By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
WWE Evolve (Episode 86)
Taped in Orlando. Florida at the WWE Performance Center
Streamed November 11, 2026, on Tubi in the United States and YouTube.com internationally
Tubi lists this as “Season 2, Episode 37.”
* Harley Riggins walked through the most dangerous parking lot in America (luckily, it was broad daylight!) and vowed he is going to win the Evolve Title.
* To the arena! Sloane Jacobs came out and vowed to crush Anya Rune’s dreams. The crowd loudly booed her. Nikkita Lyons came out and sat in the VIP lounge.
1. Anya Rune vs. Sloane Jacobs. They tied up, and Sloane applied a headlock. They traded some basic standing switches, and Anya hit a diving European Uppercut to the spine at 1:30. Sloane dropped her snake-eyes in the corner. She hit a clothesline for a nearfall at 3:00, and she planted her knee in Rune’s spine while cranking back on Anya’s arms. Rune hit a Dragon Suplex and a running European Uppercut in the corner, then a diving punch to the jaw at 5:00.
Sloane nailed a spin kick to the ear. She set up for a Gory Bomb, but Rune got a rollup for a nearfall. Rune threw her two-handed magic fireball (with post-production special effects!) and scored the pin. We saw Lyons in the VIP lounge, who was clearly not amused. I don’t love the magic fireball stuff. WWE never quite figured out what made Rune a special talent.
Anya Rune defeated Sloane Jacobs at 5:51.
* We heard from Kale Dixon and Alix Brooks backstage. Alix noted tonight will be her first victory.
* Footage aired of Max Abrams beating Sam Holloway in September.
2. Cutler James vs. Sam Holloway. An intense lockup, and Holloway is taller, but it was closer than I expected. Cutler might be 6’3″ or even 6’4″. He knocked Sam down with a shoulder tackle. Sam hit some forearm strikes. He leaned Cutler against the ropes, hit some chops, then a bodyslam at 2:30. Sam hit a Helluva Kick. Cutler hit a German Suplex. They brawled to the floor and were both down. Cutler scooped up Sam and threw him onto the commentary table! They continued to brawl and ignored the ref’s count! The ref counted them both out. Also, cagematch.net lists Cutler at 6’5″.
Cutler James vs. Sam Holloway went to a double count-out at 3:47.
* A vignette aired for Vanta the Unknown, who has turned her attention to Wendy Choo.
* Backstage, the Mog Squad stared into the camera and boasted about how great they are. They aren’t afraid of facing Charlie Dempsey in a match.
* Evolve Foreman Tim Thatcher came to the ring and talked about Evolve Champion Harlem Lewis being injured and out of action. Before he could finish what he was saying, Elijah Holyfield rolled into the ring. He wants a title shot. Thatcher said this conversation should have happened in his office. Holyfield rolled out, but demanded that Thatcher call him back.
Harlem Lewis came out with his belt over his shoulder; he is not dressed to wrestle. He got choked up that he hasn’t been able to defend this belt. He wasn’t prepared for the “lengths people would go to take me out.” He’s worked so hard for this belt, “but there is nothing I can do about it.” Thatcher told Lewis to hand him the belt, and the crowd booed him. Thatcher apologized, but said he had to do it.
Harley Riggins came out and was booed. He called Lewis a “crybaby.” Harley demanded that Thatcher take the belt and hand it to him! However, Harlem repeatedly punched Harley. He told Thatcher, “I can go.” Thatcher said he would allow Harlem to defend it.
* In the men’s locker room, Cappuccino Jones and Chazz “Starboy” Hall talked about their recent feud with Shido Ash and Viktor Zanov.
* Niko Vance sat in the VIP lounge. I always forget that Niko Vance and Harlem Lewis are different people, and no, I am not kidding.
3. Laynie Luck and Aaron Rourke vs. Kale Dixon and Alix Brooks in a mixed tag. The men opened, as the commentators reminded us of the rules of WWE mixed tag matches. Kale pushed Aaron into the corner and paused to flex. Aaron hit several chops and hit a standing neckbreaker at 1:00. Alix jumped in and got in Aaron’s face. Laynie got in, and she flipped her hair in Alix’s face. Laynie went for a move, but Alix rolled to the floor and hid behind Kale. Aaron came over and hit a running Penalty Kick on the apron on Kale. [C]
Back from the break, Kale grounded Rourke in a headlock. Rourke got up and hit a superkick. They traded kicks. Rourke hit a Lungblower to the chest at 3:30. Laynie chased Alix on the floor, but it meant she wasn’t in the corner for a tag! Kale hit repeated punches in the corner, then a splash to the mat for a nearfall. Kale hit a high back suplex, then he blew a kiss at Laynie before slapping Aaron’s back. He hit a buzzsaw kick for a nearfall at 5:00.
Kale continued to stomp on Rourke. Aaron hit his own back suplex, and they were both down. The women tagged in and Laynie hit some clotheslines. Alix hit a slap, so Laynie hit a harder slap! She hit her double stomp to the ribs on the apron, then her slingshot senton for a nearfall, but Kale pulled Laynie off of Brooks. Rourke hit a Lungblower to Kale’s back. Laynie hit a huracanrana on Kale, so Alix hit Rourke. Laynie hit an enzuigiri on Alix, then her DVD for the pin. Solid match.
Laynie Luck and Aaron Rourke defeated Kale Dixon and Alix Brooks at 7:39.
Final Thoughts: This show would be so much easier to watch and enjoy if I didn’t know that half the roster is no longer under WWE contract. It’s a fun show and an easy watch. The mixed tag was fun. The Holloway-Cutler match was far too short, even though the outcome was rather predictable.
Since Rune left WWE ID, she announced she’s taking time away from wrestling. She’s really quite talented and still just 20 or 21. I hope that she returns to the indy scene, because she’s too entertaining to just vanish.
Next week, Charlie Dempsey will face either CJ Valor or Jacari Ball. The episode clocked in at 44 minutes.
