WWE Evolve July 22nd 2026

Welcome back to Evolve where we have some actually built up matches and debuts for us, but before we get into that we should catch up on what’s happening in the greater WWE sphere.

Main Event – Impact – Smackdown – SNME – AAA – Raw – NXT

We have some big matches today as Nikkita has her first title defense against Laynie Luck, Shido Ash and Viktor Zanov graduate from security dorks to regular wrestlers as they take on Cappuccino Jones and Marcus Mathers, and we have Elijah Holyfield vs. Brooks Jensen II as the rookie hopes to get revenge for his humiliation in their last match. And we start with Nikkita Lyons and Sloane Jacobs doing yoga…to a tape of Lyons aphorisms and Sloane questions if this is really the best strategy to prepare for a title match, but Nikkita talks about karmic justice, they ruined Laynie Luck’s title defense, and Luck ruined Nikkita’s celebration, so now it’s the rubber match. Nikkita is at one with the universe and needs Jacobs to be her backup tonight cause everybody is after Nikkita. Sloane bigs up Lyons some more but rolls her eyes while NIkkita does yoga.

POSING! FLIPS! SCIENCE! It’s Evolve!

We have Blake Howard and Robert Stone on commentary and they introduce us to the show.

Cappuccino Jones and Marcus Mathers w/ Sam Holloway vs. Shido Ash and Viktor Zanov

Background: Jones has been a pretty generic scrappy babyface for a while but has now started dressing like a dude in a 70s movie whose name is Cappuccino Jones and has the natural hair, sunglasses, a blue suede vest, a paisley cravate and giant baggy gold pants and I love it. Marcus is a sorta Warped Tour guy and both of them are hard-luck cruiser babyface guys. Shido and Viktor are making their debut after spending some time as jerk security guys that ‘accidentally’ hurt faces. Ash has the tattoos of a country rap star and Viktor has the beard and look of a Dagestani MMA fighter, this is the babfaces trying to get revenge after Chazz “Starboy” Hall reminded them they got pushed around by these guys and did nothing. Cap has maybe sorta been teasing a heel run with his new presentation as well.

The Match: Viktor and Marcus start and commentary tells us that Zanov is 250 pounds and my goodness that isn’t true. The Mog Squad are in the VIP Section and Viktor uses Judo to brutalize the smaller Marcus but Mathers gets a reverse crossbody and a kick and then tags in Jones but the smaller Cap is immediately overwhelmed Shido tags in for some judo stuff and trash talk to Cappuccino. Jones speeds it up and shrugs off some punches but Viktor gets Cap from outside and we get another tag and Viktor gets a toss and comes in Ash for a double-back suplex that Jones flips out of and slugs away…but Shido gets a facelock and a gutwrench for 2. The Security Guys double-team Cap into a Viktor belly-to-belly and then an arm choke drags down Jones who finally jukes his way into a hot-tag for Marcus. A series of kicks drops the Judo Bros and then an OzCutter sets up a Blue Thunder Bomb for 2 on Shido. Sam Holloway gets into it with the Mog Squad ringside and the distraction leads to miscommunication where Marcus hits Cap off the apron and Shido hits Marcus with a corkscrew uppercut and then tags in Viktor for the Dead End (toss into a German suplex) for 3.

**

LOLIDLOSE! Man the ID 1.0 crew are just mega-losers to an insane degree. No real chemistry between Marcus and Cap here as this was basically a pure storyline advancement match. Judo Guys aren’t particularly interesting in the ring but stoic killers is a fine position to start with and they’re trying to get over Viktor as the power guy and Shido as the technique guy. Just sorta dull but fine.

Post-match Mog Squad clap for Judo Guys but the MMA Jerks threaten them too and security break it up.

Laynie Luck warms up in the lockerroom and Anya Rune, an uninjured Layla Diggs, and some generic blonde (Zena Sterling apparently) all back up Luck. Laynie talks about how this is a night where the universe is aligning and this is her night. We get some really generic encouragement and then Anya Rune does her terrible gimmick and at least it’s distinctive, but terrible.

Sam Holloway vs. Dorian van Dux

Background: No real idea why this match is happening but commentary puts over that due to Stone being more active in Evolve we’ll get more NXT crossovers. Dorian of course is an athletic power-wrestling Belgian, while Sam is an athletic power-wrestling hillbilly…that is like 8 inches taller than DVD.

