Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
ssWWE is adding a new wrinkle to its developmental ecosystem with the resurrection of EVOLVE a brand deeply rooted in the independent wrestling scene. As the company gears up for the launch of WWE EVOLVE this Wednesday on Tubi and The WWE YouTube channel internationally, PWInsider.com sat down with Mr. Robert Stone, who will join the series' broadcasting team with the premiere episode.
"So when you think about the old EVOLVE, it started in what, like 2010? And then you look now 15 years later, 2025, and I don't call it the old Evolve, I call it the OG Evolve," Stone says. "But when you think of the talent that were there then or throughout the years, it's Austin Theory, Ethan Page, Sami Zayn, Josh Briggs—you could list 20 guys, 20 girls right now who were there that now are doing major things in the professional wrestling industry. So it's cool to say right now in 2025, when EVOLVE is restarting in WWE."
Stone is excited to see where the new generation of wrestlers will go. "And 10 years from now, 15 years from now, where will this talent that's starting out be? It's going to be so cool to have the mixture of the independent talent, the Performance Center trainees wrestling together to say in 10 years, these could be big-time players. You know what I mean?"
Stone emphasizes the importance of following these up-and-coming wrestlers from their early days. "It’s the idea of something starting from the ground up," he explains. "You just don’t know where it’s going to go, and you could be there along for their whole ride of their whole careers and follow them. And you were there from the beginning."
The opportunity presented by WWE Evolve is massive when compared with the normal grind an independent talent would traditionally endure starting in the business. With WWE EVOLVE. the exposure these new wrestlers will receive is unparalleled. Stone stresses that every moment counts.
"No doubt about it. I've seen commercials for it on RAW. I've seen ads on Tubi. It was announced during the Royal Rumble, Triple H talked about it at the press conference. No doubt about it—eyes are going to be on this show. Everyone's excited for it, but every piece of TV time you get, the talents [need to] utilize it to the fullest. Whether you are on TV for 15 seconds or you are on TV for 15 minutes, make yourself somebody, make yourself larger than life, make yourself memorable and be seen. You’ve got to take this TV time and run with it so you can grow it into something bigger."
While Stone has made a name for himself in various roles within WWE, broadcasting is a new challenge. Having previously appeared as a commentator on Level Up, Stone now dedicates himself fully to mastering the craft.
"Hands down, I was stoked. I was super excited for it. But yeah, it is new to me. I have been on Level Up, I believe, three different occasions on Peacock. I commentated, but again, that was just sporadic here or there, getting my feet wet kind of thing. But this, I've really dedicated a lot of time to trying to perfect the craft and learn the craft."
His initial reaction to being asked to commentate for Evolve? "Hands down. I was stoked. I was super excited for it. But yeah, it is new to me. I have been on Level Up, I believe, three different occasions on Peacock. I commentated, but again, that was just sporadic here or there, getting my feet wet kind of thing. But this, I've really dedicated a lot of time to trying to perfect the craft and learn the craft and ask questions to previous commentators, current commentators, to just try and get some tidbits to better myself."
Stone wants to bring something fresh to the role. "When you see talent on TV, I want to talk about some different characteristics about them that maybe you wouldn't know. I want to find out what they're trying to get across so then I could try and get it across to the WWE Universe. And I just want, I want to tell stories that fans are interested in hearing and following."
On comparisons to past greats, Stone remains determined to be unique. "I would love to say and like I said, I have talked to some commentators, previous and current, just for some basic information and some questions that some important, main topic things that I should know. But as far as studying, I don't. And it's the same with when I wrestle. I never really—sure, I watched a lot of old wrestling, but I don't want to watch someone too much and then find myself becoming like them. Because I feel like I have enough character of my own and I have enough personality inside myself where I could figure out how to be different."
Stone is determined to carve out his own identity.
Saying I'm a new age Bobby Heenan, that's cool. But I don't want to be too similar to anyone of the past or current. I want to be my own guy. And that's what I'm going for."
WWE EVOLVE's smaller setting itself sets out to offer a unique experience compared to NXT, RAW, or SmackDown.
"I'll tell you this—it's an intimate setting," Stone explained. "The fans are closer to the action. If you think of more older studio wrestling kind of-ish feel, maybe not as much stuff going on backstage. Maybe more people having interviews out there in the studio, whether it's in the ring or when they're leaving the ring after a win or a loss or on their way to the ring."
Stone also highlights the rawness of the show. "You're going to actually be able to watch talent learning as they go, which I think is going to be unheard of and cool. But at the same time, they're not going to want to make a fool of themselves and they're going to be wanting to fight for their lives. So you're going to see it in a lot of these performers' eyes that they're just really laying it all on the line and putting everything they have—110%, 125%—into these matches."
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of EVOLVE will be the presentation of a raw journey for new talent learning as they go
"Some of these performers from the Performance Center, they're brand new. You think about the old days in wrestling, and there would be someone who would be in a match after they've been in the industry for a week, and they'd just be in there to learn or just get beaten really quick, and you might see that here. There might be someone in a match from the Perfor. mance Center who hasn't been doing this very long. So you're going to actually be able to watch talent learning as they go, which I think is going to be unheard of and cool. But at the same time, they're not going to want to make a fool of themselves, and they're going to be wanting to fight for their lives."
In a business where opportunities are fleeting, Stone notes the stakes couldn’t be higher for the talent involved in WWE EVOLVE.
"You get one chance, and if it doesn't go the way that—if it doesn't go great, it could be your last chance. Everyone, when they step through the curtain, knows that."
With WWE Evolve premiering on Tubi and internationally on WWE’s YouTube channel, Stone presents his case for why fans should tune in.
"So Tubi, and then also just to throw out there, all international YouTube, which is going to be huge that it's on all over. So everybody gets a chance to watch it. Just because in 2025, it is hard to watch anything that's just different. And this is different. Everything going on in WWE is amazing. It's a 10—RAW, SmackDown, NXT, LFG, every show you watch, this will be no different. But it will be a little different. So it's just cool to be able to say that in 2025, still new concepts and new things are coming at you."
The first episode of WWE Evolve premieres this Wednesday on Tubi, with international access via WWE’s YouTube channel.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
