WWE just hosted an eventful episode of Evolve on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
The latest episode of WWE Evolve featured a total of three matches and a few other segments. Evolve Champion Aaron Rouke successfully defended his title against Tristan Angels. While Nikkita Lyons & Sloane Jacobs defeated Laynie Luck & Wendy Choo. It was on the same episode that Evolve General Manager Timothy Thatcher announced the upcoming debut of Elijah Holyfield, Tate Wilder’s move to NXT, and the return of Succession.
For fans unaware, Succession is the name for Evolve’s special event episodes. The first Succession special aired on October 15, 2025. The second special aired on March 4, 2026.
Also, the son of former boxer Evander Holyfield, Elijah Holyfield, is set to make his Evolve in-ring debut on next week’s June 3, 2026, episode of Evolve. Before joining WWE, he played running back for the Georgia Bulldogs and spent four seasons in the NFL. He was also a part of WWE: LFG Season One. He later returned for seasons two and three. Yet to make his Evolve in-ring debut, Holyfield has previously wrestled on LFG and a few NXT live events.
AJ Styles praised Danhausen’s WWE contributions within a few months of his debut.
Speaking on The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles commended Danhausen’s comedic role in WWE citing the need for entertainment in wrestling, an aspect he truly understands.
“He’s doing a great job, and this is what we need. A lot of people don’t understand it. We need a little bit of everything. We want to make sure you get the entertainment from wrestling, but also we want to make you laugh, too, and we got the storylines. We want to give you a little bit of everything. Danhausen is definitely filling the need.”
Styles also talked about his backstage roles in WWE following retirement, and revealed assisting with production for Evolve.
“I was able to see that and work with them. I wasn’t an agent or a producer, as we call it now. But there was, one of our producers needed a little help because he was doing a lot. So I was like, ‘Dude, if you want me to, I’ll do it. I have no problem doing it, and that includes putting the headset on, and calling the match to the TV which I had no idea how to do. But they came to me and was like, ‘Actually dude, you did a really good job because you didn’t say too much. You said enough, you told us where to be, what’s about to happen, where you need cameras.’”
After the title was vacated when Kendal Grey moved up to WWE NXT, there is now a new WWE Evolve Women’s Champion: Wendy Choo.
On the weekly Evolve TV show Wednesday, Choo survived a gauntlet match that also featured Nikkita Lyons, Laynie Luck, Tyra Mae Steele, PJ Vasa, Karmen Petrovic, Sloane Jacobs, and inaugural champion Kali Armstrong.
Choo, who entered fourth, was left with Lyons. Lyons went for a tiger bomb, but Choo countered with a roll-through to pick up the pin and win.
It’s the first WWE title that she’s won at any level and her first title overall since 2017.
Armstrong first won the gold in April 2025, holding it for 151 days before losing it to Grey in September 2025. Grey went undefeated as champion and relinquished it after a defense over Steele. Choo was unable to defeat her in one of those defenses back in January.
Four new WWE ID signings were announced on the latest episode of Evolve, using their recently trademarked WWE names.
Recently, the promotion revealed a new batch of WWE ID talents for the men’s roster, which included Starboy Charlie, now Chazz ‘Starboy’ Hall, who also made his debut on this week’s episode of WWE NXT. In addition to the male talents, a few women’s WWE ID talent signings were also reported, which have now been revealed.
On tonight’s WWE Evolve, Byron Saxton appeared in the ring with the four new WWE ID signings. They were officially introduced before a WWE Evolve Women’s Title match qualifier.
Valentina Rossi will now be wrestling as Gianna Capri, while the next was Sloane Jacobs. Jacobs was signed to WWE in 2022 but left the company when her contract expired in November 2022.
Fallyn Grey will now be wrestling as Veronica Haven, while Airica Demia revealed her new name as Anya Rune.
Shortly after, a three-way match took place between Jacobs, Rune, and Haven, with the winner, Jacobs, earning a spot in the Evolve Women’s Championship match.
