Leighty’s WWE Evolve Review 9.9.26

-Written: 9.9.26
-Source: Tubi
-Run Time: 44:56
-Episode: 77

-Plug: Nitro 5.5.97

-Book Plug: This will be a staple of my reviews for a while. My 1997 Retro Review Book is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback form.

-Sega released the Dreamcast 27 years ago today. I still have mine and play Tony Hawk Pro Skater a couple times a year. Anyone else still have one?

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

-Then! Now! Forever! Together!

-The Mog Squad arrive backstage and note tonight is a special ID Showcase edition of Evolve. They have a gauntlet team match against ID 1.0. Abrams appoints Jakari Ball as the first man to enter for their team.

-Blake Howard runs down the rules of the Team Gauntlet and we have graphics with the rules as well. I like that they test new matches in Evolve and hopefully they show up on NXT and maybe WWE one day.

Gianna Capri vs. Anyna Rune

-Well, this is awkward as Rune was one of the NXT/Evolve talent that were released last week. Not sure if this is her last match or if they are more that were taped. Capri with a boot to the chest at the sound of the bell. Rune avoids a charge in the corner and ducks a clothesline before landing a strike. She gets a trip and hits a knee, but I am not sure how well it connected as the camera angle quickly changed. Rune goes for her anime powers and nothing happening. Capri runs her into the top buckle and then throws forearms across Rune’s face. She pours down with elbows and lands another forearm across the face. Capri goes to a neck crank, but Rune throws elbows to escape. She throws an elbow and again we are getting quick cuts so I am not sure if they are trying to cover things. Capri gets in Rune’s face and tells her she doesn’t have super powers. Rune knocks her down and hits a Euro uppercut in the corner. Diving forearm knocks Capri down. Okay, what is this? She goes back to the super powers and we get a flash of light as she hits the move. Yeah, no! I am old, but I draw a line somewhere. I always thought it was silly when Taker shot lightning bolts so I am not rocking with this either. For those that like it great, but just not for me. Rune drives Capri into the canvas and gets the pin at 4:04.

Winner: Anya Rune via pin at 4:04
-I mean logically that should have at least been a DQ as the ref saw her throw a beam of light or something. Again, not a fan, but if this is your jam, just ignore me. DUD

-Sloane Jacobs is backstage and is shocked that Anya won. She notes that Big Cat Kita is on vacation and before she can continue, PJ Vasa walks in and is collecting on her favor next week. PJ is another one that was released.

-WWE Now on YouTube every Tuesday!

-John Cena pimps Club WWE!

-Evolve congratulates Vanity Project for winning NXT Gold at Heatwave.

-WWE ID.0 is getting fired up backstage as Starboy gives them a pep talk. Kale Dixon and Alix Brooks barge through as they head to the VIP Lounge.

-Next week Harlem Lewis defends his Evolve Championship against Cutler James.

-In Two Weeks it’s an All Women’s Showcase on Evolve. The main event: Nikkita Lyons defending against Skylar Raye.

-We flashback to the first Team Gauntlet Series in Dec. 2025 and then get a history of the forming of The Mog Squad and they issues they’ve had with ID talent.

4 vs 4 Team Gauntlet Match: The Mog Squad vs. ID 1.0

Match 1: Aaron Rourke vs. Jakari Ball

-Rourke started the first Team Gauntlet Match against Keanu Carver, so nice touch to see him start this one. Rules are these two go until someone is pinned or submits and then they are replaced by another member of their team. Once one side is eliminated the match is over. Ball with a take down, but Rourke counters with a roll-up for two. Ball with a slam and he goes for a quick pin as well. Smart! Rourke tries an arm-drag, but Ball blocks and fires off uppercuts. Rourke floats over in the corner and back flips to create space for a shotgun dropkick. Exploder Suplex gets two! Ball with a reverse leap frog and hits a dropkick. The man has HOPS! He mogs before dropping an elbow and then hits a jumping one for a two count. Ball with a reverse chinlock, but Rourke fights out rather easily. Ball with a gut-wrench suplex and another and another for a two count. I believe Howard call that the Three Homies. Ball gets dumped to the apron and ends up tied in the ropes. Rourke with a shotgun dropkick to the trapped Ball. Rourke focuses on Dixon in VIP for a brief second and gets caught with a superkick back in the ring. Ball sets for a superplex but gets shoved off and Rourke hits The Molly Go Round for the pin at 3:40.

Match 2: Aaron Rourke vs. CJ Valor

-We take a break before Valor makes his way to the ring.

-TKO boxing commercial! This Saturday!

-Money in The Bank! New Orleans!

