Leighty’s WWE Evolve Review 9.16.26

-Written: 9.16.26
-Source: Tubi
-Run Time: 44:21
-Episode: 78

-Tough week for my family as we lost my father-in-law over the weekend. The world lost a hard working man who could build anything he wanted. He loved his family and adored all of his grandkids. He honored me by giving me his blessing to marry his daughter and let me live with him until my house was built. He was not a wrestling fan but loved watching UFC. He also loved watching Westerns. He did think it was cool that I was a writer for a wrestling site though. You will be greatly missed sir! Thank you, and I love you!

-Plug: Nitro 5.12.97 (Complete with Twilight Zone discussion in the comments)
-Book Plug: All my 1996 PPV Reviews in Kindle and Paperback form.

-Announce Team: Blake Howard and Robert Stone
-Taped: WWE PC, Orlando, FL

-Then! Now! Forever! Together!

-Harlem Lewis is walking in to the arena and holds up the Evolve Championship. Winning it was the biggest moment of his career and he is just getting started. It seems he has new ink, so this is a new taping cycle? He ends Cutler James’ win streak tonight.

-Show opening. I still don’t know the words to the song. Subtitles didn’t even help me. Give me a second while I look online. So it’s Def Rebel and is called “Know The Flow.” Huh, so those are the lyrics. Don’t think I would have guessed a single one.

Kale Dixon (w/ Alix Brooks) vs. Ulka Sasaki

-Sasaki is coming off a loss to Dempsey in a great match. Sasaki gets knocked down, but kips up and lands in a seated position like nothing happened. That was pretty cool actually! Saski slides out of a slam and gets sent to the apron. Brooks grabs his leg and that lets Dixon hit a knee to send Sasaki to the floor. Apparently Brooks and Dixon think they are saving the ratings on Tubi. Are there ratings for Tubi? I mean, I am sure there are, but has anyone ever reported on how many people watch this show. I’ll check that after the show. Dixon stays in control back in the ring. Side back breaker from Dixon. Ulka throws forearms, but Dixon cuts him off with a belly-to-back suplex. Dixon with the heavy chop to the back followed by a superkick. Still weird hearing WWE mention Pro Wrestling NOAH on their TV. Dixon with another kick and hooks a reverse chinlock. Thankfully, Sasaki escapes with ease. He starts firing off kicks from all angles. Roundhouse kick gets a two count. The crowd really wanted to see Sasaki get that first win. Sasaki counters and hooks a sleeper, but Dixon drops down with a jaw breaker. Double under hook slam from and Dixon sets to finish. Aaron Rourke is out and puts a jacket on Brooks. That distracts Dixon and Ulka gets a roll-up with a bridge for the pin at 5:40.

Winner: Ulka Sasaki via pin at 5:40
-Dixon controlled the majority of this match which made it kind of boring. I keep wanting to see more from Dixon and I hope he finds something in Evolve, but still not clicking for me. Sasaki getting a win is nice and I want to see more from him. Preferably in another match where he can show out a bit. **

-Sam Holloway and Marcus Mathers are proud of what It’s Gal did to help them last week. Braxton Cole (recently released) shows up and tells Gal to save his speech for The Bingo Hall. Irony! Mathers remembers what Cole did to his ankle, but Cole says he has bigger things to do. Gal and Holloway hold back Mathers. Since Holloway was on our screen, I just want to mention I am still patiently waiting for Holloway/DVD II.

-Money in The Bank! New Orleans! October!

-Blake Howard breaks the news that Succession IV is Oct 14. Cool!

-Vanta The Unknown promo package and Laynie Luck is her target. “As long as The Unknown remains, your success will be elusive.”

-Harley Riggins shows up in his locker room and is annoyed he isn’t challenging tonight. He calls next because he’s The Big Rig and “will park his rig right inside that Evolve Championship.” That didn’t sound right!

Milosh Jovic vs. Elijah Holyfield

-Jovic is from Serbia and this is his debut in Evolve. He gets an inset promo and has a racing theme, but not over the top with it like Bob Holly. I don’t like his chances in this one, but you have to start somewhere. Elijah stands his ground and then hits a running shoulder tackle. Jovic tries a hip-toss, but Elijah clotheslines him down. Suplex follows! Jovic throws forearms and hits a standing dropkick. He lands a back elbow, but runs into a spinebuster. Uppercut finishes for the pin at 1:34.

