WWE wraps up a busy weekend in pro wrestling with Evolution: their second-ever all-women’s premium live event and first since October 2018.
The show is headlined by IYO SKY defending the WWE Women’s World title against the woman she defeated for it: Rhea Ripley.
Tiffany Stratton defends the WWE Women’s title against former champion and legend Trish Stratus in her third match of the year.
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria in a three-way while in a no holds barred grudge match, Jade Cargill takes on Naomi.
NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defends against top contender Jordynne Grace while WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Asuka & Kairi Sane, and Sol Ruca & Zaria.
The card is rounded out by a battle royal for a title shot at August’s Clash in Paris.
The main card starts at 8 PM Eastern.
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Show Recap —
COUNTDOWN SHOW
Michael Cole welcomed us to the pre-show, wrestlers arrived, and the show intro aired.
The panel was hosted by three men and one woman: Cole, Big E, Wade Barrett, and Jackie Redmond. Cathy Kelley and Megan Morant (likely in place of Byron Saxton, who usually is in this spot) ran down some matches backstage.
Kelley interviewed Rhea Ripley following a video package for tonightâs main event. Ripley called tonight a must-win because sheâs never beaten Iyo Sky, and that’s gone on for too long.
They will be recognizing women’s division âtrailblazersâ throughout the pre-show, and they started with quite the list: Fabulous Moolah, Lia Maivia, Sensational Sherri, Torrie Wilson, Molly Holly Jazz, Maryse, Michelle McCool, and Stephanie McMahon.
Cole recalled Stephanie McMahon, in 2015, kicking off the âwomenâs revolutionâ by introducing Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch. Big E spoke about Bayleyâs influence as well, and the panel spoke about tonightâs IC title three-way.
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Torrie Wilson joined the panel and got a nice reaction from the fans who have arrived so far. Wilson recalled crying throughout the first Evolution show, and sheâs been emotional all day today. The women have come a long way and are complete badasses. She loved seeing the women rallying behind each other, and the best moments were often not caught on camera.
She spoke about what it would have meant to her to have something like NXT and to train for a year. When she was around, she would learn new moves and have to perform them later that night. Sometimes the stress was unbearable. She often wondered how things would have been different if she had NXT.
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The next group of trailblazers shown were Mae Young, June Byers, Leilani Kai, Chyna, Ivory, Queen Sharmell, Melina, and Lita. They showed clips of Lita beating Trish Stratus for the title, the first time women main evented Raw.
Morant interviewed Stratus backstage. She wanted to prove something to herself, but it was more about showing something to the young people watching, including her daughter. You didnât have to fit in the box people put you in. You could evolve, keep going, and chase your dreams a little harder. It wasnât over until you said so.
They previewed tonightâs NXT Womenâs title match.
Blake Monroe met with Jordynne Grace backstage. After some pleasantries, Grace asked Monroe to be in her corner tonight (to counter Fatal Influence). Monroe didnât want to step on Graceâs moment, but Grace insisted, so she accepted.
Shawn Michaels joined the panel to put over NXT.
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Nikki Bella joined Kelley in the crowd for an interview. Bella said tonight was womenâs empowerment. That was her passion and her love. It would mean everything to have her son see her earn a title shot and win a title.
Kelley asked who she had her eye on in tonightâs battle royal, and Bella responded, âStephanie.â She knew there would be a lot of competition, but she kept going back to Stephanie Vaquer. She repeatedly referred to Vaquer by only âStephanie.â
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Jacqueline joined the panel, and she was pumped to be there. She spoke about how much it meant to be in the Hall of Fame. She paid her dues and hoped her career inspired todayâs women. She also talked about beating Chavo Guerrero to become Cruiserweight champ.
There was a feature on referees Jessika Carr and Daphanie LaShaunn.
Big E gave shout-outs to a bunch of the women who work off-camera. Redmond was happy to hear Big E do this, and she spoke sincerely about the importance of this show as well. Big E ran down everything he looked forward to tonight, and his excitement was infectious.