The Match: Lockup goes Sam’s way to start and Holloway starts talking junk. Dorian tries to brawl and Sam stuffs an armdrag and it’s speed vs. power and Dorian gets a pump-knee and lands the armdrag and Sam goes for a powerbomb but Dorian flips out and tweaks the leg but Sam cuts him off with a boot and we have the referee questioning Dorian for a break and the Belgian explodes with an elbow but gets beaten down a a toss suplex has Holloway in control. Slam and then an inside-out springboard elbow gets 2 for Holloway. Dorian is doing the butt-scoot and Sam just beats him down as Dorian tries to fire back. Slugfest has Sam cuts off an immobile Dorian with a dropkick and then goes up…but Dorian cuts him off and we get a fight on the top and Dorian finally pulls out a superplex and both are down. Both are up and Dorian is still limping, but he ducks a shot and gets a flying shoulder and a Thesz Press into some ground and pound and then an one-legged Samoan Drop but he can’t make the cover and Dorian goes up for a falling splash which gets 2.3. Sam gets a boot and then an ura-nage for 2.7. Both guys slug it out and Sam then gets a German but Dorian hulks up for a lariat and Sam goes outside and Dorian follows with a quebrada and hurts the leg, but Dorian holds onto Sam and keeps him outside for a double countout.

**½

Dorian is probably in Evolve to practice his selling, and at least he got “well my leg is hurt between my highspots.” This was a freakshow which assuredly will have a bigger payoff down the line but the “crazy athletic power dudes” thing is novel, Totally fine setup.

AND WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS FROM TATE WILDER! Tate talks about how Harley Riggins and Kam Hendrix have had hate for him for being a fair referee eons ago, and even though he’s gone up the NXT the beef continues, so Tate is returning to Evolve and he’s ending this against Harley next week.

Harlem Lewis is here with the Evolve title to make his Championship Statement. Harlem announces himself and says it sounds good, but he admits that only after 2.5 years he’s shocked to have a title and says that while it took a while, and sometimes he was booed, and sometimes he was cheered, he stayed true to himself. He went to Japan, and when he came back he just focused on what he needed to do to succeed. He’s worked too hard and too long for it to end quick, and he’s going to copy what Kendal Grey achieved (did you know that she’s the best and coolest person ever?) and go to NXT after vacating the bet. But until that happens, we’re all welcome to the Harlem Lewis Violence World Tour…but we are interrupted and Aaron Rourke comes out and says that it’s rough to see the title on a different shoulder but Harlem won the belt and Rourke acknowledges that. But Aaron lets us know that winning a battle isn’t winning a war. Rourke says that Harlem isn’t unbeatable and the belt looks better around Aaron’s waist. Aaron asks for a rematch…but they get interrupted by Tristan Angels who mocks them both for their lovey-dovey promos. Tristan says Aaron was underwhelming as champ, and Rourke says that Tristan never was champ so he can’t say anything. Tristan calls out Lewis and says his title isn’t staying with him for long and Angels says he’s owed a rematch and that he’s a Gentleman Farmer and a Top Shagger…eh that’s kinda gross. And now Max Abrams comes out to mock everybody and says everything is pathetic cause Max mogs all of them and he’s a true chad. Abrams wants a title shot against Harlem so he can kick off his Hot Boy Summer and Rourke has had enough and we get a brawl and Lewis and Rourke clear the ring…and Harlem drops Aaron afterwards and he tells him not to trust anybody.

I have warmed up to Max Abrams but the mog thing reeks of a really short-lived gimmick and it sounds way too silly here. I assume a tag and then a fourway for these guys and that’s…fine.

Kale something and Kylee something do more “we’re hot” and pose for a camera. And now It’s GAL interrupts in a speedo and says that it’s time for a collaborative swimsuit session…but Kale finds this offensive and says the vibes are ruined so we have a match next week. It’s GAL admits he just wanted a friend…but is gonna pose anyway.

Elijah Holyfield vs. Brooks Jensen

Background: Elijah of course is Evander’s son and was a RB for UGA, he’s a jacked up dude with some presence but he’s very new. Brooks is only 24 or something but does an old bitter territory vet heel routine that kinda works. He’s greasy and sweaty and hairy but a tall, mean guy. Their first match went Brooks way after he leveraged Holyfield off the ropes into an exposed turnbukle in a “rookie loses to their own inexperience and Holyfield wants revenge. It is worth noting that Brooks has his COMBAT JEANS on and mismatched boots, what a look.

