In 2018, WWE marked a significant step forward for its women’s division with the introduction of the all-women’s Evolution pay-per-view event, inspired by the “Women’s Revolution.” This event showcased WWE’s rising stars alongside legendary icons, creating a celebration of female wrestling. As the Evolution event makes a comeback in 2025, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on the origins of this groundbreaking legacy. Ratings for matches on the historic card are compared using TheSportster’s system, alongside scores from cagematch.net and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The 20-person Battle Royal, featuring stars from various eras like Nia Jax, Ember Moon, and Molly Holly, scored an overall 5.75/10 from TheSportster. While the match’s entrance was a highlight, the in-ring action slowed and became chaotic mid-way, though the closing moments brought better storytelling. The opening match saw legends Trish Stratus and Lita face Mickie James and Alicia Fox, earning a 6.5/10 and appealing mainly due to nostalgia and the classic tag team structure. The main event had Ronda Rousey defending the Raw Women’s Championship against Nikki Bella, rated 6.5/10, showcasing a clash between the old Divas era and modern women’s wrestling styles, with a solid but predictable outcome.
A six-woman tag team match featuring Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad earned 6.75/10, with strong teamwork and engagement despite its familiar matchups. The May Young Classic Final between Toni Storm and Io Shirai was rated 7.5/10, praised for its evolving pace and hard-hitting action. The NXT Women’s Championship bout between Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler scored 7.75/10, highlighted by contrasting styles and intense storytelling, though the ending was somewhat weakened by interference.
The standout match was the Last Woman Standing contest for the SmackDown Women’s Championship between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, with an impressive 9.25/10 rating. This intense, emotion-filled battle was lauded for its authenticity, brutal action, and the electric crowd, cementing Lynch’s status as WWE’s top female star at the time.
Fan Take: This retrospective highlights how Evolution was a major milestone for WWE’s women’s division, elevating female wrestlers to main event status and setting a new standard for women’s wrestling. Its revival signals continued progress and recognition, promising exciting developments for the sport and its fans in the years ahead.
