WWE Evolve notes: Champion vacates title, new general manager named
Wednesday’s WWE Evolve saw two big changes: one that includes a championship change with the other being the naming of their second-ever general manager.
The title change saw Women’s Champion Kendal Gray vacate her championship after defeating Tyra Mae Steele to retain the title. It’s her final match on the brand as she moves to WWE NXT full-time. It continues a trend in recent months as Oba Femi notably vacated his title before being called up to the WWE main roster.
The second Women’s Champion in Evolve, the 24-year-old defeated inaugural titleholder Kali Armstrong in September 2024 and finishes with eight successful title defenses. No plan for how a new champion will be crowned was revealed.
In the other news of the night, Timothy Thatcher has become the first general manager for Evolve, revealed by interim NXT general manager Robert Stone. He replaces inaugural general manager Steve Turner who departed the company last fall.
Thatcher is a former Evolve Champion and works on the indie scene with WWE ID prospects.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.