WWE Evolve – April 15, 2026: Next Champ Up
Evolve
Date: April 15, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Peter Rosenburg
It’s Wrestlemania Week and in this case that means we have a special show around here as well. The big story is the Gauntlet Eliminator match for the vacant Women’s Title. That should be enough to carry the show and there is a good chance that it eats up most of the show. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Karmen Petrovic runs down the list of competitors in the Gauntlet Eliminator, which she is apparently in too. They treated it as something of a surprise and…Petrovic isn’t the biggest shock.
Opening sequence.
Here is Aaron Rourke to get things going. He talks about how he is getting used to being champion and doesn’t want anyone thinking that he’s not working as hard as he can. Rourke doesn’t like Harlem Lewis saying Rourke is ducking him so come say it to his face. Cue Lewis, who says he won’t get in the ring and beat him down because it just keeps him from getting what he wants. Rourke says they can do it for the title right now but here is Braxton Cole to interrupt. Cole says he should be the one getting the title shot and Rourke is fine with a triple threat. Lewis isn’t happy with that and Cole jumps both of them to stand tall.
Tristan Angels talks about growing up on a goat farm and then getting into beauty pageants. He’s ready to be amazing here.
Lince Dorado/Mike Cunningham vs. Santi Rivera/Jacari Ball
Hold on though as Cunningham has changed his name to Max Abrams. Yeah that’s a good move, as Mike Cunningham isn’t getting him anywhere. It’s Gal is here with Rivera and Ball. Dorado kicks at Rivera to start but Rivera takes him down, much to Gal’s happiness. Ball comes in but the double team is broken up, allowing Abrams to come in and grab the armbar. Abrams gets taken into the wrong corner so the villains can take turns striking away.
That’s broken up and it’s back to Dorado, who gets to clean house. Abrams even puts on the sunglasses and holds the ropes open so Dorado can hit a heck of a suicide dive. Back in and Dorado’s moonsault hits raised boots, allowing Rivera to grab a Sling Blade for two. Abrams makes a save so Dorado goes up, with Abrams tagging himself in, knocking Dorado off the top anyway. Apparently Abrams’ tag doesn’t count though (need both feet on the mat) and it’s Rivera getting a rollup for the pin at 9:00.
Rating: C+. This worked well enough as you would expect the goofy heels to lose so It’s Gal would have another thing to complain about. At the same time, you have Abrams (thank goodness for the name change) screwing up and costing Dorado the match. This was a nice enough surprise, as we continue the slow build towards Tag Team Titles.
Dorian Van Dux vs. Kai Kavari
Kai speeds around and slugs away to start, which staggers the bigger Dux. That earns Kai a shot to the face and a spinning gutwrench powerbomb. A shooting star press finishes Kavari at 1:41. Well that worked.
Brooks Jensen isn’t sure what Cappuccino Jones was trying to prove last week so he wants a bullrope match.
Women’s Title: Gauntlet Eliminator
For the vacant title and it’s basically a Royal Rumble/Gauntlet match with two minute intervals, eight participants and pin/submission/DQ for eliminations. Laynie Luck is in at #1 and Karmen Petrovic is in at #2. Luck takes her down by the leg to start before they run the ropes for a standoff. They trade rollups for two each and knock each other down as Kali Armstrong is in at #3 (with commentary getting in an important line of the clock not starting until she is in the ring).
We take a break and come back with Armstrong cleaning house until some double teaming slows her down. A double cover only gets two as Armstrong nips up. With Petrovic and Luck knocked down, Wendy Choo is in at #4. Choo whips Luck into Armstrong in the corner and hits a high crossbody on the latter. Petrovic is back up with a superkick for two on Choo and everyone is staggered as Tyra Mae Steele is in at #5. Steele gets to clean some house but picks Armstrong up for some reason, earning a shove away. The Kali Connection gets rid of Petrovic at 7:45.
Luck kicks Steele down but Armstrong is back up to go after both of them. Sloane Jacobs is in at #6 and sends Steele face first into the corner. Jacobs teases working with Luck and then rolls her up for the pin at 10:08. Armstrong isn’t having this and Kali Connections Jacobs for the pin at 10:40. Choo gets back in and Dirt Naps Steele, only for Armstrong to make the save. Nikkita Lyons is in at #7 and suplexes Steele before pulling Lyons in the way of the Kali Connection. Lyons drops Armstrong and a spinning kick to the face gets rid of Steele at 12:31.
They go to the corner for a Tower Of Doom and everyone is down as PJ Vasa completes the field at #8. Choo gets crushed in the corner and Vasa suplexes Choo and Lyons. Armstrong puts Vasa down and tries the Kali Connection, only for Steele to pop up for a distraction. Lyons kicks Armstrong in the face for the pin at 15:51. Lyons tiger bombs Choo for two but can’t do the same to Vasa. The Dirt Nap is broken up and Vasa Samoan drops Choo but misses a splash. Choo hits a DDT and Lyons’ splits splash gets rid of Vasa at 18:14.
We’re down to Choo vs. Lyons for the title with Lyons getting two off a Michinoku Driver. Choo hits a full nelson slam but Lyons drops her, setting up the Vader Bomb for two. The Dirt Nap goes on but Lyons flips out, only for Choo to grab a hurricanrana for the pin and the title at 21:05.
Rating: B-. First and foremost, having this be elimination rules makes it SO much better. Ultimately, Choo survived and got a pin over the only remaining competitor to win. It’s better than having her win off a fluke pin and makes her feel like a winner. I’ll absolutely take this version of Choo as champion, as her issue was always the weird gimmicks rather than talent. Nice main event here and Choo has challengers waiting on her.
We get a bunch of replays and Timothy Thatcher comes out to present Choo with the title to end the show in a nice moment.
Overall Rating: B. This show was about getting a new Women’s Champion and they pulled that off. That’s in addition to the opener and a squash, with the triple threat for the Evolve Title being set up as well. That is a rather efficient use of just shy of an hour and I had a good time with this show. Evolve continues to feel like they know what they want to do week to week and this was no exception.
Results
Santi Rivera/Jacari Ball b. Lince Dorado/Max Abrams – Rollup to Dorado
Dorian Van Dux b. Kai Kavari – Shooting star press
Wendy Choo won the Gauntlet Eliminator last eliminating Nikkita Lyons
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Oh KB brother…you picked the wrong show tonight…
Oh I’ve heard. I’ll be watching it tonight.