WWEhas been paving the way for new trainees in professional wrestling, and since late 2024, they’ve been launching a series of brand-new programs to showcase and develop independent talent, as well as create a potential path to WWE. In addition to the brand new WWE series on A&E,LFG,WWE announced that a new program,WWE Evolve, will air on Tubi premiering Wednesday, March 5th,that will serve as a training ground for independent and new wrestlers to hone their craft with the change to make it to NXT, and eventually the main roster.
In a conversation withScreenRant, WWE Evolve announcer and NXT Assistant General ManagerRobert Stonetalked about the new program and what it means for the next generation of WWE Superstars.
Robert Stone Is Excited For WWE Evolve
“Evolve Is Going To Just Be Something Completely Different”
Let’s start right at the top here. WWE Evolve is another brand new arm of the training program with WWE’s new generation. Tell me how excited you are about this new program.
Robert Stone: I’m stoked about it because when you think about 2025, the year 2025. I mean, not just in wrestling, but in anything, it’s hard to have something that is going to be different or completely new or give you a different feel. And that’s what Evolve is going to be. Because not that obviously, NXT and Raw, SmackDown, are completely different wrestling shows. However, though, there are some things about them that are the same in a good way. But Evolve is going to just be something completely different. It’s going to be a more intimate setting.
There’s going to be less fans. The fans are going to be closer to the action, so when you watch it, whether you’re at home or live, you might not at first be able to put your finger on it, but you’re just going to be like, ‘This feels different, and I I like it. This is cool, refreshing.’ I’m so pumped for Wednesday night after it airs on Tubi at 8, just to get the feedback from everyone and their opinions on it and just to see what they love the most about it. I’m looking forward to it. I’m pumped.
There’s been a lot of significant movement when it comes to the training of the new generation in WWE. Seeing as you’ve been this really integral part of working in NXT. What are some of your thoughts about getting to work with the Evolve talent now that this is beginning?
Robert Stone: It is cool to see talent evolve.
I like how you tied that together, sir. That was very well done.
Robert Stone: Thank you. Yes. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I’ve pretty much done everything. I’ve wrestled in the best case scenarios and the worst case scenarios. I’ve changed in tree house locker rooms on independent shows. I drove 15 hours to wrestle on a show in 15 hours right back. I’ve done the worst and I’ve done the best. I’m in the WWE, right? That’s the best. I’ve been on both complete ends of the spectrum for everything. I have a lot of knowledge in me, even for only being 41 and looking like I’m 21. You agree, right?
I see it. Listen, it’s the Jersey/PA thing, I get it.
Robert Stone: It’s the Jersey and the Botox. I started so young at 16. A lot of other trainers or coaches that have all this information, they might have started later. They might be a little older than me. I still feel I’m relatively young and could connect with young trainees and a young audience, even though I’ve been doing it as long as I have. I love to just pass on my knowledge and anything I know. Of course, it’s give and take. Wrestling is opinionated.
Everyone’s going to always have their take on how things should be. When I give insight, I always say, Hey, maybe this will work for you. Maybe it won’t. But I do love conversating with new talent, passing on my knowledge and trying to find ways for them to break out, add to their character more, have a catchphrase, have a pose when they come out, have a cooler or a different insurance, work on their gear, just accelerating and making themselves larger than life.
WWE ID Will Be A Part of WWE Evolve
“It’s Going To Be A Mega Mixture Of Talent.”
I know this announcement aboutWWE Evolvecame around the same time as some of the new announcements with WWE ID. In a little bit detailed fashion, what do you think are some of the main differences between the WWE ID talent and the athletes that are competing onWWE Evolve?
Robert Stone: The WWE ID talent are going to be competing on WWE Evolve. It’s going to be a mega mixture of talent. You’re going to have WWE ID talent, you’re going to have trainees from the Performance Center. Then you’re going to have sprinkled in there a few guys with some experience that you might call veterans who’ve been doing this for a while that maybe want to change up what they’re doing or reinvent themselves or just want to be a part of it, because it’s going to be such a new cool show and concept that they just want to get on the bandwagon, you know what I mean, enjoying the ride.
WWELFGjust premiered recently as well, which is a sister program toWWE Evolve. Again, another big part of this generational push. What’s been some of the feedback that you’ve received, if any, from some of theLFGtrainees that are going to be appearing onEvolveas well?
Robert Stone: As far as my knowledge, all LFG talent will be on LFG. I don’t think they’re going to be on Evolve. Because there’s so much talent at the performance center. There’s plenty of room to keep different faces on different shows. There’s so much going on. But as far as that show, it’s great. I’m so happy for Mickie James, her being a coach on that show and having her team. It’s super cool to watch. And then Undertaker and Booker T and Bubba. It’s so fun to watch that show and bringing back that old, different, but in a sense, ‘Tough Enough’ feel. But yeah, the talent, for the most part, at least for now, is going to be separate than LFG.
Robert Stone On WWE/TNA Partnership
“Anything Could Happen Anywhere On Any Of These Shows.”
I have to ask about TNA because of this new partnership [with WWE].I know you’re a former X-Division champion, Television Champion, and two-time Tag Team Champion. Absolutely incredible. It feels like a fever dream sometimes when I think about the Hardy Boys as the TNA tag team champions on a WWE program. How cool is it for you to see this moment happening with the partnership between WWE and TNA?
When I started TNA wrestling in 2010, I was there until about the end of 2017, so almost eight years. If someone would have said, ‘Hey, we’re going to have a working relationship with the WWE.’ It would have said it was a joke. That’s certainly not a knock on the WWE. It’s just they were so above and beyond. I mean, obviously, we know WWE is the place to be, and it’s the number one and always will be.
You looked at that, and it was just, ‘how could that ever happen?’ Even talent that were in TNA, when they were done in TNA, weren’t really going to WWE, and then I think AJ Styles might have been the first one in the newer era that really broke that to then go. But it’s amazing. It’s amazing to see it all go down. It’s amazing to see guys and girls over there who are busting their butt to just get an opportunity to now get the chance to perform on NXT, or a Joe Hendry to get to make an appearance in the Royal Rumble. Anything could happen anywhere on any of these shows.
But then on the flip side, let’s not forget, TNA is a great place that has created some amazing talent over the years. We have NXT. I mean, just last night on TNA wrestling, Oba Femi was on, Fraxium. Those guys who grew up watching TNA wrestling are now getting to… They’re in the WWE, but I’m sure they might have had a little box they wanted to check to say they competed in TNA wrestling. So they’re getting to do that, too. It’s a win-win for wrestling. It’s a win-win for the organizations. It’s a win-win for the industry. It’s a win-win for the fans.
WWE Evolve premieres Wednesday, March 5th, on Tubi domestically and YouTube internationally. Check your local time listings to see start times in your area.
