Category: Evolve

WWE NXT Gold Rush Preview 11/25/2025

WWE returns tonight at 8/7c on The CW Network with a taped episode of their weekly two-hour NXT television program, a taped “Gold Rush: Week 2” show from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

  • TNA Knockouts Championship: Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Jordynne Grace vs Lei Ying Lee
  • Evolve Men’s Championship: Jackson Drake (c) vs. Sean Legacy
  • Women’s Speed Championship Tournament Finals: Fallon Henley vs. Zaria
  • Evolve Women’s Championship: Kendal Grey (c) vs. Lainey Reid
  • Trick Williams vs. Myles Borne
  • John Cena will announce the men’s and women’s Iron Survivor participants

WWE NXT Gold Rush Preview 11/18/2025

WWE presents NXT Gold Rush, a two week event from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Title’s from NXT, TNA, AAA and Evolve will be defended.

NXT Gold Rush week 1 live on The CW from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York;

NXT Women’s Championship: Tatum Paxley (c) vs. Jacy Jayne
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Blake Monroe (c) vs. Sol Ruca
AAA Mixed Tag Team Championship: Chelsea Green and Ethan Page (c) vs. Thea Hail and Joe Hendry
NXT Tag Team Championship: DarkState (c) vs. Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans

Samoan Dynasty’s Lance Anoa’i, Wes Lee, and Several NXT, Evolve & ID Talents Released from WWE

It’s been a tough week behind the scenes at WWE, as multiple names from the company’s developmental system—and even a member of wrestling’s legendary Samoan Dynasty—were let go.

Lance Anoa’i, son of former WWE star Samu and cousin to Roman Reigns, confirmed Friday that his time with WWE had come to an end. Anoa’i shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), noting that his run never really got started due to injuries and “bad luck” since signing. Despite not making an on-screen appearance, his family lineage and in-ring pedigree had drawn plenty of attention when he joined the company.

However, Anoa’i’s departure turned out to be part of a larger round of roster cuts. Reports from BodySlam’s Cory Hays and Fightful Select revealed that several names from the NXT and Performance Center ranks were also released. Among them was two-time NXT North American Champion Wes Lee, who had recently been sidelined with an injury. Other names included Stevie Turner, Jin Tala, Drako Knox, Haze Jameson, Summer Sorrell, Brayden “BJ” Ray, and Jamar Hampton.

Turner, who fans may remember from her stint as the “Prime Minister” of WWE Evolve and as Robert Stone’s co-Assistant GM in NXT, took to social media to confirm her exit. “My time with WWE has come to an end,” she wrote. “I’ve had a brilliant time and I’m so excited for the future. See you soon!”

Drako Knox—who had been featured as “Drake Starks” during Season One of WWE LFG—also confirmed his release, stating he was available for bookings in 30 days, as is standard with developmental contracts.

Adding to the list, Zara Zakher announced that her WWE ID deal had expired and that she’d be taking time away from wrestling. With Zakher included, the total number of confirmed departures from Friday’s round reached ten.

For many of these talents, especially those from the NXT and developmental ranks, the releases mark the end of one chapter and the potential start of another. Meanwhile, the loss of Lance Anoa’i quietly closes a brief but intriguing connection between the ever-expanding Samoan Dynasty and WWE’s current generation.

WWE’s Ridge Holland Sidelined with Serious Foot Injury After TNA Tapings

Bad news has hit Ridge Holland’s momentum. The NXT/EVOLVE standout, who has been a regular face in the ongoing WWE–TNA partnership, announced that he’s dealing with a significant injury that will put him on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

Holland was in action this past weekend at the TNA iMPACT tapings from the Edmonton Expo Centre in Alberta, Canada. On Friday, he wrestled at the Victory Road 2025 special, suffering a loss to Mike Santana. The next night, he stepped into the ring with Moose for matches taped to build toward TNA’s marquee event, Bound For Glory, scheduled for October 12 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Unfortunately, things didn’t end well for Holland. On Monday, he took to Twitter to confirm the nature of his injury, writing:

“Lisfranc Injury. Surgery Friday. See ya in a bit.”

The Lisfranc injury — which affects the midfoot — is no small matter, often requiring surgery and months of recovery time. That means Holland will be missing a crucial stretch of TV, including Bound For Glory, at a time when WWE and TNA’s partnership has created some high-profile crossover opportunities.

It’s a tough setback for the powerhouse, who had been gaining traction by mixing it up with some of TNA’s biggest names. While no timetable has been given for his return, fans will no doubt be eager to see him bounce back once he’s cleared.

Ava Takes Charge as Director of WWE EVOLVE

Ava is continuing to rise through the ranks in WWE, as she has now taken on a new leadership role as the director of WWE EVOLVE.

During the premiere episode of the revamped brand on Wednesday night, Shawn Michaels appeared alongside Ava to kick off the show. While Michaels initially took charge of booking the matches for the debut episode, he later informed Ava in a backstage segment that he would be stepping aside, leaving the direction of WWE EVOLVE in her hands.

Ava, who has been serving as the General Manager of NXT since January 2024, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity and teased that she already has plans in motion for the next episode.

This marks another major step in Ava’s growing on-screen authority within WWE. With both NXT and EVOLVE now under her watch, it will be interesting to see how she shapes the future of WWE’s developmental landscape.

https://twitter.com/Cory_Hays407/status/1897465589993529779

WWE Evolve Set to Debut Tonight (3/5/2025): A New Era for WWE’s Developmental System

WWE is expanding its developmental system with the launch of WWE Evolve, a brand-new show set to debut on March 5, 2025. Designed to bridge the gap between the WWE Performance Center and NXT, Evolve will give rising stars a platform to gain valuable TV experience before making the jump to bigger stages.

The name Evolve is a nod to the former independent wrestling promotion of the same name, once run by Gabe Sapolsky—who is now helping shape this new WWE venture. WWE Hall of Famer and Senior VP of Talent Development Creative, Shawn Michaels, emphasized the brand’s mission in a statement:

“This is something that, as we continue to look at the future health of WWE talent, it’s incumbent on us to find the best and the brightest out there, train them at the Performance Center in Orlando, and take WWE into the future.”

With a mix of former college and pro athletes alongside independent wrestling standouts, WWE Evolve is set to introduce fresh faces and create new opportunities for the next generation of superstars.

How to Watch WWE Evolve

  • Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
  • Time: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
  • Where to Watch:
    • United States: Exclusively on Tubi
    • International (including the UK): Streaming for free on WWE’s YouTube channel

WWE Evolve: Roster & Commentary Team

While details on matchups remain under wraps, WWE has confirmed several talents set to appear on the premiere episode. The roster includes a mix of former professional athletes and independent wrestling standouts:

Confirmed Roster:

  • Trill London – Former NFL safety (Trill Williams)
  • Tate Wilder – Former Arizona fullback (Case Hatch)
  • Keanu Carver – Former Temple defensive tackle (Kevin Robertson)
  • Drako Knox – Former Mercer tight end (Drako Starks)
  • Harlem Lewis – Former Morehead State linebacker (Vincent Winey)
  • Kylie Rae – Independent wrestling star with experience in AEW, WWE, and Impact Wrestling
  • Zayda Steel – Rising star in WWE’s women’s division

Commentary Team:

  • Robert Stone – NXT Assistant General Manager and former TNA Tag Team Champion (as Robbie E)
  • Peter Rosenberg – WWE panelist and sports personality

A Must-Watch for Wrestling’s Future

With a unique blend of raw athleticism and wrestling pedigree, WWE Evolve looks to be a game-changer in WWE’s developmental pipeline. It will give fans an early look at potential future stars, while offering a fresh, fast-paced presentation that could shake up how WWE builds its talent.

Will Evolve become a key stepping stone to NXT and the main roster? Time will tell, but one thing is for sure—this is where WWE’s next breakout stars will begin their journey.

Stay tuned for updates as WWE Evolve makes its highly anticipated debut!

Triple H on WWE EVOLVE: A New Era for Developmental Wrestling

During the post-Royal Rumble 2025 press conference, Triple H shared his excitement for the upcoming launch of WWE EVOLVE, a new developmental brand that he says reminds him of the early days of NXT.

“That will be a show that I’m excited about,” Triple H said. “In many ways, for me, it seems like going back to the very beginning of NXT, where nobody knew who anybody was, and it was just a bunch of young kids trying to find their way to get in the business. And that’s what we’re going to go back to with that show.”

EVOLVE will serve as a training ground for WWE’s next generation, with a strong focus on talent from the WWE ID program and the Performance Center. With 100-120 talents training at the PC at any given time, EVOLVE will give young wrestlers a platform to work in front of live crowds, gain experience in front of cameras, and develop into future WWE Superstars.

While NXT has evolved into a more polished, mainstream product, EVOLVE looks to recapture that raw, underdog energy of its early days. Fans of old-school NXT—or those who love watching wrestlers grow from unknown prospects into top stars—may want to keep a close eye on this new brand.

In 2015, Evolve formed a relationship with WWE, allowing WWE to scout Evolve talent and potentially sign them. On July 2, 2020, WWE officially purchased Evolve. WWE is set to relaunch Evolve as a new series titled WWE Evolve in March 2025 on Tubi.