Sloane Jacobs defeats Anya Rune, Veronica Haven, and Gianna Capri to earn a spot in the EVOLVE Women's Championship Eliminator Gauntlet Match #WWEEvolvepic.twitter.com/FkEIo0R6Dz
— Cory of False Finish (@Cory_Hays407) April 9, 2026
Three new WWE ID signings made their debut on tonight’s episode of WWE Evolve on Tubi.
On the Wednesday, April 1 episode of Evolve, fans saw Chazz ‘Starboy’ Hall, CJ Valor, and Santi Rivera make their official Evolve debut.
Ahead of the episode, it was announced that new WWE ID prospects were set to debut in a three-way match, with the winner becoming the number one contender for Aaron Rourke’s Evolve title.
Later in the night, Hall picked up the victory over Valor and Rivera to become the new challenger for Rourke’s Championship.
The three debuts also showcased the name changes for the new WWE ID signings, as Starboy Charlie became Chazz ‘Starboy’ Hall, Jimmy House became CJ Valor, and Jariel Rivera was changed to Santi Rivera.
Earlier this month, Rourke became the new Evolve Champion and is now already set to face Hall with his title on the line. Although a confirmed date for the match has not yet been announced.
Elsewhere, Dorian Van Dux, formerly known as Mike D Vecchio, also made his Evolve debut tonight, in a victory against It’s Gal.
On March 18, 2026, Aaron Rourke defeated Jackson Drake to crown himself the brand new men’s WWE Evolve Champion.
On the March 18 episode of Evolve, Rourke defeated Drake with a Molly-Go-Round. While Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes interfered and tried helping their Vanity Project member, Drake, Rourke overcame all adversities to win the title.
The win tonight marked Rourke’s first reign as the Evolve champion. Announced as a WWE ID recruit in November 2024, Rourke has finally made his mark on the roster. Known to be inspired by WWE legends Lita and Trish Stratus, Rourke is now a champion.
A WWE Evolve wrestler is out of action just as soon as she was cleared from a previous injury.
Chantel Monroe on social media Monday shared a picture of herself in a hospital room, her foot in a cast and heavily bandaged.
“Can’t keep a diva down for long… be back soon,” she wrote.
Less than a week ago on March 10, Monroe revealed she had been cleared to return to the ring after fracturing her nose.
“Three months ago I fractured my nose, and that’s why you haven’t been seeing Chanel Monroe in action these past couple of Wednesdays… but don’t worry divasss, I’m officially fully cleared, back, and ready to give EVOLVE the sparkle it’s been missing,” she wrote at the time.
Monroe has only wrestled three times since November, her most recent match being a loss against Karmen Petrovic in a dark match prior to NXT. She’s been wrestling since 2024 and even made an appearance at FIP’s Everything Burns event back in January of 2025, where she lost to Dani Palmer.
Wednesday’s WWE Evolve saw two big changes: one that includes a championship change with the other being the naming of their second-ever general manager.
The title change saw Women’s Champion Kendal Gray vacate her championship after defeating Tyra Mae Steele to retain the title. It’s her final match on the brand as she moves to WWE NXT full-time. It continues a trend in recent months as Oba Femi notably vacated his title before being called up to the WWE main roster.
The second Women’s Champion in Evolve, the 24-year-old defeated inaugural titleholder Kali Armstrong in September 2024 and finishes with eight successful title defenses. No plan for how a new champion will be crowned was revealed.
In the other news of the night, Timothy Thatcher has become the first general manager for Evolve, revealed by interim NXT general manager Robert Stone. He replaces inaugural general manager Steve Turner who departed the company last fall.
Thatcher is a former Evolve Champion and works on the indie scene with WWE ID prospects.
WWE Evolve now has a new Women’s Champion: Kendal Grey.
On Wednesday’s special Succession edition of Evolve on Tubi, Grey defeated inaugural champion Kali Armstrong, ending her 151-day run. The end came when Grey hit a powerslam counter while Armstrong was running the ropes, giving her the victory (seen below).
