The WWE Evolve series is set to debut on March 5, giving younger wrestlers a chance to shine, compete, and—most importantly—fight for a spot on WWE’s roster. Think of it as NXT’s younger sibling, but instead of being the rebellious one, it’s the one locked in the basement until it’s ready for TV.
And who better to run the show than Gabe Sapolsky, the same guy who originally built EVOLVE Wrestling before WWE scooped it up in 2020? It’s like when a band reunites, except this time, Triple H is the record label.
How WWE Is Running Evolve (Hint: Like an Underground Fight Club)
According to Dave Meltzer, WWE is putting serious effort into planning out Evolve, booking multiple episodes per taping to stay ahead of schedule. However, there’s a catch—these tapings are more locked down than a secret government project:
✅ All shows take place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.
✅ Only 100 people are allowed in the crowd.
✅ No regular fans—only family and friends.
✅ Why? WWE doesn’t want spoilers leaking.
So if you were hoping to accidentally stumble into an Evolve taping while visiting Florida, good luck—you have a better chance of finding the Holy Grail.
Who’s Wrestling on Evolve?
The Evolve roster consists of:
💪 WWE-contracted talent who haven’t made it to NXT TV yet.
🤼♂️ “WWE ID” wrestlers—meaning they’re in the system but still working the indies.
🏆 Future champions, possibly.
Basically, it’s WWE’s farm system for the farm system.
Peter Rosenberg on Commentary—Because Why Not?
Meltzer also confirmed that Peter Rosenberg (yes, that Peter Rosenberg from ESPN, WWE panels, and radio) will be one of the voices of Evolve. Which means we are in for a mix of:
🎤 “This reminds me of an old-school Bret Hart match!”
🎤 “By the way, have I mentioned I love hip-hop?”
🎤 “That move was disgusting—I love it!”
Championships Incoming! (Because What’s Wrestling Without Gold?)
Meltzer also revealed that WWE is creating Evolve championship titles. Expect:
🏆 A men’s championship
🏆 A women’s championship
And if we’re lucky, maybe an Evolve Underground Championship where matches happen in a dark room with no cameras, just to keep up the mystery.
Final Thoughts: Will Evolve Work?
While it’s clear WWE is taking Evolve seriously, the question is: Will fans care if they can’t even watch the tapings live? The 100-person invite-only crowd gives this an underground fight club vibe, but if it helps develop the next big WWE stars, maybe it’s worth the secrecy.
One thing’s for sure: Evolve is going to be a must-watch for hardcore fans—but good luck getting a ticket.