WWE Evolve September 30th 2026

Welcome to Evolve everybody as we have a number one contenders match with It’s GAL facing Harley Riggins and also Braxton Cole vs. Elijah Holyfield, but before we get to that lets read what’s going on in the greater WWE space.

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

And I guess it’d be appropriate to speak a few words about Ben Satterly, known as PAC outside of WWE and Adrian Neville inside of it, he does have real history with Evolve (well not this Evolve, but old Evolve) as he was a big contributor to the DragonGate promotion and DragonGate USA which later merged with Evolve under the watch of Gabe Sapolsky (who of course is running THIS Evolve). Ben also was the face of DragonGate when they were getting their streaming service over in America and was a massive contributor to the early days of NXT which did a tremendous amount for developmental, without him I doubt those in-roads into the indie British wrestling scene and the cruiser scene in the indies, Japan, Mexico, and Europe get made. A tremendous professional wrestler whose match against Sami Zayn made me a diehard fan of that show and by all accounts an even better person. RIP to the Bastard and condolences to his family and his multitude of loved ones.

Anyway, on with the silliness of pro wrestling, no? And we have It’s GAL telling us dummies it’s neither a bird or a plane but It’s GAL. Big Daddy Red saved the day for ID 1.0 and is the hero of Evolve, Harley Riggins talks a big game, but his abs ain’t in the frame (bars). This is It’s GAL’s night and he’ll get the title shot at Succession IV. He appreciates Harley’s size and power, but a big rig is worthless when it runs out of gasoline (bars). The Big Red Machine never runs out of steam! Harley Riggins is gonna get parked in the junkyard (bars).

I’m a sucker for rhyming trash-talk and It’s GAL provides it, weirdly good babyface vibes…just uh…don’t go to social media.

POSING! FLIPPING SMOKE! SCIENCE! It’s Evolve!

Elijah Holyfield vs. Braxton Cole

Background: Elijah of course is the son of that dude who punched people, he’s a blue-chipper babyface prospect and he’s going against Braxton Cole who is an arrogant silver spoon heel who thinks that Elijah isn’t all that. Cole is very much an Arrogant Young Man in the OVW style and he’s a preening peacock. Elijah is in black tights and gives up some size to the blue and white geared Braxton, but Elijah is very, VERY built.

The Match: Braxton talks to the crowd and then tries a cheapshot but Elijah jabs away before Cole cranks in a headlock. Holyfield reverses to his own but Braxton goes to the corner to break…and now it’s rope-running time and Elijah gets a leapfrog and a shoulderblock before tossing Braxton around and knocking him down with an elbow…but Cole sends him throat-first into the ropes and lands a neckbreaker and stomps away. More slugging from Braxton and then another neckbreaker as commentator Robert Stone (the worst GM in history) talks about how neck damage weakens arm strength and Cole might take away the KO power of Holyfield…okay that’s sorta inspired Regal-esque commentary. Braxton gets a rope-assisted press before a catapult gets a cover and then a chinlock. Holyfield breaks free and gets another shoulderblock, a bulldog, and clotheslines Cole outside. Elijah follows outside but Braxton sidesteps a charge and Holyfield goes into the post. Back inside and Braxton goes for something but Marcus Mathers (who has been bouncing around this and has been warned by both guys to stay out of it) distracts Braxton and gets inadvertently tagged by Elijah. It’s a schmoz as the ref checks on Marcus and Braxton brings in a chair only for Elijah to punch through it and pick it up…and the ref turns around and sees Elijah with the chair and that’s a DQ.

**¼

Okay I’m a sucker for a false DQ finish. I will say, Elijah has lost a lot more than I think he would but all of them have been super BS ones. Whatever, middling TV match but I loved the nonsense finish and we’re getting that triple threat soon.

He have Harley Riggins talking backstage about how It’s GAL being in the running for a title is a joke. Harley will cool GAL off and Harlem better be ready.

Gianna Capri vs. Wendy Choo

Background: Gianna is a ridiculous Italian-American joisey heel, the Sauce Boss. She is some version of heel goon for champ Nikkita Lyons and is facing the former champ, who after some menacing pop-up appearances in the background is back for vengeance. Wendy seems to have completely left the Sleepy Psycho gimmick behind and is just an undersized veteran babyface now.

The Match: Lockup to start and Capri drives her into the corner but Wendy shoves Capri down and gets a rollup and then a headlock before Capri shoots off with a shoulder but runs into a hiptoss, a dropkick, a stepover clothesline and a series of boots for a cover. Wendy can’t get a whip but settles for a hammerlock lariat that Capri counters into a takedown. Capri beats down Choo in the corner, gets a whip for some more corner offense and a stomp gets a cover. Rope choke follows but Capri stops to hotdog and Choo counters with some strikes before running into a spinebuster and multiple covers. Choo gets a cradle outside of a suplex and they trade counters before Wendy gets some boots and then lands the hammerlock lariat for 2. More counters and Wendy goes up…only to crash and burn on a diving crossbody and Wendy’s Dirt Nap (RNC) gets the tap.

*

Not a squash, not a banger…hrm, we need a word for this. Not an impressive showcase for either but Wendy is obviously capable. Capri remains very, very awkward.

Post-match we have Adrianna Rizzo (gulps) and Rizzo wonders if Wendy is ready for a rematch. Choo has BEEN ready and Nikkita only won when Wendy had her guard down, but when Lyons had her guard down she got choked out, so at Succession IV it’s a Last Woman Standing match, and Wendy questions if Lyons can stand up or just shake her…donkey.