It’s Grey’s first WWE title reign of any kind.
The match was taped on September 23rd with both women having wrestled several times since then including the 24-year-old Grey unsuccessfully challenging for both the WWE Women’s Speed title and the NXT Women’s North American title on NXT house shows.
The 31-year-old Armstrong first won the gold in late-April in a four-way that also included Grey. She successfully defended the title four times before her loss to Grey.
Grey made her pro debut under the WWE banner in March 2024 and has appeared on the main NXT TV show in addition to TNA Impact and the defunct NXT Level Up.
WWE’s Wednesday night brand will host their first special in October.
Announced at the onset of Wednesday’s WWE Evolve on Tubi, the brand will hold their first-ever Succession on Wednesday, October 15 in its normal time slot on both Tubi and YouTube for international viewers. It’s assumed to be a taped show per usual.
Revealed by the brand’s “prime minister” Stevie Turner at the onset of Wednesday’s show, Succession will feature both the Evolve men’s and women’s championships defended on the same show for the first time.
In one match, reigning men’s champion Jackson Drake will defend against the winner of next week’s number one contender’s match between Keanu Carver and Brooks Jensen. The inaugural champion, Drake has three successful title defenses including in a three-way that included Carver and Jensen.
In the other, Evolve Women’s Champion Kali Armstrong will defend against Kendal Grey who defeated Chantal Monroe Wednesday to earn the title shot. Armstrong has four title defenses under her belt. Grey was involved in the four-way where Armstrong became the inaugural champion. The two have never squared off in a one-on-one except on house shows.
On Wednesday’s WWE Evolve, Vanity Project’s Jackson Drake won the title in a four-way elimination match, outlasting Sean Legacy, Keanu Carver, and Edris Enofe. Drake picked up the win via a jumping knee and then a running knee on Legacy, just a night after they both appeared on WWE NXT on opposite ends of an eight-man tag team match.
Drake earned his opportunity through a play-in match in late-April, defeating Lince Dorado and Jordan Oasis.
Je’Von Evans presented Drake with the title as Drake was flanked by Vanity Project’s Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes, Zayda Steel and Bryce Donovan. As both opponents and partners, Evans and Drake go back to the North Carolina indies dating back to 2018.
On last Wednesday’s show, Armstrong won the title, defeating Wendy Choo, Kylie Rae and Kendal Grey in a four-way elimination bout.
After re-launching in March, WWE now has their first-ever Evolve Women’s Champion.
Kali Armstrong won the title on Wednesday’s edition of WWE Evolve, defeating Wendy Choo, WWE ID contracted Kylie Rae and Kendal Grey in a four-way elimination bout.
Rae eliminated Choo first and then Grey, focusing on Armstrong. However, Armstrong picked up the victory with her Kali Connection
Choo was eliminated first by Rae, followed by Grey, who was also eliminated by Grey. Armstrong finished off Rae with the Kali Connection with Natalya presenting her with the title afterward.
The 30-year-old California native made her professional in-ring debut in June 2024 in NXT and worked several NXT live events before making her TV debut on the now-defunct Level Up. She debuted on the third-ever Evolve show and has continued to work those shows in addition to NXT live events.
The inaugural men’s WWE Evolve Champion will be decided on next Wednesday’s episode in a four-way between Edris Enofe, Sean Legacy, Keanu Carver and Jackson Drake.
The roster of WWE’s Wednesday night Evolve offering on Tubi will have new championships to fight for.
On Wednesday’s Evolve episode, the brand’s authority figure Stevie Turner announced the creation of the men’s and women’s WWE Evolve Championships, and revealed details on how the inaugural champions will be crowned.
Four-way matches in both the men’s and women’s divisions will decide the inaugural Evolve champions. The women’s four-way will take place on the Wednesday, May 28 episode, with three of the four competitors announced for the bout. Wendy Choo, Kali Armstrong, and Kendal Grey will compete in the inaugural Evolve Women’s Championship tilt, with the fourth competitor to be named later.
