WWE Evolve (3/12/25)

WWE Evolve

Performance Center

Orlando, FL

March 12, 2025

Commentators: Pete Rosenberg and Robert Stone

Ring Announcer: ???

Last week the debut episode of Evolve had all the feel of black & gold NXT from 2012 and it was entertaining for what it was. We had a good women's tag match featuring NXT Level Up mainstays as well as introducing Trill London and six independent dudes. This week, there's no Shawn Michaels to make the matches, it'll be Ava Raine by herself. More newcomers and NXT rookies will be shown this week so let's get right to it.

Rosenberg and Stone welcome us to tonight's show and they have a "HUGE" night planned. We're sent to Stevie Turner (from the old NXT UK days) and Stone doesn't like it. She's here on behalf of Ava Raine with tonight's main event being NXT stars Oro Mensah and Riley Osbourne going at it. We also have WWEID prospects with Kylie Rae taking on Zara Zakher. Gal Barkay joins Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright in the VIP section and Grey doesn't like it at all. Before our first match, we have to introduce who they are. Even though we already knew who Harlem Lewis was through NXT, we get an introductory vignette anyway. He got into a lot of fights when he was younger and he's a natural born leader. He can't stand soft, lazy or non-hard working people. He got into his first fist fight in fourth grade (I was brawling in Kindergarten, Lewis was a little late there) and nobody can stop him from being a champion. Interesting heel promo but the "first fist fight in fourth grade" line made me laugh, I got in plenty of scraps well before fourth grade. Braxton Cole is actually former Brown & Villanova University football player Camden Gagnon. He was shocked WWE invited him to try out for the PC but he's going all in. He sees someone that has a stronger mind than others and will set him apart. Well his body is going to be put to the test, on to the match.

Match 1

Harlem Lewis vs Braxton Cole

Lewis is basically the same gimmick as Keanu Carver from last week and Braxton looks like an 80's jobber just with a better physique, I can see where this is going as the bell rings. Braxton wants a hand shake to start and gets clotheslined for his trouble. Lewis heaves Braxton in a gorilla press across the ring. "I'm getting paid to beat his ass, I'd do it for free." Braxton chops Lewis but he no sells them, decking Cole with a big right hand. Braxton slaps Lewis who no sells it and drops Cole with yet another right hand. Stone "I have NEVER played chess in my entire life." Lewis hits an Oklahoma Slam and covers for 1...2..3 to win the match. Total squash to establish Lewis as a mean looking fella and I'm all for it. His theme song isn't half bad either.

Time of match: 1:11

Winner: Lewis by pinfall

Chuey Martinez hits ring side for an interview with Harlem. He says that was impressive and Harlem says nobody can touch him. Right on cue here's Keanu Carver for a showdown. Now that I want to see....but wait. Gal Barkay grabs a mic, gets into the ring and says he's arrived. He calls Keanu a big dummy and says he'll take him next week. Carver says why wait and gets in the ring with a referee. Guess we're doing this now.

Match 2

Keanu Carver vs Gal Barkay

Gal is in the teel suit and loafers so he wasn't ready to wrestle tonight. Gal sheds the sports jacket and rallies with forearms but Carver no sells. Carver takes his head off with a clothesline and drives him into the corner. Carver hits shoulderblocks but Gal kicks him away. Carver catches him in mid-air and hits a huge fallaway slam. Gal hits a standing enziguiri but Carver face plants him. Carver hits Sky High and covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Another total squash and we got dueling badasses here with Carver and Lewis. Sucks they had to sacrifice Trill London, Gal Barkay and Braxton Cole...but that's how you build guys. Carver and Lewis will meet down the road.

