And the fans would surely love it too; get it in our eyeballs! But we’re not certain because, you know, who can be certain about what Covid-19 is going to do.”. McCarthy added, “WWE knows the goodwill the event brings with the fans and many inside the company feel running a second show is a 'no brainer'. Amid the chaos caused by the global pandemic and the havoc wreaked on the wrestling schedule, it would certainly be a morale-booster for the women who bust their guts every single night in the ring. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. WWE sounds ready to have a much-needed Evolution 2 in 2020 WWE Evolution took place in October 2018 and was the first all-women’s Pay Per View in … WWE news: Footage of Vince McMahon and Sami Zayn sharing brilliant moment backstage emerges, WWE news: John Cena and The Undertaker in line for shock returns 'when fans are back', WWE news: Roman Reigns' new attitude isn't going down well with fellow stars, WWE news: Paul Heyman addresses Vince McMahon relationship after being fired as RAW Executive, WWE news: Roman Reigns responds to The Rock's interest in making 'amazing' return, WWE news: John Cena, The Undertaker and the longest-serving superstars revealed, WWE news: Paul Heyman blasts The Rock - claims he's the one 'calling out Roman Reigns', WWE news: R-Truth makes AJ Styles break character on-air in hilarious RAW Talk segment, WWE news: Six dream storylines and matches WWE can pull off following the 2020 draft, WWE news: What was originally planned for Roman Reigns and his storyline with Jey Uso, WWE news: The dream WrestleMania match planned for Eddie Guerrero before he passed away. Alas, WWE has stuck to its deal with Saudi Arabia despite widespread criticism and several high-profile superstars, including John Cena and Daniel Bryan, refusing to work the shows there. I specialize in the analysis of WWE, AEW and pro wrestling, having done so since 2010. WWE could be bringing back two blockbuster events: One of its most memorable shows in recent history and another more controversial one. I'm an LSU grad with a degree in journalism and a minor in English, and I have a. I specialize in the analysis of WWE, AEW and pro wrestling, having done so since 2010. The main event saw Ronda Rousey beat Nikki Bella, successfully defending her RAW Women’s Championship, but perhaps the best match of the night came in the semi-main as Becky Lynch battled Charlotte Flair. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. And, of course, Evolution 2 would be welcomed with open arms by wrestling fans across the world. Cageside Seats, for Pro Wrestling and MMA fans. WWE Evolution was a women's professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and WWE Network event, produced by WWE for their Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and NXT UK brand divisions.It took place on October 28, 2018, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, in Uniondale, New York. Let’s put it out there.”. Let’s do it, let’s manifest that. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. WWE first ran an Evolution show in 2018 and it was a rousing success. As far as Covid’s concerned. No, I haven’t. WWE’s 2020 PPV schedule remains in flux, however, and 2021 will likely require some audibles, too. There were some rumors that Evolution 2 would take place a week after SummerSlam 2020, but it looks like there's a chance it might take place later this year. The state of WWE’s future Saudi Arabian shows is now up in the air due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but given WWE’s recent history of continuing to host shows there in spite of the backlash, it wouldn’t be all at surprising to see WWE host its traditional fall event in Saudi Arabia if the circumstances allow for it. Lana fails to win Raw women’s championship, WWE adds matches to tonight’s episode of Raw. © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. The latest rumors, including Vince’s thinking on Goldberg, how they plan to present Big E as a solo star, lots of name news from the USPTO, and more! However, Evolution itself was a fantastic pay-per-view—highlighted by memorable bouts like Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella and Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch—and critics labeled it as WWE’s best pay-per-view of 2018. There’s obviously a market for another Evolution, or it wouldn’t continue to come up on the rumor mill and in interviews with WWE talent & executives. However, despite their absences, WWE has put a renewed focus on women’s wrestling in recent months, most notably spotlighting names like Banks, Bayley and Asuka, and one could argue that those three stars have been the highlight of both Raw and SmackDown during that span. Start the hashtag, #Evolution2. Many figures within the company are said to believe that such an event is a “no-brainer”, given the goodwill it often generates. With the women’s division also boasting a slew of incredibly talented performers across Raw, SmackDown and NXT—ranging from Io Shirai to Bianca Belair to Naomi to Rhea Ripley—WWE has more than enough female talent to create a quality Evolution 2 card from top to bottom, even without blockbuster names like Rousey, Flair, Lynch and the Bella Twins. It prompted a round of speculation might be getting an announcement about the long-awaited sequel to 2018’s Evolution.. WWE officials are considering fulfilling their deal with Saudi Arabia and doing the second Saudi PPV of this year, Crown Jewel 2020. The SmackDown hacker was Mustafa Ali all along! (Credit: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images). © 2020 Sports New Media Limited. believe is a "no-brainer." I've spoken to several women on and off the record in WWE about an Evolution 2 and they all say they are being vocal about pushing for it...Of course, that hasn't come to pass yet and it is believed that WWE had some