Evolve
Date: January 28, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s another case of the show before the big show as Evolve Champion Jackson Drake is in a three on one handicap match against a team of monsters. The idea is simple: have Drake get destroyed before next week’s title match, which is kind of a brilliant move. The other big deal tonight is Team PC is running the show and that should be interesting. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of how Team PC won control tonight.

Team ID is ready for anything tonight, but a referee comes up and says most of them aren’t booked tonight so they have to leave.

Jackson Drake panics about tonight but the Vanity Project insist they have this.

Opening sequence.

Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy are in the ring for a match but Kam Hendrix and Keanu Carver interrupt. They’re in charge tonight, with the rest of Team PC in the VIP area. Tonight they take over Evolve, then NXT, then WWE. We’ll start with Wilder vs. Legacy, but there are three stipulations. First, the loser has to clean the locker room. Second, the winner can face Hendrix after he wins the Evolve Title next week. Before we get to the third, here is Harlem Lewis (his chyron is switched to MEATHEAD) to interrupt. He wants in on this, with Team PC handling the less than positive introductions.

Tate Wilder vs. Sean Legacy vs. Harlem Lewis

The graphic showing the match has this as Tate Slower, Sean Legacy (with SUPER crossed out) and Meathead, as it’s nice to have the little touches like that. Lewis wrecks everyone to start and hits a double clothesline to take over, including a hard slam to Legacy. Wilder flips over them in the corner and Lewis is sent into the corner, leaving the other two to trade near falls.

Legacy’s big dive takes Lewis out and Wilder’s big dive takes both of them out as well. Hold on though as Hendrix gets to the third stipulation: weapons are allowed! Team PC gets a bunch of weapons out and we take a break. We come back with the weapons in the ring and Legacy superkicking Wilder. Team PC slides Legacy a chair but he can’t bring himself to use it, allowing Lewis to come back. He’ll gladly use the chair but the brainbuster onto said chair is reversed into a small package.

Lewis is sent face first into the chair and Wilder has to make a save. Wilder’s spinning suplex drops Legacy but Lewis is up to kick Wilder in the face. Some kendo stick shots have Legacy and Wilder in trouble but Wilder is back with a big chair shot. A springboard splash onto the chair onto Lewis connects and everyone is down again. Back up and Legacy and Wilder tease throwing each other through a table, with Legacy sending Wilder into a chair instead. Lewis sends Legacy through the table instead and the Boomslang finishes for Lewis at 8:26.

Rating: B. This was a nice showcase for all of them and I like the idea of Team PC actually messing with stuff. It’s not just them making matches but rather having them abuse their authority, which makes for a more interesting show. Other than that, you had Lewis looking like a monster out there and that has potential for him in the future. Legacy is gone to NXT anyway so let someone get another rub off of him on the way out.

After the replays, Team PC tells PJ Vasa to come get some.

PJ Vasa vs. Laynie Luck

Team PC says Luck’s entrance took place during the break because she’s a PC jabroni. The bell rings twice for some reason and Luck actually kicks her away to start. Vasa isn’t having that and crushes her, only to miss an elbow. A Rock Bottom plants Luck and a backbreaker does it again, followed by another backbreaker for two. The bearhug goes on to stay on Luck’s back but she manages to fight out and trips her down. Vasa charges into a boot in the corner but opts to just hit Luck in the face. The Issue finishes Luck at 3:19.

Rating: C. It wasn’t quite a squash, but Vasa is clearly the new big monster around here. That’s the kind of abuse of power that works well for the PC guys and Vasa being on their side is a good way to go. Kendal Grey having to fight Vasa off would be a good way to go and this was an effective performance from the big bad.

Post match Team PC tells Cappuccino Jones to get out here because he’s up next.

Before that though, Chuey Martinez reads a prepared statement about the stupidity of the ID Program compared to the PC wrestlers.

Cappuccino Jones vs. Brooks Jensen

Hold on though as Jones (Mocha Jones) has to have his right arm tied behind his back. Hendrix says he and Braxton Cole have this so the other three go get ready to face Jackson Drake. Jensen knocks him into the corner to start and starts the slow beating, with Jones trying to go up. That’s fine with Jensen, who punches him out of the air and slams him down as we take a break.

We come back with Jones slugging away with the left hand but Jensen slams him down onto the tied arm. Jensen cranks on the arm and then chokes with a knee for two. Jones kicks his way out and actually knocks him into the ropes, with a bridging rollup getting two more. Jensen gets creative with a crossface chickenwing, which is actually reversed into a cradle for another near fall. A DDT of all things drops Jensen as Cole and Hendrix are getting worried. The Stundog Millionaire sets up a neckbreaker for two on Jensen but Jones can’t jump to the ropes. A Backstabber onto the knee brace finishes for Jensen at 8:35.

Rating: B. I don’t particularly care about either of these two and they had me cheering for Jones by the end. That is a sign they are doing something very right and it absolutely worked here. The PC continues their reign of dominance tonight and this was one of the more enjoyable matches Evolve has had thus far.

Keanu Carver/Jax Presley/Harley Riggins vs. Jackson Drake

Non-title and the rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake. Riggins shoves him into the corner to start and Drake realizes he’s in over his head. Drake gets sent flying into the corner, where Carver sends him flying right back out. A running clothesline turns Carver inside out to cut off a comeback attempt and the monsters start taking turns stomping away in the corner.

Riggins comes back in for the double arm crank but Drake’s rollup actually gets two. A missile dropkick sends Presley outside and a powerslam gets two on Riggins but Carver is back in to beat on Drake. Hendrix and Cole take out the Vanity Project and Carver hits the Pounce. Hendrix says hang on because he’s in this match too. Naturally he comes in and gets the pin on what used to be Drake at 4:53.

Rating: C+. While I don’t think this was a face turn for Drake, he was certainly wrestling as one here and it oddly kind of worked. Granted he’s a smaller guy so having him as the underdog against a bunch of monsters made sense. The match was little more than an angle rather than a match but it actually worked. Nice job.

Overall Rating: B. This show was a very good example of why I like Evolve: the show feels like it can go in different directions week to week. Rather than just doing the same stuff week to week, there are different kinds of shows, including this one. They could have played this safe but instead it came off like the PC guys were really running things. It worked very well and Hendrix has some impressive charisma. If he can keep doing that, he’s got a future in this stuff. Fun show here, with Hendrix hopefully winning the title next week.

Results
Harlem Lewis b. Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy – Boomslang to Legacy
PJ Vasa b. Laynie Luck – The Issue
Brooks Jensen b. Cappuccino Jones – Backstabber
Keanu Carver/Jax Presley/Harley Riggins/Kam Hendrix b. Jackson Drake – Pounce

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve
Date: January 21, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re coming up on a big show as Team PC is getting to run the show, with Kam Hendrix challenging for the Evolve Title. Before we get there though, Jackson Drake has to run a heck of a gauntlet match. That’s going to have Drake more than a big scared and he has some reacting to do. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Karmen Petrovic wants to start the new year by coming after the Women’s Title. She’ll start tonight by beating Kali Armstrong.

Opening sequence.

Here is Wendy Choo for a chat. She says it’s a new year and a new her, so she wants to be unbothered, unfiltered and unapologetic. The thing is it’s been almost a year since she didn’t win the Women’s Title and she never got a rematch. Therefore, she calls out Kendal Grey, who is willing to defend the title right now. And it’s on.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Wendy Choo

Grey is defending and wrestles her to the mat to start. The cross armbreaker is blocked but Grey stacks her up to escape the Dirt Nap. Choo hits some running shots in the corner but Grey is right back with a dropkick to the floor. That doesn’t go so well for Grey as Choo knocks her right back down and we take a break. We come back with Grey in the Tree Of Woe for a running dropkick and a near fall. They trade rollups for two each before an exchange of kicks leaves both of them down.

