wrestling / TV Reports
Leighty’s WWE Evolve Review 11.4.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 11.4.26
-Source: Tubi
-Run Time: 45:02
-Episode 86
-It’s a packed night in the wrestling world as NXT and AEW battle it out for Wednesday Night Supremacy. For WWE, they are triple booked with NXT, Evolve, and Main Event. Main Event drops at 10 PM but Evolve is up now.
-Plug: I was asked to talk about Chelsea/Liv at Crown Jewel on The North South Podcast and you find a link here.
-They were also nice enough to plug my book, which you can find here if you want to pick up a Kindle or paperback copy.
-Then! Now! Forever! Together!
-Announce Team: Blake Howard and Robert Stone
-Taped: WWE PC, Orlando, FL
-Rizzo is in VIP to interview Charlie Dempsey. He has wrestled the best and he has his eyes on CJ Valor.
CJ Valor vs. Ulka Sasaki
-Sasaki and Dempsey had a BANGER weeks ago. Valor is no longer part of Evolve, so we will enjoy what he can offer as long as we can. Ulka works the arm to start but Valor backs him against the ropes. He offers a cleanish break and bows to mock Ulka. They grapple on the mat and Ulka nearly gets arm control. He ends up with a hammerlock, but Valor counters into a side headlock. Valor with a shoulder tackle, but Ulka comes back with a series of arm-drags. Ulka tries to float over in the corner, but Valor is ready and lands a series of strikes. He slams Ulka to the mat and goes to some ground and pound before getting a two count. Chop to the back followed by a running lariat for two. Ulka hits an elbow in the corner but Valor runs him back into the corner and uses his power game. He throws Ulka across the ring but walks into a boot to the face. Ulka with a hip-toss and a clothesline that sends Valor to the floor. The Mog Squad are out to give CJ support as we head to a break at 4:30.
-Survivor Series: War Games! Houston!
-Back at 5:00 with Valor getting two off a slam. Hard whip to the corner and Valor talks some trash. He slaps Ulka and rains down with an elbow before hooking a reverse chinlock. Ulka escapes and throws kicks. Running knee strike! Discus Head Kick gets two! That looked like it should have been three! Valor with Chaos Theory for two and that also looked like it could have been three. Valor Spike is blocked and Ulka gets a rear naked choke. Valor tries to roll out, but Ulka holds it. Valor lands an elbow to break, but Ulka gets a small package for two. Ulka gets distracted by the Squad and a Valor Spike finishes at 8:16.
Winner: CJ Valor via pin at 8:16
-Not a fan of the ending but it was expected. Started slow and kind of just there, but it picked up after the break. I am a fan of Ulka and want to see more from him. Dempsey vs. Valor seems to be next and I will enjoy seeing Dempsey run through the Squad. **1/4
-The Mog Squad stares down Dempsey and he asks any one of then to jump but they leave. Smart!
-Sloane Stevens is apologizing to Nikkita Lyons. The Big Cat needs them to mediate before the Fatal Four Way!
Alix Brooks (w/ Kale Dixon) vs. Laynie Luck
-This is the in ring debut for Brooks. Alix is upset they gave her an “ugly girl” for her first match. Luck gets a side headlock and takes Brooks to the mat. Crucifix gets a near fall and Luck lets Brooks know she was “this” close to losing. Brooks with a running back elbow in the corner and a snap suplex. Luck with a trip and she goes to spring, but Kale grabs the leg. The hesitation costs Luck as she misses a Senton. Here’s Aaron Rourke and he brawls with Dixon in the ring. That’s a DQ at 1:28.
No Contest at 1:28
-This was here to set up the mixed tag match. Brooks didn’t get to show anything other than she could take some bumps. 1/2*
-Rourke throws out the challenge for the first Mixed Tag Match in WWE Evolve History.
-Richard Adonis is the newest ID Prospect. We see him being hand picked by Thatcher at a World Wrestling Network show last month. Check out the Terry Funk tights on Thatcher.
-Thea, Wendy, and Skylar are getting ready backstage. Thea has no plans to be part of a team. They all agree that as long as Nikkita doesn’t leave as Champion, they are all good. They say that now!
-Shido makes his entrance and then we head backstage where Cap gives Starboy some advice. He tells Cap his fly is down in a joke I learned in second grade. We would tell people “Kennywood Is Open.”
