The main event for WWE’s second-ever all-women’s premium live event, Evolution, has been officially set. During the July 11 broadcast of SmackDown, commentator Wade Barrett confirmed that the Women’s World Championship match between IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley will headline the show on Sunday, July 13, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Barrett framed the contest as a collision between two of the best competitors in the world.
“And arguably the two best female wrestlers on planet Earth are colliding in the main event with gold on the line. Women’s World Champion IYO SKY defends against the powerhouse, Rhea ‘Bloody’ Ripley.”
The championship bout is a culmination of a long-running storyline and a direct challenge laid out by the champion herself. Following a dominant period for Ripley that included a grueling Street Fight victory over Raquel Rodriguez at Night of Champions, SKY was asked who she wanted to face at the historic event. Stating her desire to compete against the best, the champion challenged Ripley to a one-on-one encounter.
This main event represents a significant chapter in their rivalry. SKY originally won the title from Ripley on the road to WrestleMania, a victory aided by the presence of Bianca Belair. The Genius of the Sky then retained her championship in a Triple Threat Match against both Ripley and Belair on WWE’s grandest stage, solidifying her reign but leaving unsettled business with The Eradicator.