Time of match: 1:25

Winner: Carver by pinfall

Rosenberg says up next will be Kylie Rae taking on Zara Zakher. We're going to take a closer look at Kylie Rae...or "Smiley" Kylie Rae. We already know her past in AEW, TNA and NWA along with her Main Event match from December 22 but apparently she was a lifelong WWE fan and she never thought she'd be here. She's here to make everyone happy...yay. Back from commercial, Pete is with last week's tag team winners. Carlee Bright is happy but Kendal Grey not so much. Grey says there's no competition in Evolve because she's the best. Bright says "You mean we?" Grey "Yeah sure." All of a sudden Zayda Steel barges in demanding a match. For those that don't know, Zayda Steel is an independent star who got picked with the ID program. Grey nods her head in agreement that Zayda deserves a match. Kylie makes her entrance and Pete says she's the most experienced of anyone in Evolve. Considering she spent years as a stuntwoman and 9 years in the business, I'd say so. Now we get the introductory video for Zara Zakher. She says she's small and had to overcome being a person of color and it shaped her into the person she is now. She brings up how she's been a gymnast her whole life and she was called "the petite powerhouse". The real life story is a lot more interesting. She was born Gabi Crump and went viral at age 4 for dancing like Tina Turner and later became a dancer for various recording artists on stage. She's been on The Voice, Oprah and various shows as well. She was a celeb long before signing with the PC. This next match will make hardcore wrestling fans heads explode with a 9 year independent vet facing a "social media star" like Zara (albeit a LOT nicer than Logan Paul).

Match 3

Kylie Rae vs Zara Zakher

They shake hands to start and tie up immediately. They chain wrestle to start before Kylie drops Zara with a shoulderblock. She covers for two then immediately rolls Zara into a crossface. Zakhar makes it to the ropes and Kylie locks in another headlock. Zara drops Kylie with a shoulderblock and covers for two. Zakhar does a crucifix for two but her stunner attempt is blocked. Kylie makes it to the ropes as Pete says Kylie is "older".  Normally 32 is nothing but this is supposed to be for young stars like Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes. If anything Kylie should be on NXT, not Evolve. Kylie gets in a headlock takeover as the announcers bicker with each other. Zara clotheslines her in the corner and hits a snap mare. Zara dropkicks her in the back and covers for a one count. Zara goes for the waistlock but Kylie elbows her in the head. Kylie throws her in the corner and hits the running european uppercut. Kylie cannnonballs into Zara and covers for 1...2..no. A graphic shows Kylie really was a stunt woman but here comes Zayda Steel to whine about not having a match. Even Stone wonders what her problem is as Zara hits a big roundhouse right. Kylie goes up and over but runs right into a spinebuster. Zara covers for 1...2..no. Zayda pouts in the VIP section with Carlee and Kendal as Zara hits a high knee to stun Kylie. Some fan yells "Boo this woman" and they boo Zayda, ha! Kylie gets a sunset flip for two then does some kind of tilt-a-whirl ddt into a crossface. Zara powers out of it but eats a superkick. Kylie goes for a death valley driver but Zara turns it into a sunset flip for 1...2...3 to win the match. Did NOT see that one coming. Zara wins a serviceable match as Pete says that had nothing to do with Kylie's "niceness". Nothing to complain about but nothing special here.

Time of match: 5:15

Winner: Zakhar by pinfall

Chuey Martinez hits ring side to talk to Zara Zakhar. He says he sees her and tells the crowd to give her a hand. He says this was an upset and she agrees. She puts Kylie over as a great wrestler and says next time it won't be an upset. Zara thanks Kylie and says she respects her before hugging it out. Zayda has enough and challenges both of them but here comes Wendy Choo. Wendy has been around NXT/wrestling as long as Kylie Rae, the hell is she doing in Evolve too?  Zayda runs off as Wendy hands a bear with a note in to to Kylie before getting in the ring. Zara and Kylie read it but the camera doesn't pick up what it says. Wendy is up next as we go to commerical. Back from break Wendy will be taking on Aria Bennett who was known previously as Aljea Lee Hargrave on NXT. Her vignette says she's from Atlanta, GA who has a four year old daughter. She was a college gymnast (to say the least) and performed well at the PC. The real story is once again more exciting as she was an all-american gymnast. On to the match.

Match 4

Wendy Choo vs Aria Bennett

The announcers bicker with each other as the bell rings to start. Wendy hits a waistlock takedown as Stone brings up how Wendy used to be normal. Wendy stalks Aria who backflips over her. Aria does a handstand and Wendy spears her down, what was Aria thinking? Wendy shoulderblocks Aria in the corner and stands on her hair. A graphic shows Wendy made her WWE debut 7 years ago at the Mae Young Classic. Wendy splashes her in the corner and a running superkick. Wendy no sells two right hands although a standing enziguiri pushes her back. Aria goes for the crucifix but Wendy rolls out of it. Wendy hits a nasty looking full nelson slam and locks in the Dirt Nap. Aria is out cold and this one's over. Another total squash and it showed off Aria's athleticism but made her look like she had no chance against the crazy Choo. Choo puts a black blanket over Aria after the match. 

