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WWE EVOLVE TV REPORT
SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
ORLANDO, FLA. AT WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER
AIRED ON TUBI
REPORT BY DAVID MILLER, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentator: Blake Howard, Robert Stone
Ring announcer: Sarah Schreiber
Interviewer: Adriana Rizzo
-Evolve Champion Harlem Lewis opened the show by talking about being on top of the food chain now, then addressed Cutler James, his challenger for this evening. He said he would be another victim on the Harlem World Violence Tour.
(1) KALE DIXON (w/Alix Brooks) vs. ULKA SASAKI
Blake Howard and Robert Stone mentioned that Sasaki has had some success in Pro Wrestling NOAH, but has yet to win a match in Evolve. Sasaki utilized some impressive speed and fluency in the opening moments, but his momentum was broken when Brooks grabbed his leg while the referee wasn’t looking. Dixon took advantage by taking the fight to the floor. Once back in the ring, Sasaki immediately took control again, but Dixon fought to turn the match in his favor. Dixon chopped Sasaki hard in the back, then kicked him in the face for a near-fall.
Dixon grounded Sasaki in a headlock for a few moments, but Sasaki got to his feet and cut loose with several lightning-quick strikes. He rocked Dixon with a big forearm and a roundhouse kick for a two-count. Dixon rallied with a double-underhook faceplant, but was distracted from further offense when Aaron Rourke walked out and draped his jacket over Brooks. Rourke told her she looked so much better now as Dixon shouted at him to “get the freak out of here”. While Dixon was preoccupied with Rourke, Sasaki rolled him up and held him down for the count.
WINNER: Ulka Sasaki at 5:39
(Miller’s Take: Good match, but the story here was more about the feud between Dixon and Rourke. Sasaki is talented, but he’s a bit small, even by cruiserweight standards. At this point, I honestly don’t see much upside to him because there’s nothing that sets him apart from dozens of other Japanese wrestlers who use the same style.)
-In the back, Marcus Mathers and Sam Holloway praised It’s Gal for stepping up to the plate and having their backs. It’s Gal said he learned a lesson; that chest-day best-day might get you some attention, but loyalty, helping your friends, and staying humble earns respect. Braxton Cole walked by and scoffed at It’s Gal. Mathers told Cole he hadn’t forgotten about what he did to his leg earlier this year, then they replayed the footage of Cole and Kam Hendrix stomping on his leg while wedged in a chair. Cole said he had bigger concerns and walked away as Holloway and Gal held Mathers back. [c]
-Blake Howard and NXT GM Robert Stone stood ringside to announce that the big news coming out of Foreman Timothy Thatcher’s office is that Succession IV will air on October 14th on Tubi.
-A video promo showed Vanta the Unknown, awash in a bright light that starkly contrasted with her platinum blonde hair and black stripe from her nose to her chin, talking down Laynie Luck, who she has apparently targeted as her first victim. It’s still really early in the game to see what she’s all about, but I’m definitely intrigued.
-In the men’s locker room, a disgusted Harley Riggins was pouting about not being the one to face Harlem Lewis tonight and blamed It’s Gal for his misfortune.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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(2) MILOSH JOVIC vs. ELIJAH HOLYFIELD
As Jovic made his ring entrance, an introduction video was shown on the inset. Jovic is a powerfully built Serbian who wants to make an impact in WWE. After an initial shoulder block didn’t budge either man, Holyfield flattened Jovic with a second one, then thumped on him for a few moments before Jovic fired back with some elbows that staggered Holyfield. On a final attempt to knock Holyfield off his feet, Jovic found himself on the receiving end of a spinebuster. One knockout punch later, Jovic was staring up at the lights for three seconds.
WINNER: Elijah Holyfield at 1:35.
(Miller’s Take: Well, that didn’t take long.)
-Adriana Rizzo conducted a ringside interview with the winner. He said his whole life is about being the best and his sights are set on the Evolve championship. Braxton Cole interrupted. He acknowledged Holyfield’s potential before beginning to put himself over when Marcus Mathers suddenly attacked him. A slew of officials ran out to separate the three men. [c]
-A promo aired of DarkState’s Cutler James telling Harlem Lewis that his Evolve title wasn’t safe.
