wrestling / TV Reports
Leighty’s WWE Evolve Review 10.28.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 10.28.26
-Source: Tubi
-Run Time: 44:58
-Plug: Nitro 6.23.97
-My 1996 Retro PPV Reviews Book has been sold in The UK, India, and Germany. Where will it end up next? Pick up your copy on Amazon and if you can, please leave an honest review.
-Then! Now! Forever! Together!
-Announce Team: Blake Howard and Robert Stone
-Taped: WWE PC, Orlando, FL
-Elijah Holyfield says someone is getting knocked out tonight. This is his first Triple Threat, but he is the one getting his hand raised.
-Show opening! I looked up the lyrics to the show at one point. Forget them already!
Harley Riggins vs. Milosh Jovic
-Been a bit since we’ve seen Jovic. Thanks, Blake, for letting me know this is his second appearance. I don’t know if this is going to go well for him. Lockup and Harley lands a chop against the ropes. He goes to work on the arm and shoulder while slapping Jovic in the back of the head. Milosh shoves off, but gets run over with a shoulder tackle. Milosh back with a series of arm-drags. Harley gets away and hits a version of The Claymore. He goes ground and pound before dropping an elbow. He works in the catchphrase that he is determined to get over. Stun-Gun followed by a clothesline for a two count. Harley with a reverse chinlock as the crowd tries to get Jovic back into this one. He fights out of a front facelock with a backdrop. Shoulder tackle by Milosh and another followed by a dropkick. Slam is escaped and Harley lands a spear. Shotgun Knee gets the pin at 3:20.
Winner: Harley Riggins via pin at 3:20
-Basically, an extended SQUASH for Harley. Jovic got to show a little bit out there, but this one only had one way to end. *
-Harley sends Jovic into the steps after the match. I approve as they need to make Harley into a KILLER. He goes to drop the steps on Jovic, but the officials are out to save. Harley wants Harlem to vacate as he wants The Championship.
-Marcus Mathers promo as he admits he has not been doing well in Evolve. He represents the fighting city of Philadelphia tonight. BOOO!
-Jasper Troy is out and doesn’t need the people cheering for him. He rages against the 180 lbs kids in the back that think they can hang with him. This is his new stomping ground and he throws out an open challenge.
-Wrestlepalooza is heading to Perth and is bringing RAW and SmackDown as well.
Jasper Troy vs. Jax Presley
-Jax is back as this is the first we have seen of him since the start of 2026 due to a shoulder injury. Jax has a different look as well, which isn’t a bad thing when making a return. Troy tries a slam, but Jax slides out and goes for own of his own. No go as Jasper slugs him down and then runs him back first into the corner. Now Jasper gets the slam followed by a delayed vertical suplex for two. He misses a standing splash and Jax gets a cross-body. He charges and Troy catches him with a bear-hug. Jax punches his way out but misses a boot and gets caught in the ropes. Troy stomps him down and uses his boot to choke. He misses a splash in the corner, but Jax still can’t get the slam. Standing Splash and another from Troy, but Jax is out at two. Splash in the corner and a modified Black Hole Slam gets two. Troy with a series of knees to the ribs and hooks an abdominal stretch. Makes sense! Troy with a powerslam, but goes up for a Vader Bomb instead of a cover. It misses and Jax starts firing away with jab. He lands a back elbow to drop Troy to a knee. Jax with elbows in the corner and now he gets the slam. Lariat gets the pin at 5:30. Blake called it an Ax Bomber. Hmm!
Winner: Jax Presley via pin at 5:30
-As we know, Troy was released a few months back, but it probably wasn’t a good sign for him that he lost this match. Nice to see Jax back and he looks to be in good shape. We will see what he can bring and they have a story with Harley whenever they want to get there. As for the match it was okay and basic. I appreciated the work on the ribs, but it was kind of forgotten by the end. **
-Long video package of The MOG Squad talking about Max Abrams facial surgery. Again, The MOG Squad just doesn’t work for me the way Vanity Project did. Maybe that’s the point though.
