WWE’s TV partners to help them change the narrative with ‘Road to Evolution’ special next week

“Crown Jewel, Schmown Jewel... have you heard about our historic all-women’s pay-per-view (PPV) event?”

While not an actual quote from WWE, I’m willing to hazard a guess that made-up one captures at least part of the company’s public relations strategy for the getting through the next couple of weeks. Sun., Oct. 28’s Evolution show is absolutely something worth celebrating on its own. But the women-only card’s function as PR cover is even more important now that the following Friday’s Crown Jewel show in Riyadh is a talking point in the crisis surrounding Saudi Arabia’s role in the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

So as Vince McMahon and his team get ready to answer investor’s questions about their relationship with the Kingdom and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman next Thursday (Oct. 25), expect a lot of focusing on the positive of Evolution. WWE’s partners at NBCUniversal will be doing their part, airing the premiere of Road to Evolution on USA immediately after Raw on Monday (Oct. 22). The special will replay after Total Divas two days later (Weds., Oct. 24).

Deadline broke the news in an exclusive this morning, and WWE followed up with a press release:

“The special will look back on the groundbreaking Women’s Evolution in WWE, featuring Superstars of the past, present and future coming together to celebrate a new chapter in WWE history.”

Excited? More importantly, distracted?