SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE EVOLVE TV REPORT
NOVEMBER 11, 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
-The show started with Harley RIggins and Jax Presley crossing paths in the parking lot of the Performance Center. They acknowledged each other with a grin and went their separate ways as Riggins cut a promo on Harlem Lewis about the beating he gave him. He said he would end the Harlem World Violence Tour tonight.
-Sloane Jacobs walked out with a mic in hand, unfortunately. She said she was going to crush anime dreams, then introduced her bestie, Evolve Women’s Champion Nikkita Lyons, who came out to take a seat in the VIP Lounge. Jacobs mimicked Big Kat Kita’s entrance in a Single White Female moment.
(1) SLOANE JACOBS vs. ANYA RUNE
Blake Howard commented that if Rune beats Jacobs, she’ll receive a title shot. Jacobs took Rune down early and yanked on her green hair to keep the advantage. They continued with a series of reversals until Rune landed a sliding European uppercut to the back. She deftly avoided Sloane’s offense until falling victim to a headfirst drop into the turnbuckle from an electric chair position. Jacobs again grounded Rune with a double-arm stretch. Jacobs again went to the hair, but Rune fought back with a series of forearms that dropped her foe. She landed a running European uppercut into the corner, then a sliding forearm. She decked Jacobs with a hard right hand, then shot a big green ball of anime energy at Jacobs. She easily pinned her to win a title shot against Lyons.
WINNER: Anya Rune at 5:52 to become the new #1 contender to the Evolve Women’s Championship.
(Miller’s Take: Perfectly fine match, but this anime power stuff is ridiculous. When she first did it successfully, I thought it was one of those things that straps to your wrist that shoots out fireballs, but the next time it shone green and made a big “whoosh” sound, so it’s obviously a post-production special effect, which means the fans have to pretend to have seen it and the announcers have to talk about it as if they actually saw it, which makes me feel like they think we’re stupid. Rune gets a title shot, but we know she won’t win because she was one of the lower-tier wrestlers who was cut over a month ago.) [c]
-In the back, Kale Dixon and Alix Brooks put themselves over as they talked about their upcoming mixed tag team match.
-A video was shown of the brief confrontation between Cutler James and Sam Holloway from a couple of months ago that wound up costing Holloway his match when James interfered.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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(2) SAM HOLLOWAY vs. CUTLER JAMES
Both men collided like a couple of bulls, but James was the first to go down. He put Holloway down, but he stood back up immediately. James began favoring his eye as the referee backed off Holloway. After a couple of seconds, James angrily shoved Holloway, who gave it right back to him. They traded meaty blows before Holloway landed a big kick. James came back with a release German suplex, then speared Holloway through the ropes. Both men brawled on the floor and took a tumble over the announce desk, a first on Evolve. They took out a cameraman and Howard’s headset as the referee counted both men out of the ring.
WINNER: Double Countout at 3:50.
(Miller’s Take: This was good while it lasted. The bump over the announce desk was messy like it should be, with the camera angles frequently changing and being slightly out of focus to give the bump and subsequent brawl a more frantic appearance. Nice touch.)
-After the match, several officials rushed in to pull the men apart.
-Vanta the Unknown cut another futuristic promo on Wendy Choo, with flashing bright lights and an echo in her voice. She actually scares me. [c]
-A mummified-looking Max Abrams mumbled through his bandages while the rest of The Mog Squad cut a promo on Charlie Dempsey. Santi Rivera translated Abrams’s muffled ranting. These guys are actually really funny.
-A recap was shown of Harley Riggins injuring Evolve Champion Harlem Lewis after losing his title match.
-Evolve Foreman Timothy Thatcher stood mid-ring. He said he wanted to give Lewis time to recover from his injuries, but the championship can’t remain in limbo. He was interrupted by Elijah Holyfield, who pled his case for a championship match. Thatcher said this isn’t the time or place, but Holyfield pressed the issue. Thatcher promised him that they would talk, which pacified Holyfield.
-Thatcher called out Harlem Lewis, who side-eyed Holyfield on his way to the ring. The Foreman started to say he had talked to medical about his condition, but Lewis interrupted and said he knew. He told Thatcher he didn’t know the lengths people would go to in order to get at his title. Lewis said the hardest part was knowing there was nothing he could do about it. Thatcher said he could take all the time he needed, but he had to relinquish the title.
-As Lewis pondered handing over the belt, Harley Riggins came to the ring to antagonize Lewis and claim ownership of the title. Riggins told Lewis if he wouldn’t hand the belt over to him, he’d take it from him. He swung at Lewis, who ducked, then sent Riggins over the top rope and to the floor with a clothesline. Lewis clutched his injured ribs as he demanded a match with Riggins for the title, which Thatcher approved. Riggins held his jaw on the floor while smiling at the camera. He said that was just what he wanted. [c]
-Howard announced that the title rematch would occur next week.
-In the men’s locker room, Cappuccino Jones and Chazz “Starboy” Hall cut a promo on Viktor Zanov and Shido Ash.
(3) KALE DIXON & ALIX BROOKS vs. AARON ROURKE & LAYNIE LUCK – Mixed Tag Team Match
Many times it was mention that this was the first mixed tag team match on Evolve. Izzi Dame’s missing cohort, Niko Vance, was shown sitting in the VIP Lounge for this match. I guess we know what his future holds. Mike Rome made the official ring introductions. The men started the match slowly, with some posturing and trash-talking. Dixon unloaded on Rourke, but ate a few elbows from the former champ before getting put to the mat.
Alix Brooks came in and took a swipe at Rourke, who promptly tagged Luck. Brooks scooted to avoid her opponent before all four wound up fighting on the floor. Rourke & Luck got the best of the floor encounter, then posed on the ring apron before they cut to a quick commercial break. [c]
Back to the match, it was revealed that Brooks shoved Rourke off the turnbuckle to hand the advantage over to her team. Rourke fought back and rolled up Dixon for a two-count before both men traded kicks mid-ring. Rourke tried to tag Luck, but she was chasing Brooks around the ring on the floor. Dixon continued thumping Rourke in the corner as Robert Stone applauded their game plan. Rourke managed to land a belly-to-back suplex before a double hot tag was made to the ladies. Brooks swiped at Luck’s face, who responded in kind by slapping the taste out of her mouth.
Dixon ran his mouth at Luck, which allowed Rourke to nail him from behind. He held Dixon while Luck executed a flying headscissors on him. Brooks then took down Rourke with a satellite DDT. Brooks got a very close near fall on Luck, but Laynie came back with a Death Valley Party on Brooks for the pin.
WINNERS: Aaron Rourke & Laynie Luck at 8:12.
(Miller’s Take: This was a decent main event and an entertaining mixed tag match with just enough interaction between the men and women without going overboard. The heels cheated and the babyfaces persevered. That’s what it’s all about.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: This is basically NXT’s developmental system, so not every show is going to be a barn-burner, but this was perfectly acceptable. I’m starting to really enjoy the antics of The Mog Squad, who have been leaning into comedy that is actually pretty funny stuff. Jones & Hall are also beginning to show more of their personalities. The big news coming out of this show was the title rematch, which I fully expect Riggins to win, given the fact that Lewis isn’t at 100%. Happy Veterans Day! See you next week!