Backstage and Lyons and Sloane Jacobs are upset. Jacobs thinks this is absurd and they can talk to management, but Nikkita says she agrees and is willing to put Wendy down in the rematch. Nikkita says that they need to let people know the champ calls the shots though and storms out while Sloane rolls her eyes.

Backstage and we have Ulka Sasaski and Thatcher and Timothy is impressed by the technical acumen of the former UFC fighter and says everybody is impressed before Ulka dips. Thatcher then beckons Laynie Luck in and they’re both happy about the fact they waited and were respectful about waiting and not barging in. Laynie says she wants a match with Vanta the Unknown and says the talks about fear and doubt haven’t crept into her mind. Thatcher has been on those same roads and those same paths and says he’s had those same thoughts…and while they both could have made better decisions he acknowledges they love this and so he’ll give Laynie a match with Vanta at Succession IV, cause she deserves it.

Shido Ash vs. Cappuccino Jones

Background: Shido Ash is one half of a former security team where they’re judoka butt whoopers who have been injuring people and breaking their foots off in folks behinds. He’s a tatted up Egyptian and Cap is a 70s throwback cop show looking high-flying babyface. Jones wants revenge for being attacked, Shido wants dominance. Cap’s left shoulder is taped up due to the attack from Shido.

The Match: Hot start with Shido trying to ambush Jones but Cappuccino dodging and them heading inside for Jones punches and then a leapfrog sequence sets up Cap dropping Shido. More shine from Jones who bounces Ash off various objects but Shido slugs away before running into a backdrop but Shido gets some corner attacks and snatches a float-over into a shoulderbreaker and keeps beating down Jones with strikes and he works the arm in-between uppercuts. Rolling fireman’s slam into a Fujiwara armbar that Cap finally fights out of…but he misses a charge and gets posted and tossed to the outside. Shido tosses Cap back inside and Jones throws some desperate strikes before getting posted again and again as Ash works the arm…and Jones goes up only to dive into a hip throw for 2 as we go to a break. Cap slugs back but gets tossed around before he lands a corner exploder suplex, a kick and then an inside-out clothesline before going up for a crossbody. Jones with a Fireman’s carry powerbomb (?~!?) for 2.7 and he goes up again and tries a Froggy Brew Elbow…that runs into a Shido triangle but Jones stomps out and tries the Decafinator but his arm is shot and Shido gets a step-up knee and then Fade To Ashes (Olympic Slam) gets 3.

**½

Hey I don’t…mind Shido as a singles? He’s got a weird martial arts vibe but it’s compatible with pro wrestling stuff and Cap was a fine babyface bouncing around for all the slams and screaming for the armbars. Solid TV match.

Post-match the Mog Squad come out and Max Abrams puts over Shido Ash before complaining about ruining his plastic surgery and his doctor’s masterpiece destroyed. So because of that Max is going to sue ID 1.0 to get the money for reconstructive surgery and he sends Santi and Jacari on Cap to beat him down. Starboy makes the rescue but CJ Valor cuts that off and Max monologues about running the show as they stomp away. The Mog Squad should be on Succession IV and THE FOREMAN Timothy Thatcher comes out and is tired of their business but next week there is a surprise for the Squad.

Harley Riggins vs. It’s GAL – Number One Contendership for Evolve Championship

Background: Harley is a blustering bully who has been a stooge for a while but has found their feet as a hard-edged trucker type. It’s GAL has been a heel for a while but is a vain goofball that is now a face as a trash-talking rhyming silly pants that we love despite their foolishness. Both are seeking gold and this is the match to find who is next.

The Match: Harley ambushes It’s GAL pre-match and tosses Big Daddy Red around, posts him, and delivers a slam on the apron and then a toss into the steps and the ref asks if GAL can continue. The Israeli says yes and he gets wiped out with a flying boot for 2.8 and then a chinlock. It’s GAL tries to elbow out but fails and has to reach the ropes and then gets placed on the top-rope for a superplex but GAL tosses him down and lands a crossbody and chops away…but eats a massive back drop to the outside as we go to a break. We’re back and It’s GAL is living up to Big Daddy Red as his shoulder is inflamed and he eats some rabbit punches and gets wrenched down and It’s GAL is FIRED UP as he tries an one-armed comeback with a cazadora codebreaker, a tope, and then tosses Harley into the steps before going back in for a missile dropkick. Harley gets put up top and some reversals lead to Riggins missing a senton off the top and running into a discus lariat from It’s GAL for two and change. Harley Riggins counters the Dummy Buster (fireman’s carry gutbuster) into a TKO for 2.9 and Harley goes for a goozle that is countered into a victory roll by It’s GAL for 2 but another goozle sets up the Shotgun (chokelift knee strike) for 3.

**¾

I…dug this? It’s GAL has seriously solid babyface vibes and Harley has real potential as a snarling heel bully. Both could have sold more but the vibes were solid and the work was solid. Storyline was tight…I dig it, I get it, I like it.

Post-match Harlem Lewis comes out and we get a lot of trash talk before a ton of refs and officials break it up.

Well, that was…pretty solid? Perfectly average? Lotta matches, we’re heating up to Succession IV: Kendal’s revenge and that’s all fine.

Keep on reading, keep on writing, keep on evolving my Evolvemaniacs.