Predicting The WWE Evolution 2018 Card

To paraphrase WWE, Evolution is going to be the first ever, historic, landmark moment in the historic history of women’s wrestling… history. But all joking aside, there’s more than enough female talent on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT right now to make the PPV an absolute knockout show.

WWE Evolution won’t be airing until late October, and there’s plenty of time for management to book some brilliant matches. That being said, current storylines have the potential to either help or hinder the show, so let’s have a gander at how the card might possibly look.

 

Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss (c) | Raw Women’s Championship

So far, WWE have booked Ronda Rousey perfectly; her bouts may be sporadic, but it gives her matches that “big fight” feel that Brock Lesnar’s used to have. Personally, I also think it’s been a wise move to keep Rousey in the title hunt but without her actually winning the belt; it puts a lot of attention on the division without making Rousey a champion too early in her career.

Rousey has a match for the title at SummerSlam against Alexa Bliss, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to win. I’m predicting Nia Jax will accidentally cost Rousey the match in one way or another at SummerSlam, giving Bliss a win without making the Baddest Woman on the Planet come across as weak.

We all know Raw GM Kurt Angle has a soft spot for the former UFC Champ, so he could easily grant her a rematch at Evolution or book her in a match at Hell in a Cell to become No.1 contender. If Rousey’s really lucky, she may even get to pick a stipulation to her advantage, such as a steel cage match.

I seriously think this bout is likely to happen and for it to main event the show. It would be a good call, but I think a stipulation — like a cage match — would definitely be needed to separate it from the bout they’re having at SummerSlam.

 

Charlotte Flair vs. Carmella (C) | SmackDown Women’s Championship

Please don’t be mad at me. I know a lot of people want Carmella to drop the title at SummerSlam to Becky Lynch and I want it to happen as well, but looking at what’s going in the title scene at the moment, I just don’t see it happening.

Charlotte’s in-ring return is imminent, and she’s always in the title picture (not that it’s necessarily a bad thing). I’m predicting that the Lasskicker will just fade out of title contention because WWE doesn’t really know what to do with her. I can see Lynch having a match against Flair to determine the No.1 contender on SmackDown at some point, but she’ll lose, be gracious in defeat, and have Charlotte’s back come Evolution.

This is one of those matches I don’t want to see, but I’m pretty sure will happen anyway. It’d be good if Charlotte Flair finally got one over the Princess of Staten Island, but WWE are keen to make Carmella a top star. Don’t be surprised if she soon starts bragging about beating Charlotte Flair thrice.

 

Candice LaRae vs. Shayna Baszler (C) | NXT Women’s Championship

LaRae came so close to getting this match the other week on NXT. Mrs Wrestling put on a great showing against Nikki Cross and Kairi Sane, but the Pirate Princess got the win, and will give the world a rematch from the inaugural May Young Classic at Takeover: Brooklyn. Baszler has been booked like an absolute badass, and I don’t see Sane winning the title at Takeover. Baszler will need a new challenger for Evolution, and LaRae is the perfect contender.

The two have already gotten under each other’s skin on NXT, but they are yet to face off in a match. There’s been a bit of slow burn to this feud, and by the time the event rolls around, they should be ready to tear each other apart. Candice hasn’t had a chance to properly shine yet as she was immediately thrown into the storyline involving Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, so this could be her breakout moment to show us what she can do.

Ever since Shayna Baszler humiliated Dakota Kai after becoming champion, I’ve predicted that the Kiwi will be the one to dethrone her. NXT is great because Triple H & his team focus on long-term booking. I still believe Kai will be the next NXT Women’s Champion, so expect a great match between Baszler and LaRae, but don’t go betting any money on Mrs Wrestling taking the title home with her.

 

Nikki Cross vs. Toni Storm (C) | NXT UK Women’s Championship

In the midst of all the excitement, people seem to have forgotten NXT UK will begin taping soon, and with that, there will be another Women’s Championship in WWE.

Of all the women currently signed to the UK division, Toni Storm is arguably the most well-known across the world, so it makes sense for her to be the brand’s champion. The only problem is WWE will need to pick another recognisable opponent to make the fans care about this title match. The solution; Nikki Cross.

The two can put on an incredible bout that will garner a lot of interest in the UK Division while it’s still in its infancy stage. There’s a good chance Cross could win the title, too. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind coming back home to blighty for a bit to defend the title.

 

Io Shirai vs. TBD | May Young Classic Final

Damn you, WWE. Hurry up and name all the MYC competitors already! A few huge names have already been announced, and one of the most decorated wrestlers competing in the MYC is Io Shirai.

WWE would be stupid not to have Shirai in the finals as her name carries so much weight across the globe. The Japanese superstar was set to join the company at the same time as Kairi Sane, but health issues made WWE officials uneasy about signing her. Now that she’s part of the ‘E family, Shirai can take the world by storm and etch her name into the history books at the May Young Classic final at Evolution.

 

Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. The IIconics | Women’s Tag Team Championships

How do you add more history to an already historic night? Have two teams compete to become the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions, of course. Stephanie has already said they won’t be unveiling the titles at Evolution, but WWE is known for working the dirtsheets.

Banks & Bayley have had the most head-scratching feud of 2018, and instead of the wrestling match we were all expecting them to have, they now appear to be friends again. Banks could do a great job here of convincing Bayley everything is cool between them before deciding to screw her partner over once and for all.

As for The IIconics, they’ve been used really poorly since coming up to the main roster, and they desperately need something to do. Becoming champions could be an excellent way to get their careers on the right track, and just imagine how brilliantly unbearable they’re going to be with actual accolades on their CVs.

 

30 Woman Battle Royal

Why did Stephanie McMahon promise 50 competitors will be at Evolution? The second she said that, it became obvious that another throwaway Battle Royal would be on the card. It was a good idea at the Rumble, a bad idea at WrestleMania, and it’s going to be a bad idea again at Evolution.

Who knows what the winner will get? A trophy? Maybe a title shot? Just promise to make this match mean something, WWE, that’s all I’m asking.

 

Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan vs. Ember Moon & Becky Lynch

Every PPV has to have a preshow, right? Well, here’s the match that I think will feature on it.

It’d be a shame to put such talented women in a pointless match, but with Moon doing nothing but fight the Riott Squad and Becky constantly going up against the former Absolution ladies, WWE might just throw everything together for the sake of it.

And hey, now the numbers will add up. Stephanie McMahon has a total of 50 women on the card.

WWE promised change in the company when the women’s revolution got underway, and this all-female PPV special event is a big step in the right direction. If my predictions are right, we could be in for a quite a few brilliant matches (and maybe a stinker or two), but whether WWE hit the right mark on the night or not, you have to applaud their willingness to let the ladies of wrestling shine.