{"id":22713,"date":"2018-07-24T14:20:31","date_gmt":"2018-07-24T18:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=22713"},"modified":"2018-07-24T14:20:31","modified_gmt":"2018-07-24T18:20:31","slug":"yes-wwe-evolution-is-not-the-first-all-women-ppv-but-its-still-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/07\/24\/yes-wwe-evolution-is-not-the-first-all-women-ppv-but-its-still-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, WWE Evolution Is Not The First All Women PPV – But It’s Still Important"},"content":{"rendered":"

The online forums and Twitterverse were polarized on Monday night by fans following the announcement by Stephanie McMahon<\/strong> of WWE Evolution<\/em><\/a>, an all-women PPV event in October that will feature over 50+ Superstars, from past to present. Most were ecstatic at the news, while many vocal naysayers were quick to point out that it wasn’t the first all-women pay per view in wrestling history, pointing to Impact Wrestling<\/strong>‘s One Night Only: Knockouts Knockdown<\/strong> in 2013 as the precursor. While they’re right it came prior, it most certainly wasn’t the first. But more on that later.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The point isn’t that WWE Evolution<\/em> is\u00a0the first or not – usually when the WWE says something is the first, they are speaking within the realms of the WWE Universe. If it’s the first time anywhere, they usually actually add the tag word “anywhere” at the end of it. The importance of WWE Evolution<\/em> is that it’s the first all-women pay per view being put on by the most globally recognized and watched wrestling (or sports entertainment) company on the planet. Disregarding your personal preference for promotion, be it New Japan<\/strong> or CHIKARA<\/strong> or backyard deathmatches, the WWE is still the world’s largest promotion. To the mainstream audience, they haven’t heard of promotions like SHIMMER, SHINE<\/strong> or even TNA. Having the WWE present something of this magnitude with WWE Evolution<\/em>\u00a0is more of a public stamp of approval that this kind of thing exists, it’s easily watchable, and the women of today are fast closing the gap in regards to skill and ability – in fact, many of the top women today would crack many critics or fans top 10 lists.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: Stardom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yes, every PPV or all-women’s show before has been influential and a part of this ongoing women’s revolution – not the WWE financed one, but the genuine movement in professional wrestling<\/a> – but there comes a point when the general public needs to catch wind of it and shown what it can be. Motown<\/strong> and Chicago blues predated the British Invasion, but both are far more appreciated now by the general population thanks to The Beatles<\/strong> and Rolling Stones<\/strong> from covering them than they were prior. It can still be a good thing, even if it’s not the original. In fact, mainstream wrestling fans who discover the true potential of women’s wrestling via WWE Evolution\u00a0<\/em>will\u00a0most likely be more apt to check out more women’s wrestling, notice a poster for a show for SHIMMER or Pro Wrestling EVE<\/strong>, pay more attention when they’re in the ring, when seen on a much grander platform than by having their little brother yell at that them to watch the latest Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU)<\/strong> event on demand.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: Impact Wrestling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So let the women celebrate this. This is huge. This is like WrestleMania I<\/strong><\/em> for every little girl in the world, the first chance to see a full card of women superheroes doing what they do best – entertain. And if this can motivate more young girls to get into professional wrestling, inspire them to work for their dreams with a chance to be taken seriously in something, then most likely start out with promotions like SHIMMER, SHINE, WSU, Pro Wrestling EVE, or even get to Japan with Stardom<\/strong>, then that sounds pretty good to me.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A QUICK GLANCE AT OTHER WOMEN’S PAY PER VIEWS PRIOR TO EVOLUTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n

LPWA Super Ladies Showdown, February 23, 1992<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In 1992, Ladies Professional Wrestling Association (LPWA) threw the first all women’s pay per view with LPWA Super Ladies Showdown, live on pay per view from Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota to an audience of 400. The LPWA was founded in 1989 by actor Tor Berg (best known for his role in Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space) and the PPV was a bust. LPWA closed down shortly after. LPWA featured a mixture of women’s names like Sue Green, Leilani Kai, Rockin’ Robin (who had just come off a 400+ day reign as WWF Women’s Champion) with Japanese\u00a0joshi<\/em> wrestlers liek Harley Saito, Yukari Osawa, and Mizuki Endo. It also featured future names like Terri Power (who became Tori in the WWF) and Malia Hosaka (who worked for WCW as well as SHIMMER, SHINE and others).<\/p>\n