| Evolution | |
|---|---|
 Stable logo | |
| Stable | |
| Leader | Triple H |
| Members | Ric Flair Randy Orton Batista |
| Name | Evolution |
| Combined billed weight | 1,027 lb (466 kg) |
| Debut | January 20, 2003 |
| Disbanded | October 3, 2005 |
| Years active | 2003–2005 2007 2014 2018 (Non Wrestling Reunion) |
Evolution was avillainous Americanprofessional wrestlingstable inWWE which was a part of theRaw brand from 2003 to 2005, as well as during 2007 and 2014. At the height of its original existence, the group consisted ofTriple H,Ric Flair,Randy Orton andBatista. The quartet has been referred to as a modern iteration of Flair's former stable,The Four Horsemen.[1][2] Evolution slowly began dissolving afterSummerSlam 2004, when Orton won the World Heavyweight Championship and was kicked out of the group. After winning theRoyal Rumble in 2005, Batista betrayed Triple H and Flair, turning face, and decided to pursue the World Heavyweight Championship himself. Although Batista's departure was largely the end for the group, the final break up came when Triple H turned on and attacked Flair. During the breakup, each member faced one another at least once.
Evolution later reformed on April 14, 2014 as a sub-group toThe Authority after Batista joined forces with Triple H and Orton. The group is also considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestling factions of all time.
Each member of Evolution represented the best in: "the past" (Ric Flair), "the present" (Triple H), and "the future" (Randy Orton and Batista) of professional wrestling.[3] Triple H would reveal on his 2013Triple H - Thy Kingdom Come DVD thatMark Jindrak was originally planned to be in the group in Batista's role as theArn Anderson-like enforcer, with Jindrak even shooting vignettes with the rest of the group, before it was decided to make Batista part of the group instead.[4] This was further elaborated in 2020, when it was revealed thatVince McMahon wanted Jindrak in the group to replace Batista due to his triceps injuries in 2003. However, Triple H felt that Jindrak was not mature enough for the group and also felt that he was dragging Orton down, an assessment mutually agreed by Jindrak himself. Ultimately, management decided to place Jindrak in atag team withGarrison Cade while the rest of Evolution waited for Batista to return to health, which proved to work out for all parties involved, including Jindrak, who would become a major star inMexico following his WWE departure in 2005.[5]
AtUnforgiven on September 22, 2002,Triple H defended theWorld Heavyweight Championship againstRob Van Dam. During the match,Ric Flair, who had been verbally mocked by Triple H in the locker room earlier in the night following hisIntercontinental Championship loss toChris Jericho, came down to the ring and grabbed the sledgehammer from Triple H and teased hitting him before hitting Van Dam instead, allowing Triple H to get the win.[6] From that point on, Flair accompanied Triple H to the ring as his manager. Shortly thereafter,Batista moved fromSmackDown! toRaw and Flair also began accompanying him to the ring as a manager and mentor while continuing to second Triple H. On the January 20, 2003 episode ofRaw,Randy Orton, who had been out of action due to a shoulder injury, returned and joined Triple H, Flair and Batista in attackingScott Steiner to complete the group.[7] Two weeks later, the group officially got its name when Triple H, after the group jumpedTommy Dreamer, spoke about how the four men were examples of professional wrestling's evolution from the past (Flair) to the present (himself) to the future (Batista and Orton).[3] During the group's early stages, however, Batista was out of action for nearly eight months due to a triceps tear.[8]
AtBad Blood on June 15, Flair defeatedShawn Michaels in asingles match after Orton struck Michaels with a chair. Later that night, Triple H retained his World Heavyweight Championship againstKevin Nash in aHell in a Cell match.[9] On the June 23 episode ofRaw, Triple H successfully defended the title againstKane in a match with a "Title vs. Mask" stipulation, forcing Kane to unmask.[10] AtUnforgiven on September 21, Orton defeated Michaels to help establish his "Legend Killer"gimmick. Later that night, Triple H lost the World Heavyweight Championship toGoldberg.[11] The following week onRaw, Triple H issued a$100,000bounty to anybody who could take out Goldberg.[12] On the October 20 episode ofRaw, Batista made his return from injury during Goldberg's World Heavyweight Championship defense against Michaels, attacking Goldberg and finishing by stomping on a steel chair with Goldberg's ankle sandwiched in it to claim the bounty.[13] AtSurvivor Series on November 16, Orton participated in theTeam Bischoff versusTeam Austinelimination tag team match, in which he was the sole survivor. Later that night, Triple H failed to regain the World Heavyweight Championship from Goldberg.[14]
