Shawn Michaels Gives WWE Show New Authority Figure

Shawn Michaels has left a WWE regular in charge of EVOLVE.

Back in February, WWE announced the launch of EVOLVE. The new show serves as a re-launch of the original promotion of the same name created by Gabe Sapolsky back in 2009.

The brand features talents from the Performance Center and WWE ID prospects who are just beginning their wrestling journeys. In time, these wrestlers will then progress to NXT and then on to Raw or SmackDown.

EVOLVE debuted on March 5, with NXT boss Shawn Michaels taking charge and booking matches. However, at the end of the first episode, Michaels was shown meeting backstage with NXT General Manager Ava. HBK said he was leaving her to run the show as she saw fit before she replied that she’s already got plans for next week.

WWE Has Big Plans For Ava

Also, in February, it was reported that WWE had big plans for Ava, which would see her featured more heavily on television. The report added that the fourth-generation star has a “big future” with the company, and upcoming creative could see her linked with her illustrious father, The Rock.

Ava signed with the company in 2020 and initially began training as a wrestler at the Performance Center. She later joined NXT and became part of Schism, but she wrestled just six times before being made General Manager in January 2024.