-Back at 5:22 with Valor throwing Rourke around the ring. He gets a two count and then hooks a reverse chinlock. Ball was eliminated but he is still hanging around ringside. Valor with Chaos Theory, but Rourke counters and sends Valor head first into the middle buckle. He picks up the pace, but gets caught with double knees to the back. Rourke with a head scissors to bring Valor off the ropes. Front flip into a forearm and Rourke heads up. Dixon throws a pillow at him and that lets Valor bring him down and get a roll-up with a handful of right at 7:40.

Match 3: Sam Holloway vs. CJ Valor

-Valor runs right into a big boot! I still demand Sam vs. DVD II. Sam with his wacky elbow drop from the apron to the inside. That gets two. Howard just mentioned the match with DVD. Where’s my rematch? Valor snaps off a suplex and throws a knee to the face. He stomps Sam down in the corner and then chokes with his boot. Valor with a spinning back kick and a flying shoulder tackle for two as Sam kicks out with force. I am noticing they are doing zoom in camera shots when we get a close up of strikes thrown in the corner. Please don’t bring that back. Sam with a suplex and chokeslam, but Valor holds the arm and gets a cross armbreaker. Nice! Sam escapes and goes for Snake Eyes, but Valor shoves off and hits Chaos Theory for two. This has been the best match of the series so far, but my rating will be for the entire match. Valor waits in the corner and runs into a chokeslam and that gets the pin at 12:15.

Match 4: Sam Holloway vs. Santi Rivera

-WWE Crow Jewel! Nov. 7th!

-Survivor Series: Houston, Texas! Nov. 28!

-Back at 13:40 with Santi controlling Sam with a headlock on the mat. Sam shoves off and throws strikes, but Santi ducks. He lands a kick in the corner and springs off the bottom rope to hit a Code Breaker for two. Valor is also at ringside with Ball now. Sam mounts a comeback and hits the sit-out chokeslam for the pin at 15:23.

Match 5: Max Abrams (w/ mask) vs. Sam Holloway

-As noted Max is wearing the ski mask as he hooks a sleeper. Sam backs him into the corner to break. Max up top and nearly jumps into a chokeslam. That looked awkward. Max slides out and Cutler James rushes in and delivers a big boot. Main Objective pins Sam at 16:54.

Match 6: Marcus Mathers vs. Max Abrams

-Abrams misses a Stinger Splash and the max goes flying to the floor. Mathers runs wild with back elbows and hits a springboard stunner out of the corner. He punches Max in the face, but runs into a leaping back elbow. Max has his mask back on, so he’s all good. Main Objective misses and Mathers hits a hook kick that sends Abrams to the floor. He hits a Tope Con Hilo on the entire Mog Squad as we take a break at 19:05.

-WWE takes over Perth with SmackDown, Wrestlepalooza, and RAW! My Niners are in Melbourne right now.

-Back at 19:45 and we see Cap getting taken out by Shido Ash. I guess we will need a replacement for Cap? Mathers hits a C4 for a two count. Mathers back up top again and connects with a 450. Ball on the apron and then Valor pulls Mathers off the cover. The ref finally decides to send The Mog Squad to the back. Took long enough. Mathers with a superkick and he goes for a moonsault off the middle rope, but it’s nowhere close and Max hits a superkick. Great thought, but looked a little weird. The Main Objective gets the pin at 22:00.

-Thatcher is ready to call it over, but It’s Gal is here to replace Cap!

Match 7: Max Abrams vs. It’s Gal

-Gal runs wild to start, but misses a discus clothesline and Abrams catches him with a jumping knee. Gal throws Max across the ring on his chest and then hits the discus clothesline. Springboard dropkick misses. Abrams hits a Cortisol Spike and preps for Main Objective, but Gal avoids and hits a Strations Bomb for the pin at 24:11.

Winners: Team ID 1.0 at 24:11
-I enjoyed the previous version of this match better. This one got time, but also seemed rushed if that makes sense. I love the idea of the match and they worked hard. The best section was Valor vs. Holloway and Mathers looked good out there as well. Nice curveball with Gal being the replacement as the earlier interaction with Starboy made it seem like he would be up. This was good, but I was wanting a bit more. Also, as we get more of these matches as some point a team will need to sweep the other and that’s an easy way to make a star if one person can go the distance. Lots of options with this type of match. ***

-It’s Gal celebrates with his new friends.

-Harley Riggins watches backstage and calls Gal despicable. “I’ll cool his ass off.”

-That will close the show this week. Thanks for reading!

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

I didn't like the opener at all, but again, you may and great as enjoy what you want. I appreciate the commitment to the gimmick, but I am the wrong demo I think. The Main Event carried the show as expected and it was good enough to make this another good show. Like always they deliver what they promise and hook us for the weeks to come.