Grey is up to take the straps down but Choo kicks her in the head, followed by a swinging neckbreaker for two. The Dirt Nap is broken up again and Grey goes for the cross armbreaker, which is stacked up for two more. Back up and Grey’s superkick lets her go up top. Choo catches her with a superplex and rolls through with a brainbuster for a rather near fall. Another neckbreaker is loaded up but Grey reverses into Shades Of Grey to retain at 7:37.

Rating: B-. Nice match here as Grey gets to stack up another win, though I’m not sure why you would have the new version of Choo lose so soon. After getting rid of the silence stuff, her biggest negative is gone and now she’s just losing in an impromptu match. It’s hardly some devastating loss, but I’m not sure it needed to happen here.

Kali Armstrong wants Grey to keep the title so their paths will cross again. Tonight she has Karmen Petrovic, who keeps complaining about Armstrong getting shots. Well what has Petrovic done? Violence is suggested.

Lola Vice and Arianna Grace go to a psychic, who reads their palms and sees darkness in their life lines. They go to the tarot cards, which promise darkness, suffering and destruction. They scream a lot and promise to change their ways. This was like one of the skits between cartoons on Hulk Hogan’s Rock N Wrestling but without any of the positives.

We congratulate Eli Knight, Keanu Carver, Sean Legacy and the Vanity Project for being signed to NXT.

Marcus Mathers vs. Braxton Cole

Mathers fires off some dropkicks to start but a springboard is broken up. Cole neckbreakers him down and elbows away, followed by a clothesline for two. Mathers’ arm is snapped over the top and another neckbreaker gets two more. The neck crank goes on to keep Mathers in trouble but he blocks another neckbreaker.

Back up and Mathers hits a spinning high crossbody, followed by a middle rope Stunner. The German suplex gives Mathers two but Cole is back with a Crash Landing for the same. An enziguri and superkick drop Cole but cue Kam Hendrix, meaning the top rope double stomp misses. Cole grabs a rollup for the pin at 6:27.

Rating: C+. Gah I like Mathers and it’s frustrating to see him lose all the time. That being said, at least he had some kind of an out here, even if it’s on another loss. Cole doesn’t really stand out very well, though tying him together with the #1 contender isn’t a bad idea whatsoever. Just do something else with it, along with something for Mathers.

Post match Hendrix chop blocks Mathers and Cole hits a fireman’s carry slam. Team ID is locked in their dressing room and Mathers’ ankle is Pillmanized.

Team PC seems to be afraid of Keanu Carver but they agree that they’re in charge next week. Brooks Jensen is willing to hurt Cappuccino Jones and knock his head off. They seem in.

Harlem Lewis doesn’t care that Team PC is in charge next week because he’s the next Evolve Champion.

Kali Armstrong vs. Karmen Petrovic

Armstrong throws her down to start but Petrovic is back with a bodyscissors. A full nelson with the legs has Armstrong in trouble as Tyra Mae Steele is in the VIP section. Petrovic switches to an armbar, which is broken up with raw power. Armstrong misses a charge though and gets taken out with a suicide dive as we take a break. We come back with Armstrong hitting a running shoulder in the corner but Petrovic hits eat defeat. The slam puts Petrovic down but she avoids the Kali Connection. A pair of Petrifiers finishes Armstrong at 6:36.

Rating: C+. Well that was a surprising result as Armstrong was so dominant for such a long time and Petrovic was pretty much nothing for such a long time. I can go for having Petrovic move up the ladder a bit as she doesn’t have much further to fall. This very well may be her last chance though, as she’s been around for a long time now without getting very far.

Post match Petrovic says she wants the Women’s Title so here is Kendal Grey to accept the challenge.

Team PC is ready for next week, and the week after.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a show that was mainly about setting things up for later, which is the kind of week that you have to have every so often. It should be interesting to see where things go, as those titles have to change hands sooner or later, which might be the case within the next few weeks. Other than that, Grey continues to look like a major star and it’s easy to see why she is getting this kind of a push. Good enough show here, with the bigger stuff on the way.

Results
Kendal Grey b. Wendy Choo – Shades Of Grey
Braxton Cole b. Marcus Mathers – Rollup
Karmen Petrovic b. Kali Armstrong – Petrifier

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: December 18, 2025
Location: El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s a pretty big show this week, with a battle royal to crown a new #1 contender to the TNA World Title. That’s actually by far the smaller of the two main matches though, as we also have TNA vs. NXT in a ten man cage match. There is probably some more stuff throughout the show, but really, what else do you need? Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at the cage match.

Opening sequence.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling

Battle Royal

Eric Young, Rich Swann, Mance Warner, Myron Reed, Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, Jake Something, Moose, Jake Painter, BDE, Brock Anderson, Cedric Alexander, Bear Bronson, CW Anderson, Jesse Funaki, John Skyler, Judas Icarus, Ryan Nemeth, Home Town Man, Travis Williams

For a World Title shot against Frankie Kazarian (on commentary) on the first Impact of 2026. Man throws Painter out to start and Funaki follows him. BDE actually eliminates Skyler and the brawling ensues as we take an early break. We come back with BDE getting knocked out, followed by Nemeth poking Man in the eye for another elimination. CW and Wentz are both out, with Miguel and Williams joining them.

Reed dives at Icarus for an elimination but the other Rascalz catch Reed for a nice save. Brock is superkicked out but Something tosses Reed as the ring is rapidly clearing. Something and Bronson knock each other down as here is AJ Francis to eliminate Swann, followed by a chokeslam onto the apron.

We’re down to Nemeth, Young, Something, Warner, Bronson, Moose and Alexander and it’s time for the big staredown. The brawl is on and Something is out, with Warner bulldog drivering Moose. Back up and Moose boots Warner out but Young’s double clothesline gets rid of Moose and Alexander. Bronson tosses Nemeth so Young throws Bronson, who holds on. Young doesn’t pay attention and Bronson tosses him to win at 11:14.

Rating: C+. I mean…why not? It’s a battle royal so it isn’t like anyone is really hurt by a loss. Bronson is brand new around here so this is a nice way to get things going. He doesn’t exactly have anything in the way of star power, but I do like adding some surprising, fresh names in the mixture, as that can go a very long way.

Team TNA is ready to end NXT.

Bear Bronson says he knew he would win and all of his scars tell a story. Now he’s coming for the title.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling

Angel Warriors vs. Tessa Blanchard/Mila Moore

Robert Stone and Victoria Crawford are here with the villains. Brookside and Moore start things off with Brookside sending her into the corner. Blanchard comes in and wants Lee, who quickly knocks her out to the floor. The Warriors hit stereo dives to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Lee in trouble but kicking her way out of the corner. A middle rope dropkick connects for Lee and she pulls Blanchard into a half crab. Stone pulls Brookside off the apron though and there’s no tag. Lee fights out of the tag though and the tag brings in Brookside to clean house. A kick to the head drops Moore and Brookside Iconoclasms Lee onto Moore for two with Blanchard making the save. The Warrior’s Way (spinning torture rack faceplant) finishes Moore at 11:06.

Rating: B-. This got going near the end and it’s nice to see the Warriors pick up a win as a team for a change. At the same time though, it feels like this is more about Blanchard coming after Lee and the Knockouts Title. If nothing else, at least Lee got the pin, which is something a champion should be doing on occasion.

Dani Luna wants a Knockouts Title shot.

Robert Stone yells at Mila Moore/Victoria Crawford/Tessa Blanchard (the Diamond Collective), with Blanchard saying she wants any three Knockouts to face them.

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling

Here is Elijah for a concert. After chuckling about what he did to Mustafa Ali (involving dragging him away with a horse), Elijah starts singing about coming to El Paso. Cue Tasha Steelz with a podium so Ali can come out and complain about being dragged away by a horse. Elijah doesn’t want to her it so here are the Great Hands to jump him. With the Hands dispatched, Elijah goes to the stage, where he has to move Steelz, allowing Ali to get in a guitar shot to the back.

Indi Hartwell says she’s down but still coming for the Knockouts Title.

We look at Leon Slater in a huge match on Saturday Night’s Main Event and then this week on NXT, the latter of which saw him becoming #1 contender. Moose showed up on the same show and got a shot at the NXT North American Title on December 30.

Moose wants the X-Division Title back but Cedric Alexander comes in to say not so fast.

Frankie Kazarian isn’t worried about Bear Bronson and promises to keep the title for as long as he likes.

Team TNA vs. Team NXT

This is basically WarGames, including the timed (two minutes for the first period, then one minutes each) entrances. Mike Santana is in at #1 for TNA and Brooks Jensen is in at #1 for NXT. Jensen teases going through the door to start but Santana sends him into the cage a few times. Santana hammers away in the corner and grabs a top rope superplex for the big crash. Lexis King is in at #2 for NXT (who has the advantage after a win last week) and canes Santana down.

Steve Maclin is in at #2 for TNA to even things up and sends King into the cage. Tyson DuPont is in at #3 for NXT as these entrances are really, really fast. The TNA guys are beaten up again until Matt Hardy is in at #3 for TNA to even things up. It turns out that’s only in theory at Tyriek Igwe runs in to jump Hardy from behind and go in before him. Igwe is officially in at #4 for NXT but Santana manages to fight back as Jeff Hardy is in at #4 for TNA and actually gets inside. The numbers game take Jeff down though and Stacks is in at #5 for NXT.

Cue the Righteous to take Matt to the back (nothing good can come from this) and it’s Santino Marella in at #5 to complete TNA. That means it is first pin or submission to win and Marella cleans house, only for Jensen to jump him from behind. We take a break and come back with the TNA guys still in trouble but Jeff gets in a Twisting Stunner. Marella hits some splits Stunners and Maclin ties Stacks in the cage for a spear. Maclin goes up but gets caught, meaning it’s kind of a Tower Of Doom. The Cobra comes up to hit Jensen, setting up Spin The Block to give Santana the pin at 20:05. Matt never even got in the cage.

Rating: C. The fact that TNA never even had its full lineup in there and still didn’t feel like they were in danger tells you a lot. This was a TNA all star team (four former World Champions and Santino Marella, who is seen as a legend) against a bunch of NXT midcarders. TNA might not be a huge deal, but they’re bigger than this, and that was on full display with the match. It felt like a big match coming in, but that didn’t quite hold up once the bell rang.

Post match Marella glares at Stacks but Arianna Grace comes in to knee Marella low. Maclin gets back in to chase Stacks off.

In the back, Matt Hardy wakes up around a bunch of Hardys stuff with the Righteous promising to make him immortal. Dutch offers him…something, but Matt gets up and staggers away instead to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. While the execution might not have been great, this definitely felt like a big time show and that’s the best thing you can say about the whole thing. It’s nice to see TNA taking a step forward to something as huge as their debut on AMC and at least they’re trying something different. It might not have been a great show, but it felt big at the right time and I’ll absolutely take that, as there are more than a few things coming up worth seeing.

Results
Bear Bronson won a battle royal last eliminating Eric Young
Angel Warriors b. Tessa Blanchard/Mila Moore – Warrior’s Way to Moore
Team TNA b. Team NXT – Spin The Block to Jensen

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve
Date: December 17, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenburg, Robert Stone

We’re getting close to wrapping up the year and Sean Legacy is coming after the Evolve Title again. This week has something different though in the form of a gauntlet survivor match. The rules are a bit confusing so hopefully we’ll find out the whole thing tonight as the ID and PC wrestlers go head to head. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

It’s Gal explains the ID vs. PC feud and goes over the rules of the gauntlet match:

• Five members per team (team ID hasn’t announced its fifth member)
• One competitor from each team begins
• Loser is eliminated, winner stays in
• Losing team sends in its next member
• Match continues until a full team is eliminated
• The winning team controls a future episode
• Whoever gets the final fall gets a future title shot

This was laid out in short order and I get the idea. Nice job.

Here are Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair for a chat. Grey talks about the wild ride she has been on in recent months but she loves the grind. Yes there is pressure when it comes to being a champion, but pressure makes diamonds. She welcomes any and all challengers so here is Kali Armstrong to interrupt. Armstrong doesn’t like the idea of Grey living off success when Armstrong set things up and wants a rematch. Cue PJ Vasa, who says she’s the one who should be in line. Grey isn’t intimidated and willing to face both of them at once. Sinclair just vanished after the introduction.

Wendy Choo did cost Chantel Monroe her title match but Monroe interrupted her therapy session. Tonight it’s No DQ and Monroe’s reflection will be anything but perfection.

Evolve will be off for the next two weeks.

Chantel Monroe thinks Wendy Choo is nuts. Choo’s therapist could save her from herself, but not from Monroe.

Charlie Dempsey still wants to face Timothy Thatcher and offers to send it via carrier pigeon. Thatcher: “Do you know how long it takes to train a pigeon?” Thatcher says he’s here to help get the future ready so he respectfully declines. Instead, he asks if Dempsey wants to be his training partner. Dempsey says no and can’t believe he used to look up to Thatcher.

Team ID vs. Team PC

ID: Aaron Rourke, Mike Cunningham, Cappuccino Jones, Marcus Mathers
PC: Kam Hendrix, Keanu Carver, Braxton Cole, Brooks Jensen, ???

Rourke and Carver start things off with Rourke getting in a quick spank to start. Some shoulders in the corner slow Carver down early on but a rub of his chest doesn’t sit well. Carver throws him around without much trouble but what looks to be a tie into the Tree Of Woe is reversed into a crossbody. Rourke kicks him into a 619 and a Molly Go Round gets two. Back up and Carver boots him in the face before the spinning powerslam finishes Rourke at 3:31.

Cunningham is in at #2 and hits a dropkick but gets clotheslined in the corner. A big toss across the ring has Cunningham in more trouble and three straight slams give Carver one. Cunningham gets a boot up in the corner and a nice missile dropkick connects. Carver shrugs that off and hits the spinning powerslam finishes Cunningham at 6:41 total. Sean Legacy tries to come in at #3 but he’s not cleared as we take a break.

We come back with Sam Holloway coming in from behind to jump Carver as #3. A chokeslam and top rope splash finish Carver at 8:18 total. Brooks Jensen is in at #2 for his team and gets booted in the face. Jensen manages a knockdown of his own and stomps away, only to get dropped for a slingshot elbow. Holloway knocks him outside but charges into a spinebuster. The chinlock goes on until Holloway is back up to run him over with raw power. A swinging Rock Bottom gets two on Jensen but he knees his way out of a suplex. Another knee, with a brace, to the head and a spinwheel kick get rid of Holloway at 13:18 total.

Cappuccino Jones is in at #4 for his team and can’t get a sunset flip. Instead it’s an O’Connor roll for two and a dropkick for two more as Jensen is in trouble. Jensen grabs the rope to block a neckbreaker and drapes Jones over the top as we take a break. We come back with Jensen working on a bearhug before dropping a double stomp. The knee drop misses though and Jones is back with a springboard missile dropkick. Cue Jax Presley and Harley Riggins with chairs but Tate Wilder cuts them off. Riggins gets a chair in to Jensen but Jones rolls him up for the pin at 18:03 total.

Jensen is ticked off and chop blocks Jones as Braxton Cole is in at #3 for his team. Cole goes right for Jones’ knee and wrenches it back, followed by a Brock Lock. We go split screen to the back, where Wendy Choo is told that since this match is going long, her match with Chantel Monroe is being postponed to January 7. Various women are not pleased. We come back to Jones escaping a shinbreaker and slugging away, at least until his knee is kicked out again. A quick Decaffinator gives Jones a pin at 21:50 total.

Kam Hendrix (making his debut) is in at #4 for the PC (as I guess Harley Riggins and/or Jax Presley aren’t on team) and we take another break. We come back with Hendrix working on the knee as the Vanity Project is in the VIP section. Jones kicks Hendrix away and sends him shoulder first into the post. A neckbreaker gets two on Hendrix but he’s right back on the knee. Hendrix’s hard clothesline sets up a belly to back slam to get rid of Jones at 25:52.

Marcus Mathers completes the ID team at #5 and flips over Hendrix for a superkick. A running flip dive to the floor hits Hendrix but he forearms Mathers down without much trouble. The belly to back slam is countered into a DDT to give Mathers two but Hendrix runs the corner for a top rope superplex.

We go split screen again with Chantel Monroe being upset that her match is postponed. Nikkita Lyons and Arianna Grace come up to laugh. Back in the ring and Mathers comes up to slug away and gets two off a bridging German suplex. Hendrix drops him again and gets rolled up for two but the belly to back slam (Lights, Camera, Action) finishes Mathers for the win at 31:56.

Rating: B-. The match was kind of weird as I was trying to figure out the deal with the lineups, as they were different than what It’s Gal said at the top of the show. Other than that, there was nothing that really stood out here as most of the action was fine but not much more. The villains winning is acceptable enough, though I’m still going to need a better reason for them being bad other than the letters PC. It’s not a great match, but I do like the idea of a one match show as it made things feel more important.

Post match the winners (including Harley Riggins and Jax Presley, one of whom would presumably have been the last man, but not Brooks Jensen) come out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s literally a one match show with the only other things being the opening promo and the issues Choo and Monroe had with having their match postponed (that feels like it’s going to have repercussions). The match we got was good and felt big, though we’re not going to be around for a few weeks to get the immediate followup. I’ll take a unique show though, as that that’s been a feature of Evolve in it’s entire run. Nice shows here and a nice way to wrap up the year.

Results
Team PC b. Team ID – Lights, Camera Action to Mathers

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: December 4, 2025
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re just over a day away from Final Resolution and that means we have some finalizing to do before we get to the pay per view. That’s where we should be this week, especially with JDC getting set up for the World Title shot. Other than that, Mike Santana is still wanting revenge on the NXT invaders so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a vignette sat in what looks like a barn, with various wrestlers moving a glowing box labeled with the TNA logo. With a cover of In The Air Tonight in the background, the case opens to announce….that TNA is coming to AMC on January 15. Still a huge deal, as it seems to be nearly double the TV audience.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Home Town Man vs. Brooks Jensen

Lexis King is here with Jensen, who powers Man into the corner to start fast. Man ties him in the ropes for some right hands to the face but Jensen is back with a quick suplex. An Irish Curse gets two on the Man and Jensen stays on his back. Jensen grabs a bearhug, with Man fighting out in a hurry and firing off some clotheslines. The Home Town Slice connects so King gets on the apron for a distraction. Said distraction is enough for Jensen to kick him down for the pin at 5:33.

Rating: C. Jensen is hardly the most interesting star in the world but at least it feels like someone is here as part of a hostile invasion from NXT. Thankfully they didn’t go long with this either as there was no reason to stretch this out any further than it went. The Man’s simple gimmick is still working, and oddly enough it seems like it has a good while to go.

The Rascalz call each other in the Tree House and talk about name changes. Oh and they don’t like Order 4 either. Smoking and giggling ensue.

Here is the IInspiration for a chat. They brag about their recent success and tell other teams to shoot their shot. Cue Tessa Blanchard and Victoria Crawford, saying they’re challenging for the titles at Final Resolution. Mila Moore runs in and helps beat down the IInspiration, who pop back up and lay Moore out without much trouble.

Santino Marella fires up the Hardys/Steve Maclin/Cedric Alexander before they face NXT tonight.

We look at the TNA stars getting in a fight this week on NXT.

Dani Luna vs. Xia Brookside

For the Knockouts Title shot at Final Resolution. Luna shoves her down to start so Luna grabs a headlock to some more success. A running shoulder drops Luna but she pops up with a hurricanrana to the floor. We take a break and come back with Luna being whipped hard into the corner a few times in a row.

Luna fights up and scores with Broken Wings, setting up a high crossbody for two. A Black Widow into something like a reverse Koji Clutch has Luna in trouble so she powerbombs Luna into the corner. Luna goes to the floor to grab a table so here is Indi Hartwell to cut her off. The cheap shot is enough for Brookside to grab a small package for the pin at 12:33.

Rating: C+. Brookside continues to move up the ladder and I’m curious to see what happens with the title match. You have partners fighting for the title on Friday, which could go in a few different ways. Now just give us Hartwell vs. Luna again and everyone should be fine all things considered.

Lei Ying Lee is happy with Brookside winning and may the best woman win.

Robert Stone vs. Mike Santana

Stone jumps him before the bell and they go inside, where Santana gets in a kick to the face. Spin The Block finishes at we’ll say fifteen seconds, though I never heard an opening bell.

Frankie Kazarian doesn’t like JDC talking about how he’s retiring and trying to steal the spotlight. People like John Cena and AJ Styles are retiring but they’re stars. JDC couldn’t be a star if he was thrown by a ninja.

Here is First Class, with AJ Francis still not being happy with Rich Swann losing to Leon Slater. This brings out Slater as the guest, with Francis calling him stupid for granting Francis a title shot. Slater doesn’t get why Francis is talking down to Swann before promising to slap Francis in the face at Final Resolution. Francis offers a toast but slaps the glass out of Slater’s hand. The brawl is on but Swann won’t hit Slater with the title. Instead Francis gives Slater the Down Payment and is not happy with Swann whatsoever.

The System will get a replacement for JDC, though they aren’t sure who it’s going to be.

JDC talks about flying a lot of miles and being ready to hang up his boots for the sake of his personal life. At Final Resolution, he’ll show what he can do.

Mustafa Ali vs. Trey Miguel

Their respective associates are banned from ringside. Miguel armdrags him into the corner to start and catches him with a basement dropkick. Ali is frustrated enough that he runs Miguel over, only to get knocked outside just as quickly. Miguel’s dive is countered into a DDT and we hit the chinlock back inside.

That’s broken up so Ali hits a delayed suplex, only for Miguel to come back with a rolling neckbreaker. A handspring kick to the face sends Ali outside and Miguel hits a diving DDT. The top rope Meteora gives Miguel two back inside and a springboard Canadian Destroyer gets the same. Miguel misses another Meteora though and it’s a Sharpshooter to give Ali the win at 7:27.

Rating: B. This was a match where they packed a bunch of stuff into a short amount of time, which worked rather well. I had a good time with what we got as they didn’t stop throughout the whole thing. Ali winning isn’t a surprise, though at least Miguel did get in some offense on the way.

Final Resolution rundown.

Hardys/Cedric Alexander/Steve Maclin vs. Stacks/Tyson Dupont/Tyriek Igwe/Lexis King

The TNA stars jump them to start fast with Maclin and Alexander throwing them with suplexes. King has to save Stacks from Poetry In Motion but Stacks gets surrounded for a bunch of right hands. The NXT guys are all knocked outside and we take a break. We come back with Alexander in trouble in the corner, including Stacks hitting a Cannonball for two. Alexander dragon screw legwhips his way out of trouble and it’s off to Maclin to clean house.