The inaugural Evolve Championship match in the men’s division will be held on the Wednesday, June 4 episode. Sean Legacy is the first wrestler announced for that inaugural title bout, with three competitors to be named in the coming weeks.
WWE EVOLVE is the latest addition to WWE’s programming lineup, bringing back the brand once headed by Gape Sapolsky to showcase emerging talent from the WWE Performance Center and the WWE Independent Development (WWEID) system.
Given its recent debut, viewers worldwide are keen to know how to watch WWE EVOLVE in their respective regions. Below is a comprehensive guide tailored to various countries and territories.
How to Watch WWE EVOLVE in the United States
In the U.S., WWE EVOLVE premiered on March 5, 2025, and airs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) exclusively on Tubi, Fox Corporation’s ad-supported streaming service. Tubi is free to use and accessible on multiple devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. Simply download the Tubi app or visit their website to start watching.
How to Watch WWE EVOLVE in the United Kingdom
For fans in the UK, WWE EVOLVE is available for free on WWE’s official YouTube channel. Episodes are uploaded simultaneously with the U.S. broadcast, allowing viewers to watch new content every Wednesday at 1 a.m. GMT. To access, visit WWE’s YouTube channel and navigate to the WWE EVOLVE playlist.
How to Watch WWE EVOLVE in Canada
Canadian viewers can also watch WWE EVOLVE on WWE’s official YouTube channel, with episodes becoming available concurrently with the U.S. airing. This approach ensures that Canadian fans have timely access to the latest episodes without any additional subscription fees.
How to Watch WWE EVOLVE in Australia
In Australia, WWE EVOLVE is also accessible via WWE’s YouTube channel. Given the time difference, new episodes are available every Thursday at 12 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Fans can watch the show for free by visiting WWE’s official YouTube channel.
How to Watch WWE EVOLVE in Europe
Across various European countries, WWE EVOLVE is again available on WWE’s YouTube channel, with episodes uploaded simultaneously with the U.S. broadcast. This means viewers in countries like Germany, France, and Spain can watch new episodes every Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, depending on their local time zone.
How to Watch WWE EVOLVE in Japan
Japanese fans can access WWE EVOLVE through WWE’s official YouTube channel. New episodes are uploaded every Thursday at 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time (JST).
How to Watch WWE EVOLVE in Other Territories
For fans in other regions not specifically mentioned, WWE EVOLVE is generally accessible via WWE’s official YouTube channel. Episodes are typically uploaded concurrently with the U.S. broadcast, ensuring global fans can enjoy the show without significant delays. However, availability may vary depending on local restrictions or broadcasting rights. It’s advisable to check WWE’s YouTube channel or local listings for the most accurate information.
WWE EVOLVE Broadcast Information by Region
Region
Platform/Channel
Broadcast Time
United States
Tubi
Wednesdays, 8 p.m. ET
United Kingdom
YouTube
Thursdays, 1 a.m. GMT
Canada
YouTube
Wednesdays, 8 p.m. ET
Australia
YouTube
Thursdays, 12 p.m. AEST
Germany
YouTube
Thursdays, 2 a.m. CET
France
YouTube
Thursdays, 2 a.m. CET
Spain
YouTube
Thursdays, 2 a.m. CET
Japan
YouTube
Thursdays, 9 a.m. JST
India
YouTube
Thursdays, 6:30 a.m. IST
Please note that broadcast times are subject to change based on regional daylight saving adjustments and other factors. It’s recommended to verify local listings or WWE’s official platforms for the most up-to-date information.
Updating the John Cena/Cody Rhodes interview, what was and wasn’t said, update on the plans for WrestleMania as well as the current ticket demand and interest level.
WBD expresses interest in UFC and evaluating the value of the UFC PPV business, the methods of distribution, how many buyers or subscribers will it take to cover what UFC wants and that value, how a deal with WBD would affect AEW (it would, perhaps significantly).
Full coverage of the final week of the New Japan Cup, including a look at one of the best shows of the year and New Japan’s next major show.