Shido Ash vs. Chazz “Starboy” Hall
-DENIM DRAGON! Shido has a win over Cap and has been focused on Hall as his next target. Hall makes Shido chase him around the ring and once back in hits the handspring against the ropes and flips over to deliver a clothesline. He knocks Shido to the floor and tries a baseball slide, but Shido pulls him out to the floor and slugs him down. Back in he fires away with elbows to the side of the head. He gets a throw into a slam for a two count. Hall catches a kick and gets a leg sweep. He goes for a Standing Shooting Star Press, but gets caught in a Triangle Choke. Hall flips over for two, but gets caught with a lariat that turns him inside out. He buries a knee in the back while pulling back on the arms. Hall escapes and gets a kick in the corner. He fires away with more kicks and then an uppercut. Tug of War as they battle for a whip. Hall gets the advantage and hits a standing corkscrew moonsault for two. THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! Sliced Bread is blocked. Hall flips away and hits a running kick in the corner. Zanov is out, but gets cut off by Cap. Hall misses a Shooting Star Press and Shido hits Fade to Ash for the pin at 4:38.
Winner: Shido Ash via pin at 4:38
-This was a fun little sprint and I was hoping they would get more time. Two heel distractions leading to a finish on one show is a little repetitive, but whatever. I like that each guy has a unique style and they meshed well. **3/4
-Main Event on Rumble! Tonight 10 PM!
-Thatcher is in his office and is about to update us on Harlem, but Harley rushes in and wants someone to be named Champion who can defend the Title. Thatcher says Harlem will have next week to update us and depending on what he says they may need to find a new champion. They’ve been teasing this update for weeks, so hopefully we get an answer.
WWE Evolve Women’s Championship: Nikkita Lyons (c) (w/ Sloane Jacobs) vs. Wendy Choo vs. Skylar Rae vs. Thea Hail
-Sloane does her normal over the top intro for Big Cat! We don’t have much time left, so this one isn’t going too long. The three challengers attacks Lyons at the bell and dump her to the floor. Raye with a roll-up on Hail for two. La Mistica into a cross-face from Raye. Sloane on the apron, but Anya Rune is out and uses her anime powers to shoot a light at Jacobs to knock her off the apron. Still not a fan! Especially now when it gets used in a Championship match, but at least it was only to take out Sloane. We take a break at 1:12.
-John Cena pimps Club WWE!
-Back at 1:42 with Hail and Lyons in the ring. Lyons throws Hail across the ring on her face and goes to ground and pound for a two count. Lyons rolls to the floor and gets kicked by Skylar. Kitta catches her charging in and hits an Alabama Slam against the apron. Cool! Lyons heads back in and hits a sit-out powerbomb on Wendy. Raye comes flying into the picture with a missile dropkick off the top. Nice! Tornado DDT is blocked, but Raye gets a head scissors on Raye. Another La Mistica on Lyons this time gets a two count. Raye up top, but Hail rolls through a cross-body and gets a kimura. Head-butt to Wendy. She hits Wendy with a sit-out Pedigree for two as Wendy and Lyons make the save. We are told it’s Rune vs. Jacobs net week and if Rune wins she gets a Title Match. Doesn’t that kind of give away that Lyons is retaining here? Snooze Button by Wendy on Lyons and Raye steals the cover, but it only gets two. Wendy goes for a Dirt Nap, but Hail counters. She lands an elbow and goes for a spring off the bottom ropes, but Wendy catches her with Dirt Nap. Raye hits Star Struck to break that up. All three challengers are down and Lyons comes in, but can’t find anyone to cover. Dirt Nap on Lyons and the lights flicker and we get Vanta The Unknown graphics on the screen before she shows up in the ring. She hits The Matrix Kick on Wendy and Lyons crawls over for the pin at 7:13.
Winner and Still WWE Evolve Women’s Champion: Nikkita Lyons via pin at 7:13
-Another distraction/interference ending to a match on the show. Vanta vs. Wendy makes sense as Vanta is going after the last “spooky” character. Too much gaga for me in this one which is a shame as I was enjoying the chaotic nature of the match with them spamming moves and submissions. Ignoring the supernatural/anime stuff this was solid, but that stuff is just not my cup of tea (or ginger ale as I don’t drink tea). I will say that for whatever reason the Vanta stuff doesn’t come off as cheesy to me as the Anya stuff. I am not sure what to do with this one as it was all over the place. Skylar impressed me the most out of anyone in the match as she got more time to shine. **
-Thanks for reading!
