By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
WWE Evolve (Episode 82 – Succession IV)
Taped in Orlando. Florida at the WWE Performance Center
Streamed October 14, 2026, on Tubi in the United States and YouTube.com internationally
Blake Howard and Rob Stone provided commentary. Tubi lists this as “Season 2, Episode 33.”
1. Harlem Lewis vs. Harley Riggins for the Evolve Men’s Title. Harlem hit some clotheslines early on, including one that flipped Riggins to the floor. In the ring, Riggins hit a Claymore Kick for a nearfall at 1:30. He hit a tilt-a-whirl slam for a nearfall. [C]
Back from the break, Riggins was still in charge. Lewis hit a back-body drop and a German Suplex at 3:00, then a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Riggins hit a second-rope flipping senton for a nearfall. Lewis hit the Jackhammer for the pin! That’s it? Really? Blah.
Harlem Lewis defeated Harley Riggins to retain the Evolve Men’s Title at 4:20.
* Adrianna Rizzo started to interview Lewis at ringside, but Riggins attacked him and threw Harlem into the ring steps.
* Footage aired from Reality of Wrestling, when Booker T presented Josiah Jean with a WWE ID contract. I already reviewed this. Again… Josiah is fine, but I can’t say I’ve seen him as a top-tier prospect. I hope he proves me wrong.
2. Laynie Luck vs. Vanta The Unknown. An intense lockup and standing switches. Vanta hit a stunner out of the corner at 1:30, stomped on Laynie, and got a nearfall. Vanta hit a creative Pele Kick and some kicks in the corner. She tied up the right arm and right leg and bent Laynie backwards at 3:00! Laynie hit a spin kick, and they were both down. Laynie hit some clotheslines and a mule kick from her back. She hit a running kick and her double stomp to the chest on the apron for a nearfall. Vanta hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Vanta cranked back on Laynie’s left arm while having the right arm trapped, and Laynie tapped out!
Vanta the Unknown defeated Laynie Luck at 4:54. [C]
* Adrianna interviewed Elijah Holyfield at ringside. He’s got his eyes set on Braxton Cole. “Let’s run it back!” he said. Marcus Mathers came out of the back. “You’re tough, but you aren’t unstoppable,” Mathers told Holyfield. Holyfield warned him that two punches from him would “Change your life!” It’s Gal came out to play peacemaker!
3. Nikkita Lyons (w/Sloane Jacobs) vs. Wendy Choo in a Last Woman Standing match for the Evolve Men’s Title. They immediately traded forearm strikes, and they rolled to the floor in the first minute. Wendy got a chair and jabbed it into Nikkita’s gut. Lyons put a garbage can over Wendy’s head and struck it with a wooden weapon at 1:30. Wendy hit a short-arm clothesline. Skylar Raye was shown in the VIP lounge. Choo pulled out a Sim Jim table and set it up. They got back in the ring and continued to brawl. Lyons pushed Choo face-first into a garbage can wedged in the corner at 3:30, and we went to a [C].
They fought on the ring apron and teased hitting a German Suplex to the floor, but they got back in the ring. Lyons hit a missile dropkick, and they were both down. Sloane went under the ring and found two sets of nunchucks! She handed them to Lyons, who struck Wendy with them, and she pushed the chain between Choo’s lips. They got up, and Wendy hit a uranage at 5:30. The ref started counting them both down. Wendy picked up the nunchucks and repeatedly struck Nikkita with them.
Choo hit a DDT out of the corner at 7:00, and the ref started counting them both down. Lyons hit a spin kick to the ear, then a Michinoku Driver onto a garbage can. Sloane handed Lyons a bag, and Nikkita dumped out LEGOs on the mat! However, Choo applied the Dirtnap sleeper, and they tumbled to the floor. PJ Vasa appeared and hit a double clothesline at ringside! She threw Choo into the ring post, and she threw Lyons into the guardrail. The ref was counting them both down! They both pulled themselves to their feet, got back in the ring, and traded forearm strikes.
Wendy hit a full nelson uranage, slamming Lyons onto the building blocks at 10:30! Sloane got on the apron, but Wendy clocked her and Jacobs fell to the floor. Wendy applied the Dirtnap, but Lyons ran them both backwards through a door in the corner! That earned a “This is awesome!” chant. The ref continued to count them down. Sloane grabbed Wendy’s ankle and held her in place! It allowed Lyons to hit a spin kick to the head, and Wendy fell off the apron and through the table set up on the floor! The ref reached the ten-count and awarded the win to Nikkita. That was really entertaining, actually.
Nikkita Lyons defeated Wendy Choo in a Last Woman Standing match to retain the Evolve Men’s Title at 12:35.
* Skylar Raye stood up and yelled at Lyons, who was celebrating her win and holding her belt above her head.
Final Thoughts: The good news is the main event was really entertaining. You don’t expect blood or any real violence in WWE, so using LEGOs instead of thumbtacks is a good substitute. I have two young boys, and stepping on an errant block in the middle of the night really hurts!
WWE Evolve apparently agreed with me that no one really wanted to see Lewis vs. Riggins. They wisely kept it short and to the point. I am just stunned that after all that build-up, it didn’t even go five minutes. I expected Vanta to win anyways, but with the news Laynie Luck has been released since this was filmed just cemented who was winning.
A mere 45 minutes — I thought this was going to be longer. They didn’t pad it with any vignettes of the other wrestlers — not that there are many left.