At the height of Evolution's power, the group controlled all of the male-based championships ofRaw afterArmageddon on December 14. Batista and Flair won theWorld Tag Team Championship in atag team turmoil match, Orton captured theIntercontinental Championship from Rob Van Dam, and Triple H regained the World Heavyweight Championship from Goldberg in atriple threat match also involving Kane.[15][16]
On January 25, 2004 atRoyal Rumble, Flair and Batista successfully defended the World Tag Team Championship against theDudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley) in atables match, and World Heavyweight Champion Triple H fought Shawn Michaels to ano contest in aLast Man Standing match, thus retaining the championship.[17] On the February 16 episode ofRaw, Flair and Batista lost the World Tag Team Championship toBooker T and Van Dam.[18] AtWrestleMania XX on March 14, Evolution defeated theRock 'n' Sock Connection (The Rock andMick Foley) in a 3-on-2handicap match. Later that night, Triple H lost the World Heavyweight Championship toChris Benoit in a triple threat match also involving Michaels when he tapped out to the Crippler Crossface.[19][20] On the March 22 episode ofRaw, Flair and Batista defeated Booker T and Van Dam to regain the World Tag Team Championship.[21] AtBacklash on April 18, Flair lost toShelton Benjamin. Later that night, Orton successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Foley in ahardcore match, while Triple H failed to regain the title in a triple threat rematch after Benoit forced Michaels to submit with theSharpshooter.[22][23] While still World Heavyweight Champion, Benoit teamed withEdge to win the World Tag Team Championship from Flair and Batista on the April 19 episode ofRaw.[24] AtBad Blood on June 13, Triple H defeated Michaels in a Hell in a Cell match to end their feud.[25]
In mid-2004,Eugene befriended Triple H, who seemingly reciprocated the friendship. AtVengeance on July 11, it was revealed that Triple H had used Eugene to try and regain the World Heavyweight Championship from Benoit, but he was unsuccessful after Eugene inadvertently hit him with a chair.[26] On the same night, Edge defeated Orton to end his seven-month long Intercontinental Championship reign.[27] Triple H received one final shot at the World Heavyweight Championship on the July 26 episode ofRaw in a 60-minuteIron Man match. Earlier that night, Orton won a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the title atSummerSlam, teasing a title match between him and Triple H. However, Eugene interfered in the Iron Man match and helped Benoit take the lead and retain the title in the final seconds, making the main event of SummerSlam a title match between Benoit and Orton.[28] At SummerSlam on August 15, Orton pinned Benoit to become the new World Heavyweight Champion and the youngest world champion in WWE history to date.[29]
The next night onRaw, after successfully defending the title in a rematch against Benoit, Orton was kicked out of Evolution. Batista hoisted Orton on to his shoulders in what appeared to be a celebration, but following thethumbs down from Triple H, the group proceeded to attack Orton.[30] On the August 23 episode ofRaw, Triple H demanded that Orton "make the right decision" and give him the World Heavyweight Championship belt, but Orton refused and spat in his face.[31] AtUnforgiven on September 12, Triple H defeated Orton to regain the World Heavyweight Championship with help from Flair, Batista andJonathan Coachman.[32] AtSurvivor Series on November 14, Triple H, Batista,Gene Snitsky and Edge lost to Orton,Maven, Chris Jericho and Benoit in aSurvivor Series match where the winning team would gain control ofRaw over the following month.[33] On the December 6 episode ofRaw, the championship was vacated when a triple threat match the previous week with Triple H, Edge and Benoit ended in adouble pin (Edge tapped out to Benoit's Crippler Crossface while he simultaneously had Benoit pinned to the ground), and the title was to be decided in anElimination Chamber match atNew Year's Revolution on January 9, 2005.[34][35]
In the Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution, Batista, Orton and Triple H were the last three remaining in the match. Orton eliminated Batista with an RKO and Triple H pinned Orton with Batista's help to win the title.[36] On the following night'sRaw, Orton defeated Batista to gain a title shot at theRoyal Rumble on January 30.[37] Triple H suggested that Batista not enter theRoyal Rumble match, wanting the group to focus on Triple H retaining the title. Batista declined, entered the Royal Rumble match at number 28 and won by last eliminatingJohn Cena.[38] Earlier that night, Triple H defeated Orton to retain the title, ending their feud.[39]
