SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE EVOLVE TV REPORT
OCTOBER 28, 2026
ORLANDO, FLA. AT WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER
AIRED ON TUBI
REPORT BY DAVID MILLER, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentator: Blake Howard, Robert Stone
Ring announcer: Mike Rome
-Elijah Holyfield opened the show by cutting a promo on his upcoming triple threat match.
(1) HARLEY RIGGINS vs. MILOSH JOVIC
So, the last time we saw Jovic, he was destroyed in his first match on Evolve. Riggins began bullying his foe from the beginning, but Jovic caught him with some lightning-fast, deep armdrags to throw Big Rig off course, but only temporarily. Riggins grounded his opponent for a few moments before Jovic backdropped his way out of trouble. Riggins thwarted a Jovic offense with a spear, then a Shotgun for the win.
WINNER: Harley Riggins at 3:19.
(Miller’s Take: At least Jovic got in some offense in his second match on Evolve. This was all about the Big Rig running a much smaller car off the road. Hey, don’t big rigs run on Diesel? Okay, I’ll stop now.)
-After the match, Riggins continued to injure his opponent, throwing him out of the ring and onto the ring steps. He tried to smash Jovic with the steps, but officials succeeded in stopping him this time.
-Marcus Mathers cut a promo about being Philly’s finest, and the upcoming triple threat match.
-Jasper Troy yelled for his music to be cut as he walked through the entrance. He said he was in Evolve to dominate. He shut down the fans who cheered him by saying this was about him and he didn’t need their cheers. Standard heel turn stuff. Given his size and the fact that he’s in a smaller pond, it makes sense. He challenged anyone from the back to come out and face him. To everyone’s surprise, he was answered by Jax Presley, who has been out of action since the beginning of the year.
(2) JASPER TROY vs. JAX PRESLEY
The announcers remarked how much better shape Presley seemed to be in and touted his courage in accepting the challenge of Troy. Presley attempted a bodyslam, but couldn’t lift the big man. Troy bullied Presley for a few moments, but Presley mounted a brief comeback. Troy continued with his slow, methodical offense and got a two-count. Presley kicked out of a black hole slam, but continued to fight from underneath. Troy sank in an abdominal stretch, but missed a Vader bomb moments later. Presley fired up with some jabs, then smothered Troy in the corner. He slowly lifted Troy for a Hogan/Andre bodyslam, then connected with a flying lariat for the win.
WINNER: Jax Presley at 5:28.
(Miller’s Take: We can see the downward spiral of the final days of Jasper Troy, as he dropped down a notch on the WWE rung, turned heel, and then got beat. Jax is a bit on the large side to be playing the role of Ricky Morton, but it was still a decent, short match.)
-Hilariously, a banner hung from the Performance Center that read, “Pray 4 Max”. The Mog Squad were shown, with Abrams in the background. His face was wrapped up in bandages with nothing showing but his eyes. Seriously, I’m laughing hard right now. The other moggers spoke in empathetic tones of the difficult journey Abrams has had in his healing. They showed other moggers attempting to care for an incapacitated Abrams by brushing his hair and teeth as he squirmed. Abrams tried to cut a promo through the bandages, but you couldn’t understand him, so the others interpreted his muffled grunts. That was the funniest segment I’ve seen on any WWE program all year!
-Sloane Jacobs stood mid ring to announce the first Nationwide Admiration Ceremony her best friend, Evolve Women’s Champion Nikkita Lyons. She ran down and ridiculed the women defeated by Lyons, including Laynie Luck, Thea Hail, Skylar Raye, and Wendy Choo. She did her usual long-winded entrance for the champ. Lyons thanked her spirit guides, which irked Jacobs, who was begging for a breadcrumb. She put herself over before she was interrupted by Anya Rune, who said she’s been on a winning streak and should be her next challenger. Lyons and Jacobs fake-laughed and ridiculed her, saying she was nowhere near ready.
-Foreman TImothy Thatcher came out and agreed with Lyons that Rune wasn’t ready. He then told Rune she had to get one more victory, then should could get a title shot, then made a match between Rune and Jacobs. Lyons told Thatcher not to make promises he can’t keep and asked who her real next challenger would be. Thatcher said he wasn’t finished and made a fatal 4-way match with Lyons, Hail, Choo, and Raye for next week. As Lyons and Jacobs began to panic, Rune began glowing, thanks to the wonders of post-production, and a video game-like powering up sound effect led to Howard exclaiming, “Did she just power up?” Rune blasted Jacobs with a Superman punch. Lyons collected her lackey and retreated.
(Miller’s Take: I’m not going to waste too much time critiquing a segment involving a wrestler who was released from the company over a month ago, but if WWE was going this route with Anya Rune, why would they expect her to go beyond Evolve? You might be able to get away with that cutesy stuff in front of a few dozen fans at an Evolve taping, but it can’t be translated to larger crowds who aren’t in on the special effects.)
-In a pre-taped promo segment, Shido Ash said Viktor Zanov had to return to Austria to train, so he’s going to go it alone until he gets back. He named Chazz “Starboy” Hall as his next victim. [c]
-In the back, Aaron Rourke, whose shirt read, “hating me won’t make you pretty”, recruited Laynie Luck to counteract Alix Brooks in his feud with Kale Dixon.
(3) ELIJAH HOLYFIELD vs. MARCUS MATHERS vs. BRAXTON COLE – Triple Threat Match
Cole cut a promo before he walked out from behind the curtain. The usual triple threat stuff happened with one person getting chucked out of the ring while the other two went at it in the ring. The one on the outside would slide in to shine against both for awhile before chucking a new guy out of the ring for a breather. [c]
Back from a short break, Cole and Holyfield fought while Mathers was powdering on the outside. The fans loudly booed Cole and chanted “weiner” at him in response to his cries of “winner”. Holyfield came back to life and began manhandling Cole, but Marcus Mathers broke up the pin. Mathers got a two-count on Holyfield as It’s Gal cheered him on from the VIP Lounge. Cole demanded a young fan at ringside stand up and give him his chair. As he reared back to swing at Holyfield, Mathers grabbed the chair out of his hand. Holyfield knocked Cole into Mathers, who sailed off the apron and ate the ringside barrier. Holyfield then delivered a knockout punch to Cole for the easy pin.
WINNER: Elijah Holyfield at 7:37.
(Miller’s Take: Again, very standard, point-by-numbers triple threat match, WWE-style. No surprise that Holyfield got the W, as he’s been pushed heavily since his debut.)
-Thea Hail, Skylar Raye, and Wendy Choo all cut promos on their challenge to Nikkita Lyons next week.
FINAL THOUGHTS: This week’s roll call of released wrestlers/talent included Anya Rune (complete with special effects), Jasper Troy, Braxton Cole, and Wendy Choo. It’s kind of tough to get behind storylines and become invested in wrestlers you know were released nearly two months ago. Other than that, not a bad show. See you next week and Happy Halloween!