tentative plans around the end of the year, but scheduling made things difficult. An all-woman show, they tore the house down at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, putting on a … According to a report from Alex McCarthy of Sportskeeda, WWE is now expected to run a second all-women’s Evolution event by the end of the year, but that even may be preceded by a … An all-woman show, they tore the house down at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, putting on a show that featured a raft of genuinely spectacular matches. There has been a definite longing among fans to see a second Evolution event, as has been the case with the superstars themselves. Wrestling fans have been begging WWE to … We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. All Rights Reserved. It was the first and currently only WWE pay-per-view to consist solely of women's matches. Earlier this summer, WWE threw a celebration for the anniversary of Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Charlotte Flair moving from NXT to the main roster. Follow me on Twitter @BOestriecher. As stars such as Asuka and Banks continue to prove that they are main event caliber performers, there is reason to believe that WWE is focusing so heavily on these names in preparation for a potential second Evolution show later this year. Of course, both Becky and Ronda are currently away from the company but, nevertheless, it seems as though plans are accelerating. But the same can’t be said about another Saudi Arabian event given what has transpired with previous events that have been held there. I'm an LSU grad with a degree in journalism and a minor in English, and I have a Master's degree in Educational Leadership. Rumor Roundup: Goldberg plans, serious Big E, WWE trademark woes, more! Previous stops includes Bleacher Report, Sportskeeda and the LSU-focused Tiger Weekly. WWE first ran an Evolution show in 2018 and it was a rousing success. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Every woman’s belt in the company was on the line on the card, including the NXT UK and NXT Women’s Championships, while we also saw Trish Stratus and Lita return to the ring to take on Mickie James and Alicia Fox. During the lead-up to Evolution, Raw and SmackDown focused much more heavily on creating storylines for those two pay-per-views, which sent Evolution’s biggest angles to the backburner. WWE hosted its first-ever all-women’s event, Evolution, in October 2018, but the event was overshadowed by the build to Crown Jewel and Survivor Series, both of which took place immediately after Evolution. The two had a Last Woman Standing match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship and the Lass Kicker came out victorious. It could be a strategic play, too, considering the criticism AEW continues to take for their women’s scene. Right now, I think they’re doing a little bit better than we are [in the U.S.], considerably better. The Aug. 30 event turned out to Payback, and we haven’t heard much else about another women-only PPV show since. And female figures within the company are pushing for it to happen, meaning we could get another all-woman spectacular before the year is out. The official home of the latest WWE news, results and events. WWE will continue exploring the idea of going to Saudi Arabia to fulfill their agreement before the end of 2020 and if they do, it makes it even more likely that they would run Evolution 2 right after it.”, At WWE’s Annual Shareholders Meeting earlier this month (h/t WrestleTalk), Vince McMahon indicated that WWE could return to Saudi Arabia for its second show by the end of 2020: “Oh, that’s a possibility. So there’s a possibility that we’ll will still get a show in before the end of the year, as was scheduled. According to a report from Alex McCarthy of Sportskeeda, WWE is now expected to run a second all-women’s Evolution event by the end of the year, but that even may be preceded by a return to Saudi Arabia: “Sources told me that WWE is indeed exploring the possibility of Evolution 2 and given how easy it would be to run at the Performance Center, it seems like simple, low-cost content to produce during this difficult time. Earlier this summer, WWE threw a celebration for the anniversary of Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Charlotte Flair moving from NXT to the main roster. Obviously, Saudi has been going through what we in America have been going through. Analyzing WWE, AEW and pro wrestling as a whole. Now, it appears that there is set to be a sequel in the offing. It prompted a round of speculation might be getting an announcement about the long-awaited sequel to 2018’s Evolution. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Names like Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Bayley have been vocal about their desire for WWE to host Evolution 2.0, but it was reported shortly before WrestleMania 35 last year that WWE didn’t want to commit to a second Evolution show due to the absence of Rousey, who is considered to be the biggest star and top draw in the women’s division. McCarthy also reports that a second Evolution show, which was described as a “no brainer,” could take place right around the same time as WWE’s special Saudi Arabian event. Of course, given the current Coronavirus pandemic, the show is likely to be staged behind closed doors as the Performance Center, much like WrestleMania. WWE currently finds itself without Rousey, who hasn’t appeared since WrestleMania 35, as well as Flair (recovering from surgery) and Lynch (pregnancy), meaning that a second Evolution show would potentially take place without WWE’s three top female stars. During her appearance on the Sept. 2 edition of D-Von Dudley’s Table Talk podcast (quote via 411mania), Sasha Banks indicated there hasn’t been any mention of it backstage, either: “I mean, have I heard any rumblings [about Evolution 2]?