Outstanding WWE Evolution PLE Proves Women's Wrestling Is Undervalued by Triple H
For the first time in eight years, WWE presented Evolution, an all women's premium live event, headlined by Rhea Ripley challenging Iyo Sky for the Women's World Championship and Hall of Famer Trish Stratus challenging Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship.
While the excitement among some fans was palpable, a lack of creative effort and hype left some dismayed. How did the talent react? By delivering the best overall event produced by WWE in 2025.
An outstanding show from start to finish proved women's wrestling could carry an event of its own, overcome creative roadblocks and leave social media buzzing.
The matches delivered in the ring, the performers lived up to the moment, and the shocking conclusion that saw Naomi cash in her Money in the Bank title opportunity and steal the gold from under Ripley and Sky instantly took its place among the best ever.
Most of all, the show proved WWE and chief content officer Triple H have seriously undervalued women's wrestling for the better part of the last three years.
It is odd, too, because the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee was the godfather of the women's evolution in WWE. He was at the helm creatively in NXT when Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bayley and Sasha Banks rose through the ranks, joining Paige and Emma in championing the movement.
Yet, upon taking his current position in the wake of Vince McMahon's retirement, he somewhat disappointed with the rather one-dimensional approach he took to the rosters on Raw and SmackDown.
Even leading into Sunday's show, it was as if he thought the Evolution name/idea/gimmick would sell the show itself without having to go above and beyond to hype the matches involved.
Some, like the aforementioned Naomi's No Holds Barred match against Jade Cargill, were quietly announced. Another, the Battle Royal to determine who would challenge for gold at Clash in Paris, was thrown on the card with the only real bit of build coming courtesy of a pre-taped promo from Nikki Bella.
While women are regular parts of Raw and SmackDown, the same care and attention to detail is not always given to their stories as they are to male Superstars.
Sunday's PLE proved the roster is deep enough and the talent extraordinary enough to make the most of Evolution in a way that the men have repeatedly proved they are not always guaranteed to.
Look no further than the biggest show of the year, WrestleMania 41, where Ripley, Sky and Bianca Belair stole the show with a Triple Threat that remains a leading candidate for Match of the Year.
Another superb performance by The Eradicator and The Genius of the Sky cemented their status as measuring sticks in the sport, but there are any number of women across the main roster and NXT who are similarly capable of wowing fans and delivering on a nightly basis.
The days of one-match shows and underdeveloped stories should be over. If Evolution did anything, it proved the WWE women's roster is as deep as the men's and capable of providing the quality fans demand.
On a weekend when WWE booked three shows to counter-program AEW's All In, it was Evolution and the women's roster that saved it from a one-sided kicking in terms of perception.
Now, it's time to reward those involved by putting more effort into them, their stories and the feuds that will carry the company through the remainder of the year.
Yes, top stars such as Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk and John Cena will always be the draws, but if the genuine stars who showed up and showed out in Atlanta are any indication, so too are Ripley, Sky, Naomi, Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, Becky Lynch, Lyra Valkyria and Bayley.
It is time that those in power recognize as much and do not hesitate to book them in prime spots on the card because women's wrestling is as red-hot, respected and in demand as ever before.
And for the love of all that is good in professional wrestling, please do not wait another seven years for the next Evolution.
