| Evolution | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuring various WWE wrestlers | |||
| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Brand(s) | Raw SmackDown NXT NXT UK | ||
| Date | October 28, 2018 | ||
| City | Uniondale, New York | ||
| Venue | Nassau Coliseum | ||
| Attendance | 10,900[1] | ||
| Tagline | WWE's First-Ever All-Women's Event | ||
| WWE event chronology | |||
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| Evolution chronology | |||
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The 2018Evolution was awomen'sprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV) andlivestreamingevent produced byWWE. It was the inauguralEvolution and took place on October 28, 2018, at theNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum inUniondale,New York, held for wrestlers from the promotion'sRaw,SmackDown,NXT, andNXT UKbrand divisions. This was the only WWE PPV and livestreaming event to consist solely of women's matches until2025.
The main card consisted of seven matches. Three of WWE's then-four women's championships were defended on the main card; the fourth was defended in adark match before the event. It also featured the final of the2018 Mae Young Classic tournament. In the main event,Ronda Rousey defeatedNikki Bella by submission to retain theRaw Women's Championship. In the penultimate match,Becky Lynch defeatedCharlotte Flair in aLast Woman Standing match to retain theSmackDown Women's Championship. In other prominent matches,Toni Storm defeatedIo Shirai to win the 2018 Mae Young Classic, andShayna Baszler defeatedKairi Sane to become the first two-timeNXT Women's Champion.
On the July 23, 2018, episode ofMonday Night Raw,WWE executiveStephanie McMahon announced that for the first time, WWE would hold an all-women'sprofessional wrestlingevent titled Evolution.[2] It was scheduled to take place on October 28, 2018, at theNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum inUniondale, New York, replacing the previously plannedClash of Champions. The event aired onpay-per-view (PPV) worldwide and waslivestreamed on theWWE Network. Tickets went on sale on August 24 throughTicketmaster.[3]WWE Hall of FamersLita,Trish Stratus, andBeth Phoenix were advertised as taking part in the event. It was also announced that the event would host the final of the2018 Mae Young Classic and that all four of WWE's women's championships at the time would be defended; however, theNXT UK Women's Championship match was later removed from the main card and occurred as adark match before the show.[2][4][5]
WWE's executive vice presidentTriple H explained that WWE's female performers "deserve[d] the opportunity" for a prominent showcase, and that it "was simply the right time for this to happen". He denied that the event was intended to be as a counterpoint forCrown Jewel—a subsequent major event days later inSaudi Arabia that, per the country'swomen's rights policies, would not include WWE's female performers at the time.[6]
A documentary special entitled "Road to Evolution" was broadcast on theUSA Network ahead of the event, as well as theE! Network following the premiere of the sixth episode ofTotal Divas' eighth season. Internationally, the special was made available on the WWE Network.[7] Evolution was promoted heavily by mainstream media outlets, which includedThe Bella Twins (Nikki Bella andBrie Bella) promoting the event onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[8]
The event comprised seven matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on theRaw,SmackDown,NXT, andNXT UK brands,[9][10] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows,Monday Night Raw,SmackDown Live, andNXT.[11]
On August 18, a match betweenAlexa Bliss andTrish Stratus was scheduled for Evolution.[12] Then, on September 3, a match betweenLita andMickie James was scheduled for the event; the two last faced each other back in 2006 atSurvivor Series where James won the originalWWE Women's Championship from Lita in the latter's retirement match.[13] On the October 8 episode ofRaw, a confrontation between the four women occurred. It was then revealed that instead of the two singles matches, Bliss and James would face Stratus and Lita in a tag team match at Evolution.[14] On October 26, however,Alicia Fox replaced Bliss due to injury, but it was revealed that she would be in James and Fox's corner for the match.[15]
AtNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4,Kairi Sane defeatedShayna Baszler to win theNXT Women's Championship.[16] On the September 26 episode ofNXT, a rematch between the two for the title was scheduled for Evolution.[17]
