6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Evolution 2025 (Results & Review)

by Scott Carlson

1. Naomi Picks Her Spot

WWE Evolution 2025 Naomi
WWE

Rhea Ripley versus Iyo Sky was the right call – the only call – for the Evolution main event. The only question was whether they’d pull the trigger on Ripley finally ending Iyo’s dominance and winning the title, or if Sky would continue to have Rhea’s number.

In the end, WWE opted for “none of the above” and pulled the trigger on Naomi cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase for the shock title change. The former Funkadactyl waffled Iyo with the briefcase, posted Ripley, and vanquished Sky with a split-legged moonsault to capture her third world title.

In doing so, Naomi subverted the expectations that she’d continue to lurk in the background, pursuing former rival Tiffany Stratton and also having to contend with former partners Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. The cash-in also relieved WWE of the decision about whether to keep the title on Iyo or switch it to Rhea, as they now both can chase the title.

Having Naomi on Raw should freshen up the top of the card a bit with some new matchups, and it will force Jade and Bianca to focus their energies elsewhere on SmackDown. It’s a win-win.

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Contributor

Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fondly remembers watching WrestleMania III, IV, V and VI and Saturday Night's Main Event, came back to wrestling during the Attitude Era, and has been a consumer of sports entertainment since then. He's written for WhatCulture for more than a decade, establishing the Ups and Downs articles for WWE Raw and WWE PPVs/PLEs and composing pieces on a variety of topics.