Roundtable: WWE Evolution

On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the build to WWE Evolution?

Juan Bautista: 2.75. Sometimes it’s good and other times it doesn’t excite you. For example, the promo between Alexa, Mickie, Trish and Lita this past Raw. Of course, there are factors in the buildup such as availability of part timers and the state of the main roster. They can’t just start pushing someone like Ember Moon out of nowhere nor can they bury someone for the sake of the event.

Chad Gelfand: 3. I’m excited to see what WWE puts together for their first all-women’s PPV, but I haven’t been blown away by the build.

Jack Goodwillie: 3. The reality is that while this may be the first women’s-only WWE big event, it is eerily reminiscent of the wash-rinse-repeat lazy booking of most of this year’s cards. The card looks good on paper, but they’re shoehorning many of the women into that battle royal, all of whom could have easily had their own program if the writing was the least bit imaginative.

David Gibb: I’m basing my answer off watching the Mae Young Classic and NXT, but it’s been good, I guess. I’m aware of the show. I’m confident it will be good.

John Corrigan: 1. Bringing back Trish and Lita is the only saving grace. It’s clear that WWE believes the historic feel is enough to draw buys – nothing has been done to build up interest in most of the women’s roster. Three of the matches announced for the card feature women not on Raw or SmackDown. No offense to them, but that’s a shame. Why should we care what Asuka, Naomi, Riott Squad, Carmella or any of the other ladies do each week if they’re not positioned to matter at their biggest event?

Steven Jackson: 3. The build started strong, but the Crown Jewel fiasco has detracted from the event sadly. The Mae Young Classic has definitely helped the buildup, though.

Which match are you most looking forward to?

Bautista: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte. Whoever comes out as champion will most likely take on Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series. There is speculation of a potential jaw injury with Becky Lynch; if that is the case, then WWE may be forced to hot shot a potential WrestleMania match.

Gelfand: Charlotte vs. Becky. This match has the most build and they should be given plenty of time on the show to have a great match.

Goodwillie: I love nostalgia, so for me it’s Trish and Lita vs. Alexa and Mickie. There’s a lot these four can work with in this one from a backstory standpoint (double entendre). On an unrelated note, go on YouTube and check out a video detailing the Evolution (pardon the pun) of Trish Stratus’ accent. It will blow your mind.

Gibb: Becky and Charlotte. They’ve had the best story, the title feels important for both of them, and they’re two of the performers who helped plant the seed that made this show happen.

Corrigan: Trish and Lita vs. Alexa and Mickie. I love all four of these ladies and expect a fun match. If Mickie does the Stratusfaction counter from WrestleMania 22, I’ll Shiva Blast.

Jackson: The finals of the Mae Young Classic are what I’m most looking forward to. I think it will be a brilliant end to the tournament and I hope that it main-event’s the show.

Have you followed this year’s Mae Young Classic?

Bautista: I have been following through highlights and updates. There is great talent involved. It is a bit weird that a significant event is airing on tape delay, but it’s still good action.

Gelfand: I haven’t kept up with this year’s Mae Young Classic much beyond watching some highlights on YouTube and reading some spoilers.

Goodwillie: Of course I have, and I look forward to doing another podcast with Jenna at its conclusion so we can see how right or wrong we were going into it.

Gibb: Of course! The improvement of some of the talent since last year is incredible.

Corrigan: Nope. I still haven’t seen last year’s. I don’t know how anybody can keep up with all this wrasslin’.

Jackson: I have been following the Mae Young Classic and I have enjoyed it tremendously. WWE is capable of producing compelling pro wrestling when it wants to and the Mae Young Classic is proof of that. I just wish they did it more often.

How would you feel about Lita and Trish coming back for more matches?

Bautista: I would be okay with the one off, but keep it to that. There is a roster ready to tear shit up. The Bellas are enough. They already do this to the men enough – don’t do it to the women, too.

Gelfand: If it was a select few matches and the story made sense, of course I would love to see both of them back in action. But if they were to come back and wrestle on a semi-regular basis, they would lose some of their specialness.

Goodwillie: We’ll see. I think both left wrestling with a lot of mileage left on them so I want to see what they have left before I jump to any conclusions. The problem is what can they possibly do now that can top their very best work going back 10 years or so ago? My guess is not much, and that’s not a knock on the current talent. Lita did her best work with the Hardys and Edge, nearly all of whom are retired now and Trish was at her best when her character was, let’s just say, not fit for today’s TV product.

Gibb: I think it’s a terrible idea. The level of competition has risen so high that they’d be exposed quickly.

Corrigan: Bring em back! If Wikipedia is to be believed, Lita and Trish are both in their early 40s, which WWE interprets as your prime. Plus, they looked good in their brief stints in the Women’s Royal Rumble. And it’s not like they’d be taking TV time away from anybody that WWE hasn’t already dropped the ball on.

Jackson: Lita and Trish coming back is a lot like the HBK situation. Everyone is torn as to what they want. We want to see it, but we don’t want to see it. We need to see it. We don’t need to see it. Personally, let the new breed of female pro wrestlers shine. Trish and Lita can be appreciated from a far for what they contributed to this PPV in the annals of history.

Who wins: Becky or Charlotte?

Bautista: Becky. She’ll lead the blue brand and if they book it right, she’ll take on Asuka at Mania.

Gelfand: I think Becky takes this match and moves on to her next opponent and feud. I’m not quite sure what Charlotte would do after this feud, though.

Goodwillie: Becky. I’ll never forget the first time I saw the light on Becky Lynch when she debuted the orange hair against Sasha Banks at NXT Takeover. It was a lot like when Dawson sees Joey in a dress for the first time. That said, Becky’s weird sense of humor and poor storyline continuity on SmackDown did lose me for a while, but I’m back aboard the train because as sweet as she may legitimately be in real life, she plays this character to perfection. History has shown us that when women in WWE can have a compelling character, they will very quickly shatter the glass ceiling on how over women’s wrestlers can be, much faster than the men. Trish Stratus, Lita and AJ Lee all accomplished this feat, and if you were watching the television during the heydays of these characters, you know exactly what I mean. Charlotte is a good hand and her background is unquestioned, but she is a bad babyface right now and it’s simply not her time. At this rate, it would not shock me if Ronda Rousey faces Becky Lynch and not Charlotte at WrestleMania, but that’s an editorial for another day.

Gibb: I think Becky Lynch has to retain because she just got the title, but I’m also scared they’ll do some double-ten-count “Fight Forever” non-finish rather than giving her the win.

Corrigan: It’s way too soon for Becky to be derailed, but a Last Woman Standing match indicates that Charlotte will lock in the figure 8 and prevent the true Pride of Ireland from making it to her feet.

Jackson: As I don’t follow the product closely I’ve no idea! If I had to choose Charlotte because of the politics. But who knows?!