AtSummerSlam,Ronda Rousey won theRaw Women's Championship. Following her win, The Bella Twins (Nikki Bella and Brie Bella) celebrated with the new champion.[18] AtSuper Show-Down, it was announced that a title defense for Rousey was scheduled for Evolution. At that same event, Rousey and The Bella Twins teamed up to defeatThe Riott Squad (Ruby Riott,Liv Morgan, andSarah Logan).[19] On the following episode ofRaw, Rousey and The Bella Twins defeated The Riott Squad in a rematch. Following the match, however, The Bella Twins attacked Rousey, turningheel. Later that night, a title match between Rousey and Nikki was scheduled for Evolution.[14]
At SummerSlam,Charlotte Flair defeatedBecky Lynch and defending championCarmella in atriple threat match to become a two-timeSmackDown Women's Champion by pinning Lynch. Following the match, Lynch attacked Flair, turning heel.[18] Lynch then defeated Flair to win the championship atHell in a Cell.[20] A rematch occurred at Super Show-Down where Flair won by disqualification after Lynch attacked her with the title belt, thus Lynch retained.[19] The two faced each other in a rematch on the following episode ofSmackDown, however, it ended in a double countout, resulting in Lynch retaining again. SmackDown General ManagerPaige then announced that the two would have another rematch for the SmackDown Women's Championship at Evolution in WWE's first-everLast Woman Standing match.[21]
On the October 15 episode ofRaw, it was announced that abattle royal for awomen's championship match would also take place at Evolution with various competitors announced to take part, including WWE legends and Hall of Famers.[22]
On the October 22 episode ofRaw, it was announced that The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan) would face off against the team ofSasha Banks,Bayley, andNatalya.[23]
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| English commentators | Michael Cole |
| Renee Young | |
| Beth Phoenix | |
| Spanish commentators | Carlos Cabrera |
| Marcelo Rodríguez | |
| German commentators | Carsten Schaefer |
| Calvin Knie | |
| Ring announcers | Lilian Garcia |
| JoJo | |
| Kayla Braxton | |
| Referees | Jason Ayers |
| Shawn Bennett | |
| Jessika Carr | |
| Mike Chioda | |
| Aubrey Edwards | |
| Darrick Moore | |
| Rod Zapata | |
| Interviewers | Charly Caruso |
| Kayla Braxton | |
| Pre-show panel | Renee Young |
| Paige | |
| Beth Phoenix | |
| Carmella | |
| Michael Cole | |
| Eve Torres |
Before the event aired live, a dark match took place in whichRhea Ripley defeatedDakota Kai to retain the NXT UK Women's Championship.[24]
The actual event opened with Alicia Fox and Mickie James (accompanied by Alexa Bliss) facing Lita and Trish Stratus. In the end, Lita performed a "Litasault" on both James and Fox, and Stratus performed a "Chick Kick" on James to win the match.[25]
Next was the 20-woman Battle Royal which started with various WWE legends eliminating both ofThe IIconics (Peyton Royce andBillie Kay) and reuniting against current women. In the end, thinking that she won the match,Zelina Vega, who had not actually been eliminated, began celebrating, not realizing that neitherNia Jax orEmber Moon were eliminated. After Jax eliminated Vega by throwing her atTamina, who was already eliminated and was standing at ringside, Jax eliminated Moon to earn a future opportunity at the Raw Women's Championship.[25]
After that, Toni Storm fought Io Shirai in the tournament final of the 2018 Mae Young Classic. Shirai performed adropkick on Storm from the top rope, followed by amoonsault at ringside. In the end, Storm countered a Moonsault by raising her knees and performed the "Storm Zero" on Shirai to win the match and the trophy. After the match, an elated Storm was congratulated by Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, andSara Amato.[25]
In the fourth match, Natalya teamed up with Bayley and Sasha Banks to face The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, and Sarah Logan). In the climax, Natalya applied adouble sharpshooter on Riott and Logan, only for Morgan to perform the "201 Facebreaker" on Natalya for a nearfall. Natalya then performed apowerbomb on Morgan, followed by adiving elbow drop from Bayley and afrog splash from Banks for the victory.[25]
