During the WWE Evolution premium live event, a high-stakes championship match featuring a returning legend was overshadowed by a significant commentary error from veteran announcer Michael Cole. The mistake occurred during the contest between Trish Stratus and Tiffany Stratton, which was Stratus’ first opportunity at a singles title in 19 years.
Despite the historical significance of the moment, Cole misstated the facts on the live broadcast. He incorrectly told the audience that it was Stratus’ “first singles match” in nearly two decades. The botch was quickly highlighted by viewers on social media, who pointed out the inaccuracy of the statement.
One fan on X posted a clip of the moment with the caption:
“Her first singles match in 18 years” -Michael Cole
This error regarding the Stratus match was not an isolated incident during the event in Atlanta. Cole, who called the action alongside Wade Barrett, also drew criticism for comments made during the Countdown to Evolution pre-show that were perceived as rewriting the history of the women’s division.
Cole credited Stephanie McMahon with initiating the “Women’s Evolution” in 2015 by bringing Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks to the main roster. This narrative effectively omitted the contributions of key figures who were central to the division prior to that year, including former three-time Divas Champion AJ Lee, Kaitlyn, and The Bella Twins.
Further reports from the night indicated that Cole also once again confused wrestler Candice LeRae with another performer during the broadcast, compounding the frustrations expressed by many fans online over his performance.