WWE Rumors on Evolution PLE, Draft Date; Hendry Talks TNA Contract Year, WWE Future

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Reported Date, Location for Rumored Evolution PLE

After weeks of rumors and speculation, the picture regarding the return of the Evolution premium live event may be getting clearer.

According to PWInsider Elite (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News), WWE is eyeing the weekend of July 12 and 13 for both Evolution and Saturday Night's Main Event in Atlanta.

Although PWInsider did not provide the specific date, Evolution would almost certainly take place on Sunday, July 13, if there are indeed plans for Saturday Night's Main Event, which would have to occur on Saturday, July 12.

It was previously reported by WrestleVotes back in March that WWE was planning the return of Evolution in the summer with BodySlam.net's Cory Hays adding that WWE was looking at July 5 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, for the event.

PWInsider's report suggests the date and location have changed, but WWE talent reportedly remain in the dark regarding the show.

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp (h/t Carrier) recently reported that WWE Superstars he has spoken to "don't know about" the show and haven't been given any information on it.

The first Evolution was an all-women's event held back in 2018, marking the first time WWE ever delivered a premium live event featuring only women.

While there have been calls from fans to bring it back ever since, it has not happened, although it sounds like the wait may soon be over.

WWE Draft Possibly in the Works for Late May

Unlike the past two years, the 2025 WWE Draft did not take place in April, but it reportedly could still be on the horizon.

According to Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), the draft is "very likely" to happen at the end of May amid a run of several shows in Tampa, Florida.

From May 24 through May 27, WWE is running shows in Tampa on four straight nights with Saturday Night's Main Event, NXT Battleground, Raw and NXT TV in succession.

In recent years, WWE has typically done the draft over the course of a week on both Raw and SmackDown.

If there is truth to Alvarez's report, WWE could either start the draft on the May 23 SmackDown and end it on the May 26 Raw, or start it on the May 26 Raw and end it on the May 30 SmackDown.

The draft is typically a good way to reset the rosters coming out of WrestleMania season to set the stage for the summer and even for the following year's WrestleMania.

It also usually leads to multiple call-ups for NXT, which is needed currently given the uncertainty of the status of some top NXT stars.

In recent weeks, Roxanne Perez and Giulia have been appearing regularly on both Raw and NXT, but a draft would allow for both of them to be called up to the main roster on a full-time basis.

Additionally, a draft can reshuffle the deck ahead of SummerSlam, which is especially important this year since it is a two-night event for the first time ever.

Hendry Talks WWE Future Amid TNA Contract Year

TNA world champion Joe Hendry gave some insight this week into what the future may hold for him in pro wrestling.

During an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Hendry discussed his status with TNA and his recent appearance at WrestleMania 41:

After Kevin Owens was rendered unable to compete at WrestleMania due to a neck injury, Randy Orton held an open challenge. Hendry answered to an enormous reaction from the live crowd, and he lost to The Viper in a short-yet-entertaining match.

Hendry expressed his hope to Van Vliet that he will be part of WrestleMania again in the future, and he also revealed that he is in the midst of the final year of his TNA contract, saying: "I really hope that there are WrestleMania moments. Who knows what's gonna happen next. I'm in my contract year right now, and it's a very exciting time, and I'm doing my best to give the audience everything I can give."

Hendry has been the TNA world champ for over 100 days, and he has been making some appearances for WWE for even longer.

As part of WWE's working relationship with TNA, Hendry has shown up in NXT on multiple occasions dating back to last year, and he is currently embroiled in a feud with former NXT champion Trick Williams.

Hendry and Williams have mixed it up in both NXT and TNA over the past several weeks, and at NXT Battleground on May 25, Hendry will defend the TNA world title against Williams.

Given how much WWE has utilized Hendry, including giving him a WrestleMania match, all signs point toward the company going all in to sign him once he becomes a free agent.

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