5 reasons why Triple H's Evolution remains the most impactful wrestling faction even now
Triple H’s Evolution wreaked havoc within WWE in the early 2000s and crushed everyone that came their way. This heel collective initially consisted of the legendary Ric Flair, Randy Orton, future Hall of Famer Batista, and Triple H spearheading the quartet.
While many would be in unison that Helmsley’s other faction, D-Generation X, helped shape the promotion from its Attitude Era all the way to PG, the fact can’t be denied that it was as impactful as DX.
Unlike DX, whose members (including Triple H) had a penchant for being rowdy in almost everything they do, Evolution was the complete opposite. Their presence seemingly sent a message to their opponents that they meant business and would show no mercy.
Here are just five reasons why Evolution remained pro wrestling’s most impactful team.
#5. It brought Ric Flair’s confidence back
16-time World Champion Ric Flair has had his fair share of ups and downs in both his in-ring and personal life. From real-life feuds with fellow WWE Superstars to family debacles, The Nature Boy has endured it all.
It was years after his return to WWE in 2001 that he would reveal that he pretty much-lost confidence upon his comeback to the squared circle. It wasn’t until he took on The Undertaker at WrestleMania 18 and later on formed The Evolution alongside Triple H.
#4. Heels ’til the end
Evolution was billed as a nefarious group in WWE at the time, including then-rookies Batista and Randy Orton. They received a ton of heat from fans, which is an indication of how good they were with their characters.
A case in point was during their reunion in 2014, where they brutalized The Shield. Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins received a whole world of hurt from Evolution as Triple H, Batista, and Randy Orton delivered their finishers to each member of the Hounds of Justice.
#3. Top tier members
As the entry suggests, each member of Evolution reached the peak of what they represent in professional wrestling: Ric Flair was the past, Triple H was its present, and the future was Batista and Randy Orton.
This was further recognized in 2003’s Armageddon, where all four of them won championships that were put on the line during the pay-per-view event. Randy Orton won the Intercontinental Championship, Ric Flair and Batista captured the World Tag Team Championship, and Triple H won the World Heavyweight Title.
#2. The faction’s implosion has set them up in epic matches
Just as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. This is what happened at the tail end of Evolution.
Things began to fall apart as early as 2004 when Randy Orton was repackaged as a babyface. Orton would go on to start a feud with Triple H, and the two faced off at 2004’s Unforgiven. Orton, who was on his first world title reign at the time, lost the championship to Triple H. The Viper also fought Ric Flair at Taboo Tuesday that same year in a steel cage match which he won.
Batista also had a feud with Helmsley. A notable moment was when he (Batista) won the 2005 Royal Rumble and had to choose who he would face at WrestleMania 21. During an episode of RAW, Batista chose the then-World Heavyweight Champion Triple H and hit him with a powerbomb.
Come WrestleMania 21, Batista kept his word and took the world title from Triple H.
#1. Evolution elevated all the four members
Members of the Evolution have hugely benefitted from the formation of the heel faction. Triple H further fortified his spot as one of WWE’s top superstars while Ric Flair regained his lost confidence. Evolution cemented Randy Orton and Batista’s careers, as they went on to become two of the promotion’s best acts in the following years, not to mention headlining several premium live events later.
Albeit getting sidelined due to an injury, Randy Orton is the only member of the faction who is still doing in-ring work. Prior to Orton’s hiatus, he teamed up with Matt Riddle to form the unlikely tag duo known as RKBro.
With the feats that they've achieved during their prime, Evolution has secured its place as one of the best stables to have ever stepped foot inside the squared circle.