Time of match: 2:07

Winner: Choo by submission

After the match, Brinley Reece of NXT hits the VIP section to say hi to Kendal and Carlee. Brinley says she's got a match next week and says to check her out. Carlee is excited but Kendal isn't impressed....at all. Again, odd couple tag teams work and they're trying hard with those two. Pete says the first ever face-off is this week between Javier Bernal and Luca Crusifino. What's that? Its just a sitdown pow-wow between the two and Luca looks like he's wearing women's red heels with no socks. Luca says Javier didn't take kindly to what Luca said last week. What? Apparently after the show, Bernal cut a promo calling out Luca for being the "don" of Evolve. Bernal says he's got no problem with him or the D'Angelo's, he just wants to get involved since he's been out with injury. He says how can he move forward if he's being judged by his past. Luca says he appreciates saying it to his face but he wasn't talking about Bernal because he wasn't thinking about him. He doesn't consider Javier a threat because Javier always takes himself out, he doesn't need to do it. Javier agrees and says this is a fresh new start and will fight for the rest of his life. Luca says those are just words, action speaks louder. Javier says give him a chance in a one on one match. Luca says you got it but just remember, he asked for this. They shake hands and we cut here. Sometimes that's all you need to set up a match and it doesn't need chairs, chainsaws, attempted vehicular manslaughter or a love triangle. "You want me, come get some."...simple and effective. Up next is our main event between former NXT UK star Riley Osborne and NXT star Oro Mensah as we go to break. Back from commercial, Jack Cartwheel, Cappuccino Jones and Sean Legacy are in the VIP section. Don't tell Swipe Right this....uh oh, Kali Armstrong is here too but she's got no place to sit. She walks off as Oro Mensah makes his entrance.

Match 5

Oro Mensah vs Riley Osborne

For those who follow minor league baseball know guys get promoted but sometimes they get demoted. Mensah and Osborne going from NXT to Evolve is definitely a demotion, but if they can rock the house here, what's the harm in that? They tie up to start after a handshake and Osborne eats a hiptoss. Riley hiptosses Mensah as Rosenberg brings up how Chase U from NXT is gone. Mensah takes Osborne down from the waist and Riley gets stacked for a one count. Riley spuns around for a front headlock but Mensah gets in a wrist lock. Mensah kicks Riley in the chest and armdrags him. They trade arm drags and Oro rolls him up for a deuce. Pete asks Stone if he's ever been in the main event before and Stone responds by asking if Pete has ever been in the ring period. Riley rolls him up for a two count and sunset flips for another deuce. Riley hits a crucifix for a deuce and says he was that close to winning. Mensah shoves him so Riley responds with a shove of his own. Mensah hits a head scissors but Riley goes up and over, dropping Oro with a dropkick. Mensah does a tornado ddt onto the top rope, snapping Riley off before landing a missile dropkick. Riley rolls outside as we go to break. Back from commercial they slug it out in the center of the ring before Mensah hits a scoop slam. He covers for 1...2..no. Mensah locks in a chinlock then delivers a T-bone Taz plex. Mensah misses a kick but Riley stuns him with one. Mensah blocks the springboard dive but Osborne blocks a suplex. Riley hits a rolling hurracarana and covers for 1....2...no. Stone says if Pete doesn't watch it, he won't be here next week. Mensah blocks a whip and hits a spinkick to the face. Mensah hits a nasty looking full nelson suplex and covers for 1...2...no. Oro goes for a springboard dropkick but Riley counters with a dropkick to the knees to send Oro crashing outside. Riley does a crossbody to the floor then hits a Michenoku Driver inside the ring. He covers for 1...2...no. Mensah's piledriver is blocked and Osborne victory rolls him for 1...2...nope. Mensah drops Osborne face first and covers for 1....2...noooooo, that was close. Mensah rallies with right hands but Osborne punches back. Mensah hits a spin kick to the gut but Osborne hits a standing enziguiri. Osborne goes up to the top but gets Pele kicked (!!!) off the top. Mensah hits the Call of Autumn and covers for 1..2...3 to win the match. Damn good effort by both guys and too bad its on the Double A show, this would have fit right in on Smackdown. Hats off to both guys.

Time of match: 8:09

Winner: Mensah by pinfall

Mensah celebrates at the entrance ramp but Swipe Right makes a mad dash from behind the curtain. Apparently something's going on in the back. Its Gallus from NXT who smashes up the backstage area saying they're here to make noise. Oh great, more NXT guys? Not that Gallus isn't good workers, but this is supposed to be about the younger guys....not NXT dudes. But that's just nit picking. All in all it was another good introductory show and it established that Keanu Carver and Harlem Lewis are mean looking fellas, Carlee Bright and Kendal Grey have hilarious chemistry as a tag team and Wendy Choo is a crazy bastard. Next week Brinley Reece should be in action along with Luca Crusifino taking on Javier Bernal. Should be an interesting show. The next show after this is Friday night's Smackdown in Barcelona, Spain. I'll see you there.

WWE Evolve (3/5/25)

WWE Evolve

WWE Performance Center

Orlando, FLA

March 5, 2025

Commentators: Robert Stone and Peter Rosenberg

Ring Announcer: ???

Welcome to the debut episode of WWE Evolve. What's this, you say? Think of WWE like Major League Baseball. The major league teams all have a farm system to develop talent which includes Triple A, Double A and Single A. NXT has been the developmental show the past 13 years which solidified it as Triple A. Well now Triple H and TKO executives decided to branch out into a Double A, program. Known as WWEID, some of the top independent wrestlers around the country will compete against each other as well as WWE Performance Center graduates to showcase their abilities in a taped environment. It makes sense to showcase and shout out independent wrestlers, promotions and their wrestling schools. For 40 years Vince McMahon Jr spit in the face of any wrestling outside WWE and Triple H is doing what he can to reverse that image. Who's going to be showcased tonight? The New England independent tag team of Swipe Right, Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor as well as indy sensations Kylie Rae and a slew of former professional and college football players. Let's get to it.

We begin with the ensemble of prospects standing together as "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels walks in next to "The Pebble" herself, Ava Raine and shakes her hand. He greets everyone and hopes everyone is excited because they're going to make history. He welcomes them to Evolve on Tubi and for one night only, on behalf of "the mayor" (Ava) he's going to be the matchmaker tonight. It'll be sink or swim because it'll be a six man tag team match. Jack Cartwheel, Sean Legacy and Cappuccino Jones will take on Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes) along with Jackson Drake. The first match will be a ladies tag team match, Kali Armstrong and Dani Palmer face Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright. Shawn wishes them good luck and says take this opportunity and make the best of it. Shawn wants to see them evolve and everyone gives a big hand. 

We cut to ringside with Peter Rosenberg and Robert Stone as our commentators at the Performance Center. On to our first match.

