NXT's Lexis King Says AEW Is Developmental For WWE Developmental's Development (WWE News)

Lexis King has effectively called his old home promotion AEW "developmental" for WWE EVOLVE.

The former Brian Pillman Jr. tweet his thoughts in response to an X user who, in reply to King promoting EVOLVE, said they'd be "watching AEW instead of the developmental for the developmental."

Quoting this, King (who typically posts in character) said:

So you’ll be watching the developmental for the developmental for the developmental? No worries… I’ll be busy developing, while you are watching others develop!

Lexis worked WWE ID talent Sean Legacy at the 4 April EVOLVE tapings, with the match airing last night. King bested Legacy in around 12 minutes.

While EVOLVE carries the name of WWE ID head and former Ring of Honor booker Gabe Sapolsky's old independent promotion, which WWE purchased in July 2020, the latest incarnation is a different beast. Launched in March and airing on Tubi in the United States, WWE EVOLVE is ostensibly a new developmental level for the market leaders, showcasing WWE Performance Center, NXT, and ID talent on a rung below NXT.

Kylie Rae is the only talent formerly contracted to AEW who has appeared on EVOLVE so far. So while classifying EVOLVE as "developmental for the developmental" is accurate, King's post is a reach. He likely knew that when posting.

As Brian Pillman Jr., King worked for AEW from 2019 to 2023, initially as a singles wrestler before forming the Varsity Blonds with Griff Garrison. Julia Hart was later added to the group before turning heel to join House of Black.

WWE signed Pillman Jr. in July 2023 and renamed him Lexis King that September. The 31-year-old is yet to make it out of developmental.