10 WWE Evolution Impulse Reactions

8. Open For (This) Business

Becky Lynch Charlotte
WWE

...and the decision to start the show proper with Trish Stratus and Lita Vs Mickie James and Alicia Fox was absolutely inspired.

On paper it appeared one of the bigger matches on the show, but WWE shrewdly visualised the possible pitfalls in Alexa Bliss' late write-out and Trish and Lita's potential (though not-actually-realised) propensity for a botch or two and gave the quartet a white hot crowd to wrestle in front of.

The atmosphere was frustratingly unfamiliar. Thanks to three hour Raws and force fed super-service via the WWE Network, the company have made it so that hardly anybody or thing gets a reaction like these superstars did - but what loud and throaty breaths of fresh air they were.

Nassau Coliseum were thirsty for Attitude Era throwbacks and got them in spades. Lita - sporting a tasteful nod to her TV-14 attire of old - chucked a moonsault that generate gasps of wonder rather than worry. Stratus wrestled like she hadn't actually missed a day since her 2006 retirement, particular during electric segments with longstanding rival Mickie James.

An Alicia Fox botch at the end couldn't halt fan enthusiasm for the card overall, nor the momentum the show was already building in a way Michael Cole couldn't even bullsh*t about.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett