WWE Signs 2 Former EVOLVE Wrestlers

Leon Ruff and 'Retro' Anthony Greene, welcome to Stamford.

Anthony Greene/Leon Ruff
WWN/WWE

WWE has begun the process of signing former EVOLVE talent following their purchase of Gabe Sapolsky's indie group, scooping up 'Retro' Anthony Greene and Leon Ruff from the free agents' pool.

Sportskeeda's Gary Cassidy broke news of Greene's signing over the weekend, the story coming days after PWInsider had reported Ruff was now officially under WWE contract. Cassidy also writes that other ex-EVOLVE performers could soon join Greene and Ruff in the world's biggest promotion.

Ruff has been used as a regular WWE enhancement talent for much of this year, having first shown up in March, doing jobs for various wrestlers across RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and 205 Live. WWE recently uploaded a short background video highlighting him and girlfriend Aja Smith, who works for NXT as a referee.

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Greene, meanwhile, is best known for his work in Beyond Wrestling and other Northeast USA indies, though he had been working for EVOLVE since late 2018. He challenged the group's champion Josh Briggs in a losing effort on 29 February before falling to NXT's Mansoor the following day. This turned out to be EVOLVE's last show ever, with the promotion iced thanks to the global health crisis, then bought out by WWE months later.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.