Following Batista's Royal Rumble win, Triple H tried to persuade him to challengeWWE ChampionJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) of SmackDown! rather than challenge him for his World Heavyweight Championship. This involved Triple H plotting a feud between JBL and Batista, showing JBL badmouthing Batista in an interview and staging an attack on Batista with a limousine designed to look like JBL's, but Batista became aware of the scheme while sneakily eavesdropping on fellow Evolution members.[40][41][42] On the February 21 episode ofRaw, during the brand contract signing ceremony, Batista chose to remain on Raw,powerbombing Triple H through a table and leaving the faction, turningface in the process.[43] AtWrestleMania 21 on April 3, Batista defeated Triple H to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[44] He successfully defended the title against Triple H atBacklash on May 1 and in a Hell in a Cell match atVengeance on June 26.[45][46] On the June 30 episode ofSmackDown!, Batista was drafted to SmackDown! as the last pick in the2005 WWE draft lottery, effectively ending Triple H's pursuits for the title.[47]
After Vengeance, Triple H took some time off due to neck issues, not being seen on WWE television for four months.[48] In the interim, Flair turned face and won the Intercontinental Championship fromCarlito atUnforgiven on September 18.[49] Triple H returned to action at the "WWE Homecoming" episode ofRaw on October 3, teaming with Flair to defeat Carlito andChris Masters. After the match, Triple H betrayed Flair and attacked him with a sledgehammer, marking the definitive end of Evolution.[50] Flair then defeated Triple H in a steel cage match to retain the Intercontinental Championship atTaboo Tuesday on November 1.[51] Triple H defeated Flair in a Last Man Standing match atSurvivor Series on November 27.[52]
On December 10, 2007, Evolution had an in-ring reunion as faces on theRaw 15th Anniversary special episode, where Batista, Flair and Triple H defeated the team of Orton, Edge andUmaga.[53]
AtSummerSlam on August 18, 2013, Triple H and Orton once again joined forces to form the heel stableThe Authority.[54][55] AtWrestleMania XXX on April 6, 2014, the two men would be joined by Batista afterDaniel Bryan defeated Triple H in the opening match, and then Orton and Batista in the main event triple threat match to win theWWE World Heavyweight Championship.[56][57] The next night onRaw, Batista and Orton teamed together for the first time in ten years to faceThe Usos for theWWE Tag Team Championship, but the match ended in a no contest due to both teams being counted out. Later that night, Batista and Orton, along withKane, attacked Bryan before he was set to defend his title against Triple H. Before Triple H could defeat Bryan, however,The Shield interrupted by spearing him and taking out Orton, Batista and Kane, thus Bryan retained the title via no contest.[58]
On the April 14 episode ofRaw, Triple H, Orton and Batista attacked The Shield after their 11-on-3 handicap match, using the name and the theme of Evolution, officially reuniting the group.[59] Evolution lost to The Shield atExtreme Rules on May 4 and in a No Holds Barred elimination tag match atPayback on June 1, in which none of The Shield were eliminated.[60][61] On the June 2 episode ofRaw, Batista quit the WWE (kayfabe) after his title match request was denied by Triple H due to Bryan's neck injury at the time rendering him unable to complete.[62] This was done to write Batista off WWE television so he could promoteGuardians of the Galaxy. However, on June 12, Batista legitimately quit after an appearance onNXT due to creative differences.[63][64] Later that night, Triple H declared that he had resorted to "Plan B" in his quest to destroy The Shield, promptingSeth Rollins to betray and attackDean Ambrose andRoman Reigns, joining The Authority and dissolving The Shield.[65]
Evolution reunited on SmackDown's1000th episode on October 16, 2018, where Batista reminded Triple H that he had never defeated him.[66] Batista attacked Flair before the latter's 70th birthday celebration on the February 25, 2019 episode ofRaw.[67] AtWrestleMania 35 on April 7, Batista and Triple H would face each other in a No Holds Barred match with their careers on the line, which Triple H won after Flair returned and distracted Batista.[68]
Later incarnations of the team would measure their success against this squad, while future factions like Evolution and Legacy cited them as their greatest inspiration.
