Hey all you Cats and Kittens out there! It’s @TheMagnumDA with yet another PPV Pick’em! Tonight, the Pick’em Crew gets in touch with their feminine side, as they lay out their predictions for the first ever all-Women’s PPV in WWE history: EVOLUTION!!
Here’s a recap of the 2018 WWE PPV Pick’em Season so far:
Colin: 70 Points
Heel Turn Tom: 70 Points
MagnumDA: 69 Points
Tricky Don: 69 Points
No “69” jokes! Let’s have some decency. This is a ladies’ PPV, after all. 😀
Six-Woman Tag Match
Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan and Ruby Riott)
Colin: Will this be the night that Sasha and Bayley finally explode? Just do it already! Would have loved Sasha vs Bayley on this show. I pick the Riott Squad to win and a massive meltdown for their opponents.
Magnum: This has dramz written all over it. The Riott Squad has been prominently featured all summer, but they’ve jobbed quite a bit along the way. This is their chance to finally pick up a big PPV win, and all of this leads into the Sasha/Bayley blow-up that many of us have been waiting for since May. Riott Squad snakes a big W.
Tom: First off, prayers to Roman Reigns and his family. Get healthy and come back so I can boo you again. Sasha, Bayley, and Natalya get the feel good win to kick off Evolution over the The Riott Squad.
Don: I am tagging in Big Patt for this one, and the Big Patt says lately The Riott Squad has had pretty good luck in their recent matches and I feel like their teamwork will be better than ever this Sunday. Bayley, Sasha, and Natalya haven’t worked as a team yet so I feel like the Riott Squad has the advantage and will take the win.
Battle Royal – Winner Gets Women’s Title Match
Participants Announced (so far): Asuka, Tamina, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Ember Moon, Alicia Fox, Nia Jax, Dana Brooke, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Carmella, Lana, Naomi, Torrie Wilson, Michelle McCool, Alundra Blayze, Ivory, Kelly Kelly, Maria Kanellis, Molly Holly, and Zelina Vega.
Colin: Tricky one. So many potential winners but I’m leaning towards either Nia or Asuka. I think Ronda will be occupied for a bit with the Bellas so I’m thinking more of a Smackdown women getting the win here so I’m going for Asuka.
Magnum: DEUCE IS BACK! Sorry, I loved Madusa back in the day…and I never thought she would return to the ring as Alundra Blayze, but here we are. Speaking of returns, we got a commitment from Michelle McCool but NOT Layla El? I want my LayCool reunion, damnit! Also, where’s Sunny in this lineup? She just got out of jail, Vince! Throw her a bone, for crying out loud!
Okay, okay…let’s get serious. I think back to when Andre the Giant would dominate every Battle Royal he participated in, and it got me thinking…wouldn’t it make sense for Nia Jax to assume that role? There’s a lot of veterans and HOF’ers in the match, but whoever wins this has their eye on the future…and Nia Jax has some unfinished business with Ronda Rousey. Give me Nia to squash these ladies like bugs.
Tom: I see WWE trying to get someone over from the battle royal win but I feel this person will get the same push as the Andre the Giant Battle Royal winner. So, with that being said, I see Ember Moon winning and everyone gets a let down when this goes no where for her after one promo next week.
Don: My final four will consist of Nia Jax, Asuka, Alundra Blayze, and Naomi. I was originally leaning towards Naomi, to have her win the first all woman’s battle royal at both Wrestlemania 34 and Evolution. Ultimately, I think the WWE will go with Nia Jax, to help build her star power back up.
NXT Women’s Championship
Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
Colin: I think it’s time for Shayna to move up to the main roster, join Ronda in her fight against the Bellas. Do the job, move up. Kairi Sane wins this one.
Magnum: Now THIS is a tough pick. It makes all the sense in the world for Shayna to win back her Championship, but Kairi wouldn’t have anywhere to go without that Championship. If someone comes in to cost Kairi the match, then she’ll be able to transition away from the title. Hell, let’s go with that finish. Baszler wins back her NXT Championship.
Tom: I think Shayna will be great on the main roster, but I don’t see a spot for her yet and I don’t want her to get lost in the mix like other champs (Asuka and Ember Moon). Also some titles have to change so Shayna taps out Kairi and is the new NXT Women’s Champion.
Don: I have to think that Shayna will be called up to the main roster for a possible feud with Ronda Rousey, or to set up a Four Horsewomen team at Survivor Series. With the possible call-up, I have no other choice to pick Kairi.
2018 Mae Young Tournament Finals
Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm
Colin: Should be a great match! Both are awesome women. I think the MYC tournament is ready for the second Japanese winner in a row. Io Shirai is simply on another level, if not planet. Fantastic performer and I can’t wait to see her more on NXT.
