the focus next week will go back to the Evolve Women’s Champion, Kali Armstrong. Hopefully, her being completely punked out on NXT will not even be addressed, because that didn’t do her any favors. Tate Wilder showed some promise, he just needs at least another year in Evolve and I think he’ll be ready for NXT. On a final note, will somebody PLEASE get new entrance music for Kylie Rae? It’s the absolute worst. See you all next week for NXT!
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