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What’s the story?
The WWE recently took it to their official website and various social media sites in order to promote the two upcoming events for Independent promotion Evolve Wrestling.
WWE has seemingly developed a very interesting working relationship within these past few months.
In case you didn’t know…
Evolve Wrestling is an American Independent Wrestling promotion that was founded by former Ring of Honor and Dragon Gate USA vice-president, Gabe Sapolsky in 2010.
Throughout the years, Evolve has been booking some of the biggest Superstars from the Independent circuit and as an overall, Evolve is also considered as one of the best Indie promotions in the world today.
The promotion formed a working relationship with WWE in 2015, which allowed WWE to scout and sign Evolve Wrestling's talent for their NXT brand.
The heart of the matter
WWE recently posted an update on their official website regarding the forthcoming Evolve 104 and Evolve 105 events.
They seemingly noted that history was made at this year’s WrestleMania Axxess event, when the WWN and EVOLVE Tag Team Championships were defended in a WWE ring for the very first time.
As noted, during the first day of WrestleMania Axxess the top title of the WWN tree, that is the Evolve Championship, was successfully defended by Keith Lee against Kassius Ohno.
Whereas, on the very next day, Evolve Tag Team Champions Chris Dickinson & Jaka, with their agent Stokely Hathaway, also successfully defended their titles against NXT Superstars Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan.
Below is the full announcement made by the WWE regarding Evolve 104 and Evolve 105:
History was made when the WWN and EVOLVE Tag Team championships were defended in a WWE ring for the first time at WrestleMania Axxess in New Orleans. Now, we will see the fallout from that monumental weekend when EVOLVE Wrestling returns to action at EVOLVE 104 and 105 in Summit, Ill., and Livonia, Mich., on May 19 and 20, respectively. Tickets for both events are available here.EVOLVE returns to action after historic WrestleMania Axxess title bouts
The title defenses at Axxess marked a new milestone for EVOLVE, which has grown its relationship with WWE in recent years. EVOLVE has hosted NXT General Manager William Regal, Sami Zayn and NXT Champion Aleister Black at its events in the past, and NXT coaches frequently appear as special guests at WWN seminars and tryouts for wrestlers and referees.
Keith Lee, one of the most talked-about competitors on the independent circuit, successfully defended the WWN Championship — the top title of the WWN family of promotions, which includes EVOLVE — against Kassius Ohno on the first day of WrestleMania Axxess on April 5. The next day, Austin Theory, who attended the most recent WWE Performance Center tryout camp, upset Lee to win the WWN
Championship at EVOLVE 103. Theory then followed up with a successful first title defense at WrestleMania Axxess on April 8, defeating NXT's Marcel Barthel.
EVOLVE Tag Team Champions Chris Dickinson & Jaka, with their agent Stokely Hathaway, also successfully defended their titles against NXT Superstars at Axxess, besting Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch on April 7.
Theory, Dickinson & Jaka and Lee are all set to return to action at EVOLVE 104 and 105. Theory will face two surging competitors over the weekend, including a title defense in Summit. Dickinson & Jaka, who are part of the Catch Point stable, are scheduled to defend the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles against The End's Odinson & Parrow in an Anything Goes Match at EVOLVE 104. It will be the conclusion of a rivalry that has raged on for months. If Dickinson & Jaka are successful, they will defend against James Drake & Anthony Henry at EVOLVE 105.
Lee, meanwhile, will try to rebound from his title loss to Theory as he faces Drake at EVOLVE 104 and challenges EVOLVE Champion Matt Riddle at EVOLVE 105.
NXT coach Robbie Brookside will also be a guest at the seminar/tryout on May 20 in Livonia. More information on the seminar is available here.
What’s next?
Evolve 104 and Evolve 105 will take place in Summit, Illinois, and Livonia, Michigan on May 19 and 20, respectively.
Author’s take
Evolve’s working relationship with WWE really helped both parties thus far and we the fans have also had the chance of witnessing some absolutely top dream matches thanks to both the promotions.