Winner: Elijah Holyfield via pin at 1:34
-Again, everyone starts somewhere. This went as expected. SQUASH

-Rizz interviews Elijah and his business is being the best. He loves to show people how dangerous he can be and he wants The Evolve Championship. Braxton Cole interrupts and the crowd chants “wiener” at him. That started on LFG and funny to see it has carried over to Evolve. He is a winner, but the crowd yells “wiener.” Marcus Mathers is out and attacks from behind as we head to commercial.

-WWE takes over Perth including Wrestlepalooza! Speaking of Australia, my Niners are undefeated in the country!

-Cutler James promo package! His undefeated streak continues as he is crowned a Champion.

-Sloane Jacobs brings out our Evolve Women’s Champion, Nikkita Lyons. She tells the fans they don’t even deserve another title defense from her, but next week is a special show. It’s the first all female episode of Evolve. She wants the fans to cleanse their auras of fake positivity. Skylar Raye is out and was waiting to be invited out, but she thinks Nikkita is avoiding her. She has to live up to being a future great, and the next step is beating Nikkita for the Evolve Championship. Here’s PJ Vasa (recently released) and she has the winner. Nikkita wants Sloane to go get her issue or whatever and Sloane isn’t sure. Sloane gets decked and I think they mentioned those two may be facing each other next week as well. Skylar drops Nikkita and stands tall heading into next week’s show.

-Elijah Holyfield is backstage for his second interview of the night. The two interviews are longer than the match he had. He talked to Thatcher and he gets Cole in two weeks and Mathers can get it as well if he wants to keep sticking his nose in other people’s business.

-Survivor Series: Houston! So when they break out the garbage cans for War Games, it will kind of hit different in Houston and in that stadium.

-Harley is with Thatcher and says again that he has next. Thatcher calls him a walking distraction and there will be consequences if he shows up at ringside or in VIP. Harley bows up and Thatcher will check that to being a mistake and throws him out of his office.

WWE Evolve Championship: Harlem Lewis (c) vs. Cutler James

-Lockup and James gets a side headlock. Harlem runs him into the corner to force a break. James lands an uppercut and then takes Lewis to the mat with another headlock. Harlem loses the bandanna but can’t get free of the side headlock. He nearly gets there, but James takes him over again. Jawbreaker gets the job done, but James is right back with a Pump Kick. James talks trash so Lewis responds with a punch to the face. Lewis off the middle ropes with a double stomp to James’ arm as it was grabbing the ropes. He sends James to the floor and comes off the apron but gets caught and James hits a backbreaker. We take a break at 3:15.

-Crown Jewel! Seems like we are getting Sami vs. Roman!

-John Cena wants you to buy Club WWE!

-Back at 4:18 with James firing Lewis back first into the corner. Another one as he continues to work the back. Lewis comes off the middle ropes and gets caught again and it’s another backbreaker. The man has a plan! Lewis goes after the arm, but again, gets cut off with a backbreaker. That gets two! Lewis shows some desperation as he yanks James by the injured arm into the corner. He bends the arm around the post and delivers a kick. I appreciate the old school feel of each man going after a body part. It’s a slower paced match, but I see what they are going for here. Lewis with a crossface, but James powers up and gets a sidewalk slam with one arm. They crawl to their feet and start trading forearms. The crowd cheers and boos with each strike. Lewis misses a wild strike and James catches him with an Euro Uppercut to the back. Gut-buster! Dark Matter connects, but his shoulder is damaged and he can’t follow up fast enough for a cover as Harlem rolls to the floor. Nice! Cutler ends up hitting arm first into the post on the floor. Spear by Lewis! Back in The Boom Slang is countered with The Vortex for two. Dark Matter again but this time the arm gives out and Lewis escapes. He hits Boom Slang for the pin at 10:07.

Winner: Harlem Lewis via pin at 10:07
-This was a slower paced match, but it worked and got better as they went along. I dug the old school approach of each man going for a body part and in the end, the arm of James gave out before Harlem’s back. Nice little match here! ***

-Security is trying to hold Harley back as he comes out screaming that he is next. It’s Gal is out and he wants the next shot. Harlem thinks they should face each other.

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

As always, this show is great at using the time they have to accomplish what is needed and set up shows in the coming weeks. We got hype for next week's special and matches for two weeks out while also learning Succession IV is coming. We can see the direction the Men's Championship is headed. Probably the Women's Championship as well. This show was solid and the Main Event was enjoyable. Some may not like it as much as I did, but I dug the old school nature of it.