The theory of evolution, as laid out nearly two centuries ago by Charles Darwin, is by definition cruel and unforgiving. It states that the best, strongest and most adaptable creatures will survive and prosper, largely at the expense of lesser beings that will eventually be eradicated.
A 16-time World Champion and perhaps the greatest wrestler ever to lace up a pair of boots; a seven-time World Heavyweight Champion and a man who time and again has proven his greatness; and a third-generation prodigy and peerless athlete who has shown enough viciousness and ruthlessness to make his mentors proud: Ric Flair, Triple H and Randy Orton of Evolution are truly WWE's living embodiment of Darwin's theories. And, to them, everyone else on the Raw roster are lesser beings begging to be rendered extinct.
It's simplistic to think that Evolution chose its name based solely on the fact that Flair, Triple H and Orton represent the best of sports-entertainment's past, present and future, respectively. While they have gone to great lengths to prove that this is indeed the case, they have done so in a fashion that also proves the cruelty and harshness of Darwin's beliefs.
The name Evolution was not chosen lightly. These men see themselves as the best and strongest WWE has to offer. They know what they want, and know there are others willing to fight them for it. And they have decided that the only way to gain everything they desire is to utterly decimate those who oppose them, and even those who stand idly by watching it happen.
"The long-term goal of Evolution is to be the most dominant force in WWE, period," Triple H says. "It doesn't matter who comes in, who stays or who leaves. We will be the most dominant force. We will run it all. We will be on top, stay there, and continue to be the biggest draw in the company. That will let us stay on top and run the show."
It all began ominously enough months ago, when two of the most accomplished and cerebral forces in the history of the game joined forces. As soon as Triple H aligned himself with Ric Flair, the rest of the world knew they had yet to see the best from either man.
Triple H has always had the physical gifts and mental acumen to rule WWE, but the one thing he had never enjoyed before were the teachings of a true mentor - and who better in that role than Flair, who won as many championships with his ingenious mind as he did with his strength? Flair, meanwhile, was searching for a protege-a younger version of himself to guide and shape into the next immortal.
"I learn something from Ric Flair every day," Triple H says. "Personally, aside from how I feel about him in a working relationship, he's a great guy. We travel together and have a good time. All we do is laugh. From a business standpoint, I couldn't have more respect for anybody. He's done it all.
"I think when Ric first came here, working for WCW had beaten him down, destroying his confidence and his feelings about his ability. I really wanted to reestablish him as he truly is: one of the greatest ever in this business. People should never lose sight of that."
Predictably, Triple H and Flair pushed each other to greater heights. Triple H's already legendary ring generalship actually became greater yet, and, spurred by Triple H's exhortations, Flair once again became a semi-regular competitor in the ring, showing that his skills had not been eroded by time. Much to Triple H's glee, Flair defeated Shawn Michaels at Bad Blood in a match between all-time legends.
Flair, meanwhile, was instrumental as Triple H continued to mow down the competition and retain his World Heavyweight Championship. Even after Flair himself was given a shot at the title-and came a hair's breadth from winning it from "The Game"-the "Nature Boy" continued in his role as Triple H's closest and most valued adviser.
The past and present were in place.
Now it was time for Flair and "Trple H to look to the future. They didn't have to look very far or very hard, it turned out.
'T 'Not of all, you have to be the right person," Triple H explains. "Not only are you working together in the arena, you're working together all the time. You have to be the right human being in terms of wanting to learn and having an openness to learning. You also have to have the physical ability. You have to see all the things it takes to be a Superstar in the people you choose. It's a long process. We looked at a lot of different people and Randy was the best."
Only 22 years old, Randy Orton has had people taking notice for a long time. Even before you, see what an impressive physical specimen he is, his name conjures up images of greatness-in the form of his father, WWE legend Cowboy Bob Orton, and his grandfather Bob Orton, Sr: Orton, SL was a rugged competitor in the World Wide Wrestling Federation,' among other places, and pushed the legendary Bruno Sammartino to the breaking point on several occasions. In Cowboy Bob Orton's heyday in the 1980s, he was not only a feared hired gun for such greats as "Rowdy" Rod'dy Piper and Adrian Adonis, he was also a top contender for the WWE Championship. A technical and psychological master, he was a great athlete who used the superplex as his finishing move, years before it truly came into vogue.
But the allure of the' bloodlines only goes so far. In order to be ordained as the future of sports-entertainment by such exacting judges as Triple H and Flair, Randy Orton had to show. something on his own.
"Randy is the lump of coal that we can squeeze into a diamond," Triple H says. "Yes, I was a big fan of his dad's, but that didn't have anything to do with it. If Randy didn't have talent of ability, I don't care how much respect 1 have for Cowboy Bob Orton, it wouldn't have worked. As much as I would have wanted to help him, if he couldn't keep up, we'd have been spinning our wheels. I know inside of me that Randy Orton's a big star. I want to help him make that happen.
"When a guy comes to; you and asks, 'Did you watch my match? What did you think,' and you tell him, and then the next day you see that advice being put into practice, you know he's listening and you know he wants it," Triple H adds. "I've seen hire do it-with Flair, too. When he gets advice, he processes it and uses it. It's not just in one ear and out the other. It's not just, `Yeah, yeah, yeah.' He takes it to heart. He really wants it. To me, that's half the battle. You can take a guy with all the talent in the world, but if he doesn't have the heart for the business, he's not going to make it. Conversely, you can take a guy who has some talent, but has a heart second to none, and he's going to make it. Randy happens to have both."
