Hall’s WWE Evolve Review 7.15.26

Evolve
Date: July 15, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

Things are getting interesting around here and we have another title match this week. In this case, we have the Evolve Title on the line as Aaron Rourke defends against Harlem Lewis. Other than that, a bunch of women are gearing up to come after Nikkita Lyons and the Women’s Title so let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the Evolve Title match. They’re both respectful of each other but they’re ready to fight.

Opening sequence.

Chazz Hall vs. Max Abrams

Hold on though as Abrams tells the rest of the Mog Squad to hit the spa while he hits Hall. They fight over a top wristlock to start so Hall grabs a waistlock on the mat. That’s broken up, leaving Hall to send him into the corner for a monkey flip. A nice dropkick gives Hall two and he grabs a front facelock to slow things down. Abrams escapes and gets kicked in the head for a crash out to the floor. That’s fine with Abrams, who counters a dive into an apron powerbomb as we take a break.

We come back with Hall still in trouble, including a jumping back elbow to give Abrams two. A Disaster Kick gives Abrams two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Abrams misses a splash in the corner but is right back with a Falcon Arrow for two. Hall’s comeback bid is cut off but he avoids a frog splash. Hall snaps off a headscissors out of the corner and a standing Sliced Bread gets two.

Abrams crotches him up top though and a running Blockbuster gets two more. Hall kicks him down and gets two off a standing corkscrew moonsault. The tease of a dive is almost cut off but Hall kicks him down instead. Cue the Squad so here are the ID stars for the brawl, with Hall hitting the big flipping dive. Cappuccino Jones accidentally hits Hall though and the Main Objective finishes for Abrams at 12:43.

Rating: B-. This was a pretty wild match for Evolve’s standards and I wound up getting into the thing. Abrams is a good choice as the cocky heel and it’s interesting seeing him actually having some success. He has to be part of the Squad, just due to the amount of people around here, but it’s working out pretty well, especially for Abrams.

Post match Hall and Jones have to be held apart.

Timothy Thatcher wishes Harlem Lewis good luck, which he seems to appreciate.

Video on the ID Program and some of its successes.

Nikkita Lyons and Sloane Jacobs aren’t happy with so many people coming after the Women’s Title, starting with Laynie Luck. Lyons wants Luck to get the first shot at the title, just to get rid of her. She’s not worried about Wendy Choo either, and sings about it for some reason.

Layla Diggs vs. Veronica Haven

Diggs shoulders her in the corner to start and grabs a powerslam. The standing moonsault gives Diggs two but Haven snaps a hurricanrana out of the corner. Diggs fights up with some kicks to the face and a sitout gordbuster for two. Haven tries a rollup but gets kicked in the head, setting up the moonsault for the pin at 4:25.

Rating: C. This was just a step above a squash as Diggs gave Haven a bit of offense before finishing with that great moonsault. Diggs has come a long way and I’m curious to see where she goes from here. Hopefully her injury (as seen in NXT) isn’t that bad and she can get back in the ring to keep that momentum going.

The ID Program fires up Aaron Rourke when Timothy Thatcher comes in to wish him luck. Rourke says he has been tested his entire life and has always passed. He seems to appreciate Thatcher’s words though and heads to the ring. With Rourke gone, Chazz Hall blames Cappuccino Jones for the loss but Jones wants a tag match with Marcus Mathers against the former security guards. Thatcher reluctantly agrees.

Elijah Holyfield wants revenge on Brooks Jensen.

Evolve Title: Harlem Lewis vs. Aaron Rourke

Rourke is defending and gets speared into the Boom Slang for the very near fall in about fifteen seconds. Lewis misses a charge into the post and falls out to the floor, where Rourke grabs a Blockbuster off the apron. They get back in with Rourke knocking him down for two and we take a break.

We come back with Lewis working on a waistlock but Rourke fights back up. A charge in the corner is countered into a backbreaker, with Lewis bending said back over the knee. Rourke fights up and grabs a tornado DDT, followed by the running knees in the corner. A split legged moonsault gives Rourke two and they both get back up.

Lewis wins a strike off but his powerbomb is countered into a sunset flip. Back up and Lewis runs his over for one and Rourke is back with a fireman’s carry backbreaker for two. The Molly Go Round is loaded up but gets countered into a powerbomb. The Boom Slang gives Lewis the pin and the title at 8:51.

Rating: B. This turned into a heck of a fight with the two of them beating the fire out of each other. Lewis jumping him at the start is rather on point for him and the match went from there, which made for a good story. Rourke had a good run as champion and has come a VERY long way. If he gets to develop like this on NXT, he’s going to be just fine.

Lewis celebrates as Rourke looks on to end the show.

 

Results
Max Abrams b. Chazz Hall – Main Objective
Layla Diggs b. Veronica Haven – Moonsault
Harlem Lewis b. Aaron Rourke – Boom Slang

 

 

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8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Good, and certainly eventful show here with the title change feeling like the biggest thing that can happen in Evolve. I’m not sure where we’re going from here but it should be interesting to see what happens. If nothing else, the Women’s Title match is already set up and then we get to see a few more matches built. That’s a great mixture of what is going on here and getting ready for later, which is a thing that Evolve tends to make work every time. This was more what Evolve does well and it was nice to see them doing that again here.