WWE Signs 4 Former EVOLVE Wrestlers

The group includes a former EVOLVE Champion - and more.

Josh Briggs
EVOLVE/WWN Live

WWE has continued scooping up former EVOLVE personnel by signing four wrestlers and one referee from Gabe Sapolsky's old independent promotion to full-time contracts.

Former EVOLVE Champion Josh Briggs is the biggest name to ink a deal. Standing at a towering 6'8", Briggs is a four-year veteran best known for his work in northeastern United States promotions like Beyond, and was the last EVOLVE Champion, defeating Austin Theory to capture the belt in November 2019.

Brandi Lauren, Curt Stallion, and Joe Gacy are the other wrestlers to sign, with Gacy a former EVOLVE Tag Team Champion alongside AEW's Eddie Kingston. Lauren recently appeared at NXT TakeOver XXX, celebrating with Damian Priest in a hot tub following Priest's North American Championship win.

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WWE has also inked a contract with referee Jake Clemons.

This brings WWE's EVOLVE acquisitions up to seven, with Leon Ruff and Anthony Greene snapped up in August. Further additions could yet be forthcoming.

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EVOLVE effectively ceased operations in March, with the onset of the global health crisis dooming them financially, resulting in several WrestleMania 36 shows being cancelled. They were later purchased outright by WWE, who have already started uploading old EVOLVE footage to the Network.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.