{"id":132106,"date":"2025-03-10T07:00:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T11:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=132106"},"modified":"2025-03-10T02:33:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T06:33:33","slug":"wwe-evolution-5-ways-wwe-can-position-ple-better-than-last-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/03\/10\/wwe-evolution-5-ways-wwe-can-position-ple-better-than-last-time\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE Evolution: 5 Ways WWE Can Position PLE Better than Last Time"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Reports suggest WWE are considering bringing back the all-women\u2019s PLE, WWE Evolution. If it happens, it may occur on July 5<sup>th<\/sup> at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. However, this is speculative. As always, events are subject to change. Nevertheless, this news excites some fans.<\/p>\n<p>However, optimism might vary. I\u2019m personally doubtful. Although I\u2019ve pointed out <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/03\/08\/wwe-evolution-5-ways-ple-return-will-help-womens-division\/\" target=\"_self\">5 Ways Bringing Back Evolution Could Help WWE\u2019s Women\u2019s Division<\/a>, playing devil\u2019s advocate, there are clear counterarguments and current booking practices that would hinder those gains.<\/p>\n<p>That is not the case unless WWE used the PLE and thought beyond it to re-think its approach to the booking and presentation of women\u2019s wrestling. With some clear intentions, planning and action, there\u2019s no reason Evolution could be more than another successful PLE. If WWE did\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FFXZu4dNEgM?si=YGqzZbcQj08oQEv6\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><strong>1) Bring Back WWE Evolution for the Right Reason<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There are reasons why we, as fans, have fond memories of the ground-breaking first Evolution event. But fan perception differed from backstage perceptions. Or else why didn&#8217;t Evolution become a regular event? I\u2019ll address this in point five.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, there was speculation Evolution was a PR diversion. Announced around the same time WWE began partnering with Saudi Arabia\u2019s Ministry of Sports, some were suspicious. A relationship that remains controversial.<\/p>\n<p>With WWE facing allegations and legal action related to the treatment of female employees, you cannot blame some for being skeptical about the timing of some announcements. It has seemingly been a strategy used by different companies to disrupt <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/02\/03\/wrestling-with-outrage-part-2-limits-of-fan-pressure\/\" target=\"_self\">fan outrage<\/a>. Plus, past comments by Triple H about why there\u2019s no need for another Evolution PLE will likely resurface.<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte Flair called Evolution a \u201cgame changer\u201d but also stated women&#8217;s events are now the norm. We\u2019ve seen women close multiple WrestleManias, weekly shows and PLEs. Others parrot this sentiment and believe equality\/equity was achieved. They\u2019re missing the point.<\/p>\n<p>Women\u2019s wrestling in WWE is normalised, but it can also be celebrated and spotlighted further. As I write this on International Women\u2019s Day, it doesn\u2019t seem radical for WWE to give one night a year to celebrate its female talent. But one event won\u2019t benefit or fix wider booking issues.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2) Booking Women Better Beyond WWE Evolution<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Bringing Evolution back won\u2019t be a quick fix for the weekly booking plateauing where only a handful of women are featured as characters. If women\u2019s story-telling and character development are lacking the rest of the year, the event\u2019s significance lessens.<\/p>\n<p>WWE\u2019s women\u2019s division drives weekly shows, steals the spotlight and creates viral moments. Usually, it\u2019s a select group of women who have the spotlight and achieve this. As shown on Smackdown, it gives Naomi time to talk and a meaningful character is developed.<\/p>\n<p>There are inequities. NXT, the developmental brand, has more parity per show. Women get more matches, storylines, and TV time than the main roster of women on longer shows.<\/p>\n<p>Presently, Triple H has failed to give a wide range of women the same opportunities as his own NXT run. There\u2019s no reason he can\u2019t\/doesn\u2019t learn from his past. For an Evolution to annually become a success, the women\u2019s booking needs to be stronger to allow fans to invest and care in the women\u2019s characters.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>3) Don\u2019t Rely on The Past<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The first Evolution put women from WWE\u2019s past, present and future on the same stage. The event featured its close and ended with previous women\u2019s\/diva legends, Nikki Bella, Lita and Trish Stratus.<\/p>\n<p>Bella put over Ronda Rousey. Triple H used Stratus and Lita to help put over Zoey Starks and Becky Lynch. Stratus teaming with Tiffany Stratton at Elimination Chamber arguably gave her the rub. But you could argue that either Lynch or Stratton needed it, given their level of overness.<\/p>\n<p>PLEs have fewer spots per card now. Legends or the same stalwart talent taking those spots creates a nostalgia\/current star dependency that we felt in the 2010s when the same faces the main event. That long-term reliance creates stagnation and undercuts the development of future stars.<\/p>\n<p>Given the depth of talent on the roster at present and NXT\u2019s reputation as having the female stars of tomorrow, Evolution should focus on building the future.