WWE Evolve 1/21/2026

WWE Evolve 1/21/2026

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/wwe-evolve-1142025.html

We are the Performance Center in Orlando, FL. Peter Rosenberg and Robert Stone are on commentary.

We see Karmen Petrovic arrive earlier in the day. She says 2026 has been a crazy year so far. She says she's focused on the women's division. She says she will handle Kali Armstrong tonight and says she's been coasting on being the first champ. She says she will make sure the difference is made, but not by her.

Wendy Choo comes out to talk. She says it's a new year and a new her. She says she has 3 resolutions this year - to be unbothered, unfiltered and unapologetic. She says it's been a year and she hasn't had a title shot. She says she's calling out Kendal Grey, who opened up pandora's box.

Chuey Martinez and Kendal Grey come out. Chuey says Grey is supposed to take a week off after last week's defense. KG says she wants to fight now. A ref comes out and says it's official.

WWE Evolve Women's Title - Kendal Grey (c) vs Wendy Choo

They lock up and KG waistlock takedowns her. KG rolling armbars her and Choo goes for the pin. Choo tries a dirtnap and KG turns it into a pin attempt. Choo corner forearms and running facekicks her in the corner. Choo running dropkicks her. KG dropkicks her.
Choo cannonballs her off the apron outside. 

We go to break and return. KG is booted while in tree of woe. Choo corner dropkicks her for 2. KG cradles her and Choo reverses it. KG rolls her up for 2 then they trade more pin attempts. They boot each other at the same time then double clothesline each other. 

They trade forearms. Choo chops her and KG germans her. KG pulls the straps down and trips her. KG slingshot double stomps her for 2. Choo facekicks her then swinging neckbreakers her for 2. Choo does the dirtnap but KG rolls her off. KG rolling armbars her. 

Choo gets a 2 count on her and is superkicked. Choo superplexes her and hold on for a brainbuster for 2. Choo chops her then KG flatliners her for the win.

Thoughts: I liked this. The two matched up well and Choo was hustling. KG was her usual energetic self. This was a good opener and was one of Choo's better matches. Choo has put on some weight.

Kali Armstrong talks in the back. She tells Grey to do her thing as champ as their paths will cross again. She says Karmen keeps asking how she gets opportunities. Kali says she sees Karmen do nothing but run her mouth. She says she ran through her once and will do it again. She says she's all gas and no breaks until she gets her title back.

We see some store with odd statues. Nikkita Lyons and Arianna Grace walk into this dark place and look confused. Grace says they got an offer for a free psychic reading her. The psychic says she's been waiting for them. The psychic grabs both of their hands and freaks out. She says there is much darkness in their lives. She pulls up a conflict card, a suffering card and a destruction card. The lights flicker, the girls scream and they psychic says they must change their ways. They then run.

Thoughts: Uh, well this was a lot different than what we usually get. It was over the top but I can buy the idea of them going to a psychic and being told to change thier ways.

They talk about Keanu, Eli, Legacy and The Vanity Project being promoted to NXT. They say they will still be on Evolve though. 

Marcus Mathers vs Braxton Cole

The WWE ID crew and the WWE PC crew are watching this in the back.

MM hits punches on Cole. MM dropkicks him twice. Cole throws him in the corner. MM back elbows him. Cole running neckbreakers him. Cole hits downward elbows. Cole lariats him for 2. Cole euros him over. MM is stunnered over the top rope. Cole neckbreakers him for 2. Cole cranks the head and euros him over. 

MM blocks a neckbreaker by holding onto the ropes. Cole misses a corner splash. MM double jump crossbodies him. MM hits chops and forearms. MM flying lariats him. MM springboard stunners him then germans him for 2.

MM forearms him. Cole release suplexes him for 2. MM boots him then hook kicks him. Cam Hendrix comes out and distracts MM up top. MM misses a top rope double stomp. MM goes after Cam and Cole rolls up MM to win.

Thoughts: It got a enough time to play out here. This was the longest match we've gotten to see Cole do so far and he did fine. This was acceptable.

Cam clips MM after. Cole hits a reverse AA on MM. The WWE ID prospects try to help but are locked in the locker room. Cam pillmanizes MM's ankle with a chair. 

Brooks Jensen and the WWE ID crew are pleased. Keanu asks what Brooks has going on. Riggins says Keanu isn't a people person guy but he's a killer. Brooks says they have control of next week's Evolve show. He says they are looking for people to inflict pain on the ID clowns. He says he wants to inflict pain on Cappuccino Jones. He says he will win the match and knock his head off his shoulders. He asks Keanu what he thinks and Keanu says he can ride with that. Jax says they can make that happen and more. Harley says they got some things cooking and more.

Harlem Lewis says he only cares about Jackson Drake being here next week. He says WWE ID and WWE PC can fight for control but he will fight for gold. He says Harlem Lewis is the next Evolve champ. 

Kali Armstrong vs Karmen Petrovic

Kali trips her and KP get up and stares at her. Kali throws her off the waistlock then throws her down backwards. KP hits kicks on her. KP crucifixes her for 2 and bodyscissors her. Tyra Mae Steele is in the VIP Lounge and she has a new haircut. We are told Tyra is going to stay in Evolve.

KP tries a pin on Kali and Kali back elbows her. KP kicks her out of the corner then tilt-a-whirl bodypresses her. KP armlocks her. Kali sends herself out to the floor then KP topes her outside. We go to break and return. Kali hits corner spears on KP then does a hard running corner spear. Kali running facekicks her in the corner.

KP kicks her off the buckles. Kali misses a corner splash. KP hits flying ofrearms then hits a soul foot on her. KP sliding kicks her against the ropes. KP high kicks her then slingblades her for 2. KP backrolls her for 2. Kali powerslams her. Kali run the ropes but KP avoids her. Kali goes into the ropes. KP hits two low corkscrew kicks and pins her.

Thoughts: This was an upset. It was a solid bout though and one of Karmen's better showing's. I didn't like the spot where Kali went out though as she just launched herself outside for no real reason. I liked this. I feel like Kali must have heat on her for some reason though. She went from making NXT appearances to losing to everyone on this show.

KP says that was her biggest win yet. She says she's the #1 contender to the Women's Evolve title and says she's got next.

Kendal Grey comes out. KG says they can do it next week and says anytime, anyplace. 

We go to Team WWE PC in the back. They say they run things next week and that match is not happening. Cole says they run things. Keanu says it'll be a nightmare for WWE ID next week. Cam tells them to take care of Jackson Drake next week and he will become champ the week after. 

Overall thoughts: The wrestling was good here. We had 3 matches only. The 2 women's matches were both good and impressive. Those couldn't have gone much better than they did. Mathers/Cole was an acceptable bout and I think Cole will be just be fine, though he doesn't seem super spectacular. This show was all about pushing Kendal Grey and the WWE ID vs WWE PC war. It was definitely a bit of a different show than usual with a visit to the psychic shop and a lot of people missing. I do feel like the bookers are getting more comfortable with the show though and things are flowing a lot more smoother than before. I'm not dying to do 4 hours of wrestling on Wednesday's, but this show is probably going to have 2 hours in the future so they can get more than 3 matches in. I'd give this a 6 out of 10 as it was a fun show.