WWE Evolve – September 23, 2026: Matrix Reference (Women’s Special)
Evolve
Date: September 23, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone
It’s a special night here as we have an all women’s showcase, headlined by the Women’s Title match between Skylar Raye and Nikkita Lyons. Other than that, we’re coming up on Succession and that should be getting some focus this week, as the build hasn’t really started yet. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Skylar Raye is ready for her big chance tonight and has to follow the paths of people who came before her and made their own ways.
Opening sequence.
Sloane Jacobs vs. PJ Vasa
Before the match, Jacobs offers a tribute to Nikkita Lyons and says she’s taking care of Vasa before Vasa can get to Lyons. Vasa runs her over to start and throws her into the corner by the hair. Jacobs manages a headscissors and pulls Vasa into the corner a few times for a smart counter. We take a break and come back with Vasa Hulking Up and getting two off a Samoan drop. Another Samoan drop is escaped though and Jacobs grabs a victory roll (and the rope) for the pin at 4:07.
Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here but Jacobs getting a win is more than a bit of a surprise. Vasa getting cheated out of a win isn’t the biggest surprise as she has been gone from WWE for the last month or so, but there is a good chance she’ll have one more big showdown before leaving. I’m not sure what is next for Jacobs, but a win is a win.
Post match Vasa runs Jacobs over and calls out Lyons again. Uh maybe win a match first?
Alix Brooks and Kale Dixon aren’t happy about how they’ve been treated, especially by Aaron Rourke. They need a new plan, and he has their attention now.
Here is Zena Sterling for a chat and she says this is the real her. She doesn’t need to smile and pretend to be someone she’s not. The reality is she has always been superior and tonight she’s watching two women fight for a title that should rightfully belong to her.
Anya Rune isn’t sure why no one believes in her but she is ready to prove that she is the main character around here. Yeah good luck with that.
We look at Vanta The Unknown appearing about a month ago and looking rather…intense?
Vanta The Unknown vs. Veronica Haven
Vanta powers her around to start and flips away from a La Mistica attempt. Haven avoids a charge in the corner but gets sent throat first into the middle rope. An arm crank has Haven in more trouble and Vanta kicks her down into an armbar. Haven tries to get up and gets pulled into something like a Disarm-Her (with Vanta pulling back on the arm rather than sitting on it) for the tap (with the foot) at 3:18.
Rating: C. I’m still not sure what exactly Vanta is about (ok so the name fits) but the finish looked good and she could wind up being something around here, just based on how strong of a debut she has had thus far. I’m not sure how long the weird creepy stuff can last, but at least its starting well. Just let her snap a few more arms and she should be fine.
Post match here is Laynie Luck to go after Vanta….who dodges like she’s in the Matrix and knocks Luck down instead. Well that was cool enough.
Video on the history of Succession.
Here’s what’s coming next week.
Kali Armstrong is happy to see the Women’s Title match because she knows how much it means to be champion.
Women’s Title: Skylar Raye vs. Nikkita Lyons
Lyons is defending and insists that Giana Capri give her a special introduction. Capri doesn’t quite know how to do that and calls her a declawed feline and Nikkita Multivitamin. After the Big Match Intros, Lyons grabs an armbar, which has Raye flipping away and…well getting headlocked actually. Raye can’t trip her down but can kick Lyons away and grab a headlock of her own.
A run up the corner lets Raye get in a headlock takeover and Lyons is frustrated. Raye tries another corner run but gets suplexed this time. Back up and Raye sends her to the floor for a dive and we take a break. We come back with Raye being catapulted throat first into the bottom rope and Lyons gets to choke in the corner. Something like a dragon sleeper stays on Raye’s neck until she manages to roll her way out.
A crossbody hits Lyons but Raye can’t follow up, meaning it’s off to the slugout from their knees. Some running clotheslines have Lyons in trouble but she blocks a tornado DDT and gets two off a Batista Bomb. Lyons’ Vader Bomb misses and now the tornado DDT gives Raye two. Back up and a running headscissors drops Lyons but Starstruck misses. The spinning kick to the head (Divine Alignment) retains Lyons’ title at 11:33.
Rating: B. For someone still pretty new around here, Raye held her own in there against a more established name. While a title change felt like a long shot, it was nice to see a match so competitive, with Raye feeling like she has the tools to turn into something much better down the line. It’s not a classic, but for the experience level, this was better than expected.
Post match Wendy Choo runs in and gives Lyons the Dirt Nap to end the show. There’s your big moment/return.
Overall Rating: B-. This was a passable enough show, with the main event being the highlight and Vanta definitely standing out with her unique movements. It was nice to have a themed show like this and it kept my interest throughout. As usual, one of the reasons Evolve works so well is that it’s not a long show every week, making it hard to get that annoyed. In other words, get in, draw some interest, and get out before next week. It’s a nice change from the other shows and it worked again here.
Results
Sloane Jacobs b. PJ Vasa – Victory roll
Vanta The Unknown b. Veronica Haven – Pulling armbar
Nikkita Lyons b. Skylar Raye – Divine Alignment
Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at: