NXT
Date: April 14, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s WrestleMania Week and while it isn’t Stand & Deliver, it is the first of two weeks of Revenge. That is the kind of show that should be a big deal and in this case we have an NXT Title defense. Tony D’Angelo wants some competition so he’ll be defending against Ethan Page. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at how we got to tonight’s matches.

Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan

They fight over a lockup to start until Parker grabs a headlock. That’s broken up so Parker gives her a backdrop and they go outside for a double clothesline. We take a break and come back with Jordan bending the leg around the post. Parker manages to send her into the corner but gets the leg kicked out.

A Samoan drop puts Jordan down and the Backstabber connects, only to hurt the knee even worse. Parker can’t get a Samoan drop but can get a Falcon Arrow for two. Hipnotique hits an exposed turnbuckle pad (nice job of hiding it as I didn’t notice the missing pad) and Jordan superkicks her down. One Of A Kind finishes Parker at 12:23.

Rating: B-. This felt like it should have been a weapons match or brawl of some kind but there is a good chance that the likely rematch goes in that direction. If nothing else, it is nice to see Parker getting into a feud and having the potential to win the thing. Both of these two need something to do and it is nice to see the two of them doing something like this.

Shiloh Hill has a hammer and is looking over some plans when Ricky Saints comes in to mock him. Cue Ethan Page to interrupt and, after some issues, they agree to work together on the main event tonight as the alliance is back together.

Sol Ruca recaps her history and issues with Zaria, which are still going now.

Here is Joe Hendry for a concert. He gets straight to the point by explaining that he lost the NXT Title. Instead of moping though, we’re having a concert, which starts with a song about the NXT Title. It was his life and…here is Keanu Carver to interrupt. The fight is on with Carver easily getting the better of things and busting him open.

Tony D’Angelo is ready for Ethan Page. This weekend, Oba Femi is going to beat Brock Lesnar, but who beat Femi? That would be Tony D’Angelo, so guess what happens tonight.

Lola Vice is getting ready when Stephanie Vaquer comes in. They praise each other in Spanish and bump hips.

Kali Armstrong vs. Skylar Raye

Armstrong, a powerhouse, grabs an armbar and slams her into the mat without breaking things. A spinebuster drops Raye again and a powerslam gives Armstrong two. Armstrong jabs away for two more and we hit the neck crank. Raye fights back and hits a running shoulder, followed by a DDT for two. Back up and the Kali Connection (a really big running shoulder) finishes Raye at 4:00.

Rating: C. Raye got in about as little offense as possible and that’s about all it should have been. Armstrong is someone who can run through just about anyone and she looked solid to start. This was all about Armstrong getting her stuff in and she did exactly that, with the finish looking good.

Blake Monroe, with the Vanity Project, is told she gets to face Tatum Paxley in a Women’s North American Title match next week, but Paxley gets to pick the stipulation. Monroe is worried but takes it.

We look at part of the Shawn Michaels documentary, featuring a few words from Trick Williams.

NXT Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Ethan Page

D’Angelo is defending and, after the Big Match Intros, sends him face first into the buckle. Page grabs a suplex and here is Ricky Saints…who is pulled under the ring by someone we can’t see. A double clothesline puts both of them down and here is Shiloh Hill with a rope, which pulls a tied up Saints out from underneath the ring and out of the arena. With the two of them gone, Page facebusters D’Angelo outside and hits a neckbreaker as we take a break.

We come back with D’Angelo getting powerslammed out of the corner but Hulking Up (and oddly looking like Enzo Amore if he ever grew up). D’Angelo slips out of a powerbomb and hits a John Cena Throwback into Forget About It for two. The spinebuster is broken up with a poke to the eye and Page hits a super powerslam for two more.

Page goes outside and grabs the belt, which is quickly taken away. The Ego’s Edge onto the title (seemingly accidental) gets two so they head outside. The announcers’ table is loaded up but the Twisted Grin is countered into a ram onto the barricade. A spear puts Page onto the table and the spinebuster retains the title at 12:35.

Rating: B-. This was a way to put D’Angelo over for his first title defense, which isn’t a bad thing. At the same time, he beat a former NXT Champion and did so after surviving more than a few big shots. I’m more curious about Hill as a handyman or whatever it is, along with Saints getting treated as a goof, as both could make for some amusing moments.

Post break Saints goes after Hill, who scares him off with a power drill and electric saw.

Here is Myles Borne for a chat. Borne talks about his recent win over Johnny Gargano, which had him about to go home and celebrate with his favorite dessert (wink). Then Dion Lennox interrupted him and cost him his celebration, which brings out Lennox. He’s not worried about Borne because the Darkstate slump is over and it’s time for the team to win that title.

Borne is fine with a title match next week but here is Saquon Shuggars, who wants a fight now. Lennox says the title is the team’s future, though Shuggars asks if it’s the team’s future or Lennox’s future. Shuggars runs in and gets taken out, with Borne holding the team at bay.

Zaria tells her side of the story, claiming that Sol Ruca kept taking the chances Zaria should have had and then screwed everything up. Now she’s ready to take Ruca out next week.

Speed Title Tournament #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: EK Prosper vs. Dorian Van Dukes

They start fast (fitting the name) and run the ropes, with Dukes throwing him outside. Dukes hits a big no hands dive to the floor but Prosper is back with a sunset bomb. That sends Dukes rolling out to the floor but he’s back in with a missile dropkick. A running clothesline gives Dukes two so he goes up. Prosper snaps off a hurricanrana to bring him back down, only for Dukes to drop Prosper again. The shooting star press misses though and Prosper moonsaults him for the pin at 2:53. Prosper is the bigger star, though Dukes has a heck of a look.

Post match respect is shown. Birthright comes out so Lexis King can do the staredown.

Robert Stone yells at Keanu Carver, who is ready to end Joe Hendry next week.

We get a sitdown chat with Kendal Grey, who talks about how much she has grown in recent months. She was an amateur wrestler and moved up to WWE, where John Cena put her in the Iron Survivor Challenge. And then she won the thing! She talks about not being a great star at her tryout but she kept going and got the job. Grey is ready to keep going and yeah you can see every bit of potential in her. WWE is going to try their best with her and it’s easy to see why.

Tatum Paxley is way in the air on a shelf and Robert Stone doesn’t like being up that high. Anyway, the match against Blake Monroe next week is a casket match so she can bury Monroe as Monroe deserves.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Darkstate argues again but Dion Lennox says they need gold and this is their best chance, despite what Saquon Shuggars thinks.

Women’s Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice

Vice is defending and the rest of Fatal Influence is here with Jayne. The fans are split to start and Jayne kicks her away, followed by an exchange of chops. Jayne hits a shoulder but Vice goes after the cross armbreaker. That’s broken up so Jayne is sent outside, where Vice dives onto Lainey Reid. Jayne gets in a cheap shot and we take a break.

We come back with both of them getting up to slug it out. Vice snaps off a German suplex and kicks Jayne into the corner for the running hip attack. Jayne gets kicked out to the floor and sent back inside, where she kicks Vice in the head. Vice’s triangle choke over the rope is broken up by Fallon Henley, allowing Jayne to hit the Rolling Encore for two. A guillotine choke has Jayne in trouble but she reverses into a rollup for two more. Reid gets in a cheap shot to set up a missed Rolling Encore, allowing Vice to hit a spinning backfist to retain at 10:35.

Rating: B. Good stuff here, with Vice getting in a solid singles title defense to pin Jayne on her own rather than in the multiwoman match at Stand & Deliver. Vice is clearly the star of the division right now and it should be interesting to see what happens to Jayne and company. Jayne might be on the way to the main roster, though her lackeys might be in some trouble.

Post match Kali Armstrong runs out and…here are Kendal Grey, Izzi Dame, Zaria and Sol Ruca, the latter of whom fight off to end the show. That’s a good ending, as the women are the stars all over again.

Overall Rating: B-. This was about the new champions getting to look good as they get settled in, while also dealing with some fallout from Stand & Deliver. I want to see where these things go, as the best parts of the show involved getting ready for the future. Next week should be a war between Zaria and Ruca and they should have enough else going on to carry the show. Nice job here, as it seems they’re accomplished their goals.

Results
Kelani Jordan b. Jaida Parker – One Of A Kind
Kali Armstrong b. Skylar Raye – Kali Connection
Tony D’Angelo b. Ethan Page – Spinebuster
EK Prosper b. Dorian Van Dukes – Moonsault
Lola Vice b. Jacy Jayne – Spinning backfist

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

Evolve
Date: April 1, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Blake Howard

We’re in for an interesting week here as there are some fresh names around making their debuts. That’s what you have to do on a show that regularly involves sending names up the ladder to other shows. Other than that, we’re coming up on the Gauntlet Eliminator match for the vacant Women’s Title. Let’s get to it.

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

Evolve Champion Aaron Rourke recaps the Women’s Title situation, plus the new upcoming stars. Rourke is even willing to let the winner of the match between the new stars be his first challenger. Well that’s nice of him.

Opening sequence.

It’s Gal vs. Dorian Van Dux

Before the match, It’s Gal talks about how the newcomers need to realize he’s the best in the gym but Van Dux (who is rather muscular, is formerly known as Mike Vecchio and is pronounced Van Dukes) interrupts. They shake hands and Dux forearms him to the floor as fellow newcomers Tristan Angels and Romeo Moreno are in the VIP section. Gal gets back in for the opening bell and drives Dux into the corner for some quick forearms.

Dux slugs away to come back but gets dropped throat first across the top rope. Gal’s discus clothesline gets two and a fireman’s carry gutbuster drops Dux again. Some choking pushups have the referee yelling at Gal, who comes back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two more. Dux avoids a charge in the corner though and hits a springboard elbow to drop Gal for a change. A suplex out of the corner gives Dux two and Gal’s German suplex doesn’t do much. Dux hits a hard clothesline and a spinning gutwrench sitout powerbomb finishes Gal at 5:18.

Rating: C+. This was about getting Dux over as a new star and it worked well enough. Beating a goof like Gal means something and Dux’s power and athleticism worked. I remember seeing Dux over last year’s Wrestlemania Weekend and being impressed so it’s nice to see him getting a chance on the bigger stage. He has a long way to go, but at least he’s starting off well.

Zena Sterling begs Timothy Thatcher for a spot in the gauntlet match as she’s done everything right. Thatcher says she needs to win a few more matches and then they can talk. Sterling grabs a chair and beats on the walls.

Tate Wilder is looking for Kam Hendrix and Harley Riggins and is ready to hunt them down tonight.

We meet three of the new signees: CJ Valor (formerly Jimmy House), Chazz “Starboy” Hall (Starboy Charlie) and Santi Rivera (Jariel Rivera). Valor is ready for his impressions to bleed into this match and his coaches at the Rhodes Wrestling Academy taught him to just keep steppin.

Rivera is feeling good tonight and he’ll feel better when he gets the title shot next week. He’s wrestled in New England and he’s ready to be the next Evolve Champion. Hall (the fans seem to know him) talks about wrestling on the independents for twelve years, including in GCW (there’s a name you don’t expect to hear on a WWE show), West Coast Pro and in Noah.

CJ Valor vs. Santi Rivera vs. Chazz Hall

Valor and Rivera brawl into the corner to start with Hall breaking it up. Hall is sent outside and Rivera knocks Valor away with an elbow but gets caught with Hall’s kicks. A powerbomb doesn’t work for Valor, who plants Hall for two instead. Rivera slams Hall onto Valor but Hall knocks Rivera down. The standing corkscrew moonsault gives Hall two on Valor but Valor sends him outside. Rivera picks Valor up for a Doomsday Blockbuster, only to get knocked down as well.

We take a break with everyone down and come back with Rivera Sling Blading Valor for two. Hall grabs an assisted Sliced Bread out of the corner to Rivera before kicking Valor in the head. Hall’s wheelbarrow bulldog is countered into a suplex but Valor knocks Rivera down for two more. An enziguri hits Rivera by mistake and Hall follows it up with a double Pele for another near fall.

Valor is back up with a heck of a spear to Hall (ignore that he was aiming for Rivera), followed by most of a cross armbreaker to Rivera. Hall breaks it up with a running shooting star press for two and sends Rivera outside. That means a space flying tiger drop to Rivera, followed by a shooting star press to give Hall the pin on Valor at 10:06.

Rating: B-. This was about introducing a bunch of people at once and that makes it a bit of a trick to pull off. Hall was the speed guy here and that worked well enough, though the overalls and small stature aren’t the best combination. Hopefully he fixes that up a bit, as he was certainly smooth enough in the air. Valor is more of a generic power wrestler, while Rivera showed off some nice personality. In other words, we’ll have to see where they all go, but it was a decent enough start.

Post match Hall says this is almost a surprise. He wants to thank Aaron Rourke for the opportunity, but he’s coming for the title because he’s the Denim Dragon.

Tate Wilder is still on the hunt and finds Luca Crusifino, who doesn’t like this negative energy. Crusifino thinks they need to focus their energy into the ring, say in a tag match. Wilder realizes he needs all of the help he can get so he’ll take it. Crusifino lays down on an anvil case and chills.

Mike Cunningham explains Main Man Energy. Basically it’s “I’m awesome and you should be too”. This actually works for him.

Next week: the women’s ID prospects debut. Cool.

Wendy Choo vs. Laynie Luck vs. PJ Vasa vs. Kali Armstrong vs. Nikkita Lyons

One fall to a finish for the final spot in the gauntlet match for the vacant Women’s Title. Vasa cleans house to start but everyone gets together to go after her. Lyons and Armstrong go after each other but get pulled apart as Vasa returns. Vasa crushes Lyons in the corner and catches Luck, only to get dropkicked down by Armstrong. Luck’s rollup out of the corner gets two on Armstrong but it’s Lyons’ turn to wreck everyone.

Luck is back up with a headscissors to Lyons but gets pulled outside by Armstrong. They knock each other down and it’s Choo going up for a huge dive onto everyone else. We take a break and come back with Vasa getting back in to drop Armstrong and Lyons in a Tower Of Doom. Luck reverses a powerbomb with a hurricanrana though and Choo comes off the top to nail Vasa as well. Choo cleans house for a change and Lyons helps her with a double Sliced Bread.

A double DDT drops Luck and Lyons, followed by Choo’s hammerlock lariat getting two on Armstrong. Back up and Armstrong’s powerslam is countered into a small package for two more. Lyons is back in for a tiger bomb to Armstrong, with Luck rolling Lyons up for two. Vasa is up as well, only to get knocked outside by Lyons, who gets Backstabbered by Choo.

Armstrong runs the corner to dive onto Choo and Vasa on the floor, leaving Lyons to miss a Vader Bomb. The Kali Connection sends Lyons outside so Choo grabs the Dirt Nap on Armstrong. That’s broken up and Armstrong powerslams Choo, followed by the Kali Connection. Luck makes the save this time but gets Samoan dropped by Vasa. The Issue gives Vasa the pin on Choo at 9:44.

Rating: C+. This was similar to the triple threat with pretty much nonstop action, but there was only so much of a chance for anyone to stand out with so much going on. This did have the advantage of having people we knew, though Vasa still isn’t overly interesting. Maybe she’ll get molded into a better monster, but I’m not thrilled with the idea of her becoming the next champion.

Overall Rating: B-. They had a really tricky task this week, as the big idea was to introduce new stars. The good thing is they pulled it off pretty well, with Van Dux looking like a star and Hall already being put in the title picture, at least for a week. The main event was fine enough as well and has title implications, so they pretty much accomplished all of their goals here. Not bad for a show with so many fresh faces.

Results
Dorian Van Dux b. It’s Gal – Spinning gutwrench sitout powerbomb
Chazz Hall b. CJ Valor and Santi Rivera – Shooting star press to Valor
PJ Vasa b. Laynie Luck, Nikkita Lyons, Kali Armstrong and Wendy Choo – The Issue to Choo

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

Evolve
Date: March 25, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg

For the first time in a good while, we have a new Evolve Champion as Aaron Rourke beat the departing Jackson Drake to win the title last week. That means Rourke will need a new challenger and we might find out who that is this week. Other than that, we need a new Women’s Champion and the process should begin soon. Let’s get to it.

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

Tate Wilder is in the ring and calls out Kam Hendrix for attacking him a few weeks ago. Cue Hendrix, with Harley Riggins and Kai Kavari. None of them like Wilder and find him despicable, but a lot of people want to get his hands on Wilder. For now, Kavari can get his chance. Kavari runs in and gets dropkicked so let’s have a referee in there too.

Kai Kavari vs. Tate Wilder

Wilder is in street clothes and stars fast with a running shot in the corner. Kavari is sent into the corner and knocked to the apron, where he gets in a neck snap over the top rope. A suplex gives Kavari two and we’re off to the chinlock. Wilder fights up and hits some running clotheslines into a spinning suplex. The Wild Ride finishes for Wilder at 3:28.

Rating: C. They didn’t have time to do much here but this was just a quick win for Wilder as he is on his way to getting his hands on the other two. At the same time, Wilder looked a lot better here and that’s a good idea. They seem to think they have something with him and it’s interesting to see getting a more serious push.

Post match Wilde throws Kavari outside in a heap.

Mike Cunningham vs. Lince Dorado

Cunningham is looking a lot cockier than usual here. Dorado takes him down with a flying mare to start so Cunningham runs him over and does something of a dance. Back up and Dorado armdrags him into an armbar but Cunningham takes over on the arm as well. Cunningham dropkicks him off the top and out to the floor, where it’s a twisting dive to take Dorado down again. Back in and Cunningham runs him over, meaning it’s time to go after the arm again.

A spinebuster plants Dorado for two but he’s right back up with a springboard, which is countered into a faceplant. Cunningham works on the arm again but Dorado knocks him outside for the running flip dive. Back in and a cross armbreaker doesn’t work for Dorado so he kicks Cunningham in the head. A handspring Stunner gives Dorado two so he goes up, where it’s a super Falcon Arrow to bring him back down. Cunningham loads up a powerbomb but Dorado reverses into a rollup for the pin at 8:15.

Rating: B-. Cunningham looked better here than he has before but it’s not a big loss to get beaten by someone with this kind of experience. If nothing else, Dorado is someone who can be used to help boost up the younger generation. I could go for more of both of them, as this was a nice surprise.

Post match Dorado thanks Cunningham for the match and is impressed by his skills. Cunningham thanks him for the lessons and promises to learn to get better. They shake hands and everything seems ok.

Timothy Thatcher is annoyed at someone on the phone before hanging up and praising Kendal Grey for setting the standard for the women’s division. In three weeks, it’s an Eliminator Gauntlet to crown a new Women’s Champion. Next week, we have a four way to determine who gets the final spot. In addition, some new prospects debut next week. That should be fun.

Kali Armstrong vs. Masyn Holiday

Layla Diggs is here with Holiday. Armstrong drives her into the corner to start and hits a heck of a running shoulder to the ribs. The powerslam cuts off a comeback attempt and the Kali Connection finishes Holiday at 1:12.

Braxton Cole is rather rich but has to deal with rough things like getting the ice off his Bentley, flying commercial to Cabo and having his lobster be too buttered.

Cappuccino Jones vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen seems rather annoyed and shoves him out of the corner to start, only for Jones to come off the middle rope with a Stunner. Jones dropkicks him outside and we take a break. We come back with Jensen tying him in the ring skirt and hammering away. Back up and Jones tries to go up top, only to get knocked out to the floor. Jensen’s clothesline gets two and he chokes Jones on the ropes.

A weird stomp, with Jensen’s feet wrapped around Jones’ head as he jumps up, has Jones in more trouble and we hit a full nelson on the mat. That’s broken up and Jones misses a charge into the ropes, allowing Jones to…well slip on the ropes actually. An elbow out of the corner works a bit better for Jones and he strikes away, followed by a Cactus Clothesline. They brawl on the floor and knock the referee away for the double DQ at 8:29.

Rating: B-. It’s another nice match with a result you don’t see that often. Jones is someone who seems like he should be a comedy goof but he’s smooth enough in the ring to rise above that level. On the other hand you have Jensen, who is little more than a middle of the road villain who doesn’t have much to do. Then again they need bodies around here so Jensen does at least have a place.

Post match Jensen lays him out with the cowbell.

Kali Armstrong wants back in the Women’s Title picture and wanted to beat Kendal Grey to get it back. Timothy Thatcher says the goal is to get up to NXT, where she can face Grey again. He does give her something to calm the situation though: she can be in the four way for the final spot in the Gauntlet Eliminator.

Here is Aaron Rourke for his championship celebration. He can’t believe he’s here and while you know him as this confident guy, it wasn’t always the case. When he was a kid, he just wanted to bring his action figures to school rather than play football. People called him names and they made him hate who he was. Wrestling has been his escape since he was five years old, including people like Ric Flair, who inspired him to wear the robe.

Then there is his favorite wrestler, Charlotte, and he’ll be chasing her title record for his entire career. He wants to show people that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from because you can be a success. Don’t be anyone else but yourself because you are good enough and you are great.

He wants to be like the heroes he watched growing up and for people to see him as being outlandish but also himself. We get a rather nice thank you for all of the love and support he has received. He is privileged to be champion and enjoy the ride. Rourke can talk and that’s a rather positive message to be sending. I’ve liked the things he’s been saying in his promos since the beginning and this was rather good again.

Harlem Lewis is in the back and says that title will be his.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was designed to help establish some of the newer stars around here and it’s worked well enough. People like Wilder, Cappuccino and Rourke felt like big enough deals and I like where their stuff is going. At the same time you have Thatcher fitting into his role perfectly and that gives me hope for this show’s future. The next few weeks will show us where things are going, but they’re off to a nice enough start.

Results
Tate Wilder b. Kai Kavari – Wild Ride
Lince Dorado b. Mike Cunningham – Rollup
Kali Armstrong b. Masyn Holiday – Kali Connection
Cappuccino Jones vs. Brooks Jensen went to a double DQ when they both hit the referee

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

Evolve
Date: February 25, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg

It’s the season finale, meaning we’re only one week away from Succession II. This show should be a big one as well though, as we have another PC vs. ID ten man tag, albeit with more traditional rules. This time though, Tate Wilder is also here as the guest referee. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, Team PC planned strategy but it seems Drake Morreaux is nowhere to be found, so Cyrus is here instead. Who’s Cyrus? Someone making his debut and he’s a former football player.

Tyra Mae Steele vs. Zena Sterling

Steele suplexes her to start fast and an AA gets two. Sterling gets sent flying again and it’s a spear into a bridging German suplex to give Steele the pin at 1:18. Total destruction.

Post match Steele says she’s going to watch the Women’s Title match next week. She gives a bit of a preview of the match until Kali Armstrong’s entrance cuts her off. Armstrong and Steele even dance a bit during Armstrong’s entrance.

Kali Armstrong vs. Wendy Choo

Choo grabs a quickly broken Dirt Nap to start before snapping off some armdrags. A dropkick puts Armstrong on the floor and there’s the running flip dive off the apron. We take a break and come back with Armstrong being sent outside again, where she trips Choo down and hammers away.

Back in and the running shoulders in the corner set up a running boot in the same corner for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Armstrong misses a charge. A hammerlock lariat puts Armstrong down again and Choo kicks her down. Another running boot gives Choo two but Armstrong powerslam gets the same.

Armstrong’s superplex doesn’t seem to hurt Choo, as she pops back up with a brainbuster for two of her own. The Dirt Nap goes on and they roll outside with the hold still on, with Armstrong tapping outside. That doesn’t matter so they go back inside, where Armstrong crotches her on top, setting up the Kali Konnection for the pin at 7:58.

Rating: B-. Well Armstrong definitely needed the win and it’s nice to see her getting back to what worked for her before. Armstrong is still someone who seems like she has a spot higher up on the card going forward and it would be nice to see what else she can do. The powerhouse athlete will work for awhile and hopefully the development continues.

The Vanity Project meets up with Team ID and they seem ready to be on the same team.

Harlem Lewis isn’t happy with Brooks Jensen for attacking him and is ready to fight at Succession.

Team PC vs. Team ID

PC: Kam Hendrix, Harley Riggins, Braxton Cole, Cyrus, Keanu Carver
ID: Sean Legacy, Aaron Rourke, Mike Cunningham, Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes

One fall and Tate Wilder is guest referee. After the tease of a pre-match brawl, Legacy tries Shambles on Hendrix but gets it broken up and everything breaks down. Carver cleans house and comes in to face Legacy, who can’t get very far by striking away. Cyrus shoulders Legacy down and hands it off to Hendrix, who can’t get anywhere with a sunset flip.

Legacy goes over to tag Rourke but Smokes breaks that up and Baylor tags himself in instead. It’s quickly off to Smokes, who gets backdropped down, allowing Baylor to come back in. The running Downward Spiral drops Riggins, who brings Carver back in for a bunch of clotheslines as we take a break. We come back with Hendrix hammering on Smokes in the corner, who manages to climb over Hendrix for the tag off to Baylor.

Riggins takes him into the corner but can’t keep him there, allowing the tags off to Legacy and Cyrus. Legacy takes over for a bit, only for Riggins to take over and drop Legacy again. That’s enough for Legacy to go over to Cunningham, who comes in with a high crossbody. A cheap shot lets Riggins put Legacy down so Jackson Drake gets inside and yells at Wilder.

That earns Drake a shot to the face so all three members of the Vanity Project walk out, even despite Cappuccino Jones trying to cool them off. With Jones staying at ringside, Cunningham keeps getting beaten up in the corner, with Riggins’ running elbow getting two. The double arm crank is broken up but Hendrix is back in to forearm Cunningham in the face.

Cunningham manages an enziguri out of the corner but Carver knocks Jones into the steps. Everything breaks down and Cunningham gets dropped throat first onto the top rope. Team ID is down on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Cunningham still in trouble and Hendrix dropping him with a forearm.

Cunningham finally fights out and brings in Rourke to clean house, including Eat Defeat to Riggins. Carver is back in and everything breaks down, with Jones kicking Carver in the head. Hendrix is put down for Rourke’s split legged moonsault. Lights Cam Action is broken up and Hendrix accidentally runs into Wilder. Hendrix helps him up but walks into Over The Rainbow to give Rourke the pin at 18:58.

Rating: B. I’m not entirely sure what to think of this one, as I’m still not entirely sure why the PC and ID teams are these mortal enemies. I get that the ID stars have different contracts, but it doesn’t exactly feel like a reason for a blood feud. That being said, the match did feel big and it came off as something that belonged on a bigger show like this one. Team ID winning despite being down makes them feel more important, and you could go in a few ways with what happened and how we got there.

Post match Jones puts over Team ID and says tonight is Legacy’s last night on Evolve. The team thanks him for everything he’s done and Jones wants a speech. Legacy thanks the fans for always believing in him and seeing how far he has gone. He thanks the people who are taking the future in their hands, though he doesn’t mention Cunningham, who does not look pleased. Legacy goes on to thank the fans to wrap up the show.

Overall Rating: B. This felt like the first half of a big double show and that’s a good way to go. The main event definitely felt like the most important part and Legacy leaving is quite the moment. What matters the most here is that the show felt important, which is pretty impressive given how this is as low as it gets on the WWE ladder. Next week already feels even bigger, so they even have something else ready to go. Nice job here, as they know how to do the big matches and shows.

Results
Tyra Mae Steele b. Zena Sterling – Bridging German suplex
Kali Armstrong b. Wendy Choo – Kali Konnection
Team ID b. Team PC – Over The Rainbow to Hendrix

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Evolve
Date: February 18, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg

We’re coming up on the season finale and then Succession II, which can make for some interesting building. We already have some big matches set up, with both the Evolve and Evolve Women’s Title matches ready to go. There are going to have to be some other things added as well so let’s get to it.

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

Nikkita Lyons and Arianna Grace recap the Women’s Title match, with Kendal Grey defending against PJ Vasa at Succession II. The rest of the women’s division gets some attention as well, with Lyons getting angrier and angrier over Grace not bringing up the two of them. Finally Lyons brings up Masyn Holiday and Layla Diggs, which Grace had tried to block out.

Opening sequence.

Chuey Martinez is in the ring for a contract signing between PJ Vasa and Kendal Grey. First up, Grey talks about how she’s been told how hard it is going to be to beat Vasa. Grey laughs off the idea of being scared of a challenge, because she beat the boys on her high school wrestling team. Vasa cuts her off, saying she knows Grey can’t win. She wants this match signed on her terms, meaning a street fight. Vasa: “Come getcho issue.” (that’s how it’s spelled on her shirt). That works for Grey, who signed but then gets taken out by Vasa.

Cappuccino Jones talks about being underestimated all the time and doesn’t get why other prospects are called up before them. Good for those people, but why not him? He’s a different flavor, and it’s the boldest and one of one. Simple themed promo here and I still like this guy.

Dante Chen vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen grabs an early nerve hold as Harley Riggins, Braxton Cole and Kam Hendrix are in the VIP area. The chinlock is broken up and Chen is back with an armbar. Jensen fights up but gets backdropped down, meaning the armbar goes on again. A big boot puts Chen down and he gets whipped hard into the corner.

The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by an elbow drop to keep Chen down. Chen is back up with a clothesline and dropkick, setting up a nice superkick. Jensen manages to send him into the corner though and a suplex into a backstabber 9Roderick Strong’s End Of Heartache) finishes Chen at 8:19.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t exactly interesting or thrilling stuff, as they wrestled a slow paced match and it didn’t feel overly important. Jensen feels like someone who has been trying to find something to do for a long time now and I don’t know if there’s anything else he can do. On the other hand you have Chen, who thankfully is little more than a warm body around here.

Wendy Choo talks about how much therapy has helped her so she tried to share it with Kali Armstrong. That earned her a beating and Choo is not going to be disrespected like that.

The Vanity Project is recovering from a wild party (the place is rather messy) when Team ID comes in. They’re ready to carve their own paths in NXT and that’s because of the ID Program. They want to pay it forward, but want the Vanity Project to help them fight off Team PC. The teams chatter among themselves and Swipe Right is in.

Drake Morreaux vs. It’s Gal

Morreaux shoves him down to start and then drops Gal again with pure power. Gal’s suplex is reversed into one from Morreaux, who is offended when Gal tries a chop. Gal finally comes back with a shot on the apron but of course stops to pose before working on the leg. A running DDT gives Gal two and the chinlock goes on. Morreaux powers up and hits a discus lariat, followed by a chokeslam for the pin at 4:29.

Rating: C. I’m surprised in both ways here, as Morreaux if a unique enough monster and I could see him being something of a new project. At the same time, Gal had seemed like someone who was going to become a bigger deal and now he’s just losing over and over. Granted he might not be everyone’s taste, but he certainly has charisma.

Post match Kam Hendrix comes in to offer Drake Morreaux a spot on Team PC as Jax Presley is injured. Morreaux says he knows which side of history he wants to be on and leaves, with commentary suggesting that’s a no. It’s Gal wants to be on the team too but the team doesn’t seem thrilled.

Kali Armstrong doesn’t have anything against Wendy Choo personally, but she doesn’t want any help. She’s found her motivation and is ready to send Choo back to mute.

Nikkita Lyons/Arianna Grace vs. Masyn Holiday/Layla Diggs

Holiday rolls Grace up for an early two and it’s off to Diggs for a double arm crank. Holiday’s headlock doesn’t last long so she goes with a crossbody for two. Lyons comes in and gets caught in a headlock from Diggs but Grace breaks up a double suplex. A pair of dropkicks put the villains on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Holiday in trouble on the floor and Lyons dropping a sitdown splash back inside. This time Chantel Monroe is watching in the VIP area and approves as Lyons knocks Holiday down again.

The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a suplex to give Lyons two more. Grace’s diving forearm gets two and Lyons drops her with a running clothesline. Holiday fights up for a double clothesline and it’s back to Diggs to crush Grace in the corner. A Pele gets two, with Lyons making the save. Everything breaks down and Grace gives Holiday a Codebreaker, followed by Lyons kicking Holiday in the head. Grace’s fireman’s carry slam (Graceland) is good for the pin at 9:24.

Rating: C. This is a match that has been built up for a bit but I’m not exactly interested in the TikTok team. They’re fine enough in the ring, but it’s kind of hard to care about two women who seem to show up to do dances. I’ll take them over the villains who have spent weeks being nice because of a random fortune teller though. This hasn’t been a great feud, but this might wrap it up.

Tate Wilder isn’t happy with the PC vs. ID war and doesn’t like what either side has been doing. He won’t stand for backstabbing though and that’s why he’s the guest referee in next week’s ten man tag.

Overall Rating: C-. Even Evolve has off weeks and this seemed to be one. The whole show felt like it was filler that would take place at the end of a really long taping cycle, featuring the bottom group of the roster. At the same time, the next two weeks are more than big enough to make up for this. I’ve been impressed enough with Evolve to believe that this was just a one off miss, which does happen every so often. Just get back to normal next week, which they likely will.

Results
Brooks Jensen b. Dante Chen – Suplex into a backstabber
Drake Morreaux b. It’s Gal – Chokeslam
Arianna Grace/Nikkita Lyons b. Masyn Holiday/Layla Diggs – Graceland to Holiday

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Evolve
Date: February 11, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Robert Stone, Peter Rosenberg

We’re coming up on the season finale, which only means so much when the season premiere is a week later. The big result last week was Jackson Drake retaining the Evolve Title over Kam Hendrix in a bit of a surprise. Other than that, Karmen Petrovic is challenging Kendal Grey for the Women’s Title. Let’s get to it.

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

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair recap the recent events in the women’s division in a way that no people would ever actually speak.

Opening sequence.

IMG Credit: WWE

Swipe Right vs. Eli Knight/Mike Cunningham

Tate Wilder is in the VIP section and Jackson Drake is here with Swipe Right. Smokes wrestles Cunningham down to start and it’s off to Baylor, who has to roll out of a wristlock. Cunningham dropkicks Smokes and sends Baylor outside, allowing Knight to come in off the top with a double stomp to Smokes’ arm. It’s back to Cunningham to stay on the arm and a running neckbreaker into a splash gets two.

Smokes manages to bring Baylor back in for a forearm to Knight, who easily rolls over for the tag back to Cunningham. Drake offers a quick distraction though and Baylor shoves Cunningham off the top as we take a break. We come back with Cunningham still in trouble but he hiptosses his way to freedom. Knight comes back in to clean house, including a nice tornado DDT/dropkick combination.

The moonsault doesn’t connect as Knight has to roll through, allowing Baylor to knock him down again. Cunningham breaks up the Super Swipe though and Baylor gets dropped with a hard German suplex. Everything breaks down and Baylor knees Knight in the face, setting up Super Swipe for two as Cunningham makes a diving save.

Smokes and Knight slug it out until Smokes catches him on top with a running knee. Cunningham is back in to pull Baylor off the top and fireman’s carry Smokes, allowing Knight to moonsault off Smokes’ back for two, with a big shove making the last second save. Knight’s Stundog Millionaire into Sliced Bread hits Baylor but a dive hits Cunningham by mistake. The top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination finishes Knight at 12:20.

Rating: B+. That’s on a bit of a sliding scale as these guys are still relatively new at this level, but dang this wound up being a heck of a match. It felt like they were being asked to go out there and show what they could do and then lived up to the challenge. They pulled me into this one and it’s easily the best match any of them have ever had.

Post match the Vanity Project brags about their win and Jackson Drake says Cappuccino Jones can have his title shot in three weeks at Succession II. This brings out Harlem Lewis to say he earned his title shot so he’ll just have to beat up all three of them. Brooks Jensen runs in to jump Lewis from behind, with the Project approving.

Arianna Grace and Nikkita Lyons are exhausted from trying to be nice. Masyn Holiday and Layla Diggs come in and ask to switch lockers with them, but Lyons snaps because that TikTok video did NOTHING for her personal brand. Diggs reveals that the psychic was her neighbor Doris and a match is made for next week. Grace: “Can we sue?” Thank goodness as this story was not working.

Team PC is mad about Kam Hendrix losing last week so Hendrix wants a PC vs. ID ten man tag.

IMG Credit: WWE

Aaron Rourke vs. It’s Gal

Tate Wilder and Trill London are in the VIP and Rourke jumps over Gal in the corner to start and hits some shoulders to the ribs. Rourke stomps him down in the corner and a headscissors sends Gal outside. The dive connects and Rourke throws in a few spanks, with Gal fighting back and hitting one of his own. Back in and a headscissors is countered into a hot shot, followed by a discus lariat to give Gal two.

Gal tosses him out of the corner and hits a big boot for two. He stops to pose though (again) and Rourke elbows him in the face a few times to start the comeback. The running hip attack connects in the corner for two but Gal’s double knees get the same. Rourke reverses a superplex though and hits Over The Rainbow (Molly Go Round) for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C+. Rourke continues to interest me as he is someone who would usually be treated as a comedy guy but he plays it seriously for the most part and it’s kind of working. He’s not a top star, but he’s a solid enough hand. Giving him a win like this is a good thing and I’m curious to see where he goes.

Tate Wilder isn’t happy with how the PC guys have been lately and is ready to stand up to them.

Video on Tyra Mae Steele.

Wendy Choo comes up to Kali Armstrong, who doesn’t seem pleased with the interruption. Choo suggests Armstrong go to therapy to fix her issues and gets punched in the ribs for her efforts. Bad talk.

We run down the Succession II card.

Women’s Title: Karmen Petrovic vs. Kendal Grey

Grey, with Wren Sinclair, is defending. Petrovic sweeps the leg for an early two to start and they stare at each other. An armbar takes Grey down but Grey flips around into one of her own. Back up and Grey kicks her down, only to get faceplanted out of the corner. We take a break and come back with a double collision leaving them down.

They pull themselves up and trade running shots against the ropes with Petrovic getting the better of things. Petrovic grabs a Sharpshooter, which stays on for a good while until Grey makes the rope for the break. The cross armbreaker goes on but Petrovic stacks her up for two. Grey’s sitout powerbomb gets two more but Petrovic superkicks her out of the corner. A tornado DDT gives Petrovic two more and she goes up top, where Grey pulls her back down. Shades Of Grey retains the title at 8:16.

Rating: B-. While there wasn’t much drama about retaining the title, it was nice to see Grey having to work to get a hard fought win. Grey continues to be someone who feels like she’s planned for the top level one day and she looked solid here. Petrovic did well too, but this might be her ceiling in WWE and that’s not a great sign for her future.

Post match PJ Vasa comes out and challenges Grey for Succession II.

Overall Rating: B+. The opener was very good and this was a wrestling heavy show, which made for a strong week. Evolve is doing rather well right now and that’s a good sign heading into two of their biggest shows. I want to see where some of these things are going and the stories feel like they have been mapped out well from beginning to end. Now just get the payoffs right and everything works.

Results
Swipe Right b. Eli Knight/Mike Cunningham – Top rope double stomp/reverse DDT combination to Knight
Aaron Rourke b. It’s Gal – Over The Rainbow
Kendal Grey b. Karmen Petrovic – Shades Of Grey

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Evolve
Date: February 4, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s a big night as the Evolve Title is on the line, with Jackson Drake defending against Kam Hendrix. This comes after Hendrix had Drake go up against a bunch of monsters last week in a rather smart move. Other than that, it’s time to find whomever might be next for the Women’s Title so let’s get to it.

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

Team PC is ready for Kam Hendrix to win the Evolve Title. Braxton Cole comes in after things got, ahem, messy in the back. Apparently Sean Legacy

Opening sequence.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tyra Mae Steele vs. Carlee Bright

Steele wrestles her down with no trouble to start but Bright picks the leg a few times. That doesn’t get Bright very far as Steele pulls her into a bow and arrow. The chinlock goes on but Bright is back up with a headscissors. That’s broken up and Steele reverses into something like an STF. Back up and they collide for a double down before Bright hits a swinging neckbreaker. Steele pulls her out of the air though and hits Mae Day (Samoan drop) for the pin at 4:38.

Rating: C. Steele continues to be someone with all of the background in the world and some charisma to back it up. If she can put that together with the pro style, she has all of the potential. As for Bright…uh….I’m not sure what she has, though I would have said the same thing about Kendal Grey a year ago so things can indeed change.

The Vanity Project welcomes Team ID in because they need to band together to fight off Kam Hendrix. That doesn’t work well, though Aaron Rourke thinks the Project might have a point. After a huddle, Team ID is actually in, with Rourke hitting on Jackson Drake a bit. Swipe Right doesn’t think much of Mike Cunningham and Eli Knight though and a match is set for next week.

Arianna Grace and Nikkita Lyons are still freaked out by the séance and think they need to be really nice. Layla Diggs and Masyn Holiday come in, with Grace and Lyons trying to play nice. They’ll even do a new TikTok dance with them! This….yeah this isn’t working.

Drake Morreaux vs. Sam Holloway

Morreaux powers him down to start and a running hurricanrana does it again. Holloway is knocked down again for something like a bottom rope Vader Bomb for two but he’s back up with a big boot. Another knockdown gives Holloway another two but Morreaux sends him to the apron for a big boot to the floor.

Holloway goes with the idea of hitting Morreaux in the face, with a springboard elbow connecting for two. A big charge misses for Holloway in the corner though and Morreaux kicks him right back down. Holloway dropkicks him out to the floor, which of course means a big running dive to take Morreaux down again. Back in and Morreaux hits a discus lariat (not exactly a clean one), followed by a regular clothesline for the pin at 6:17.

Rating: B. This was the Big E. Langston special as you had two big men getting in there and hitting each other until one of them couldn’t get up again. That’s exactly what you would have wanted to see out of a match like this and they more than delivered. I had a great time with this and I was even surprised at the result so well done all around.

Post match Morreaux says Team PC doesn’t represent the Performance Center, but he’s coming for the Evolve Title.

Next week: Karmen Petrovic challenges Kendal Grey for the Women’s Title.

Team ID gives Sean Legacy a hard time with his cleaning but Team PC interrupts to help him clean. With the ID guys gone, It’s Gal comes in to mock Team PC but Aaron Rourke stands up for the team and challenges Gal to a match next week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Dante Chen vs. Trill London

Chen works on the arm to start so London reverses into a wristlock of his own. Back up and Chen knocks him down a few times before London dives over Chen, only to possibly hurt his leg. It’s fine enough for London to grab an armbar but it’s a half nelson slam to put him down again. Chen gets two off another slam but misses a boot, allowing London to hit a Whisper In The Wind. A middle rope sunset flip gets two on Chen, who drops London with a superkick. Chen boots him down again though and the Gentle Touch finishes London at 5:31.

Rating: C-. Huh? I’m sorry what now? You build London up as someone interesting with the great athleticism and he gets pinned clean by DANTE CHEN? Maybe it’s that I watched LVL Up for years but I still don’t get what Chen is supposed to offer. London feels like someone interesting with potential and he just….loses here. Odd indeed. On top of that, the match didn’t exactly feel smooth, as it came off more like a tumbling routine than a match, which isn’t a great way to go.

We get a face to face showdown between Kendal Grey and Karmen Petrovic. Grey doesn’t want this to get too personal but she’ll face anyone to keep her title. Petrovic thinks Grey is looking past her when Petrovic has all the momentum. Grey isn’t underestimating her but promises to walk in and out as champion.

The Season Finale will air on February 25 but the season premiere, Succession II, will be the following week.

Kali Armstrong is disappointed by her recent losses and needs to get that dog back in her. Maybe she needs to go back home for a bit and find her old self.

Evolve Title: Kam Hendrix vs. Jackson Drake

Hendrix, with Jax Presley and Harley Riggins, is challenging while Drake has Swipe Right with him. Drake goes for the leg to start but gets put down with a running shoulder. Riggins and Presley trip Drake so Swipe Right does the same to Hendrix, meaning it’s the rare quadruple ejection. We take a break and come back with Hendrix striking away for two and grabbing the chinlock. Drake fights up and hits an enziguri but gets punched in the face for going up top.

Hendrix’s powerbomb doesn’t work and Drake grabs a German suplex for two. The referee gets bumped and Drake hits a jumping knee to put Hendrix down. Cue Team PC to beat Drake down but Team ID runs in for the big brawl. Swipe Right is back in as well as I wonder how fragile the referee must be to not notice about ten people interfering. Legacy hits a big flip dive and Swipe Right takes Hendrix down. The Unaliving retains the title at 8:38.

Rating: B-. The ending was the kind of wild brawl that makes for an interesting situation, though I’m rather surprised that Hendrix didn’t win. Drake has held the title for a long time now and it’s odd to see the team seemingly changing over to the good side. At the same time, Hendrix and company had been built up fairly well, though I’m not sure what is next for them. It’s a good match, even with a bit of a surprising result.

Post match Cappuccino Jones holds up the title and says he’s coming for this because Drake owes him one.

Overall Rating: B-. Good show here, albeit with a few surprising results. The thing that stuck out to me here was something that made the glory days of NXT work so well: it felt like there was a focus on everything taking place in the ring. The matches and segments were made to feel important and that helps when they come back around later. This is still the most enjoyable show every week and this worked again, even with me being rather surprised more than once.

Results
Tyra Mae Steele b. Carlee Bright – Mae Day
Drake Morreaux b. Sam Holloway – Clothesline
Dante Chen b. Trill London – Gentle Touch
Jackson Drake b. Kam Hendrix – Unaliving

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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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Evolve
Date: January 14, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

Things are changing in a hurry around here and it’s rather interesting to see where they are all going. With a bunch of Evolve names now officially part of NXT, some changes are going to need to be made around here. That could be a good thing, but it’s definitely a thing of some description. Let’s get to it.

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

Team PC arrives and are ready to take over.

The Vanity Project arrives and runs into Aaron Rourke, Cappuccino Jones and Eli Knight. They argue a bit and a six man tag is set for later.

Opening sequence.

Video on the Women’s Title match, with Kendal Grey being ready to face the monsters PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. PJ Vasa vs. Kali Armstrong,

Grey, with Wren Sinclair, is defending and Karmen Petrovic is in the VIP section. Vasa powers both of them into the corner to start so Grey slides between her legs to pick up the pace. Some running dropkicks stagger Vasa and a double dropkick sends her outside. That leaves Grey to suplex Armstrong and then kick the returning Vasa back outside. Armstrong spears Grey but gets speared by Vasa, who stands tall as we take a break.

We come back with Vasa cleaning house, including booting Grey down while holding Armstrong in a fireman’s carry. Grey gets the ankle lock on Vasa but Armstrong makes the save. Armstrong drops Vasa with the powerslam and loads up the Kali Connection, only for Grey to springboard in with Shades Of Grey to retain at 5:08.

Rating: B-. Well it was eventful while it lasted, but I was expecting a far longer match than what we got here. At the same time, I was expecting Grey to lose here as it’s pretty clear that she’s getting elevated in the near future. That being said, her holding the title even longer isn’t a bad thing and she got a solid win here.

Post match Petrovic doesn’t think much of Armstrong, who wants to put the sword, uh, somewhere.

Trill London talks about his time in the NFL and is ready to leave you wondering who he is.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Charlie Dempsey

Shockingly enough they go to the grappling to start, with Dempsey getting a cravate, which is broken up without much trouble. A knee to the arm has Dempsey in trouble and Thatcher knocks him outside as we take an early break. We come back with Thatcher still on the arm until Dempsey takes the leg down to switch control. Dempsey ties up the leg and then goes with something close to an STF.

A gutwrench suplex drops Thatcher again and it’s back to the legbar. With that broken up, Dempsey just cranks on the leg for a change. Back up and Thatcher just hits him in the face, which is quite the logical comeback. Dempsey gets something like a dragon screw legwhip but Thatcher pulls him into a Fujiwara armbar.

That’s rolled into a leglock, which is reversed into a cross armbreaker as this is a technical clinic. Dempsey knocks him to the floor and matches Thatcher with a shot to the face back inside. A bridging butterfly suplex (nice) gets two on Thatcher, as does a bridging German suplex. Dempsey switches over to a Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 13:10.

Rating: B. This was a lot of fun as you can tell both of them know this style very well. Dempsey winning is of course the right call as Thatcher is just there to make others look good. That’s what he did here and it came in a rather entertaining match. This isn’t something that works all the time, but when you see this style every so often, it’s pretty awesome.

Video on Harlem Lewis.

Vanity Project vs. Eli Knight/Cappuccino Jones/Aaron Rourke

Rourke frustrates Baylor to start and it’s quickly off to Jones for a nice dropkick. Knight comes in and gets headlocked by Drake but comes back with a nice leg lariat. The villains are cleared out to the floor and, after a quick spank from Rourke, Knight hits a big flip dive over the top. Baylor gets in a jumping knee to the face though and we take a break. We come back with Knight in trouble, including Drake raking his back.

A fisherman’s suplex gives Drake two and he knocks Rourke and Jones off the apron. The villains take turns beating Knight up in the corner, with a variety of stomps. Knight manages a high crossbody and that’s enough for the tag off to Jones. Everything breaks down and Rourke hits Eat Defeat on Smokes. The Decaffinator takes Baylor down but Smokes shoves Jones off the top. Drake comes back in with the Unaliving to pin Jones at 9:40.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard six man tag here with Drake getting to look like a star in the end. That’s a good thing, as Baylor and Smokes aren’t exactly must see stuff in the ring. I can see why they make for good background people, but that only gets you so far once the bell rings. At the same time, Knight got to showcase himself well here, but it was only for so long.

