In February 2015, WWE fans created the hashtag #GiveDivasAChance, which trended worldwide for three straight days and sparked a movement, championed by WWE leadership, to feature female Superstars in more prominent storylines with deeper character development and marquee matches.

In 2018, Evolution took this transformation even further as WWE set out to prove not only that the Women’s Division could deliver spectacular, match-after-match entertainment, but that an all-women’s event can sell out an arena, break viewership records and command the attention of a global audience.

Signifying a transition to equal representation and respect in the ring, and following the success of Evolution, WWE made another momentous announcement. On March 25, 2019, the company announced, for the first time in WWE history, a women’s match would be the main event of WrestleMania, WWE’s annual pop-culture extravaganza, at MetLife Stadium on April 7, 2019.

The strategy was to increase and enhance popularity with current and future WWE fans through new content, including Total Divas and Total Bellas on E! and Miz & Mrs. on USA Network, which ultimately helped to increase WWE female viewership to 40%.

Talent recruitment was imperative in creating new content. Championing the rise and future of female Superstars, WWE’s leadership team played an essential role in strengthening the Women’s Division and Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative, also pushed for this change by recruiting and training more elite female athletes from around the world, including Kavita Devi from India and Shadia Bseiso from Jordan. WWE also recruited global sensation and icon Ronda Rousey to elevate the women’s division.

Prior to Evolution, WWE worked with partners to dedicate significant portions of weekly programming to build anticipation for Evolution, including The Road to Evolution, a USA Network special, which drew 1.1 million viewers.

To amplify Evolution day-of, WWE collaborated with Twitter to simulcast the first 30 minutes of Evolution. This broadcast was a first for a WWE PPV event and was carried by @WWE, @TwitterLive and @TwitterSports. #WWEEvolution trended #1 worldwide on Twitter for two hours the night of Evolution and was the second most social show in primetime that night, surpassed only by the MLB World Series and ahead of NFL Sunday Night Football.

Continuing worldwide recognition for the Women’s Division, the women’s main event for WrestleMania 35 garnered media placements with renowned outlets including E! News, HuffPost, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. The match was also the most-social segment of WrestleMania, drawing 403.6K total Twitter interactions.

The impact of Evolution was clear: the WWE Women’s Division could captivate a global audience and drive ongoing social conversations.

Receiving an overwhelming level of support from fans, the social movement and Evolution created buzz from various media outlets including The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Elvis Duran Morning Show, Cosmopolitan and espnW and opened doors to new partners such as Kay Jewelers and Cover Girl.

WWE’s Evolution signified a major breakthrough and milestone for the sports and entertainment industry and on April 7, 2019 at WrestleMania 35, in front of a sold-out crowd of 82,265 fans from all 50 states and 68 countries, Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch made history. A groundbreaking moment for WWE, the women’s main event match showcased women can break down barriers and blaze their own trails as they continue to pave the way for future WWE female Superstars.