A Thesz press has King in trouble and some clotheslines put his partners down on the floor. King gets in a cheap shot though and takes over inside. Maclin shrugs that off and clotheslines Stacks, allowing the tag off to Jeff. The real house cleaning ensues and we hit the parade of knockdowns. Alexander hits a big flip dive to the floor but King canes Maclin down, giving Stacks the pin at 14:29.

Rating: B-. This was a big preview for Final Resolution and that’s not a bad idea whatsoever. Sometimes you need a bunch of stuff crammed together into one match and it worked here. Letting the NXT stars steal a win with some cheating makes sense and we should be in for some nice stuff tomorrow night.

Santino Marella comes out to yell at Stacks to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show was all about setting up Final Resolution and that’s what it needed to be. Final Resolution is already feeling far more important than Turning Point, which granted is aided by having actual build to the show. Genesis is the show that is going to really matter, though they’ve actually put some effort into Final Resolution, which is nice to see. Now just make it work in execution.

Results
Brooks Jensen b. Home Town Man – Kick to the face
Xia Brookside b. Dani Luna – Small packages
Mike Santana b. Robert Stone – Spin The Block
Mustafa Ali b. Trey Miguel – Sharpshooter
Stacks/Tyson Dupont/Tyriek Igwe/Lexis King b. Hardys/Cedric Alexander/Steve Maclin – Cane to Maclin

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve
Date: October 29, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s time for another week of Bigg Jahh being around because…well someone has to. The big story here is Kendal Grey getting to celebrate winning the Women’s Title a few weeks back. That should be a nice way to set up her next challenger, which Jackson Drake is going to need as well. We also have some new ID Prospects this week so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Masyn Holiday vs. Jin Tala

Tala kicks her hand away to start and then takes her down into a wristlock. That’s escaped into a headlock, allowing Holiday to grind away on the mat. Holiday misses a dropkick though and Tala kicks her in the back of the head. The full nelson with legs has Holiday in more trouble until she powers out, only to get kicked down again. The chinlock goes on for a bit with Holiday fighting up and hitting a quick neckbreaker. Holiday Season (standing splash) finishes Tala at 4:13.

Rating: C. This was mainly Tala beating Holiday up and then getting caught with a quick loss in the end. I’m not sure how well that splash is going to work for Holiday as it doesn’t exactly do much for her, but at least she won. There’s something to Holiday and it’s nice to see someone new getting a chance.

Post match Holiday dances and Bigg Jahh joins her.

Tate Wilder is happy with his win at Succession and now he’s ready for a triple threat with a star from AAA, the Performance Center and the ID Program each.

Wendy Choo is in therapy (because of AJ Lee mentioning it on Raw) and says she is starting to feel like herself. She’s feeling free and is connected to herself. Now it’s time to take care of Chantel Monroe.

Chuey Martinez is in the ring with the new ID Prospects. First up is Mike Cunningham, who has a cowboy hat and was trained by Cody Rhodes. He’s only had about fifty matches so this is a dream come true. Next is Jha’Quan McNair, who is from North Carolina and was trained by…Lodi. He’s ready to prove himself around here.

Finally we have Eli Knight, who was trained by Booker T., who has made him ready for this opportunity. Cue Brooks Jensen, who accuses the prospects of trying to take his spot. He’s heard things about Cunningham being the guy (Cunningham: “YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!”) and Cunningham is ready to go. Jensen leaves before getting physical.

Aaron Rourke talks about learning to love performing in middle school and he has turned that into a love of competition. He loves the pageantry of the whole thing and cites Trish Stratus and Lita as inspirations. Then he started changing his style and it looked like he had a place around here after all. These videos have been helping Rourke a good bit, just for the sake of letting us get to know him.

The Vanity Project talks to Stevie Turner and wants her to deal with Keanu Carver and the cast situation. Jackson Drake refuses to face Carver, but Turner says Carver is set to get his title shot in two weeks.

Marcus Mathers vs. Tate Wilder vs. Laredo Kid

Mathers is rather pleased to represent the ID Program. They trade rollups to start and Wilder runs them both over with shoulders. Wilder is sent outside, leaving Kid to strike away at Mathers. Kid takes Mathers down for two with Wilder running back in for the save. Mathers is back up to kick Wilder down, followed by a spinning high crossbody to drop Kid.

We take a break and come back with Kid chopping Mathers down before knocking both of them to the floor. The big dive drops Mathers and Wilder but Mathers is back up with a hard kick from the apron to put Kid down. Wilder shooting stars onto both of them on the floor and they head back in, with Kid hitting something like a Tower Of Doom for a near fall of his own.

Kid’s moonsault misses though and Mathers superkicks him into a suplex for two. Wilder is back up and tries a reverse springboard Spanish Fly but he and Mathers both land on their feet. Wilder’s spinning suplex takes Kid down and Mathers adds a quick 450 but Wilder breaks it up. A powerbomb drops Mathers and the Wilde Ride is enough to give Wilde the pin at 8:23.

Rating: B. While I could go for Mathers not losing nearly as often, it’s nice to see Wilder getting another win. Even if he’s not the next big thing, he’s a good example of “let’s see what we’ve got here”. Wilder is getting some focus around here and it seems to be working well enough now that he’s found his a bit of his footing.

Post match respect is shown.

Chantel Monroe is ready to slap some sense into Wendy Choo, which will make her Choo’s new therapist.

This week on the Stud-O-Meter, we have some famous tag teams. We’ll start with the Steiners, who will be ranked with….It’s Gal’s Geometry. Sure why not. Anyway, they get a 9.3 but the Dudley Boyz are only a 6.8 as they spent too much time getting the tables rather than getting gains. Now It’s Gal needs a new partner.

Video on Adrenaline Drip vs. Jax Presley/Harley Riggins. They’re 1-1 against each other and the rubber match is next week.

We look at Kendal Grey winning the Women’s Title at Succession.

Here is Grey, with Carlee Bright, for her championship celebration. She’s not going to give you some sob story, but calls the title proof that all the work she has put in has paid off. Grey praises Kali Armstrong and talks about dragging her into the gray area. We hear about Grey’s time in amateur wrestling and now she knows that there is a target on her back.

If you want to come after her, you better be ready. Cue PJ Vasa from LFG to lay Grey out with a powerbomb and powerslam to end the show. That’s one of the perks of this show, as you can just debut new people at any time. It’s not like there is anyone else ready for Grey at the moment so points for doing what made sense.

Overall Rating: B. This show did a very good job of freshening things up a bit. On occasion you need some new blood, especially with the amount of people who are leaving the ID Program in the first place. Let these people get out here and see what they have, which is mostly the point of Evolve in the first place. This show feels like it’s actually put together with a plan going most of the time and that’s nice to see, as it’s making Evolve the easiest show to watch at the moment.

Results
Masyn Holiday b. Jin Tala – Holiday Season
Tate Wilder b. Laredo Kid and Marcus Mathers – Wilde Ride to Mathers

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve
Date: October 22, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re done with Succession and the big story is the crowning of a new Women’s Champion in Kendal Grey. This week marks the beginning of a new era as we have some fresh stars joining the ID Program. We’ll get to meet some of them this week, along with Bigg Jahh as guest GM. Let’s get to it.

Here is Succession if you need a recap.

Here is the Vanity Project to get things going. They brag about Jackson Drake retaining the Evolve Title last week but here is Keanu Carver to interrupt. Bigg Jahh and security cut him off and a six man tag is set for the main event. Cue OTM to back up Carver and lay out the Vanity Project.

Video on Sean Legacy vs. Edris Enofe.

