WWE Evolve – August 26, 2026: They’re Surrounded
Evolve
Date: August 26, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone
We’re going with the grudge match focus this time, with the first ever Evolve lumberjack match as Elijah Holyfield vs. Brooks Jensen. I’m not sure how that’s going to go, but Evolve has done a good job with its previous first time situations. Hopefully they have something else to make the rest of the card work so let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Brooks Jensen promises to destroy Elijah Holyfield, who is only here because of his famous name. We get some visuals of trees falling as Jensen promises to make him into a colossal failure.
Opening sequence.
Commentary runs down the card.
Laynie Luck vs. PJ Vasa
Luck slugs away to start and hurricanranas her out to the floor, where a suicide dive connects. Back in and Vasa easily slams her down, followed by a spear for two. The bearhug goes on for a bit but Luck avoids a charge in the corner. A Shining Wizard and middle rope dropkick have Vasa on the apron for a hard stomp. Back in and a hurricanrana is countered into a sitout powerbomb to give Vasa two but Luck reverses a suplex into a DDT. A Death Valley Driver actually gives Luck the clean pin at 4:07.
Rating: C+. I’d call that a surprise, as I haven’t gotten the appeal of Vasa since she debuted but Luck is often there to put people over. It wasn’t a particularly great match but Luck is more interesting to watch most weeks. I’m not sure what is next for Vasa, but this isn’t a good sign for her future.
Gianna Capri isn’t waiting in line around here like she’s at a deli. She’s been to JAPAN. Anyway, she’s sick of Anya Rune, who is like a tourist trying to park in the city.
Chazz Hall vs. Kale Dixon
Dixon, with Alix Brooks, grabs a slam to start but Dixon sunset flips his way out of a powerbomb for two. Hall is back with a jumping kick to the face and the springboard wristdrag sends Dixon flying. Back up and Dixon gets in a throat first drop over the rope and the hanging reverse DDT.
The reverse chinlock doesn’t last long so Dixon faceplants Hall with a kind of reverse powerbomb. Dixon’s springboard splash misses and Hall kicks him in the face, setting up the standing corkscrew moonsault for two. Brooks cuts Hall off on top though and the 96 gives Dixon the pin at 5:24.
Rating: C+. I like some of the things that Dixon is doing and his pairing with Brooks works, but, and I can’t emphasize this enough, the man’s name is Kale. How seriously am I supposed to take him no matter what he does? That being said, at least he got a win over someone who is higher up on the food chain, as it’s probably a good sign for his future.
Elijah Holyfield is ready to finish it with Brooks Jensen, who is running out of time.
Layla Diggs vs. Zena Sterling
Diggs powers her into the corner to start and is wrestled to the ground so Sterling can work on a waistlock. Sterling’s cravate has Diggs in some more trouble and a standing chinlock makes it even worse. Diggs finally knocks her down for an early two, followed by a sitout gordbuster for the same. Back up and Sterling gets in a tilt-a-whirl slam for two and they go into a pinfall reversal sequence, with Sterling putting her foot on the rope for the pin at 4:12. The fans are not pleased with that one.
Rating: C. I’m not sure what to think of this one either. I like both of the women involved and Sterling feels like she could be something, but the ending was weird as Diggs is already a heel but lost to another apparent heel. That’s an odd way to go and I’m not sure how well it’s going to go.
The Unknown loves letting people believe they are in control because she can sneak in to peel away the unconsciousness. Uh yeah. Anyway she’s coming.
Here is Harlem Lewis for a chat. In the four way, he had Timothy Thatcher set up the challengers and then knocked them down, which is how this title reign is going. For now, he wants a new #1 contender and doesn’t care how it’s crowned. This brings out Harley Riggins, who says he should just get the title shot. The brawl is on and security tries to break it up.
Hang on though as we cut to the back where the Mog Squad is beating up Aaron Rourke. This is called a message to the Evolve roster.
Here’s what’s coming next week.
Elijah Holyfield vs. Brooks Jensen
Lumberjack match. Holyfield catches a big boot to start and Jensen is a bit surprised. Jensen looks afraid of the lumberjacks so he walks into a headlock, which feels a bit out of place. Jensen’s headlock doesn’t work either so Holyfield scares him out to the floor. The lumberjacks rough Jensen up before throwing him inside, with Jensen rolling right back outside.
Back in and Jensen’s middle rope ax handle connects so Holyfield plants him with a half nelson slam. Holyfield tosses him outside but makes the mistake of giving chase, allowing Jensen to get in a running knee. We take a break and come back with Holyfield punching him to the apron but getting clotheslined from behind. Jensen slaps on a headlock and hits a hard clothesline but gets caught holding the rope.
Holyfield gets in a hard shot of his own but is more than a bit winded. That earns him a Saito suplex for two and Jensen gets in a lariat for a bonus. Holyfield is fine enough to powerslam him out of the air for two so Jensen bails to the floor. That’s enough for the lumberjacks to get into a big brawl of their own so Jensen teases leaving, only for Sam Holloway to cut him off. Back in and the uppercut finishes for Holyfield at 10:38.
Rating: C+. Holyfield is still clearly green but he has a great look and the family name behind him so it makes sense to try him out. Having the lumberjacks out there helped, as it let them keep the match moving without the two of them having to do anything. That’s a good way to protect Holyfield and the match wound up working.
Holyfield celebrates to end the show.
Overall Rating: C+. This was a show where they kept things moving and the card worked out well enough. The main event felt like a big deal and now we can move back into the title picture next week. It makes this show feel more like a pit stop more than anything else, but it was still a rather decent show, with the main event working out. It’s always nice to see things go well with a less than top level show and they got something out of the fairly weak card. Nice job.
Results
Laynie Luck b. PJ Vasa – Death Valley Driver
Kale Dixon b. Chazz Hall – 96
Zena Sterling b. Layla Diggs – Rollup with foot on the rope
Elijah Holyfield b. Brooks Jensen – Uppercut
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