WWE Evolution preview & predictions: ‘Liv Morgan’s injured, but we did our best’

Image: WWE

It wasn’t a smooth riding leading into WWE Evolution, but there are some decent matches lined up for Sunday’s premium live event.

Of all the people WWE likely didn’t want to get injured before the PLE, it was Liv Morgan. It was either going to be her against Nikki Bella or she and Raquel Rodriguez against Nikki & Brie Bella in the main event. Either way, it would have been the featured angle heading into the show, the one used to sell tickets and such.

Morgan not being on the show hurts, but so does not having Bella in a marquee match. I think some fans underestimate how big of stars the Bellas are. Their Bella Army is massive but not necessarily tied to wrestling all the time. They follow Nikki and Brie wherever they go and there would be far more buzz about Evolution if Nikki hadn’t been relegated to the battle royal.

Still, some good matches and interesting stories could take place on Sunday. Below are previews and predictions for each match at Evolution:

WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Trish Stratus

Stratton is a -2000 favorite to retain and I certainly wouldn’t bet against that.

It’s not hard to figure out why the oddsmakers are so certain Stratton will win. Stratus is a returning legend and while that’s fun for now, she’s not going to be back for the long haul. I don’t think too many fans are going into this one thinking she has a shot. Stratton will win clean.

Naomi cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase could be teased here, but I’m not sure it will happen. If she does attempt it, I’d expect Stratus to help Stratton fight her off before the two babyfaces share a passing of the torch moment in the ring together.

Prediction: Tiffany Stratton retains

WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY defends against Rhea Ripley

It was good sportsmanship of SKY to pick Rhea Ripley as her title challenger for Evolution, but it’s likely going to cost her the championship.

Ripley is listed as a -500 favorite to win and I would even go higher than that. There could always be some outside hijinxs to cause an upset, but I think it’s time to put the belt back on Ripley and I believe WWE knows this as well.

Similar to the other babyface vs. babyface World title match on the show, it will likely be a clean finish and there could be an angle at the end when they fight off some interfering heels such as Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez.

Prediction: Rhea Ripley wins the title

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria in a three-way

Lynch is listed as a -2000 favorite to retain and she probably will, but those odds are too high for me.

Obviously, it’s a triple threat match for a title and Lynch is the only heel in there so this appears to be set up for her to retain by stealing a pin or some other type of under-handed chicanery.

Triple H doesn’t always do things right by the book, however. This is the guy who will have the babyface team get the advantage in WarGames matches after all, so just because it’s set up like this doesn’t necessarily mean Lynch will win.

Bayley (+350) hasn’t exactly been a true blue babyface leading up to this match, either. She could easily do something underhanded to get the win and it wouldn’t be inconsistent with how she’s been acting lately. There is a big part of me that thinks she could do exactly that, leading to Lynch and Valkyria (+600) both blaming the other and continuing their feud without the Intercontinental title involved.

Is it as likely as Lynch stealing a pin to get a cheap win? Probably not.

Prediction: Becky Lynch retains

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defends against Jordynne Grace

As of this writing, Grace is a -250 favorite to win the NXT Women’s Championship at Evolution but I would rate her as a much heavier favorite than that.

This match currently has the closest odds of any on the show. I feel pretty confident Grace is walking away with the title, however, likely after Blake Monroe helps her fend off Jayne’s run-in buddies.

With Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer up on the main roster, this is Grace’s division now and her crowning takes place at Evolution. I’m not certain how long of a reign she will have as she probably can’t be kept away from the main roster for much longer either. And Monroe is right there to take the title off her when that time comes.

Prediction: Jordynne Grace wins the title

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Asuka & Kairi Sane, and Sol Ruca & Zaria in a four-way

The oddsmakers have Rodriguez and Perez listed as -500 favorites to retain.

The next highest odds are Bliss and Flair at +300 who are my picks to win. I don’t know if their story needs the titles, but they need a reason to continue teaming together and winning the belts accomplishes that.

I read Flair’s Players Tribune article and I listen to a lot of her interviews. It’s clear she really wants to be liked. You can tell it would mean a lot to her. There is pain there, too. Some of it from being a celebrity who is criticized constantly, some of it from her brother Reid’s passing, and some of it from her failed marriages. I don’t know how much real life is feeding into the on-screen story, but it almost seems as though Bliss’ character sees what’s happening with Ashley Fliehr too.

I’m interested in seeing where this goes. If the story blends in real life and becomes about a constantly criticized celebrity trying to find peace, I’m down for it. It seems like a very relevant story for our times.

Asuka and Sane are listed as +500 underdogs and Sol Ruca and Zaria at +900. I’ve really enjoyed Ruca and Zaria so far and, obviously, the Kabuki Warriors are great, so this should be a fun match.

Prediction: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair win the titles

No holds barred: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi

Cargill is listed as a -2000 favorite and I don’t disagree with that at all.

WWE sees a big star in Cargill and I don’t think she is going to lose a singles match (other than a MITB cash-in scenario) in a long, long time. This won’t be a squash match, however. They will want Naomi to make this a competitive bout. That’s likely why it’s no holds barred.

Naomi will use various weapons, including her MITB briefcase, but in the end, Cargill will just be too much for her.

Cargill likely defeats Naomi here, but Naomi likely cashes in sometime soon, probably around SummerSlam, setting up a rematch.

Prediction: Jade Cargill

Battle royal for a title shot at Clash in Paris — Nikki Bella, Stephanie Vaquer, Natalya, Maxxine Dupri, Nia Jax, Ivy Nile confirmed entrants

There are no odds listed for this match but if Nikki Bella doesn’t win, I will be very surprised.

The winner of this bout gets a title shot at Clash in Paris and that seems like a fitting spot for The Bellas to be in the spotlight. There will be surprises, legends returning, and the whole nine yards. It will be a chance for the live crowd to cheer names that they haven’t seen in years while getting as many names as possible on the card.

Prediction: Nikki Bella