Next, Kairi Sane defended the NXT Women's Championship against Shayna Baszler. During the match, as Sane attempted to perform an "Insane Elbow", Baszler rolled out of the ring. Sane then performed adiving crossbody into Baszler and threw Baszler at her fellow and formerMMA Four Horsewomen, Marina Shafir andJessamyn Duke, who were at ringside. In the climax, Duke and Shafir distracted Sane which led to Baszler applying the "Kirifuda Clutch". However, Sane was able to counter into a roll-up for a nearfall. Sane managed another pinning combination, but Baszler kicked out and sent Sane into a kick from Duke. Baszler then applied the "Kirifuda Clutch" on Sane, who passed out, thus Baszler won bytechnical submission and became the first two-time NXT Women's Champion.[25]
In the penultimate match, Becky Lynch defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match. Lynch attacked Flair with a kendo stick and a chair. Lynch attempted a "Bexploder Suplex" on Flair, but Flair countered and delivered aBack Suplex to Lynch directly onto a pile of chairs. Flair performed aSenton following aMoonsault on Lynch through a table. Flair applied the "Figure-Eight Leglock" on Lynch, whose leg was wrapped around a ladder, but Lynch was able to escape by attacking Flair with a steel chair. After Lynch and Flair brawled in the crowd, Flair cleared off the German announce table, only for Lynch to hit her with the SmackDown Women's title belt. Lynch then performed aleg drop from a ladder on Flair through the announce table and buried her under the weapons, but Flair stood at a nine count. Flair then retrieved another kendo stick and repeatedly struck Lynch with it before performing a "spear" on Lynch. In the end, Flair attempted a top-rope Moonsault on Lynch, who was lying on another table, only for Lynch to intercept Flair with a Powerbomb through the table. Flair was unable to make it to her feet before the ten count, thus Lynch retained.[25]
In the main event, Ronda Rousey defended the Raw Women's Championship against Nikki Bella (accompanied by Brie Bella). During the match, Nikki dominated Rousey for a majority of the match. On the outside of the ring, Brie shoved Rousey into the ring post whilst the referee was distracted. Rousey attempted a "Piper's Pit" on Nikki, only for Brie to interfere. Rousey then performed themodified Samoan Drop on both Nikki and Brie for a near-fall. In the climax, Nikki performed the "Rack Attack 2.0" on Rousey for a nearfall. While Nikki was on the middle rope, Rousey performed a "Small Package driver" on Nikki and applied anarmbar on Nikki, who submitted, to retain the title.[25]
The Last Woman Standing match received critical acclaim.[26][27][25] WWE ranked the match at number 1 in their top 25 matches of 2018.[28] It also ranked number #1 onIGN's top 10 matches of 2018.[29]
Dave Meltzer rated the SmackDown Women's Championship match 4.75 stars, which was the highest rated match of the night. The other matches were rated as follows: the main event received 3.75 stars, the 6-woman tag team, NXT Women's Championship, and the battle royal all received 3.25 stars. The Mae Young Classic Final received 3.5 stars, and the opening tag match received 2.25 stars, the lowest rated match of the night.[30]
On the October 29 episode ofRaw, it was announced that Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey would face off against SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch atSurvivor Series as part of the annual interbrand competition. Later that same evening, Nia Jax defeated Ember Moon after a distraction by Tamina, leading to a staredown between Tamina and Jax.[31] After defeating Moon in a rematch the following week, Jax joined Tamina in attacking Moon, turning Jax into a villainess and establishing an alliance with Tamina.[32] At Survivor Series, Jax was victorious for Team Raw as the lone survivor in the women's elimination match after pushing her teammate, Sasha Banks, into Asuka.[33] On the November 19 episode ofRaw, Jax's Raw Women's Championship match was confirmed forTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.[34]
Also onRaw, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Natalya teamed with Lita and Trish Stratus to defeat The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan), Alicia Fox, and Mickie James in aten-woman tag team match.[31]
After losing to Becky Lynch at Evolution, Charlotte Flair received an offer from SmackDown General Manager Paige on the October 30 episode ofSmackDown, being asked to captain Team SmackDown in the women's elimination match, only for Charlotte to turn down the offer.[35] Charlotte instead became Lynch's replacement in a match against Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey at the event, as Lynch suffered a legit injury just days prior to Survivor Series.[36]
