wrestling / TV Reports
Leighty’s WWE Evolve Review 8.5.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 8.5.26
-Source: Tubi
-Run Time: 44:07
-Episode 72
-Plugs: Dark Side: Renegade
-Announce Team: Blake Howard and Robert Stone
-Taped: WWE PC, Orlando, FL
-Then! Now! Forever! Together!
-We get a video package with promos from each of the four men in the Championship Match tonight spliced with highlights.
-Show opening!
-The entire Mog Squad is out as it’s apparently a Hot Boy Summer tonight. I’m old, so I am going to look up what Mogging means. I probably looked it up before, but again, I am old.
“Mogging” refers to situations where one person clearly surpasses another in attractiveness, physique, style, or social presence, making the comparison feel one-sided.”
-Okay, now I know. Back to the show as they cut their normal promo about how much better they are and how they felt the hate on the people in the back. They are naive because they are young and awesome and can’t believe people would dislike them. I miss Vanity Project and perhaps that means these guys are doing their job. Abrams calls out the commentary team and says they are employed because of them.
-We cut backstage and Viktor Zanov and Shido Ash want to shut them up and I guess we do have a match.
Viktor Zanov and Shido Ash vs. Santi Rivera and Jacari Ball
-Santi knocks Viktor’s hat off as he makes his entrance. Not smart! The bells sounds and Viktor tosses Santi over the top and to the floor. Back in, Viktor gets another throw and Santi tags out to Ball. He gets a hammerlock, but Viktor elbows his way out and hits a clothesline. Shido in and lays in the boots. He sends Jacari across the ring with a throw and gets a two count. Zanov back in with a slam and then he slams Ash on Ball. They keep trading off with slams on Ball. He finally rolls to the floor as we take a break at 1:43.
-AAA and NXT have back to back shows in Texas the same day as All In.
-Sunday Night’s Main Event: Atlanta, GA
-Back at 2:49 with Viktor being trapped in the corner. Ball and Santi with quick tags in and out as they overwhelm Viktor. We are still waiting on Tag Title for Evolve. Ball with a splash in the corner. Viktor starts firing off forearms, but Ball shows off his athleticism and hits a sweet dropkick. Ball with Three Amigos, but with a gut-wrench suplex. Step Up Splash is missed this time and Viktor drags Santi to make the tag. Ash runs wild with throws and gets a pin on Santi, but Ball breaks it up with a superkick. Running forearm from Ash and he makes a tag to Viktor. Dead End finishes for the pin at 5:59.
Winners: Viktor Zanov and Shido Ash via pin at 5:59
-Ash and Zanov are growing on me as I like seeing dudes just throw other dudes around the ring. The Mog Squad can eats loses and be fine because they are good at being obnoxious douchebags. **1/4
-Foreman Thatcher comes out and tells Max the rest of The Mog Squad is barred tonight.
-Marcus Mathers is talking to Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar backstage. He is bummed they were swept by The Mog Squad. It’s Gal is here and is celebrating his win over Kale Dixon and calls it the biggest in ID History. Cappuccino Jones is here and is kind of a dick to Gal. Yeah, he’s a heel now. We end up with Mathers wanting a match with Cutler James to show he can beat him when Gal couldn’t and Gal challenges Cap to a match next week. Seems that one is official.
Skylar Raye vs. Anya Rune
-Remember when I said I was old? Rune is way outside of what I know, but I bet my nieces would love her (if they watched wrestling). Lockup and they work on the mat with headlocks and counters with head scissors and we take a break at 20 seconds.
-Zuffa Boxing commercial. Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Ben
-Back at 1:13 with Rune doing her anime stuff that confuses me. I knew Raye was a former cheerleader for the Tennesse Titans, but Penn State as well? Not a fan of Penn State football. Rune with a shot to the back. She looks to go up, but is still fighting her demons from when she slipped. The hesitation lets Skylar takes control. Rune tries a backslide and gets a two count. Rune with a standing chinlock and turns that into Eat DeFeet. Skylar responds with one of her own and both women are down. They each miss kicks and holds. Raye with La Mistica and into a cross-face. The crowd chants for a tap, but Rune shifts the weight to get a two count. Modified neckbreaker from Rune gets two. Rune looks to head up again, and this time gets there, but takes too much time and Skylar slams her down. Skylar off the top with Star Struck (Frog Splash) for the pin at 5:40.
Winner: Skylar Rae via pin at 5:40
-Solid and they pulled me into the match by the end. I’ve followed Raye since LFG so it’s nice seeing her get a chance here. **
-Gianna Capri attacks Anya after the match.
-Elijah Holyfield with a promo from earlier and he is quite pissed at Brooks Jensen. I like the intensity.
-Foreman Thatcher tells us next week it’s Wren Sinclair vs. Sloane Jacobs. Starboy interrupts and he wants Cap Jones. We see what happened last month when Cap accidentally punched Starboy. Thatcher won’t cancel the match and we end up getting a Triple Threat: Cap vs. Starboy vs. Gal
WWE Evolve Championship: Harlem Lewis (c) vs. Aaron Rourke vs. Max Abrams vs. Tristan Angels
-Rourke and Angels make their entrance and we throw to a commercial!
-Money in The Bank: New Orleans! Oct 10!
-Next week: Charlie Dempsey vs. Ulka Sasaki plus the other two matches mentioned just a few minutes ago.
-Back for the entrance of Max Abrams and our Champ, Harlem Lewis. Ryan Katz is our announcer for this match as we get the standard super, special in ring intros. We aren’t getting much time for a 4 Way Championship Match. Let’s see if this turns into a sprint. Harley Riggins is watching from VIP. Harlem gets knocked to the floor which leaves Angels and Max to work over Rourke. They apparently have a truce for the time being. Rourke with a dropkick to both men, but gets pulled to the floor by Harlem. He runs over Angels and Abrams. Nice move as he brings Angels down with a neckbreaker and then Rock Bottoms Abrams onto him. All action as Rourke is back in and we end up with he being tossed to the floor, but Lewis catches him. Angels off the apron with a dropkick to knock both down. Abrams is left standing as we take a break at 2:00.
-WrestleMania watch party at MSG! AAA Eternal Glory and NXT Stand and Deliver!
-Back at 2:42 with Max having a side headlock on Rourke. Angels up to the apron, so Max knocks him down. Same to Lewis! That lets Rourke start rolling again. She lands a superkick and hits a running uppercut in the corner. Angels in with a dropkick in the corner. He catches Max off the top, but Lewis is in and gets a German Suplex that has the effect of Abrams taking an SOS Slam. Abrams with a neckbreaker as this is all action as expected. Angels heads up top but Rourke tries to bring him down with a head scissors. Angels just shoves him and he lands on Abrams. Lewis and Angels fight up top and Lewis gets shoved off. Abrams and Rourke up and we get the Tower of Doom spot as Lewis is at the bottom of the move and thus the only one standing. Abrams blindsides Lewis with a hip check. Rourke off the top with a Molly Go Round, but Lewis knocks him off the cover and to the floor. Lewis hits The Boom Slang to retain at 6:27.
Winner and Still WWE Evolve Champion: Harlem Lewis via pin at 6:27
-An all action sprint which isn’t shocking as they only had 8 minutes left in the show when the bell rang. Fun match with big moves all over the place and Lewis gets his first win as Champion. ***
-Harlem has words for Riggins as he tells him to get a few more wins and he will see him. Harley tells Lewis to count his days as Champion. Yeah, that’s a logical way to go and it wouldn’t shock me if Harley ended up taking the Title down the line.
-Thanks for reading!
