Evolve 131: Card preview & predictions for WWE Network special

Evolve Champion Austin Theory vs WWN Champion JD Drake – Title Unification

In perhaps the biggest match of the night, WWN’s two top champions will go head-to-head in a Winner Take All Title Unification. If any match featuring unknown stars on this night was must see, it’s this one.

If anyone in Evolve could be called WWE bound, it’s Austin Theory. Not only does he have the look and charisma perfect for the WWE stage, he’s been viewed as something of a pet project from those greener pastures for quite some time now. Back in 2017, NXT General Manager William Regal entered the ring and challenged Theory to become a breakout star in 2018. “To do that … you [need] to win a championship,” Regal added.

Theory did just that. By the end of 2017, he won the FIP World Heavyweight Championship. During WrestleMania Weekend in 2018, Theory won the WWN Championship. Although he lost the latter title just under 80 days later to Joey Janela, Theory bounced back in December by winning the Evolve Championship, a title he’s held for 209+ days. Now, he looks to regain the WWN Championship from JD Drake, only this time to unify both belts.

JD Drake has been holding the WWN Championship for nearly 260 days, longer than any other champion before him. Drake reads like a modern day Dusty Rhodes. While his look is unconventional, he connects with audiences as the hard working blue collar man while legitimizing himself through his immense in-ring talent.

Drake and Theory have actually tussled one-on-one twice before. Theory got the win at Evolve 93 while Drake got his win back at Evolve 124 in a WWN Championship defense. This Winner Take All encounter will be a tie-breaker and their biggest match to date. With this being the biggest spotlight to be shined on who I believe to be a future WWE NXT prospect in Austin Theory, I think that Theory comes out on top this time.

Prediction: Austin Theory