WWE Evolution preview

Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai, in the Finals of the Mae Young Classic II (Mae Young Classic)

The story: Last year, Toni Storm made it to the semifinals of the inaugural Mae Young Classic, losing to the eventual winner of the whole thing, Kairi Sane. This year, she’s officially signed by the WWE — as a member of the NXT UK brand — and she plans to go all the way to the top. Latest WWE star signee Io Shirai, on the other hand, has an easy path through the tournament: not because her opponents have been too easy but because she’s just too good.

Prediction: Sorry, Io. It’s Toni Time.

Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler (NXT)

The story: Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler is a feud that has technically been going on since the first Mae Young Classic. There, Sane beat Baszler, only for Baszler to eventually beat her on an episode of NXT (on the way to Baszler’s reign as NXT Women’s Championship). But when Sane challenged Baszler to the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4, she knew one thing to be true: She could beat the “Queen of Spades.” And she did, although there’s been some discrepancy about that (not so much the winning but the “beating”). Since then Baszler’s been getting her mind and body right at training camp to get back the NXT Women’s Championship.

Prediction: Since Shayna Baszler thinks Kairi Sane didn’t really beat her at TakeOver, now is the time for Sane to do just that. No more excuses after that, right?

The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, & Sarah Logan) vs. Natalya, Sasha Banks, & Bayley (RAW)

The story: The Riott Squad are the only three-woman squad left in WWE, and Natalya’s still looking for payback after they jumped her a few weeks before Super Show-Down. (We could’ve gotten Natalya answering Ronda Rousey’s championship open challenge, you jerks.) Leading into this match, Ruby Riott has a singles win over Sasha Banks, which definitely sounds like momentum.

Prediction: Singles momentum is not the same a trios momentum though, and while the Riott Squad are the established trios, it looks like Natalya is finally going to get her revenge.

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair, in a Last Woman Standing match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship (SmackDown)

The story: This is the first Last Woman Standing match — on the main roster, thank you very much, NXT — in WWE. Becky Lynch is still the hero is SmackDown LIVE, no matter what WWE tries to say. (Just listen to the WWE Universe.)

Prediction: Becky Lynch will win in a smart way — think John Cena duct-taping Batista — that “the man” (Shane McMahon, because he’s back now, for some reason) will consider underhanded. But the WWE Universe will appreciate it and Becky Lynch will still be the champ, which is all that matters.

Alexa Bliss & Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus & Lita (RAW)

The story: While weekly WWE television may not explicitly say this, this is clearly a story of Mickie James trying to make her old obsession (Trish Stratus) jealous that she’s found a new, younger obsession (Alexa Bliss). Actually, WWE television is already kind of saying this. But the other part of the story is that WWE announced a Trish Stratus vs. Alexa Bliss match, then it had Alexa Bliss sell the match — again, with the concept of her being a new, younger, and also better version of Trish — and then it had Mickie “conveniently” step into to get heat.

Prediction: While Alicia Fox will most likely be in her besties’ corner — assuming she doesn’t just end up wrestling the match herself, replacing Alexa Bliss like she did in this week’s RAW sneak attack — it wouldn’t be WWE if the veterans didn’t just win it all. No, that doesn’t mean Mickie James will win it all (even though she should win everything), it means Trish and Lita will. 

Women’s Battle Royal, for a Future Championship Opportunity (RAW, SmackDown, etc.)

The story: Well, WWE’s got to fill out the rest of the card.

Prediction: They should just let Kelly Kelly win and let chaos reign. 

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella, for RAW Women’s Championship (RAW)

The story: As it turns out, you can’t trust The Bella Twins, and after winning their Super Show-Down rematch (after already winning the match at Super Show-Down), they turned on the RAW Women’s Champion. According to them, it’s time for a “BELLALUTION,” and they’re not going to let Rousey hog the spotlight. The way The Bellas talk, this entire pay-per-view is all about them…and I guess they must have a point if Nikki Bella is in the main event.

Prediction: Nikki Bella might get the numbers advantage with her twin sister Brie in her corner, but that can only last so long until Ronda Rousey breaks Brie’s arm…and then breaks Nikki’s arm for the win. You could already tell at the contract signing that The Bellas regretted poking the bear, so this could be a massacre. Perhaps a back-and-forth match but still a massacre.