Match 1

Carlee Bright and Kendal Grey vs Dani Palmer and Kali Armstrong

All four women we know from NXT so at least we're going to start with relatively known names. Dani does a handspring in her entrance as Stone says we're going to see pure athletes. Bell's gone and Kali starts with Kendal Grey.  Kali backs Kendal toward the corner but Kendal slides out of the way. Armstrong backs her into the corner and effortlessly lifts her up on the second rope, patronizing her by patting her head. A graphic shows Kali Armstong was a 3 time All-American track start and holds the world record for the fastest sprint medley relay. Reminds me of a younger Bianca Crawford from the University of Tennessee. Dani tags in and Kendal works over the left shoulder as Robert says Kendal was an undefeated amateur wrestler. Carlee tags herself in and she sunset flips Dani for 1...2..no. Dani goes for a pin but Carlee hits the backslide for 1...2..no. Dani hits an armdrag and works over the left arm before Carlee counters with a headscissors. Dani and Carlee keep flipping into each other before Dani splashes for a two count. Dani locks in a front headlock as a graphic sjows Dani was a 3 time national champion Acrobatic champion for Baylor University. Carlee hits a standing frankensteiner but Dani flips up like nothing happened. Kali tags herself in but runs into a drop-toe hold. Carlee locks in an arm-bar but Kali reverses it. Kali works the left arm and shouts to get up. Carlee dropkicks her way out of it and goes for the tag....with Kendal just starting at her. Carlee grabs her hand and tags out and Kendal gets in like she had no idea she was part of the match. They still do a double clothesline but Kali no sells it. Carlee runs off as Kendal locks Kali in a fireman's carry takeover. Grey hits an arm-drag and locks in an arm-bar. Kali sends her off the ropes but Grey reverses into another fireman's carry takeover, re-applying the arm-bar. Stone says the way out of those holds is take your time and not rush. What? You'd find yourself flat on your back real quick that way. Grey cradles up Armstrong for 1...2...no. Grey goes back to the arm-bar then tags Bright back in. They hit a double hiptoss and Bright covers for a deuce. Grey locks in another arm-bar but Armstrong counters with a whip and a powerslam. Kali drags Bright to the corner and says she's going to win the match to the camera as we go to break. Back from commercial Kali has Bright in a headlock before kissing her fist. Armstrong decks Bright with a right hand and tags in Palmer. Palmer hits double knees to the back but the standing moonsault hits knees. Grey gets the hot tag as Armstrong tags in as well. Grey annihilates both Armstrong & Palmer and hits a DDT on Kali. Grey hits an overhead suplex on Palmer and stops to talk trash to Palmer. She goes for the fireman's carry but is caught in mid air by Armstrong. Kali hits a running powerslam for 1...2...no. Armstrong goes up to the top but Grey catches her with a right hand. Palmer makes a blind tag as Grey hits the superplex on Armstrong. Palmer hits a frog splash on Grey for 1...2....no! Grey kicked out but Bright missed the save by a second. Palmer is shoved into the corner but a charge eats elbow. Grey counters diamond dust but runs into an enziguiri. Grey hits a spear and covers for a deuce as Armstrong makes the save. Bright starts screaming like a banshee and jumps on Armstrong's back. Grey dumps both Bright and Armstrong outside but walks right into a small package from Palmer for 1....2...no. Palmer puts Grey on the apron and Grey kicks Armstrong off. Palmer hits a corkscrew moonsault aiming for Bright and Grey, but takes out Armstrong instead. Rosenberg "That is NOT what she was looking to do." Grey throws Palmer inside and hits the Fujiwara Armbar. Palmer taps and this one's over. Sloppy match and what's with the storyline of Bright and Grey not on the same page? They were partners on Level Up. Still, the first match in Evolve history is in the books as a victory for Bright and Grey.

Time of match: 12:10

Winners: Bright and Grey by submission

After the match, Armstrong is pissed as Bright is too enthusiastic for Grey's taste. Chuey Martinez, of Juggalo Championship Wrestling, hits ring side for an interview with the winners. Carlee says she had a lot of fun and says hard work pays off. Carlee wants a high five but Grey reluctantly takes it. Grey says she wants to dominate the division and have everyone talk about her. Not exactly the same page....but teams like that have worked. Remember Al Snow as the weirdo and Steve Blackman as the straight man? Or William Regal and Eugene. Carlee the ditz and Grey the killer would work.

We cut to a highlight of the old Evolve Wrestling promotion (fun fact, I was supposed to go to an Evolve show in June of 2020, guess why that didn't happen) which had pre-Nightmare Cody Rhodes, a much fatter Gunther, Johnny Gargano and other future WWE/NXT stars. Pretty cool vignette. Now we get promo time with Swipe Right and Jackson Drake. Who are these guys? Drake is an 8 year vet that made his name on the Carolina indies and was trained by Cam Carter. Brad Baylor is a 4 year vet that made his name in New England indies after being trained by Paul Roma. Ricky Smokes began his career at New England Pro Wrestling Academy (formerly known as Killer Kowalski's wrestling school) in 2019 and trained by Brian Fury, Max Smashmaster & Chase Del Monte. He's the current Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and is also in a pretty boy heel tag team with Baylor called Swipe Right. Drake starts by saying they put Swipe Right and Drake in the first main event and Baylor says "hundos he did". Baylor says Shawn sees himself in all three of them and Ricky says he's looking forward to checking out all the talent outside the ring. Drake says business first, pleasure later. Baylor and Smokes say they're pleasure first and later. Baylor says they matched with everyones girlfriends, wives and moms and they do the swipe right pose. This looked incredibly douchy which was the point, good pretty boy heel work. Up next will be Keanu Carver taking on Trill London as we go to break.

