{"id":201283,"date":"2025-07-18T18:59:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T23:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=201283"},"modified":"2025-07-18T18:59:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T23:59:45","slug":"wwe-rising-fading-stars-evolution-edition-featuring-jacy-jayne-stephanie-vaquer-blake-monroe-bayley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/07\/18\/wwe-rising-fading-stars-evolution-edition-featuring-jacy-jayne-stephanie-vaquer-blake-monroe-bayley\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RISING &#038; FADING STARS: Evolution Edition featuring Jacy Jayne, Stephanie Vaquer, Blake Monroe, Bayley"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-170678237\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Returning after a seven-year absence, WWE\u2019s long-awaited second all-women\u2019s premium live event, Evolution, is now in the books. The results offer insight into WWE Creative\u2019s current priorities for the Women\u2019s Division, while the performances offer an even clearer view of what those priorities <i>should<\/i> be.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><b>Rising Star of the Week: Jacy Jayne<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Not long ago, Jacy Jayne seemed like a prime candidate for release. Despite repeated opportunities, she had delivered little more than passable performances and lukewarm crowd reactions. But since her surprising championship win, Jayne has risen to the occasion.<\/p>\n<p>With a refreshed character and a new sense of purpose, Jayne is now showing more confidence and consistency on the mic. Her alliance with Fallon Henley, who serves as an effective second, further elevates her presentation. Even Jayne\u2019s in-ring work\u2014historically competent but unremarkable\u2014has improved. Her match against Jordynne Grace at Evolution was a career-best performance, though some of the credit must go to Grace.<\/p>\n<p>Jayne still doesn\u2019t quite wrestle at a championship level, but that shortfall actually works in her favor, drawing heel heat. The audience resents her title reign, feeling it has come at the expense of more deserving talent like Grace. It\u2019s reminiscent of how The Honky Tonk Man and Dominik Mysterio drew legitimate ire during their ascents\u2014an ironic but proven path to stardom.<\/p>\n<p><b>First Runner-Up: Stephanie Vaquer<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Just a few months into her WWE main roster run, Stephanie Vaquer already finds herself in line for a PLE women\u2019s title match. Vaquer brings a compelling mix of top-tier ring skills, a standout look, and remarkable poise, making her a must-watch presence on Raw.<\/p>\n<p>Her only major weakness is on the mic, as her limited English hampers her promo delivery. Fortunately, Naomi\u2014more than capable on the microphone\u2014looks ready to carry that load and draw out Vaquer\u2019s most meaningful feud to date. Their match at Clash in Paris could be a standout, especially with Naomi\u2019s rejuvenated heel character and Vaquer\u2019s growing fan support.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLa Primera\u201d is making an early statement, and she appears poised to deliver on the main stage.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3834020573\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><b>Second Runner-Up: Blake Monroe<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Blake Monroe\u2019s glamorous, model-inspired persona treads similar ground to Tiffany Stratton\u2019s, but Monroe arguably executes it more effectively. While she lacks Stratton\u2019s high-end athleticism, Monroe compensates with strong promo skills and commanding presence.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019s been accused of borrowing from Toni Storm\u2019s \u201cTimeless\u201d character, but her vibe feels more inspired by pop star Sabrina Carpenter. Monroe debuted as a babyface but turned heel just weeks later\u2014a smart move, considering her Glamor gimmick fits the villain role much better.<\/p>\n<p>Initially paired with Jordynne Grace, Monroe\u2019s brief alliance generated enough chemistry to give her eventual betrayal real weight. In the words of William Congreve, \u201cHell hath no fury like a woman scorned,\u201d and Grace looks ready to channel that fury. Their feud could be a defining one for Monroe.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unlikely Grace will align herself with Fatal Influence (n\u00e9e Toxic Attraction), and that\u2019s a good thing. Monroe turning on Grace to pursue an easier path to the title through Jayne works just as well\u2014and without the baggage of a potentially limiting faction.<\/p>\n<p>With standout personality and confidence, Monroe may be the most naturally charismatic woman in NXT today. A red-hot feud with Grace could launch her into the top tier. It\u2019s time to see what this Glamor Girl can really do.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of &#8220;Wrestling Night in America,&#8221; part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/wrestling-night-in-america-wwe-evolution-post-show-leclair-wells-cadet-talk-sky-ripley-lynch-valkyria-bayley-stratton-stratus-more--66970175\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cpwtorch\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wrestling Night in America - WWE Evolution post-show: LeClair &amp; Wells &amp; Cadet talk Sky-Ripley, Lynch-Valkyria-Bayley, Stratton-Stratus, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=66970175&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><b>Fading Star of the Week: Bayley<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Bayley remained a fan favorite during her triple threat match at Evolution, even with fellow babyface Lyra Valkyria in the ring. Her connection with the audience clearly endures.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1051339446\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>But a clean loss to Valkyria on Raw has knocked Bayley out of contention for the Raw-based women\u2019s title, leaving her with no clear path forward. Without a meaningful character shift, she risks fading into a gatekeeper role.<\/p>\n<p>A heel turn could spark new life into Bayley\u2019s act, but after so many turns over the years, another flip might lack impact and even hurt her long term. A new tag team or alliance could help\u2014but there are no obvious partners waiting in the wings, and a Damage CTRL reunion doesn\u2019t offer much intrigue.<\/p>\n<p>For now, Bayley is a Role Model in search of a role.<\/p>\n<p><b>Runner-Up: Tiffany Stratton<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The Evolution crowd was engaged and enthusiastic throughout the night\u2014except during Tiffany Stratton\u2019s WWE Women\u2019s Championship match against Trish Stratus.<\/p>\n<p>In babyface vs. babyface contests, fan reactions can be unpredictable. In this case, Stratus received polite respect while Stratton was met with a mixed, even indifferent response. Their match wasn\u2019t a disaster\u2014despite some ring rust from Stratus\u2014but the atmosphere was flatter than it should\u2019ve been, especially for a title bout.<\/p>\n<p>It supports what I said in last week\u2019s column: Stratton\u2019s current babyface presentation isn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n<p>Despite her impressive athleticism, strong look, frequent TV time, and consistent wins, Stratton lacks the promo skills and natural likability needed for a top babyface. Her persona would be far better suited to a heel role\u2014much like Charlotte Flair\u2019s historically unsuccessful face turns.<\/p>\n<p>Tiffy\u2019s time may still come. But right now, she\u2014and WWE\u2014will have to wait for it.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WWE Evolution Post-Show w\/ Brandon LeClair &amp; Kelly Wells &amp; Kurt Cadet\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/a_40ObizZQc?start=7&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-569112554\"><div id=\"pwtor-1491780063\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Returning after a seven-year absence, WWE\u2019s long-awaited second all-women\u2019s premium live event, Evolution, is now in the books. The results offer insight into WWE Creative\u2019s current priorities for the Women\u2019s Division, while the performances offer <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/07\/18\/wwe-rising-fading-stars-evolution-edition-featuring-jacy-jayne-stephanie-vaquer-blake-monroe-bayley\/\" title=\"WWE RISING &#038; FADING STARS: Evolution Edition featuring Jacy Jayne, Stephanie Vaquer, Blake Monroe, Bayley\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":201284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,4309,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-201283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-rising-star-fading-star","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-18-at-6.55.22-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=201283"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":201286,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201283\/revisions\/201286"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/201284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}