2024 Gaspard/Huber award winners, the most important award we give each year
The most detailed look at the ratings for the various shows, including competition, men vs. women and things to note from the different shows over the past week.
Build to CMLL’s second biggest event of the year
How the foreign talent is doing in Mexico
AAA champion suspended in key market and why
Difference between commission suspensions in U.S. and Mexico
What WWE superstar was suspended for a drug test failure by athletic commissions nationwide and a commission didn’t honor it and why several years back
Angle for a non-wrestling booker to face a woman star in a match
Homicide retirement notes
A look back at the most famous NCAA wrestling tournament match of all-time
The state of El Hijo del Santo’s retirement tour
Updates on Border City Wrestling
Queen of the Ring updates
More on the early days of women’s pro wrestling history
Mandy Rose talks business after wrestling
AEW Dynasty updates including business
AEW and the Ryan Nemeth lawsuit against the company, Tony Khan and CM Punk
International TV and streaming numbers
WWE countering AEW PPV shows
Lex Luger Hall of Fame questions
How much is Dwayne Johhnson’s ownership of TKO worth
How much is Vince McMahon’s current ownership worth
Lots of injury updates
Developmental updates
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue
WWE Vault uploaded a full NXT house show from March 27, 2015, which was an important event for the brand as it took place during WrestleMania 31 weekend with WWE’s top brass in attendance.
NXT wrestler Stevie Turner was named the new general manager of WWE Evolve on the episode that premiered on Tubi last night. Turner is from London and started her WWE career in NXT UK.
Linda Hogan, ex-wife of Hulk Hogan, posted an emotional social media video saying her family is in “the worst mess” and calling Hulk a “complete liar.” Linda said her daughter Brooke has not talked to her in almost eight years and does not talk to Hulk either:
Brooke doesn’t talk to us. She’s had twins. She got married. She didn’t tell us. She had a huge fight with Terry. I don’t know how that reflected onto me, but she cut me out too. I haven’t talked to her for seven years. Almost eight years now.
AEW/Other Wrestling
To promote All In 2025 taking place at Globe Life Field this July, AEW star MJF is in Arlington, Texas today to throw out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers’ opening day game against the Boston Red Sox.
Jim Ross said on his Grilling JR podcast that he would fully endorse the idea of AEW hiring Gail Kim, who was fired from her role in TNA Wrestling talent relations earlier this week:
No [I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gail Kim end up in AEW at some point]. I would endorse that. If Tony Khan asked me my thoughts on the matter, I would suggest – go for it. She’s very, very valuable and does a great job. I have great respect for Gail Kim, and her reputation speaks for itself. She gets results. She’s very good at working with talent. So – I’m a big Gail Kim fan. And she should not be unemployed for long in my world.
Konosuke Takeshita will face Mike Santana at House of Glory’s show in Queens, New York on Friday, April 25.
Saraya launched her new Rulebreakers podcast with its first two episodes debuting today. In the first episode, Saraya discusses her departure from AEW. She then interviews Harley Cameron in the second episode. Here is the description for the podcast:
Born into a chaotic, hellraising and deeply tight-knit family, Saraya learned to never back down from a challenge. She’s a rule breaker and drawn to people with this same mentality. In RULEBREAKERS, her DGAF mentality takes center stage while also exploring vulnerability and transparency with listeners. Every week, Saraya and a guest will explore their unconventional paths to success. Inspired by the honesty of Dumb Blonde, the unapologetic nature of Cancelled, and the humor and undeniable charm of Chicken Shop Date, Saraya is ready to ask the hard questions and talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of her and her guests’ lives.
Future Stars of Wrestling said their Chris Bey benefit show from last weekend exceeded all expectations the promotion had: “The Beynefit For Bey was a success beyond our wildest dreams. We shattered records at the Silverton, the largest amount of viewers ever for an @FSWVegas on @Triller_TV. Our crew was amazing getting backstage interaction, and interviews. Hoping to have info on a DVD of the event”