Back from break we're shown Gal Barkay (his wife belongs in Evolve too, maybe someday) and Luca Crusifino of Tony D'Angelo's crew in the VIP Section. Now we're shown Sean Legacy, Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel. Who are they? Legcy is a 9 year vet who made his name in the southern indies, even making an appearance on AEW Dark. Jones is a 3 year indy vet who worked for AEW in 2024 briefly. Cartwheel worked for GCW, MLW and AEW the last couple of years and now he's got an ID contract. Cartwheel says he met Jones in a barn and it took a lot of caffeine to get here. Jones says its been brewing for a minute and Legacy says life is all about moments. Legacy says to show Swipe Right and the fans what they're all about.

Even though we've already seen Keanu Carver on NXT, we're shown an introductory vignette to who he is. He grew up throwing hands and without a father who was in and out of jail. They had nothing and he got tired of it, now its time to make money and he doesn't care who steps in his way. Now THAT is someone who gets the business, gotta get that money while you can. We know who Carver really is but who is London?  Former Syracuse University and Miami Dolphins defensive back Trill Williams is now known as Trill London. He signed his ID contract in November and here he is making his debut against the fighter. His own vignette says he likes to be different and he was bullied in life for the way he acted/dressed. So he's the next Sonny Kiss? Whatever works.

Match 2

Keanu Carver vs Trill London

London makes his entrance crawling to the ring in a hockey mask. Bell's gone and London walks right into a sleeper hold to begin. Carver throws him down and yells at the referee. London kicks Carver in the face but gets heaved into the corner. Carver blasts him with stiff looking haymakers and hits a fallaway slam. Stone says that London is an NFL defensive back and Carver threw him like it was nothing. Carver hits the Monty Brown pounce that sends London flying. Carver hits Sky High and covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Total squash by Carver and that's a big rough heel you can get behind. Can't wait to see him again.

Time of match: 1:39

Winner: Carver by pinfall

Post-match Carver yells at the camera you don't find that in the NFL, you find it on the streets. He's going on the hunt and putting the fear of God in everyone. While he cuts this promo, Gal Barkay is posing behind him. Kind of ruins the shot but that's Gal for ya, hahahaha. Rosenberg gets up and goes over to Barkay....make it Luca Crusifino. He wants to know why he's here. Luca says he's here apart of the D'Angelo family and Tony may run NXT, but HE runs Evolve. Luca likes the fresh new faces but none of them have been in the ring with him. He says if he knows someone, he doesn't worry about them. The others have to decide if they're with him or against him, choose wisely. The problem is the D'Angelo's are supposed to be faces on NXT and this was pure heel. Then again, the contrast might work. Up next after the break is our main event.

Match 3

Sean Legacy, Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel vs Swipe Right (Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor) and "The Carolina Reaper" Jackson Drake