The Match: Brooks immediately powders which baits Elijah for a cheapshot but the rookie shrugs it off and Brooks flees back inside only for Holyfield to run him over with a shoulderblock. Brooks tries to trap Elijah’s arm for a short lariat but Elijah no-sells and gets his own as Brooks is bouncing around. Brooks elbows out of a fireman’s carry but gets dropped with a combo into the ropes. Jensen finally gets some heat with a throat thrust, a gamengiri and an Emerald Flowsion as I guess Brooks finally got his VHS tape of Best of King’s Road volume III delivered to Alabama. Elijah is wobble-legged and Brooks stomps him down in the corner and a neckbreaker for no cover as Brooks keeps up the pain with a 12-6 elbow and his own uppercuts before some crossfaces and clubbing forearms and elbows across the jaw. Brooks tries some mounted punches in the corner, but suffers from HEEL HUBRIS and gets dropped on the buckle by Elijah who has been STUDYING TAPE, but the charge eats a back elbow, Jensen exposes the buckle again but Holyfield gets a schoolboy for 2. Elijah runs Brooks over with some shoulders, a bodyshot, a spinebuster, and now mounted punches in the exposed corner, DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN! Brooks tries to drop Elijah, but the rookie is too smart for that and catches himself and does a big dramatic head shake. Flying shoulder on Brooks and Elijah tries to ram Brooks head into the exposed buckle for a comeuppance situation but Brooks blocks and Elijah goes for an O’Connor roll and Brooks keeps the roll going and grabs the ropes for a dirty 3 and dives out of the ropes to escape.

**¾

Okay these matches have been a blast so far. Brooks is great as a sleazy heel going after the less experienced Elijah. And Elijah getting a crash course in all the ways a wrestler can cheat is a nice running story. I’m sure we’ll get a gimmick match to pay this off. Still, for a silly Z-grade wrestling thing it’s good business.

We get a vignette on Vanta the Unknown as she monologues about fear over various happenstances in Evolve. Are people fear of being replaced as we see footage of the recent title changes and the Mog Squad’s dominance, or are they afraid of…The Unknown?

Spooky! Still, I dig the trippy videos at least.

Nikkita Lyons (c) w/ Sloane Jacobs vs. Laynie Luck – Evolve Women’s Championship

Background: Lyons is our new heel champ, she’s an evil hippie influencer who talks about being at peace with the universe but is mostly an egotistical cheater. Sloane is her lackey and there’s already teases of friction as they’ve cost each other matches and opportunities but Jacobs is a toady at this point. Laynie is the hardluck 10-year vet who had her first title match interrupted by Nikkita so Luck decided to repay that in kind and ambushed Nikkita during a title celebration and put her through a table.

The Match: We get Sloane introducing Nikkita in an overwrought manner before the bell. And we have Gianna Capri in the VIP Lounge. Bell rings and Lyons immediately takes Luck down for some ground and pound and then the bigger Lyons tosses Laynie around but misses a shoulder thrust into the ringpost and we quickly end up outside where a ‘cartwheel’ evasion by Luck sets up a boot to drop the champ and we go to a quick break. We’re back with Sloane distracting Laynie but Nikkita misses a big kick and we get a series of forearms from the challenger but Nikkita just tosses Laynie into the steps and finally takes control with some kicks to the mush and a snap suplex for 2. A whip to the corner and Nikkita gets an…inverted bronco buster before Luck gets a quick schoolgirl and both ladies slug it out. Luck with some evasive tactics before a rolling kick sets up a snapmare onto the knee and then a knee puts Nikkita on the outside and a diving stomp gets 2. Lyons immediately gets up and tries for the Tiger Driver but Luck blocks with a knee strike and a tornado DDT gets 2.8. Fireman’s carry by Luck but Nikkita is too powerful and they reverse until Laynie gets dumped on the apron. Luck back in with a sunset flip but Nikkita sits down on it and uses the ropes for a pin…but the ref catches her. Luck fires up with an enzuigiri and then she goes up but Lyons hits the ropes to send Laynie flying off and then Throat Chakra (spinning hook kick) drops Luck for 3.

**¼

This was…rough. It’s really hard to take Luck seriously since I don’t think she’s won a single 1v1 match in Evolve history, and well, she just wrestles at a frantic pace that kinda fits her “overmatched underdog” gimmick but Lyons was trying to keep up and the match was a mess until Lyons slowed it down and it worked more at her pace. Nikkita’s stuff mostly looks good, Laynie’s mostly does not, but we had some cheating and the champ won super clean, which, #LolLaynieLoses. Whatever, it’s done.

Post-match Lyons and Sloane celebrate and then PJ Vasa runs into the ring to obliterate Laynie with a corner avalanche and a Samoan drop before bringing in a chair to demolish Laynie’s ankle as Nikkita and Sloane just watch. Refs break it up but now we have Wren Sinclair, we got Skylar Rae, and we got Thea Hail! They’re hitting the ring! The faces clear the heels out and help a hobbled Laynie up and here’s THE FOREMAN Timothy Thatcher and we got an eight-woman tag-team match next week, playa!

Well that was out of nowhere but I appreciate the chaotic ending.

Not a fantastic show this week other than a pretty fun Brooks and Holyfield match but we got some development and next week we’ll have Tate Wilder FINALLY end things against Harley Riggins, Kale Dixon vs. It’s GAL and also Nikkita, Sloane, PJ, and Gianna vs. Wren, Skylar, Thea, and Laynie.

Keep on evolving you Evolvemaniacs!