-Survivor Series: WAR GAMES! Houston!
-Sloane Jacobs welcomes us to The Nationwide Admiration Ceremony for Nikkita Lyons. She runs down the list of challengers that Lyons has defeated in her run as Champion. Big Cat is out and the fans cheers are music to her ears. She gives praise to her spirit guides and you can see that annoyed Sloane a little. Lyons has the crowd breath in, hold it, and then admire what she has conquered. Anya Rune is out and introduces herself as Nikkita likely doesn’t know her well. She is here to show that she is the Main Character and Lyons will notice her. She feels she should be the next challenger and that has Lyons and Jacobs laughing at her. Foreman Thatcher is out and says Anya needs one more win before she can challenge Lyons. He books Anya vs. Sloane for the Nov. 11th show. Thatcher isn’t finished and next week it’s Lyons vs. Thea vs. Skylar Raye vs. Wendy Choo. Anya then morphs into her gear and I can’t. Again, this is not for me and that’s fine. Lyons sends Sloane into Rune and she gets knocked down. None of this worked for me, but they did set up matches for the next few weeks.
-Shido Ash video package. For now, he is solo as Viktor is off training back in Europe. He took out Cap and Starboy is his next target.
-RAW commercial!
-Laynie Luck and Aaron Rourke are backstage together. I smell a mixed tag match coming at some point! Laynie wants a match with Alix Brooks next week.
Elijah Holyfield vs. Marcus Mathers vs. Braxton Cole
-It’s Gal is watching for The VIP Section. Mathers and Cole are no longer with WWE as they were part of the NXT releases. The Cole one still puzzles me as I thought they would give him a longer leash. WIENER CHANTS!
-Interrupt this match to let you know The Milwaukee Brewers just won The World Series!
-Okay, now to the match! Stone notes the winner of this should be in consideration for a Championship match. I agree! Holyfield gets dumped to the floor so Mathers and Cole can do their thing. Mathers off the middle ropes with a missile dropkick. Holyfield rushes in and gets a roll-up for two. Mathers slides out of a slam and goes for a roll-up for Cole is back to knock both men down. He lands an elbow in the corner and sends Holyfield back to the floor. Mathers fires away with chops but Cole lands one chop to knock Mathers off his feet. Holyfield trips Cole and pulls him to the floor. They fight as Mathers leaps out with a Tope con Hilo. We take a break at 2:16.
-Main Event on Rumble commercial! Here’s my review from today’s episode.
-Back at 2:48 with Mathers working over Cole in the corner. He lands a dropkick for a one count. Cole dumps him on the apron and runs him into the top buckle. Elijah back up and lands a liver punch. Cole kicks the ropes so they hit Elijah in his Evanders. Euro Uppercut gets a two count. Mathers up to the apron, but Cole knocks him back down. He goes back to Elijah and gets a neckbreaker. The crowd does not like Cole! I think Vince would have kept a dude getting “wiener” chant at him around for a bit. Cole with Snake Eyes to Mathers on the apron. That gives Elijah a chance to recover and he destroys Cole including a spinebuster for two. Mathers in and springs off the middle ropes with a cutter on Elijah for two. Hook Kick from Mathers to Cole but he comes back with a release suplex. Elijah rushes in and Cole goes to the eyes. Everyone on the floor as we are promised an update on Harlem next week. Cole grabs a chair from the crowd but Mathers takes it away. Cole gets run into Mathers and Holyfield lands the uppercut on Cole for the pin at 7:40.
Winner: Elijah Holyfield via pin at 7:40
-This was fine with a lot of one man on the floor, but that’s expected at this point in their careers. Elijah getting the win was the only result that made sense. They know they have something with him and the more work he can get the better. **1/4
-We hear from Thea Hail, Skylar Raye, and Wendy Choo as they get one more chance at Lyon’s Evolve Championship.
-Thanks for reading!