Post match Team PC comes out, with Kam Hendrix saying they’re running Evolve in two weeks. That’s not when Hendrix wants his title match though, because that’s going to be Drake vs. Carver, Riggins and Presley in a handicap match. Then Hendrix will get his title match the next week. That’s rather brilliant.

Tate Wilder is in the back and says he feels like he’s walking this road alone.

Overall Rating: B-. I still love the way this show is put together, as it feels like every show is designed to keep things moving. This show had a variety of different stuff going on and I wanted to see all of it. That’s not something you often see and the differences make it stand out that much more. Good stuff here, and they kept things moving for the future as well. Nice work, as is almost always the case.

Results
Kendal Grey b. PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong – Springboard Shades Of Grey to Armstrong
Charlie Dempsey b. Timothy Thatcher – Fujiwara armbar
Vanity Project b. Cappuccino Jones/Eli Knight/Aaron Rourke – Unaliving to Jones

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: November 19, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenburg, Robert Stone

We’re back to the title picture again as there is a #1 contenders match between PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong for the next shot at Kendal Grey. Well next after next week’s Gold Rush edition of NXT but close enough. Other than that, Jackson Drake has to get ready for Sean Legacy next week so let’s get to it.

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

Kali Armstrong says she’s going to remind PJ Vasa show the real star is around here.

Opening sequence.

Jax Presley/Harley Riggins vs. OTM

OTM are a surprise set of opponents, as chosen by Timothy Thatcher. Price slams Riggins down to start so it’s quickly off to Presley vs. Nima. An exchange of shoulders goes to Presley, who takes Nima into the corner. It’s back to Riggins for a middle rope ax handle to the shoulder but Nima gets over to Price to fight back. A shinbreaker cuts Price off and it’s time to start kicking at the banged up leg.

Price tries to use one leg to get over for the tag, which works as well as you would expect. A shot to the back cuts him off again but a missed charge allows the needed tag off to Nima for the house cleaning. The running knee gives Nima two with Presley makes the save. Presley is sent outside and Paid In Full finishes Riggins at 6:53.

Rating: C+. This was a pair of hoss teams having a fight and that’s what it should have been. OTM getting the win here is fine as they’re certainly the bigger names of the four, though I could go with Riggins and Presley not losing as often. They’re the kind of big guys who shouldn’t be taking many losses so hopefully they can pick things up a bit.

Post match Timothy Thatcher comes out to point and talk some trash.

Video on PJ Vasa vs. Kali Armstrong.

Zena Sterling vs. Karmen Petrovic

Sterling is from LFG and rather young. She’s trained in a lot of ways, including 24 straight hours on a Stairmaster. She speaks a bit of Ukrainian and we’re ready to go. Hang on as Petrovic says she’s ready and NOW we can get started. Petrovic wins a test of strength to start and grabs a headlock, which is reversed into a wristlock. A suplex sends Petrovic flying and Sterling grabs a chinlock. Back up and Petrovic reverses a tilt-a-whirl slam into a crossbody for two. Eat Defeat staggers Sterling again and a running kick against the ropes connects. The Petrifier finishes Sterling off at 4:58.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one and while Sterling isn’t exactly a seasoned veteran, there wasn’t much to see here. It was a dull match with little in the way of emotion and just kind of came and went. Petrovic is someone who has some cool stuff but it needs something to pull it together.

Tate Wilder is talking to Trill London and wants to be in the Evolve Title picture. They’re ready to go after Swipe Right. Sean Legacy comes in to ask why he wasn’t the partner, but Wilder says London wanted in on things around here, with Legacy saying he understands. With the other two gone, Legacy says he’s going to watch in the VIP section.

We look at Kendal Grey and Lainey Reid getting in a brawl last week on NXT, setting up their Women’s Title match next week at Gold Rush. We also see Sean Legacy being announced as the #1 contender for the Evolve Title.

Tate Wilder/Trill London vs. Swipe Right

Sean Legacy is watching in the VIP Lounge. London jumps over Smokes to start and takes him down with a headlock takeover. Wilder comes in with a slingshot ax handle to Baylor’s arm, followed by the arm being snapped over the top. It’s already back to London, who stays on the arm before a dropkick gets two. Smokes gets in a cheap shot to take London off the top though and Baylor gets to hammer on the chest.

A boot to the face gets two on London and Baylor pounds him down in the corner. London gets an elbow up in the corner though and it’s back to Wilder to clean house. The villains cut him off with a dropkick Hart Attack as everything breaks down. With Swipe Right on the floor, London hits a big flip dive and Wilder adds a top rope trust fall onto all three of them. Back in and the Wildest Ride finishes Baylor at 6:56.

Rating: C+. Wilder seems to be getting a push up the ladder and while that’s a bit of a strange way to go, at least they’re doing something with someone. At the same time, you have the Legacy factor, which is starting to lose a lot of its impact. He doesn’t win much in the way of big matches and that’s going to need to change or having him around isn’t going to mean much for very long.

Arianna Grace is in the VIP Lounge and is here to watch the main event while giving the fans a thrill.

Kali Armstrong runs into Kendal Grey in the back and they seem cool, with Armstrong saying she’s winning tonight and then coming for the title. Works for Grey.

Drake Moureaux is from the swamps of Louisiana and is coming to Evolve.

There’s no show next week but we’ll be back on December 3.

Timothy Thatcher hopes that Harley Riggins and Jax Presley will respect the Evolve talent after what happened earlier. Those guys go out there and work hard, which is what Riggins and Presley will see in two weeks in an ID showcase.

Kali Armstrong vs. PJ Vasa

For a future shot at Kendal Grey, who is in the VIP Lounge with Carlee Bright, as Arianna Grace leaves. They fight over the lockup to start until Vasa runs her over with a shoulder. Armstrong anklescissors her out of the corner and a dropkick sends Vasa outside as we take a break.

We come back with Armstrong hitting a running shoulder to the ribs in the corner, followed by quite the powerful suplex. Vasa drops her again for a quick two and it’s a Samoan drop into a chinlock. Armstrong fights up and strikes away, setting up a powerslam for two. Vasa gets backed into the corner but walks into a poke to the eyes. Something like an AA powerslam finishes Armstrong at 6:20.

Rating: B-. It worked in 2014 with Kevin Owens as Vasa, Pac as Armstrong and Jerry Mathers as Kendal Grey. Vasa is the new force who took out the former champion on her way to a title match. Now just let Grey find a way around the monster and it should make for a nice situation for everyone.

Post match Kendal Grey glares at Vasa but gets jumped by Chantel Monroe, who is challenging her in two weeks.

Jax Presley and Harley Riggins aren’t happy with what happened and make a phone call to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This is starting to feel like one of those older shows as they set things up week to week and find a way to keep you coming back. They’ve got something going here and I continue to enjoy this show more than just about any other weekly series. Now just keep that going with all of the people they have available and it should work for a good while.

Results
OTM b. Jax Presley/Harley Riggins – Paid In Full to Riggins
Karmen Petrovic b. Zena Sterling – Petrifier
Tate Wilder/Trill London b. Swipe Right – Wildest Ride to Baylor
PJ Vasa b. Kali Armstrong – Fireman’s carry 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