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>4) Break the PLE Formula, or\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>WWE has created a successful formula that says less is more for PLEs. Non-Big Four PLEs have between 4-5 matches. Realistically, including championship defenses, that doesn\u2019t leave a lot of space. For a women\u2019s PPV, you would expect prominent wrestlers to take the big matches. The Rhea Ripleys, Charlotte Flairs, Liv Morgans, Tiffany Strattons. But relying on a few wrestlers regularly connects to the division&#8217;s wider booking issues.<\/p>\n<p>This leaves beneath them plenty of women in the locker room left cold in catering. It also means less room for possible NXT competitors. This would not help address rumours of backstage frustration. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/02\/14\/the-spotlight-issue-timeless-toni-storm-vs-mariah-may\/\" target=\"_self\">WWE\u2019s limited spotlighting of women is similar to AEW<\/a>. Wrestlers cannot get over or create characters and connect with fans with little TV time, let alone PLE, invested in them.<\/p>\n<p>To feature more women and multiple women\u2019s stories beyond the belts, either WWE must break the current PLE formula, or Evolution isn\u2019t a PLE. Instead, make it a special event like Saturday Night&#8217;s Main Event. This would change the expectations also.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>5) Don\u2019t Set It Up to Fail<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F1-9H2ik_CM?si=DfO-pjWHD6CaGZE9\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Mickie James, when she left WWE, worked with the NWA to produce an all women\u2019s PPV, Empower. During the promotion, James discussed how, during her time in WWE, she kept asking\/pushing management to bring back WWEEvolution. She claimed the company line was that the original PPV was a failure. One of the lowest-rated PPVs in the company\u2019s history. Yet James speculated it was by design:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<em>It was only really promoted for a month. The matches weren&#8217;t even announced but a week or two before. There was zero promotion or marketing\u2026It was almost set up to fail.<\/em>&#8221; Mickie James, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.wrestlinginc.com\/news\/2021\/07\/mickie-james-claims-wwe-evolution-ppv-was-set-up-to-fail\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wrestlinginc<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>WWE is hot, but some of the promotion\u2019s women\u2019s matches and segments with neglected characters get a little reaction. I\u2019ve argued the success of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/07\/22\/wwes-liv-morgan-vs-rhea-ripley-the-problems-in-plain-sight\/\" target=\"_self\">Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan\u2019s rivalry wasn&#8217;t predicated on their in-ring work<\/a>. Fans have noticed. New waves of hashtags demanding women\u2019s wrestlers get a chance smack of history.<\/p>\n<p>Think of the Women\u2019s Revolution that preceded Evolution. There is frustration, but there\u2019s also some apathy and folks who care for the current small group of characters afforded time.<\/p>\n<p>Yet there&#8217;s a crop of women&#8217;s wrestlers who seem to draw fans. Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton and others. Why not test their attraction powers?<\/p>\n<p>WWE could use their immense PR machinery to make another Evolution feel significant as a concept. They have already made some of their women appear superhuman. At a time of record-setting, why not take a risk?<\/p>\n<p>Because if it did fail, WWE would have something to learn from. If it didn\u2019t, then it would prove WWE\u2019s women\u2019s stars have more parity in making WWE money than some perceive.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<em>Stay tuned to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for more on the WWE Evolution and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflix.com\/title\/81788927\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Netflix<\/a>\u00a0(Raw),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usanetwork.com\/wwe-friday-night-smackdown\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">USA Network<\/a>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cwtv.com\/shows\/wwe-nxt\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The CW<\/a>\u00a0(NXT),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tubitv.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tubi<\/a>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetv.com\/wwe\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A&amp;E<\/a>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/watch\/home\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Peacock<\/a>\u00a0(WWE Main Event as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/wwe\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">YouTube<\/a>, and catch fast-paced action on X (<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/i\/events\/1773457579022155776?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WWE Speed<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reports suggest WWE are considering bringing back the all-women\u2019s PLE, WWE Evolution. If it happens, it may occur on July 5th at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. However, this is speculative. As always, events are subject to change. Nevertheless, this news excites some fans. However, optimism might vary. I\u2019m personally doubtful. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":132111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,317,4,3,320],"tags":[333,3041,75,238,3108],"class_list":["post-132106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-women","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","category-wwe-women","tag-mickie-james","tag-rhea-ripley","tag-triple-h","tag-trish-stratus","tag-wwe-evolution"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132106"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132112,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132106\/revisions\/132112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}