WWE To Buy EVOLVE?
Is WWE about to acquire its de facto developmental territory?
The dormant EVOLVE promotion could be on the verge of being bought out by WWE.
This is according to a note in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that cites the smaller company's ongoing financial issues, adding that neither party opted to comment when asked about talk of a takeover.
It is stated that EVOLVE (and parent company WWN Live) has been hit particularly hard by the ongoing global health crisis, with the cancellation of its many WrestleMania 36 weekend events having disastrous financial implications. Dave Meltzer described the situation as "catastrophic," adding that they may opt to "sell their tape library and pretty much everything to WWE."
The months since then have been quiet for EVOLVE, with no events held since 1 March.
EVOLVE and WWE have been in a working relationship since 2015, though things have intensified over the past few years, with booker Gabe Sapolsky joining WWE's backstage crew and his once-independent brand effectively serving as the market-leading company's developmental territory. Dozens from Performance Center athletes, from Mansoor to Rik Bugez, have filled out their latest cards.
Per reports, Sapolsky hasn't been seen in or around the Performance Center in months.