Wendy Choo is in therapy and talking about feeling lonely. She tried to be different but along the way, she lost her identity. This included not talking and she’s not sure who she is anymore.

Chantel Monroe says there’s no way to fix someone like Choo. If Choo gets in her face, Monroe will knock her back to Spirit Halloween.

Sean Legacy vs. Edris Enofe

Legacy hammers away at the bell and kicks him in the chest, setting up a standing moonsault for two. Enofe is back up with a running clothesline for two and stomps away, but spends a bit too much time yelling. A middle rope knee to the head (which is not innovative despite what commentary says) and a top rope elbow give Enofe two but Legacy is back up. Legacy kicks away and hits an enziguri, followed by Shambles for the fast pin at 3:55.

Rating: C+. That was a quick match for what had been built up as a fairly big showdown. Legacy still feels like one of the biggest names around here and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him getting into the title picture sooner or later. He still needs a better finisher though, as Shambles isn’t something that is going to work on everyone.

Post match Legacy says he isn’t happy with being left off Succession, but he’ll be on the next one, maybe even going after the Evolve Title. He also brings up Timothy Thatcher, who has been missing lately but Legacy wants him back.

Next week: a new prospect debuts.

Masyn Holiday and Layla Diggs give Bigg Jahh a headshot but he’s in GM mode tonight. They leave so Stevie Turner says Laredo Kid will be here next week and in a triple threat. Holiday and Diggs are back in with another photo, though Jahh isn’t sure why it’s in black and white. They’re on Instagram though! Jahh isn’t impressed.

Harley Riggins and Jax Presley are ready for another shot at Adrenaline Drip and seem to name themselves Necessary Roughness.

Zayda Steel vs. Thea Hail

Hail kicks her down to start and hits a standing moonsault (must be a Sean Legacy fan), with Steel bailing into the corner. Steel tries to escape but gets dropped face first, allowing Hail to go up. Hail gets kneed in the face to cut things off though and Steel chokes on the ropes. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Hail is back up with a knee to the face. A World’s Strongest Slam and bottom rope springboard backsplash hit Steel but Hail has to cut off some Vanity Project interference. The Kimura makes Steel tap at 4:25.

Rating: C. That was a pretty dominant win from Hail, which isn’t a great sign for Steele. Hail felt like someone who would be brought in to give Steel a victory over a bigger name but instead Hail shrugged off the numbers game and won. I can go for Hail winning, though I don’t exactly see her going very far anytime soon.

It’s Gal is back with a new Stud-O-Meter, this time talking about the Prototype, who gets a 9.5. The Prototype inspired him to get the never seen 17 reps of 315. Next up is the Ringmaster, who gets an 8.7, with the lack of a tan keeping him away from a 10. It’s Gal 3:16 says he just ranked your pale a**.

Aaron Rourke talks about growing up in New York and being bullied while he was growing up. People tried to make him feel wrong for being who he was but he knew who he was and couldn’t change it. Wrestling became an escape for him and he knew that’s what he wanted to be. That’s an awesome story.

Brooks Jensen wants a title shot but is told Keanu Carver is next in line. Stevie Turner asks him to leave so she can talk to Bigg Jahh about the three new prospects who will be here next week. Jahh implies he’ll be here too.

Vanity Project vs. OTM/Keanu Carver

Nima backbreakers Drake to start and it’s off to Carver vs. Smokes. A big slam drops Smokes fast and Price comes in to no sell Baylor’s chops. Baylor tries some forearms to no avail and a powerslam cuts him off again. Nima comes in but some quick double teaming cuts him off, including a ram into the post. We take a break and come back with Smokes choking on the rope and Baylor’s springboard DDT gets two. Drake gets in a cheap shot from the apron and Smokes grabs a front facelock.

Nima powers him into the corner but Drake pulls Carver off the apron for a superkick. No one takes out Price though and he comes in to clean house. A springboard missile dropkick cuts him off though and Drake gets two off a Swanton. That’s shrugged off and it’s Carver coming in to clean house. One heck of a Pounce cuts Drake off but he snaps Carver’s bad arm over the top rope. Smokes hits a dive but gets dropped onto the apron. Carver uses the cast to knock Drake out for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: B-. This wound up being a much better match than I was expecting, as Swipe Right has turned into a totally decent annoying heel team. They don’t have to do much in the ring to back that up and it worked well enough here. This was about Carver beating Drake though and the title shot should be set up soon.

Overall Rating: C+. I was hoping for some better fallout from last week but we only got a bit here. The big story here was of course Carver getting the pin on Drake and that worked well enough. At the same time, they set up the prospects deal for next week, which is a nice bonus. The wrestling was just ok though and the show felt more like a preview for everything else.

Results
Sean Legacy b. Edris Enofe – Shambles
Thea Hail b. Zayda Steel – Kimura
Keanu Carver/OTM b. Vanity Project – Cast shot to Drake

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve: Succession
Date: October 15, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

It’s time for the first Evolve special since the series debuted back in March. This week features a three match card, with both titles on the line and a big grudge match which should become violent. That’s a good way to hook in some fans and the card has been built up pretty well. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a look back at the original Evolve and what it can mean to be a star around here. This leads us into a look at tonight’s show.

We recap Bryce Donovan challenging Jackson Drake for the Evolve Title. The two of them have been part of the Vanity Project with Donovan as the team’s enforcer. Drake started taking advantage of Donovan though and even insulted him, eventually causing Donovan to snap. Donovan signed the contract for the title match and quit the team, promising to take the title here.

Evolve Title: Bryce Donovan vs. Jackson Drake

Drake, with the Vanity Project is defending and slaps Donovan in the face to start. That earns him a Black Hole Slam before Donovan sends him flying into the corner. A flapjack sets up some forearms to Drake’s chest, with Donovan pointing down at the Project. Donovan goes outside to yell at the Project, allowing Drake to hit a suicide dive to take over. Cue Keanu Carver, with security holding him back as we take a break. We come back with Donovan working on a half crab. That’s broken up and Donovan fights back, including a pop up powerbomb for two.

Drake goes back to the knee and dropkicks him to the floor, where Donovan grabs a chokeslam onto the apron. Donovan’s running charge hits the steps though and Drake drops the knee into those steps. Back in and a Swanton (possibly onto the knee) gets two on Donovan, who hits a hard clothesline of his own. A middle rope chokeslam plants Drake but the cover sends his feet in the ropes. Drake goes back to the knee though and a pair of Unalivings retain the title at 8:23.

Rating: C+. The match was a nice back and forth fight and I’m glad Drake won, as the Donovan turn was a last minute thing. It would have been odd to see Drake win the title only a week after his turn, which wasn’t so big in the first place. The title change should come at a bigger moment so the match going this way makes sense. At the same time, that’s quite the death knell in Donovan for the time being, as he’s going to need a change to come back from that kind of a loss.

Stevie Turner is on the phone with someone from AAA and is excited to have an up coming guest start. A celebrity (seemingly from some series) Bigg Jahh comes in to say the title match was fire. They’ll watch the rest of the show together.

Video on Adrenaline Drip vs. Harley Riggins and Jax Presley.

Masyn Holiday and Layla Diggs are in the back with Wendy Choo. As Choo is about to talk, Chantel Monroe comes in to mock the idea of Choo talking and then leaves. Choo says AJ Lee says therapy works. They’re off to find Bigg Jahh, who apparently makes movies.

Tate Wilder vs. Brooks Jensen

Bullrope match with pinfall or submission to win. They pull at the rope to start until Jensen misses a kick and gets tripped down. Wilder misses some whips with the rope and gets forearmed in the corner. Jensen gets tied up in the rope again though and Wilder pulls him down, followed by a dropkick to the floor. That lets Jensen pull him into the ropes for a knockdown as we take a break.