The next group of trailblazers shown were Mildred Burke, Cora Combs, Alundra Blayze, Jacqueline, Stacy Keibler, Vickie Guerrero, Victoria, and Trish Stratus.Â
The IC title three-way will open tonightâs show.Â
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WWE EVOLUTION 2025Â
Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Becky Lynch, Tiffany Stratton, Trish Stratus, Iyo Sky, and Rhea Ripley were shown arriving. A video intro played, using Katy Perryâs âRise,â and there was a big fireworks display.
Joe Tessitore, hosting from the crowd, welcomed us to the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. He hyped up tonightâs show (while clearly reading off a piece of paper). He brought out his co-host, Stephanie McMahon, and said nights like tonight would not have happened without her.
McMahon said they had to prove with the first Evolution that they deserved their own show. Now, the women were regularly main-eventing, and the depth through NXT was unbelievable.
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are tonightâs announcers. Cole again recalled Stephanie McMahon ushering in the âwomenâs revolutionâ in 2015 by bringing in Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch.
Alicia Taylor is tonightâs ring announcer.
Theyâre using the same stage setup as last nightâs Saturday Nightâs Main Event Show, so there is a narrow aisle to the ring.
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Triple threat match for the Womenâs Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra ValkyriaÂ
Match referee: Daphanie LaShaunnÂ
The bell rang, and the fans gave an ovation before the wrestlers got going. Bayley hyped up the crowd, but used the moment to deck Valkyria, who wasnât expecting it.Â
The first few minutes had everyone trading moves until Lynch suplexed Bayley into the barricade. More than three minutes after getting shoved into the steel steps, Valkyria woke up and wiped out both opponents with a flying crossbody.
Valkyria hit Lynch with a fishermanâs suplex, but Bayley broke up the cover with a perfectly-timed flying elbow. The crowd popped big for that, and they got a âThis is awesomeâ chant moments later. Bayley hit Lynch with a sunset flip powerbomb into an upside-down Valkyria in the corner for two.
Lynch hit Bayley with a superplex, but Bayley repeatedly blocked attempts at submissions until Valkyria knocked down both women with a flying leg drop. This got another good pop and âThis is awesomeâ chant. Lynch followed with a combo DDT/reverse DDT on both women and covered Valkyria for two.
Lynch and Valkyria traded counters until Lynch hit a man-handle slam, but Bayley broke up the cover. (The camera quickly panned away from Bayley moments before, so you couldnât see her as she hit the ring to break it up.)Â
Bayley hit Lynch with a Bayley-to-belly, but Valkyria broke up that cover, and we got our third âThis is awesomeâ chant. Valkyria hit Lynch with Nightwing, but, you guessed it, Bayley broke up the cover.
Bayley hit Valkyria with a Rose Plant. Instead of breaking up that cover, Lynch flew in and caught Bayley in a backslide for the pinfall win. Lynch retains.
Match result: Becky Lynch defeated Bayley and Lyra Valkyria to retain the Womenâs Intercontinental Championship (16:25)
This was a very fun match with a clever finish, and the eager crowd helped. They could probably do a rematch and have a completely different but equally good match.Â
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Ava and Mark Henry were shown in the crowd. A loud shrieking voice yelled, âExcuse me!â and they cut to Vickie Guerrero elsewhere in the crowd. This was just to give her a chance to say her catchphrase. She smiled and high-fived some fans.
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They aired a clip from earlier today of Jordynne Grace asking Blake Monroe to be in her corner tonight.
NXT Womenâs Championship: Jacy Jayne (w/Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Jordynne Grace (w/Blake Monroe)
Match referee: Victoria D’Errico
Grace had the early edge until Jayne catapulted her into the middle rope. Henley choked Grace while Jayne distracted the referee. Monroe didnât react, perhaps because she didnât see it, or perhaps for another reason.
Jayne was in control until Grace hit a folding powerbomb for two. Jayne regained control and hit a draping neckbreaker for two. Jayne missed a corner cannonball, and they traded cradles until Grace hit a fishermanâs suplex for two. Jayne hit a hurricanrana off the top and a knee strike for a nearfall.
Henley tossed the title belt in the ring, so Monroe headbutted her. The referee stopped Jayne from using the belt, and Grace rolled her up for two. Grace followed with a back fist.
Nyx grabbed the belt next, so Monroe decked her. Monroe kept the belt in her hands, so you knew what was coming.