Magnum: Toni had her heart broken when she lost the UK Championship to Rhea Ripley. I think that this is the turning point for her. Toni will defeat the ultra-talented Io Shirai with the Storm Zero to become the 2018 Fabu…er…Mae Young Tournament Champion. 🙂
Tom: I am trying to get in the mindset of WWE. They had a Japanese wrestler win the tournament last year. Also, Storm may be in the mix for NXT UK title. So with those two reasons, Storm wins the 2018 Mae Young Tournament.
Don: The inaugural Mae Young Classic resulted in a Japanese wrestler winning the tournament. I think WWE has to shake it up, and can not go back to back with two Japanese wrestlers. With that being said, I think Toni Storm will be the victor.
Tag Team Match
Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Alicia Fox and Mickie James
Colin: In my original pick, I had Bliss and James winning with Bliss getting the pinfall on one of the two Hall of Famers. With Bliss out of the match, I think Lita and Trish will now get this one. It’s very unfortunate for Bliss to be out of this pay-per-view. She’s been excellent over the past two years. Unlucky.
Magnum: I miss Ms. Stratagias. Damn, she is so beautiful. Focus, Magnum! Sorry about that. Anyways, with the inclusion of Alicia Fox…methinks that the HOFer’s are going to dominate. Give me Trish and Lita to win, with Miss Foxy taking the fall.
Tom: The feel-good Attitude Era match. I wish this had something more like tag titles at stake. Mickie will take the pin from Trish. Attitude Era Divas (Trish and Lita) get the win and the pop.
Don: It is awesome to see Trish and Lita back. The Internet will lead us to believe this is not a one-off match, and could appear on future network specials. I have always rooted for Trish and Lita since the early 2000’s, and have always picked them to win. With 100% certainty we will hear multiple you still got it chants. With 90% certainty, Trish and Lita will reignite their career and light up the PPV. Trish and Lita win.
WWE SmackDown Live Women’s Championship – LAST WOMAN STANDING
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
Colin: The new “Stone Cold” Becky Lynch is absolutely awesome. Like she says…she’s “the man!” The two have been doing some great stuff and if Ronda wasn’t involved in this PPV they would have totally main evented the show. It’s “personal” and I love it! Anything but a Becky victory here would be wrong. She’s on a roll and she should keep on being the bad ass bitch. Becky wins.
Magnum: I’m right there with Colin…”Bad Ass” Becky Lynch is definitely a moneymaker. If she’s not careful, she could become the biggest babyface in the history of Women’s wrestling. Okay, that might be a stretch. Still…*right now* is the most fascinating time in Becky’s career, and anything to derail her momentum would be a crying shame. Since Charlotte doesn’t have to take the fall, I think Becky holds on to the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Onward, you Bad Ass Lasskicker. 😀
Tom: This is tough. I think it will be Flair as champ by Wrestlemania. But we have a lot of time, shows, and PPV until then. I am liking what they are doing with Becky and I don’t want to see that stop. Becky stands tall at the end and stays the champ.
Don: Evolution is going to make history. This match will make history as well. I think WWE needs to keep both stars strong, and creatively they will need to keep the title on Becky for now. This one will have a surprise finish and end when both superstars simultaneously take a huge bump. DOUBLE KO.
WWE Raw Women’s Championship
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella
Colin: You know what, I’m actually looking forward to this one. Really. Rousey hasn’t disappointed since hopping onboard and this feud with Nikki kicked into overdrive over the past two weeks. I love it how they’re going all out against each other on social media in a worked-shoot style. This will no doubt main event the show and my money is on Ronda to win. How, though, remains to be seen. Can totally see Brie interfering causing the DQ but ending a historic night on a non-finish would be a downer.
Magnum: A lot of people are intrigued by this match. While I’m not as interested as those folks, I don’t think Ronda had too many choices for a dance partner (outside of a Nia Jax rematch). You really can’t blame the Bellas for wanting to swoop in and get involved with this show, but they represent Divas of a bygone era. Times have changed. Ronda destroys Nikki and retains the Raw Women’s Championship.
Tom: It’s nice Nikki is still getting work after breaking up with John Cena. It’s like she has family in the company. I see them trying twin magic. But if Rousey loses the title, I may stop watching. Ronda wins with a tap out.
Don: We have not seen this much main stream star power in one match since the 1980’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection since the 1980s. History will repeat itself as it did 30 years ago during the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection and the good girls will win. Ronda Rousey all the way, and this will lead to Rousey joining Total Divas, and quite possibly taking over Total Bellas.
Alright, that’s going to do it for the Pick’em Crew! We’ll see you later this week for the ultra-controversial Crown Jewel PPV! @TheMagnumDA, signing off.