We come back with Jensen missing a bell shot to the face but dropping Wilder over the top rope. A middle rope elbow to the head gets two on Wilder and the rope is pulled across Wilder’s mouth. Jensen whips him with the rope, which helps wake Wilder up to start the comeback. Wilder whips him down for a change and they slug it out until Jensen knocks him out of the air with a bell shot. Jensen goes up and gets pulled back down, setting up a powerbomb into the Wilde Ride for the pin at 6:18.

Rating: B-. Nice match here and Wilder got the win that he needed. It was another result that needed to happen as Wilder would be absolutely done if he lost here. Jensen isn’t exactly a top name but he’s a big enough deal that Wilder gets something out of beating him. At some point you need to move someone up the ladder and that’s what we’re getting here.

Video on the WWE ID Program, with new names arriving soon.

We recap Kendal Grey challenging Kali Armstrong for the Women’s Title. Armstrong is the monster while Grey has been rising up the ranks and is ready to challenge for the top spot.

Quick video on Aaron Rourke.

Sean Legacy is in Stevie Turner’s office and wants to face Edris Enofe next week. Bigg Jahh says he should so Turner makes….Jah the GM next week. Layla Diggs and Masyn Holiday come in and try to get parts in his new movie.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. Kali Armstrong

Grey is challenging and after the Big Match Intros, takes Armstrong down and hammers away. Armstrong powers her into the corner to hammer away but gets fireman’s carries back down. A missed charge in the corner lets Grey score with a dropkick out to the floor. Grey hits a nice dive and they fight up to the apron. Armstrong cuts off a slingshot though and Grey gets driven back first into the apron over and over.

We take a break and come back with Armstrong dropping an elbow for two, followed by a reverse slam. The chinlock goes on but Grey fights up and sweeps the leg. A DDT gives Grey two and a moonsault press connects for the same. Armstrong is back with a pop up powerslam for two of her own and a top rope superplex gets two more. They slug it out with Armstrong getting the better of it and loading up the Kali Connection, which is countered into a powerslam to give Grey the pin and the title at 9:36.

Rating: B. This was a well put together match and I liked what we got out of it, with Armstrong going with with what worked to get her here, only to get caught going too far. Grey was built up well in the last few weeks and it makes sense for her to be the one to slay the monster champion. Good stuff here and well worthy of the main event slot on this show.

Wren Sinclair and Carlee Bright run in for the celebration to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. They nailed this one pretty well, with all three matches going as they should have and the quality going up as the card moved along. I liked this rather well and it was nice to have it be the length of a regular episode rather than making it some kind of big elongated special. As usual, Evolve is well produced and structured, which makes the show that much easier to watch.

Results
Jackson Drake b. Bryce Donovan – Unaliving
Tate Wilder b. Brooks Jensen – Wilde Ride
Kendal Grey b. Kali Armstrong – Powerslam

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve
Date: October 8, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenburg, Robert Stone

We’re rapidly approaching Succession and it’s time to find out what we’re going to have to push towards the two title matches. I’m not sure if anything else is going to be added to the show but it should be interesting to see how Kali Armstrong and Jackson Drake get ready for their defenses. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Stevie Turner tells us that Keanu Carver is injured and unable to wrestle at Succession. A new challenger will be named tonight.

Opening sequence.

Chuey Martinez brings out Kali Armstrong and Kendal Grey for their face to face meeting. Grey is tired of Armstrong looking so confident after she hurt Carlee Bright last week. Armstrong says bright is full of sunshine and bubbles but there is no room for that in Evolve. As good as Grey may be, Armstrong is just better.

Grey lists off her amateur credentials and Armstrong talks about her own resume in track and around here. Armstrong was one of eight children and was born with drugs in her system but here she is. They stare each other down again to wrap it up. Pretty simple and to the point stuff here and the match is feeling like a showdown.

Tate Wilder is happy with his win but now he wants to be on Succession. Brooks Jensen jumps him from behind to lay him out.

It’s Gal vs. Dante Chen

Feeling out process to start with Gal taking him down and doing some pushups on Chen’s back. The posing seems to get on Chen’s nerves and he makes the comeback, including a dropkick. The threat of the Gentle Touch sends Gal out to the apron so Chen clotheslines him back over the top.

Gal hits a hard clothesline of his own but again takes too much time posing and gets rolled up for two. A half nelson slam and superkick send Gal outside for the suicide dive. Back in and Gal gets caught up top for a spinning powerbomb, followed by the Gentle Touch for the pin at 5:48.

Rating: C+. This boils down to one issue: Gal is goofy fun and Chen isn’t interesting. I’m not sure what WWE sees in Chen as he has been around for a long time but isn’t exactly showing much in the way of standing out. In theory this is moving Chen towards title contention, and I really don’t get why.

High Ryze is ready to show what they can do.

The Vanity Project isn’t sure what’s going on with Succession and thinks the management is messing with them by not naming an opponent. Jackson Drake credits Bryce Donovan for getting rid of Keanu Reeves and everyone seems happy. Well not Donovan, though he does smirk a bit.

High Ryze vs. Aaron Rourke/Marcus Mathers

Wes Lee is here with High Ryze. Igwe shoulders Rourke in the corner but Rourke jumps over him and brings Mathers in for a running dropkick. DuPont tags himself in though and a big boot puts Mathers down so the villains can take over. A double forearm drops Mathers again and we hit the chinlock, only for Igwe to miss a charge into the post. Rourke comes back in to clean house, including an elbow to Igwe. Mathers hits a middle rope Stunner into Rourke’s Molly Go Round for two. Rourke misses a moonsault though and gets Heartstoppered for the pin at 7:01.

Rating: C+. We’re going to need some Tag Team Titles around here and that’s not a bad idea. There are several tag teams around here (though Rourke and Mathers aren’t among the best) but they don’t have much to fight over. It’s only about seven months into Evolve though so we very well could see such an announcement, even at Succession.

Jax Presley and Harley Riggins want one more match with Adrenaline Drip. They tell Stevie Turner that Robert Stone would give them the match, which is enough for Turner to make it happen.

Wendy Choo vs. Nikkita Lyons

Lyons backs her into the corner to start but gets taken down with a headlock takeover out of the corner. A crucifix gives Choo two and she hits a dropkick. Lyons shrugs that off and they head outside, where Choo gets kicked down. Back inside and Lyons chokes on the ropes, followed by some hip drops in the corner.

A suplex gives Lyons two and she grabs the reverse chinlock. That’s broken up and Choo grabs an anklescissors into some running shots in the corner. Lyons tries a quick sunset flip but gets pulled down into a rollup for two. A tiger bomb gives Lyons two more and she breaks out of a Dirt Nap attempt. The Vader Bomb misses though and Choo gets the Dirt Nap to make Lyons tap at 7:00.

Rating: B-. Not a bad match at all here, as Choo having something of a personality and not doing a bunch of weird glares at the camera while holding a pillow. She has the talent in the ring and do fine if she’s able to drop all of the weird stuff. Thankfully that’s what she seems to be doing and Lyons lost as a bonus.

Brooks Jensen says Tate Wilder is why he hates Evolve. Jensen should be rising up the ranks here but Wilder wins one match and thinks he should be something special. They’ll fight next week and this time it’s a bullrope match. Wilder has to win that and while he’s not the most interesting person, at least he’s getting a coherent story.

Here is the Vanity Project to find out who will be facing Jackson Drake for the title. Cue Sean Legacy, who says his issues with Drake have gone back to the first episode of Evolve and even before. The perfect way to go would be to have Legacy take the title. Legacy looks into the camera and promises Keanu Carver a title shot but here is Edris Enofe to jump Legacy from behind. Legacy is sent into the video board to mess it up. Drake: “That sucks. Bye Sean!”

