With WWE Evolution positioned as a marquee, all-women’s Premium Live Event on July 13, the company made a significant last-minute addition to bolster the card. The WWE Women’s Championship match between champion Tiffany Stratton and the returning Trish Stratus was only finalized days before being announced.
The decision, while discussed for weeks, was not made official until just before the July 4 episode of SmackDown, according to a report from RingsideNews. During that broadcast, Stratton promoted her upcoming SummerSlam title defense against Jade Cargill before revealing she would also defend the championship at Evolution. This prompted the surprise appearance of Stratus, who accepted the challenge, solidifying the high-stakes match.
This late addition comes as the Atlanta event reportedly faces challenges with ticket sales. As of July 4, only 4,804 tickets had been distributed for Evolution, which is on a direct collision course with a Beyoncé concert at the nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The addition of a Hall of Famer like Stratus to face one of the division’s fastest-rising stars is a clear move to generate significant buzz for the show.
The match adds another layer of difficulty to Stratton’s schedule. Should she retain her title against Stratus, she will then defend it just one week later at SummerSlam against the current Queen of the Ring, Jade Cargill.
The Evolution card is also set to feature several other major encounters. Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky will defend her title against Rhea Ripley, and a heated rivalry between Jade Cargill and Naomi will culminate in a No Holds Barred match.