On the November 7 episode ofNXT, it was announced that Kairi Sane would be invoking her rematch clause and would face NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler in a two-out-of-three-falls match atNXT TakeOver: WarGames.[37]
Evolution was heavily featured across the fourth season ofTotal Bellas, which followed Nikki Bella and Brie Bella leading up to the event.[38]
On June 9, 2020, Evolution was broadcast onFox Sports 1, followed by a special all-female edition ofWWE Backstage featuring Renee Young, Paige, Ember Moon, Beth Phoenix, and Sonya Deville.[39]
In a December 2019 interview withTalksport, Stephanie McMahon stated: "I'm hopeful to have an announcement on an Evolution 2, but there is nothing official to announce just yet". A report by Alex McCarthy ofSportskeeda in July 2020 stated that a second Evolution event was seen a "no brainer", with female talent pushing for it internally and tentative plans being made for the end of the year.[40] In December 2020, Trish Stratus suggested that she had begun training for the rumored event, but that she had received no call from WWE, with no event taking place.[41]
In a conference call for June 2021'sNXT TakeOver: In Your House event, Triple H was questioned on if WWE would ever hold another all-female event. He said it was possible, "but it's not a must-have at the moment". He also found it odd that people thought that doing more all-female events would mean equality for the women's division, but cited the contradiction in that WWE would be criticized if they would run an all-male event; essentially, separate does not mean equal. He also responded to a comment made by former WWE wrestler Mickie James in regards to theNational Wrestling Alliance's August 2021 all-female event,EmPowerrr, in which James served as an executive producer. James had said that she wanted the best female wrestlers in the world on the event regardless of contractual issues. Triple H said that from a business standpoint, that did not make sense and also gave his own opinion, stating that if female wrestlers wanted to face the best in the world, they should come to WWE.[42]
Before James' release from WWE in April 2021, she had pushed for the company to produce another all-female event as well as an all-female brand, but said she was "cut off at every opportunity".[43] She claimed an unnamed WWE official told her that "women's wrestling doesn't make money" and that Evolution was the company's "lowest-rated pay-per-view ever in the history of WWE pay-per-views".[44][45] However, James rebuked this by saying the event was set up to fail, only being promoted on WWE programming a month prior to the event, with matches being announced a week or two before.[46] Other WWE female performers, notably Sasha Banks, were also vocal in support of another all-female event.[47]
In June 2021, former WWE wrestlerMaria Kanellis also stated that former Head of WWE Talent Relations, Mark Carano, informed her that there would not be another all-female event.[48]Dave Meltzer stated onWrestling Observer Radio that while Evolution was not a commercial failure for WWE, and not the worst performing event of the year, it was still on the lower end of ticket sales despite its heavy marketing push compared to those similar to its size.[49] Glenn Rubenstein ofWrestling Inc. reported that 90% of the seats were filled in the arena despite the reported sell-out. Prior to the announcement of the match between Nikki Bella and Ronda Rousey, which saw a surge in ticket sales, WWE had sold 7,000 tickets, with 3,000 of those tickets belonging to scalpers.[50]
On March 6, 2025, a report emerged that WWE were planning to hold a second Evolution event.Bodyslam.net stated that the company were aiming to hold the event on July 5, 2025, at theMohegan Sun Arena inUncasville, Connecticut, but noted that while the event was in the works, the schedule was tentative.[51] On May 12, 2025, a new report fromPWInsider stated that the company was now looking to hold the event a week later fromAtlanta, Georgia during the same weekend asSaturday Night's Main Event XL.[52] This was confirmed by WWE atSaturday Night's Main Event XXXIX on May 24, 2025, with thesecond Evolution event scheduled for Sunday, July 13 at Atlanta'sState Farm Arena.[53]
Let's take the Saudi Arabia show off the table, and let's just say it never happened -- would anybody question that they deserve this opportunity?