Game time for Ricky Smokes, from Chaotic to WWE. Rosenberg doesn't like Swipe Right but Stone says they're a modern day Zack Morris and AC Slater....ha! Baylor and Drake tower over the others during the introductions as the crowd chants "Swipe Left". Jones starts with Smokes to start and Ricky gets in a waistlock takedown to start before taunting the irate crowd. Smokes runs over to tag Baylor but turns around into a backdrop. Jones leapfrogs Baylor and drops him with a dropkick. Drake tags in to try his luck but Sean Legacy tags in. Legacy hits a front suplex, back kick and a standing moonsault for 1...2..no. Cartwheel tags in and goes up and over Drake, hitting a head scissors. He dropkicks Drake as Rosenberg says Jack's great grandfather invented the cartwheel, to which Stone poo poo's that statement. Jones tags in for the double dropkick and Drake retreats to his corner. All six men get in the ring and taunt each other before leaving. Smokes stays with Jones and gets dropped with a right hand.  Smokes runs into a back elbow smash but gets clotheslined over the top to the floor. Smokes baits the faces to get in the ring, allowing Baylor to make the tag and Drake to send Jones into the side of the ring. Baylor drops Jones with a lariat as a graphic says Baylor was signed at 20 years old and is "evil Matt Damon"....so, Loki from Dogma? Brad unloads with right hands and tags in Smokes. Ricky sends Baylor shoulder first into Jones and Baylor sends Cappuccino into a big boot from Smokes. Ricky covers for 1...2....no. Ricky locks in a chinlock then tags in Drake who elbows Jones. Drake hits the Perfect Plex for 1...2..no. Drake drags Jones into his corner where Baylor tags in to drop an elbow. Jones hits a jawbreaker to stun Baylor into tagging in Smokes. Jones kicks Smokes away and Drake tags in, only for Jones to roll through the back suplex. Jones makes the hot tag to Cartwheel who drops Drake with a clothesline and Baylor with a neckbreaker. Cartwheel hits an enziguiri on Drake and sweeps his leg with the Tower of Zen. Cartwheel hits the Slam Stand as all three faces hit dives to the floor on the heels as we go to break. Back from commercial Drake hits an airplane spin stomachbreaker (ouch) and covers for 1..2...no. Stone brings up how Arn Anderson himself endorsed Drake as Smokes tags in with a springboard knee drop. A regular knee drop is followed by a cover for 1...2...no. Smokes hits forearms to the back as we get a graphic that Harlem Lewis is debuting next week.  Baylor tags in and they execute a double suplex. Baylor covers for 1...2...no. Brad locks in a chinlock but Jack powers out of it. Cartwheel runs into a back elbow smash as Smokes tags in for the back suplex neckbreaker combo. He covers for 1...2...no. Smokes drops Legacy and Jones off the apron, but eats a tornado DDT from Jack. Legacy gets the hot tag and he drops Smokes with strikes then Drake tags in. Legacy hits a released german suplex and Baylor runs in only to be sent directly into Drake. Legacy hits a 619 on Drake's back and a moonsault reverse DDT. Drake bails and Legacy hits a running knee to Smokes as a graphic shows character BS saying Smokes and Baylor get 10 girls a night. Baylor picks up Legacy and Smokes hits a dropkick. Baylor tags in Drake who hits a running knee to the head. He covers but Jones throws Smokes on top of him to break up the fall. Jones heaves Baylor out of the ring and he gets dumped as well. Drake chops Legacy but Sean hits a headbutt, tagging in Jones. Jones hits the Decaffinator and goes up to the top rope. Legacy hits a fireman's carry takeover on Smokes on top of Jackson. Jones hits a Froggy Bow off the top and covers for 1..2...no, Baylor breaks up the count.  Baylor and Legacy get the tags and Sean hits a big boot. Baylor hits a double butterfly suplex and Jones hits Shot of Espresso on Drake. Cartwheel hits the rolling derby but Smokes hits a standing Coup De Gras on Jack. Legacy hits a double dropkick on Swipe Right and Shambles on Baylor. He covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Definitely became an indy spot fest at the end but that's the point, to showcase the ID guys. Cartwheel has amazing athleticism, just hopes he can avoid the synthetic weed like Evan Bourne. Baylor is the youngest of the bunch, he's got plenty of time to develop and Legacy has the body of a WWE pro already. Good luck to these guys moving forward.

Time of match: 11:58

Winners: Legacy, Jones & Cartwheel by pinfall

As the faces celebrate to end the show, Kali Armstrong runs out and demands another match because she didn't lose earlier. She yells at Stone and Rosenberg and asks who she has to talk to. Wasn't Ava Raine supposed to be the on screen booker? Speaking of which, we end the show with Shawn Michaels talking with Ava herself. He hands things over to her moving forward and she says she has some good ideas herself for next week. Shawn says she's the boss and we cut to the crowd cheering to end the show. You can't judge this like a typical WWE show since these are "rookies" so to speak. The indy guys have years of experience, especially Smokes and Legacy, but guys like Trill London just signed with the PC back in November. This is essentially going to be original, old school NXT from 2012 showcasing the developmental guys with the current NXT shifting to a NXT/TNA hybrid. There's going to be more people to introduce next week and some of them are going to catch on. For a debut show, it wasn't bad....especially showcasing Keanu Carver as a mean looking fella. The next show after this is this Friday night's Smackdown in Philadelphia. I'll see you there.