Drake says there is no next challenger so next week, it can be the Vanity Project Appreciation Night. He lists off his teammates and praises everyone but Bryce Donovan, who picks up the contract and tells Drake to shut up for once. Donovan calls them all the worst human beings he has ever met. Drake can solve his own problems because Donovan is done with the Vanity Project. Donovan says he’s coming for the title at Succession and clears the ring, including a chokeslam to put Drake through a table. That lets Donovan sign the contract. Not the most thrilling story, but they have a connection and that’s a good idea.

We run down the Succession card to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. They’ve done a nice job to set up a three match show and I want to see where things go at Succession. The big matches are feeling important and hopefully they live up to their hype. There was only so much in the way of good matches here though, as the build was the important part. They’ve set next week up and that’s what matters even more, so the action can be excused at least a bit.

Results
Dante Chen b. It’s Gal – Gentle Touch
High Ryze b. Marcus Mathers/Aaron Rourke – Heartstopper to Rourke
Wendy Choo b. Nikkita Lyons – Dirt Nap

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolve
Date: October 1, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenburg, Robert Stone

We are on the way to Succession and that means it is time to start getting the card ready. Things are already starting to come together and now we need to get the rest of the stuff set up. Tonight is about finding out the #1 contender for the Evolve Title, with Jackson Drake sending Bryce Donovan to solve the problem. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Adrenaline Drip vs. Harley Riggins/Jax Presley

During their entrance, Presley and Riggins brag about their abilities and mock the idea of “indy workers”. Jones slugs away at Presley to start but Presley drags him into the corner to cut that off. Riggins comes in to miss a big boot, allowing the tag off to Cartwheel. A headscissors and armdrag bring Riggins down…and hang on as Riggins seems to have hurt his leg.

A frustrated Riggins takes his shirt off…and of course it’s goldbricking, with Riggins kicking Cartwheel in the face to put him down. Presley hammers away as well before it’s back to Riggins for a nice Backstabber. Cartwheel cartwheels away from Riggins but hurts his back, only to get over to Jones a few seconds later. A springboard clothesline and high crossbody put Presley down but there’s no count.

Everything breaks down and Cartwheel hits a great looking springboard spinning splash on Riggins, only to get caught with a heck of a backbreaker from Presley. Riggins is sent into the post and Cartwheel hits the springboard moonsault, leaving Presley to get caught with Flip N Sip (Downward Spiral/top rope flipping cutter combination) for the pin at 5:58.

Rating: B-. I was surprised at how short the match was as they packed a lot into this thing. Riggins and Presley continue to impress me with everything that they’re doing, as they are one of those classic archetypes of a team that can work in any era. They’re both long, long term prospects but they’re off to a nice start. Adrenaline Drip will likely be in the Tag Team Title picture and there is a good chance those belts are announced soon.

Tate Wilder is ready to take the path of learning after his recent failures. Sean Legacy comes in and tells him to stay ready for Edris Enofe before he faces Ridge Holland.

Jackson Drake again tells Bryce Donovan that he needs to lock in around here, with Donovan not being pleased. Donovan tells Drake to stop talking to him like a child, which is the thing that Drake wanted to see. Apparently this was his idea.

Edris Enofe vs. Tate Wilder

Enofe hammers him to start and manages a neck snap across the buckle in the corner. They head outside where Enofe forearms him in the face but Wilder uses the post to jump up for a dropkick in a nice move. Back in and Enofe knocks him out of the air and grabs Wilder by the arm for some clotheslines.

Wilder tries to fight up from his knees and gets kicked in the face for his efforts. A belly to back suplex actually gets Wilder out of trouble but Enofe dropkicks him back down. The turnbuckle pad is taken off for a distraction, allowing Enofe to grab a chair. Cue Sean Legacy to cut that off and Wilder hits a heck of a dive to the floor. Wilder strikes away and grabs a spinning suplex, followed by the Wilde Ride (moonsault) for the pin at 5:34.

Rating: C+. I’m still not sure I get it with Wilder as The Modern Day Cowboy isn’t exactly a top level gimmick, but they certainly seem to be trying with him and he does have a story going on. At some point you have to just try with someone and he’s a young, new star. That dive looked good too so the athleticism is absolutely there. Now just make it work.

Legacy and Wilder are rather happy, while Enofe glares.

Layla Diggs and Masyn Holiday try to get Wendy Choo to do TikTok dances with them. It actually seems to work but Nikkita Lyons comes in to say Choo was better when she didn’t talk. Choo: “What a b****.”

Carlee Bright vs. Kali Armstrong

Non-title and Kendal Grey is here with Bright. Armstrong knocks her down to start and cranks on the arm but Bright gets in a knee to the ribs. Back up and Armstrong just tosses her outside, followed by a running powerslam inside for two. Bright fights up and gets a running headscissors, followed by another out of the corner. A top rope bulldog and small package give Bright two but Armstrong plants her with the powerslam. The Kali Connection drops Bright but Armstrong hits another (with Bright flipping on the contact) for the pin at 5:38.

Rating: C. The second Kali Connection helped a bit, as Armstrong had simply won rather than doing any special damage. The idea here would seem to be Armstrong destroying Grey’s friend before their title match and while she didn’t quite do that, the big shoulders were devastating. Bright was good as the sacrificial lamb here and this is feeling like a big time title match.

Brooks Jensen only needs three seconds to get a singles title shot. He knows the rage that Keanu Carver has inside of him but Jensen the same. We see some of Jensen’s issues over the years but all he has ever wanted is an opportunity.

Video on the WWE ID Program, including some wrestlers going to Malaysia.

It’s Gal needs a new tag partner but no one is good enough for him. Dante Chen comes in and wishes him well, but Gal doesn’t want to hear it. The match seems to be set for later.

Keanu Carver vs. Brooks Jensen

For the Evolve Title shot at Succession. Carver shoves him around to start before Jensen tries to strike away. That goes nowhere as Carver grabs some slams and a Samoan drop for two. We cut to the back where the Vanity Project sends Bryce Donovan to deal with this before Carver misses a charge into the post.

We take a break and come back with Jensen hitting a middle rope knee to the arm, followed by the armbar. The bad arm is sent into the buckle but Carver is able to send Jensen’s arm into the post for a change. A fall away slam sends Jensen flying and a pop up Samoan drop gives Carver two. Jensen is back with a big clothesline for two and the middle rope legdrop gets the same. Carver gets annoyed at the kicking though and grabs the leg, only to get belly to back suplexed. Back up and Carver hits a big shoulder, followed by the spinning powerslam for the pin at 8:45.

Rating: C+. Jensen is someone who knows how to do things in the ring, but he’s only so interesting. At the same time, Carver feels like the big threat to the title and that should be enough to get him into the title match. This worked well enough, though I never bought Carver as being in danger.

Post match Bryce Donovan comes in with a chair to lay Carver out. The arm is crushed with the chair and the Vanity Project comes out to stomp and pose. Jackson Drake and Donovan shake hands to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show is finally in the mode where they have to build towards something. That hasn’t been an idea around here in its history so far and it’s a nice change of pace. If nothing else, we have the two title matches already set up and that should be enough to carry us for the next few weeks. I’m not sure what else is going to be on the rest of the show, but for now the top of the card is strong enough.

Results
Adrenaline Drip b. Harley Riggins/Jax Presley – Flip N Sip to Presley
Tate Wilder b. Edris Enofe – Wilde Ride
Kali Armstrong b. Carlee Bright – Kali Connection
Keanu Carver b. Brooks Jensen – Spinning powerslam

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6