Women’s wrestling is taken seriously today, and that’s great. Before 2010, it was very much on the sidelines.

A wrestling show might have one women’s bout on it, but it was usually all guys. Sometimes the World Wrestling Federation women’s championship was completely forgotten.

Finally, the WWE started taking women’s wrestling seriously when NXT produced prospects like Paige, Emma, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch.

After they got promoted, women’s matches became more frequent on Raw and Smackdown.

In 2018, WWE produced Evolution, an all-female pay-per-view. The second version will take place next Sunday.

Why the seven-year wait? Who knows? Let’s take a look back at the inaugural event.

EVOLUTION IS A MYSTERY

Rhea Ripley was the NXT UK champion at the time. She defeated Dakota Kai before the show went on the air.

Hall of Famers Lita & Trish Stratus, who competed in the first women’s main event on Raw, teamed up to defeat Mickie James & Alicia Fox in the opener.

Next up was a 20-woman battle royale for a shot at the Raw women’s title. Nia Jax eliminated Zelina Vega and Ember Moon (Athena) for the victory.

The Mae Young Classic tournament final featured two current champions, as Toni Storm beat Iyo Shirai. Storm is the AEW champion, while “Iyo Sky” holds the title on WWE Raw.

Sasha Banks, Bayley & Natalya defeated The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan & Liv Morgan). Banks, now called Mercedes Mone in AEW, pinned Morgan after a frog splash.

THREE TITLE MATCHES

Shayna Baszler recaptured the NXT women’s title from Kairi Sane. The “Queen of Spades” put Sane to sleep with the Kirifuda Clutch.

Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match to retain the Smackdown women’s championship. Lynch powerbombed Flair through a table to get the 10-count.

Ronda Rousey, who broke the gender barrier in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, retained the Raw women’s title in the main event. She beat Nikka Bella with an armbar.

Bella and Stratus are coming out of retirement for Evolution 2, which will take place in Atlanta on Sunday.