WWE Inks First Two Ex-EVOLVE Talents-Ruff, Greene-to Deals

With WWE acquiring EVOLVE Wrestling in early July, it was a matter of time before the global company started to sign its former superstars.

First, it was Leon Ruff, whom WWE inked to a deal in late July, and now it is Anthony Greene, who will come aboard and soon join NXT, according to multiple professional wrestling sources.  

With @BrandiWrestling at his side, @WWNEVOLVE's @retroag is a "new-school wrestler with an old-school feel" who happens to have the most spectacular fanny pack collection known to man.#EVOLVE131 streams THIS SATURDAY at 8 ET/5 PT on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/FMXHJNnq6x

— WWE (@WWE) July 11, 2019

Trained by Ryan Waters and former WWE/ECW star Spike Dudley, Greene has wrestled for independent promotions such as Chaotic Wrestling, Beyond Wrestling, Northeast Wrestling, and World Xtreme Wrestling, as well as EVOLVE. 

Leon Ruff, under AR Fox’s tutelage, signed with the company after making his WWE debut on NXT on December 4, 2019, when he and fellow Skulk member Adrian Alanis faced off against The Forgotten Sons‘ Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake.

Aleister Black, Sheamus, Karrion Kross, Bronson Reed, and more have handed Ruff vicious beatdowns over the course his time with the federation.

While WWE talented has handled Ruff roughly, to say the least, how the company uses him going forward remains to be seen. 

Moreover, the pro wrestling rumor mill has begun to circulate news that Curt Stallion could be the next former EVOLVE star up for a WWE contract.

— Jerry Del Priore