-Sloane Jacobs stood in the ring to make another long-winded introduction for her bestie, Evolve Women’s Champion Nikkita Lyons. Big Kat Kita talked about next week’s all-women’s show and getting rid of all the fake positivity when she was interrupted by Skylar Raye, who claimed Lyons was avoiding her. She said she was going to beat her for the title next week. Of course, there was yet another interruption, this time by P.J. Vasa. She said it didn’t matter who the winner would be, because she was next in line.
-Lyons dismissed Vasa by telling her she could have a match with Sloane next week, and told Jacobs to go take care of her issue. Jacobs balked until Lyons barked “GO” at her. Once again, Wendy Choo’s face flashed across the screen as Vasa decked Jacobs on the floor. In the ring, Raye took out Lyons, who retreated to the floor.
-In the back, Elijah Holyfield said he asked Foreman Thatcher for a match with Cole, which he granted for two weeks from tonight. He said he was going to knock Cole out, and he’d do the same to Mathers if he wanted to stick his nose in his business. [c]
-In Foreman Thatcher’s office, Harley Riggins was pleading his case for a title match. Thatcher told him there would be title opportunities in the future. Riggins said he was going to be out there to watch the title match, but Thatcher told him not to go anywhere near the ring, because he was a walking disruption and there would be consequences if he went out there. Riggins started to puff his chest out at Thatcher, who put him in his place quickly and sternly before growling at him to get out of his office. Riggins tucked his tail between his legs and left. You don’t raise your voice to the Foreman.
(3) HARLEM LEWIS (c) vs. CUTLER JAMES – Evolve Championship Match
Sarah Schreiber made the official ring introductions before referee Vicky D’Errico displayed the championship belt. James towered over Lewis before the two tied up. James sank in a headlock and squeezed Harlem’s bandana off his head. Why do wrestlers even wear those in the ring? They always fall off. Lewis broke the hold and unleashed a flurry of right hands, then attacked the left arm of James, who rolled to the outside. Lewis leaped towards him, but James caught him and dropped him with a backbreaker on the floor before they cut to a relatively quick commercial break. [c]
When they returned, James launched Lewis from one corner into another. The champ kicked at him, but James continued to dominate the match, despite favoring his left arm. Lewis took notice, twisted the arm, and whipped him arm-first into the corner. He twisted Cutler’s arm around the ringpost like a pretzel, then executed a crossface in the ring. James broke the hold, then the two combatants slugged it out before James landed a huge pop-up European uppercut.
James hit his Dark Matter swinging slam, but immediately grabbed his shoulder. When the fight again went to the floor, Lewis missed a clothesline and connected with the ring post before taking a spear from Lewis. Back in the ring, James executed a vortex on Lewis for a very near fall. He attempted another Dark Matter with his one good arm, but Lewis slipped out and hit Boomslang for the win.
WINNER: Harlem Lewis at 10:09 to retain the Evolve Championship.
(Miller’s Take: Solid main event title match. Lewis getting a win over a mid-level NXT talent like James is a pretty big deal for the Evolve champ. James is deceptively big and knows how to throw his weight around. Lewis has the physique, talent, and charisma to graduate to NXT after what I expect will be a lengthy title reign in Evolve.)
-After the match, an irate Harley Riggins emerged from the back as security tried holding him back. As Riggins screamed that he was next, It’s Gal, who was wearing a red and white striped outfit that looked like pajamas, came out and claimed he was next. Lewis grabbed a mic and told them to fight over it, which they proceeded to do as security tried to restore order.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Not too bad. We got to see a new guy get demolished by Elijah Holyfield, Ulka Sasaki get his first win in Evolve, and we had It’s Gal, which is always a good thing. Harlem Lewis is definitely NXT bound after he’s done with his title reign. WWE should really take the ball and run with It’s Gal. Maybe it’s just me, but I think this guy has superstar (with apologies to the late, great Bill Dundee) written all over him. The waters in Evolve are a bit muddy right now, with featured players like Braxton Cole, Adriana Rizzo, P.J. Vasa, and Wendy Choo having already been released, so we’re going to have to see how things look after the dust settles. See you next week!
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