Star Ratings Released For WWE Evolution
How did the first WWE all-women's pay per view do in the eyes of Dave Meltzer?
Dave Meltzer's star ratings for WWE Evolution have been released in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The response to WWE's historic first all-women's pay per view seemed to be a generally positive one, with enthusiastic praise reserved for Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair's Last Woman Standing match for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
The ratings for the show are as follows:
Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Mickie James and Alicia Fox - 2.5
20 Woman Battle Royal - 3.25
Mae Young Classic Final: Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai - 3.5
Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad - 3.25
NXT Women's Championship: Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler - 3.25
SmackDown Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair - 4.75
Raw Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella - 3.75
Meltzer was full of praise for the show in a more general sense, stating:
'Every match worked in its own way although the first match wasn’t that great technically, but the crowd loved seeing Trish Stratus and Lita. The Battle Royal was well laid out. Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai in the Mae Young Classic didn’t get the time, had the least interest and wasn’t dramatic, but technically they were two of the best wrestlers on the show. The only title change, Shayna Baszler becoming the first two-time NXT women’s champion, beating Kairi Sane, thanks to help from Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke, was good for what it was, and the last two matches delivered in a huge way.'
There was also a pre-show match featuring a defence of the NXT UK Women's Championship, but the build-up to the bout hasn't yet been broadcast as part of NXT UK's weekly series. To avoid spoiling the identity of the participants, we've decided against mentioning it here.
The ratings for the show are as follows:
Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Mickie James and Alicia Fox - 2.5
20 Woman Battle Royal - 3.25
Mae Young Classic Final: Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai - 3.5
Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad - 3.25
NXT Women's Championship: Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler - 3.25
SmackDown Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair - 4.75
Raw Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella - 3.75
Meltzer was full of praise for the show in a more general sense, stating:
'Every match worked in its own way although the first match wasn’t that great technically, but the crowd loved seeing Trish Stratus and Lita. The Battle Royal was well laid out. Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai in the Mae Young Classic didn’t get the time, had the least interest and wasn’t dramatic, but technically they were two of the best wrestlers on the show. The only title change, Shayna Baszler becoming the first two-time NXT women’s champion, beating Kairi Sane, thanks to help from Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke, was good for what it was, and the last two matches delivered in a huge way.'
There was also a pre-show match featuring a defence of the NXT UK Women's Championship, but the build-up to the bout hasn't yet been broadcast as part of NXT UK's weekly series. To avoid spoiling the identity of the participants, we've decided against mentioning it here.
Written by Jack King
jack.king@cultaholic.com Twitter: @JackTheJobber