Henley tried getting in the ring, which distracted the ref for a long time. Jayne whipped Grace into the ropes, and Monroe hit her in the back with the belt. Jayne followed with a discus punch for the pinfall win.
â Fatal Influence were all surprised by Monroeâs actions. Monroe handed Jayne the belt, smiled at them, and left the ring. Grace (bleeding from the nose) was pissed.
Match result: Jacy Jayne defeated Jordynne Grace to retain the NXT Womenâs Championship (10:28)
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Jazz, Ivory, Jacqueline, and Maryse were in the crowd.
Tessitore and McMahon killed time by discussing the previous match and previewing the upcoming match.
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Fatal Four-way Tag Team Match for the Womenâs Tag Team Championships: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria
Match referee: Daphanie LaShaunnÂ
Asuka and Sane were all over Perez until Rodriguez tagged in and knocked them both down with a clothesline. Rodriguez and Perez were in control briefly as the crowd chanted, âWe want Charlotte,â which Iâm sure was music to her ears. Bliss got a good reaction when she tagged and went after Perez.
Zaria tagged and easily blocked Blissâ offence. She hit an inverted suplex, and Sol Ruca flew in with a springboard facebuster for two.
The crowd cheered when Charlotte got a hot tag from Bliss, and she ran wild on Judgment Day. Charlotte was visibly happy with her reaction, and she continued on offence. She hit Perez with a spear for a nearfall. Rodriguez booted Charlotte and checked on Perez. Cole thought it was interesting that Rodriguez was checking on Perez (her partner).
Asuka and Sane got their turn to shine next, but Zaria broke up Saneâs cover of Perez. Zaria tagged herself in and hit both Kabuki Warriors with a vertical suplex. Charlotte broke up a cover, so Sol Ruca hit Charlotte with a Sol Snatcher (which got a good pop). Moments later, Charlotte pulled Bliss from safety, and Zaria speared Sol Ruca by accident.Â
Rodriguez powerbombed Bliss over the top rope and into Asuka, Sane and Zaria. Rodriguez instructed Perez to take out Charlotte, so she hit a suicide dive. Rodriguez hit Sol Ruca with a Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win. Judgment Day retains.
Match result: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defeated Sol Ruca & Zaria, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, and Asuka & Kairi Sane to retain the Womenâs Tag Team Championships (10:52)
This match was fine, with some good spots mixed in. The finish was a bit abrupt, but the champs getting a decisive win isnât the worst thing. The most notable thing was the big babyface reaction for Charlotte Flair (and Alexa Bliss).Â
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Torrie Wilson, Melina, and Molly Holly were in the crowd.
They cut back to Tessitore and McMahon. Tessitore noted how handsome Paul Levesque (his boss) looked in his promo photo. Stephanie chuckled.
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WWE Womenâs Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus
Match referee: Jessika Carr
Stratus wore white gear with gold lining, Stratton wore all red. Stratus had the early edge, which caught Stratton off guard. Stratus brought Stratton down off the apron with a hurricanrana and hit a tornado DDT in the ring for two.
Stratton went on offence and hit a vertical suplex into a backstabber (I think) for two. Stratton followed with a senton bomb for two. They traded counters until Stratus hit a Chick Kick for two. Stratton tried a PME, but Stratus got her knees up and hit Stratusfaction for a nearfall.
Stratus went for a moonsault (tribute to Lita), but Stratton got her knees up. Stratton hit a Chick Kick of her own, followed by the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the pinfall win. Stratton retains.
â After the match, they cut Strattonâs music so Stratus could get an ovation from the crowd. (This wasnât her retirement match, but we donât know when the next one will be.)
Match result: Tiffany Stratton defeated Trish Stratus to retain the WWE Womenâs Championship (8:37)
Itâs probably not a good sign that Stratus, a part-timer (at most), looked much better than the current champion. Strattonâs stuff was really off early in the match. She did get better once it came time to do the big moves. Because this was a short match, that happened early enough, so the match wound up being fine. Stratus deserves some credit here.Â
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They showed Rey Mysterio throwing out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game.
Alundra Blayze and Leilani Kai were in the crowd. This is still a WWE show, so they couldnât only show the former wrestlers all night. Metro Boomin and Lil Yachty were also shown in the crowd.
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No Holds Barred match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
Special guest referee: Bianca Belair
Naomi entered first and tried to attack Cargill during her entrance. Cargill cut her off, and they rang the bell to start the match.
Cargill took forever to set up a table, and Belair went over to whisper something to her. The camera cut away from Cargill and focused on Naomi, who had to keep selling. Cargill eventually went after Naomi, but Naomi posted her. Cargill speared Naomi moments later, but Naomi gave her a bulldog onto a steel chair in the ring.
Naomi wrapped a chain around Cargillâs face, but Cargill knocked her off the ropes, wrapped the chain around her fist, and punched Naomi. Cargill yanked a big camera out of the hands of a cameraperson and used it to hit Naomi. She followed by placing a trash can lid over Naomi and kicking it.
Naomi rolled out of the ring, and Cargill tried to kill her by dropping a toolbox on her head, but Naomi avoided it. Naomi dropkicked Cargill into a random TV screen at ringside, and a smoke effect went off.
A few minutes later, Naomi used a chair to shove Cargill off the apron, and Cargill crashed through the table she had set up earlier. Naomi followed with an X-factor onto a chair for a nearfall.
Naomi placed Cargill on a table and went up the ropes, but Cargill hit her with a chair. Cargill grabbed Naomi and hit a Jaded off the middle rope through the table for the pinfall win. Belair raised Cargillâs hand.
Match result: Jade Cargill defeated Naomi in a no holds barred match (11:15)
This was maybe average at best. Naomi took a lot of the match until Cargill managed to hit her finisher for the win. Also, Belair didnât get involved at all, so making her the referee was relatively pointless.Â
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Tomorrow on Raw, there will be a gauntlet match involving CM Punk, Jey Uso, LA Knight, Penta, and Bron Breakker to determine Guntherâs SummerSlam opponent.
Battle Royal – winner earns a world championship match at Clash in ParisÂ
Everyone got an entrance, so it took about 10 minutes for everyone to get in. They cut to black at one point, so certain feeds likely got a commercial break in between. Nikki Bella entered first. Stephanie Vaquer was second-last, and Giulia was last.
Nia Jax eliminated Tatum Paxley 8 seconds into the match, and Izzi Dame 7 seconds later.
Jax tossed Kelani Jordan into Paxley and Dam, but she didnât land on her feet, and her momentum carried her to the announce table. Jordan did a handstand walk to get back into the ring. This got a nice reaction, but perhaps not the reaction they expected.
Ivy Nile went after Vaquer (as Chad Gable instructed), but Giulia eliminated Nile. Giulia and Vaquer had a staredown as the crowd chanted lightly for Nikki Bella. The crowd was quiet until Vaquer set up Nikki for Devilâs Kiss, and they booed when Chelsea Green broke it up.
There was a silly spot where Maxxine Dupri did her reverse worm, then convinced Natalya to try it too. Natalya did try, and it was bad. That led to Jaida Parker eliminating Natalya (so now Natalya can be annoyed with Dupri). Candice LeRae eliminated Dupri.
Jordan shoved Parker into LeRae, knocking her out of the ring for the elimination. (Cole referred to Candice LeRae as âCandice Michelleâ here and again in the upcoming spot. Barrett called him out on it.)
Michin and B-Fab eliminated Parker, which got some good heat. Jax tried eliminating Jordan, but she remained on the apron. However, LeRae (already eliminated) yanked Jordan out from behind for the elimination.
Zelina Vega eliminated Giulia by kicking her into the ring post from the apron. B-Fab went after Piper Niven, but Niven just chucked her out for the elimination. Chelsea Green eliminated Michin, so Michin tried yanking out Green, but Alba Fyre wiped out Michin with a suicide dive.
Lash Legend eliminated Vega by press slamming her out of the ring. Nikki Bella tossed out Alba Fyre as she posed with her partners. Bella and Lola Vice swivelled their hips together until Niven knocked them down. Niven eliminated Vice, who didnât do much in this match. Nikki and Vaquer eliminated Niven together.
Vaquer gave Green the Devilâs Kiss, which probably got the matchâs biggest reaction. Nikki eliminated Green. Jax knocked down Nikki and did her own hip swivel.
Jax placed Nikki on the apron, and Lash Legend flew in with a boot. Jax moved, and Legend booted Nikki out of the ring for the elimination. Legend celebrated like this was a big deal, and she was in the final three with Vaquer and Jax.
Vaquer and Legend teamed up to knock Jax out of the ring for the elimination. The crowd cheered as the final two faced off. They traded offence, which included Vaquer hitting a 619.
Legend caught Vaquer off the ropes, and they stumbled over the top and to the apron. Vaquer grabbed Legend with her legs and hit Devilâs Kiss on the apron before knocking her own. Vaquer wins.
â Stephanie McMahon interviewed Vaquer in the ring. Vaquer admitted that doing interviews in English was hard for her because it wasnât her first language, but wrestling was her first language. Funny enough, she spoke well after that. She thanked McMahon and every woman wrestler before her because now they could make history. She would keep working hard and promised that they would remember her name forever.
Match result: Stephanie Vaquer won a battle royal and will challenge for the world championship at Clash in Paris (15:32)
This was the definition of a standard battle royal, and the crowd only got into it toward the end. However, the right person won, and the final few minutes made her look like it. The crowd liked Vaquer and her interview.Â
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Quavo and Funny Marco were shown in the crowd. I guess they ran out of former wrestlers.
Womenâs World Championship match: IYO SKY (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Match referee: Jessika CarrÂ
Iyo Sky got the better of an early exchange and half-heartedly did her face-pointing pose. Ripley got the better of the following exchange and did Skyâs pose, which got some heat. Sky continued to out-wrestle Ripley by hitting a dropkick and an Asai moonsault.
They wound up on the apron, and Ripley finally got some offence by hitting a knee strike and tossing Sky into the announce table. It didnât last long because Sky hit a great-looking tornado DDT. Sky couldnât help but look enthused by hitting the move so smoothly.
Sky followed with a double foot stomp, suicide dive, and missile dropkick. Sky did her pose full-heartedly before hitting a running double knee strike in the corner for two. Ripley tried a middle rope suplex, but Sky landed on her feet. Ripley went to the top, but Sky yanked her onto the turnbuckle.Â
They traded counters until Sky hit a poisonrana for two. Sky went to the top, but Ripley shoved her down, and followed with a Razorâs Edge and sit-out powerbomb for two. Sky reversed a Rip-tide into a sleeper, but Ripley backed her into the corner.
Sky went for a springboard moonsault, but Ripley ducked, and Sky obliterated referee Jessika Carr by mistake. Ripley hit Sky with a Rip-tide, but the ref was dead.
Ripley was livid and hit another Razorâs Edge. Sky fell out of the ring, so Ripley booted her over the barricade. Ripley hammered away at Sky and tried powerbombing her off some equipment boxes to her death, but Sky fought her off and kicked her to the floor. Sky climbed up a second equipment box and hit a flying crossbody. The crowd chanted, âHoly sh-t.â
Back at ringside, Sky charged at Ripley, but Ripley dodged it and Sky went ribs-first into the announce table. Sky recovered, however, and hit Ripley with a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron. The ref reemerged as Sky hit a moonsault, but Ripley kicked out for an amazing nearfall. The crowd chanted for Ripley. They went to the top, and Sky hit an avalanche Spanish Fly.
With both women down, Naomi ran out with referee Daphanie LaShaunn. She officially cashed in to make this a triple threat.
Naomi hit Sky in the head with the briefcase and launched Ripley into the steel post. Naomi followed with a split-legged moonsault on Sky for the pinfall win. Naomi is the new champ.
Naomi and the crowd went nuts. (In fact, Naomi started to get up before the ref actually counted to three because she was so excited to celebrate.)
After some replays, Naomi posed with the belt on the stage as the show ended.
Match result: Naomi defeated IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley to win the Womenâs World Championship (26:19)
This was an outstanding main event until he finish. I wouldnât say Naomiâs cash-in ruined it, because it felt like a big moment with Naomi finally winning the title. However, the crowd was going insane for Sky and Ripley, and this wouldâve been a match of the year candidate if one of them had won without the cash-in.Â
