The road to WWE Evolution is officially underway, and the stakes couldn’t be clearer. On June 17, NXT launched its Evolution Eliminator mini-tournament for a shot at Jacy Jayne’s NXT Women’s Championship.
Meanwhile, champion Jacy Jayne opened the night with a cold reminder to the rest of the roster: underestimate her at your own risk. And with Stephanie Vaquer’s name still fresh in everyone’s minds, Jayne made it clear—if she can beat the “unbeatable,” then maybe the real problem is that no one’s ready for her.
Let’s break down the action, because the field is starting to take shape!
Evolution Eliminator Match: Thea Hail vs. Jaida Parker
We’re live and already swinging. Thea Hail, apparently done with entrances, jumped Jaida Parker before the bell even rang. Chaos from the jump as Thea landed mounted punches, but Jaida turned the tide fast, throwing Hail neck-first into the bottom rope and wrenching her around with some very legal but very rude rope-based offense.
Jaida slowed things down with chinlocks and slams, mixing in a nasty spin-and-drop headlock that nearly got the three. But Thea’s not built to quit. She fired back with a diving clothesline, suplexes, and a beautiful suicide dive that turned Jaida inside out.
Post-break, Jaida had taken back control and landed the Tear Drop. She went for Hypnotic, but Thea countered with a tight Kimura and even rolled through to reapply the hold. Jaida tapped—but not where the ref could see. Rookie mistake. Thea thought she had it won, but the match kept going, and Jaida made her pay for that lapse with a brutal Hypnotic for the win.
Winner: Jaida Parker
We cut to a high-glam vignette as Blake Monroe prepares to sign her contract. Not with a pen—with presence. The narrator reminded us: when Glamour signs, it’s not paperwork. It’s a moment. New era incoming.
Evolution Eliminator Match: Kelani Jordan vs. Lash Legend
Lash shoved Kelani at the bell and used her size early, tossing Kelani and going for a big splash. Kelani dodged and hit a slick senton, followed by some rope-running agility that led to a rana and a dropkick that sent Lash outside. The Asai moonsault from the apron? Chef’s kiss.
Back from break, Lash had regained control and nearly ended things with a pump kick that could’ve cracked a rib. She tortured Kelani with an over-the-shoulder rack but got caught with a Codebreaker as Kelani fought free. From there it was back-and-forth chaos: sliced bread, a Five Star Frog Splash, a split-legged moonsault attempt—each time, Lash had an answer.
Kelani went for a high-risk 450 but landed on Lash’s knees. That was the opening Lash needed. She scooped Kelani up and hit a back-over slam for the win.
Winner: Lash Legend
Credit where it’s due: Lash weathered the storm and shut the door. Kelani may be flashier, but Lash was smarter tonight.
Zaria and Sol were all smiles as they prepped for content, but then… Tatum Paxley appeared from inside a production crate. Why? Unclear. But when Tatum’s lurking, someone’s probably about to lose focus. Keep that in mind.
Evolution Eliminator Match: Zaria vs. Izzi Dame
Izzi went full ambush mode with a roll-up and head kick right off the bat, but Zaria answered with fast strikes, a corner splash, and a big pump kick that set the tone early. After trading suplex attempts and momentum swings, Zaria hit a sleeper slam off the second rope for a nearfall as we went to commercial.
Post-break, Izzi muscled her way back in with a bodyslam and a towering chokeslam that earned a two-count. Zaria regained steam with a release German and a burst of strikes—until Tatum Paxley strolled out to “talk” to Sol.
Zaria turned to look (because of course she did), and Izzi capitalized with a sitout spinebuster that ended it.
Winner: Izzi Dame
Zaria had this match until she didn’t. Tatum may not have laid a hand on her, but her presence was the game-changer. And Izzi was happy to cash in.
Evolution Eliminator Match: Jordynne Grace vs. Lola Vice
Grappling clinic early as Grace and Lola traded waistlocks and headlocks, feeling each other out with technical precision. But when it came time to throw hands, Grace turned up the heat. A thunderous DVD and elbow drop gave her the first major momentum.
Lola, however, used her speed and submissions to slow Grace down. She locked in a Guillotine that nearly forced a tap, only for Grace to power out and slam her way free.
A second exchange saw Lola hit a slick spinning backfist that nearly ended it. She went for her Knockout Blow, but Grace reversed it into a Stretch Muffler Suplex (!) and then, with no wasted motion, planted Lola with the Juggernaut Driver for the emphatic win.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
Ava was already in the ring with the velvet ropes and paperwork ready, and she wasted no time hyping what she called “the best women’s division in all of pro wrestling.” According to her, it’s about to get even stronger as the hottest free agent in the game joins the NXT roster.
That brings out “The Glamour” Blake Monroe.
And for once? Not a bad entrance theme.
Blake took the mic and immediately set the tone—equal parts glitz, ego, and dangerous self-belief. She declared this “the moment we’ve all gushed, glossed, and glammed for,” then said she’s been dreaming of “hopping into bed with this kind of talent” in the locker room. The crowd reacted, and Blake didn’t blink.
She called WWE her dream, and now that she’s here, she made it clear: the women’s division belongs to her. Why? Because The Glamour doesn’t follow the spotlight—she is the spotlight.
With a dramatic flourish, Blake signed the contract… but cue the buzzkill.
Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Jazmyn Nyx) stormed the ring, unimpressed. Jacy called out Ava for “kissing the newbie’s ass” and reminded her that Fatal Influence has been running this division without fanfare. Fallon scoffed that her title reign never got this kind of treatment, and Jazmyn flat-out told Blake she was delusional if she thought she was taking anything from them.
Blake? Not rattled.
She smirked and responded with: “So the rumors are true—Fatal Influence are as insecure as they are bitches.”
That did it.
Blake delivered the classic “ever tried this one?” line and slapped Jacy across the face. A wild brawl broke out, with Blake fending off Fallon—until Jacy cracked her across the back. In a blink, Blake got double-teamed and slammed through the contract table as Fatal Influence stood tall, reminding everyone that they still run the show… for now.
A hell of a welcome to NXT.
Tonight we got four matches and four advancing competitors—Jaida Parker, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, and Jordynne Grace—each with wildly different styles, personalities, and paths to victory. Jacy Jayne may be confident, but as this bracket gets tighter, her odds are shrinking.
Next week, we find out who moves to the finals—and who advances towards Evolution. Sound off in the comments!