What happened to all the Men’s WWE ID & Evolve Champions? NXT calls for the chosen few

Published: 1 hour ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 12 hours ago by Dave Adamson

Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.

What happened to all the Men’s WWE ID & Evolve Champions? NXT calls for the chosen few

Since its introduction in October 2024, WWE ID has grown to have its own championships, with stars also appearing on Evolve.

WWE ID was announced on October 29, 2024, with its purpose being “a first-of-its-kind developmental program designed to provide up-and-coming independent wrestlers a pathway to a potential career in WWE.”

The following year, WWE Evolve would come into existence, with NXT and ID stars featuring on the development show.

Between ID and Evolve, there are four championships on offer, and here’s what happened to the male stars who held them:

Jackson Drake – WWE Evolve Champion: June 4, 2025 – March 18, 2026

The first WWE Evolve Champion, Jackson Drake has since gone from an ID to signing a contract that sees him currently compete on NXT with his Vanity Project teammates Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes & Myka Lockwood.

The current NXT North American Champion, Drake’s Evolve Championship reign was the first and, to date, longest.

Aaron Rourke – Evolve Champion: March 18, 2026 – July 15, 2026

Signed under the WWE ID program in November, 2024, Aaron Rourke was the second WWE Evolve Champion, holding the title for 119 days.

As an ID talent, Rourke continues to compete on the independent scene and had his first televised NXT match earlier this year, defeating Tristan Angel on the June 23 episode.

Harlem Lewis – Evolve Champion: July 15, 2026 – current

Harlem Lewis is yet to make his first TV appearance as a WWE star, yet has appeared on a number of NXT house shows, alongside his run in Evolve and as a competitor in season 2 of WWE LFG: Legends & Future Greats.

With a victory over Aaron Rourke on the episode aired on July 15, Lewis has now held the Evolve Championship for more than eighty days.

Cappuccino Jones – WWE ID Champion: August 1, 2025 – March 23, 2026

The first men’s ID Champion, Cappuccino Jones was signed to the independent wrestling developmental program in November 2024 and has become a fixture in Evolve.

Continuing as a star on the independent wrestling scene, Jones teamed with Jasper Troy in an NXT dark match victory over Harley Riggins & Jax Presley in August of this year.

Starboy Charlie – ID Champion: March 23, 2026 – June 26, 2026

Now known as Chazz Hall, the former WWE ID Champion recently teamed with Mini Vikingo for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The September 29 showing saw the pair score a victory over BirthRight (Channing Lorenzo & Uriah Connors).

Still an ID talent, Hall competes on the independent wrestling scene.