And, whether it's innate or something he absorbed from his mentors, Orton also has the unmistakable swagger of a young man who knows he has greatness ahead of him. He doesn't shrink in the presenceof his esteemed Evolution partners, nor does he back. down from anyone-even the Hardcore Legend himself, Mick Foley.
Orton's detractors call it arrogance, but it's not truly arrogance if you can back it up, and all signs point to the fact that he can.
"I believe I am the future. I believe I am the 'evolution' of this business, so to speak," the self-assured Orton says. "In 10 to 15 years, there will be a whole new crop of guys on top of the business, and I believe that guys like myself, Brock Lesnar and John Cena are going to be the ones headlining WrestleManias; the guys people recognize on the street. It's an honor to know that is a possibility for me. I'm going to take it one day at a timeas I have a lot to learn, but I'm learning from the best. There's no other place I'd rather be than side by side with Ric Flair and Triple H, learning everything they have to teach me."
And when you learn from the "Cerebral Assassin" and the "Dirtiest Player in the Game," you're going to learn some short-cuts. He may have the look of a clean-cut young - man, but Orton has clearly been relishing life on the wrong side of the tracks, where the ends justify the means and rules are made to be broken.
In this form of sports-entertainment evolution, that's the one thing that never changes. From Flair to Triple H to Orton, if there's a shortcut to be taken or a sneak-attack to be launched, they're the guys for the job. But that gets back to the survival of the strongest and the most adaptable. Early in what could become a legendary run as a faction, Evolution has its Darwinist tactics down to a science, and the domination they seek is already at hand.
Since Orton's return from injury in June, when he attacked Kevin Nash on Raw and then later, at A Back Blood, assaulted Shawn Michaels in his match against Flair, Evolution has been seemingly unstoppable. The individual strengths of the three members are more than impressive, but are compounded greatly by the fact that they never seem to go anywhere alone. There is strength in numbers.
Yet, when confronted with the fact that both Flair and Orton have interjected themselves into his matches on several occasions - and saved his hide, say many - an indignant Triple H becomes very...defensive, drawing contrasts between Evolution and the former Team Angle.
Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin worked for the benefit of Kurt Angle. Basically they, were hired thugs paid to protect Angle," Triple H says. "The difference is that in Evolution, it's one for all and all for one. I'm no more an important cog than Randy Orton, and he's no more important than Ric Flair. We all work toward one common goal, and that is to be the best. We're brought together by that common bond, not to protect one guy or to let one guy hide behind the others. I've held heavyweight championship gold seven times, I don't need a bunch of guys backing me up. l don't need to hide behind anybody. I do have guys around me, though, and there is safety in numbers. And we will be the most dominant thing in WWE."
The other prevailing comparison - measuring Evolution against the legendary Four Horsemen - meets with less resistance. Obviously, the presence of former head Horseman Flair makes such analogies unavoidable. And both Triple H and Orton grew up idolizing Flair and his "limo-ridin', jet-flyin', kiss-stealin', wheelin'-dealin"' partners, and are pleased to be mentioned in the same breath as such lofty company.
But all three members are quick to point out that they are not the Horsemen, nor are they an imitation thereof.
"There's certainly as much talent in Evolution as there was in the Horsemen, but time will tell how they truly compare," Flair says. "The Horsemen would go out there night in and night out, take an ass-whipping one night and come back and give one the next, over a period of years. We have the components in place to do that. As long as we have the opportunity to excel, all the ability in the world is there."
"What do I think of the comparisons? I'm flattered," Triple H says. "That's one of the greatest groups in the history of the business. They're the originators. If we can be half as great as they were, then we're on the right track. So the comparison is tremendous. I grew up thinking the Four Horsemen were the greatest thing in the world. Some people will like the comparison, some will hate it. Some will say, `Ah, they suck. They'll never be the Four Horsemen.' Well, we're not trying to be the Four Horsemen. We're trying to be Evolution. We're trying to be what we are, not what somebody else was. We're Evolution. People will see that sooner rather than later."
What has become painfully apparent is the fact that Evolution is, as Triple H predicted, already the most powerful force on Raw. They back up their considerable swagger and arrogance with unmatched power, skill and mental acumen both inside and outside the ring. They are not here to be liked, nor do they care about the criticism their actions bring upon them. They are here to rule without question or challenge.
On so many levels, Evolution is exactly that-the application of Darwin's controversial theories to the sport. There is no question that Triple H, Ric Flair and Randy Orton are strong enough, adaptable enough and intelligent enough to survive the never-ending battles for power and glory on Raw. The only question is - how many other Raw Superstars will they relegate to extinction before they are done?
Triple H - It's a whole new "Game:
Don't te11 Triple H he is the leader of Evolution. And don't draw comparisons between Evolution and the now-Legendary group that he was the leader of - D-Generation X. It's a new group, a new philosophy and a new Triple H - more powerful and dangerous than ever before.
Trihle H's work ethic is incredible," marvels Flair. "He has a work ethic, even greater than myself, to go out there and have the best match every night. No matter where he is,who it's against, or how far he's traveled to get there, he's the best every night. That's how I was. He deserves the position he's in. He's earned it. Hes' demonstrated just how good he is. No matter who he's in there against, you can see that he's a perfectionist.
Yet, although Triple H invariably gains the lion's share of the credit for the glory gained by Evolution, he steadfastly denies that he is the group's leader. 'There is no leader in Evolution, he insists.
"We formed this group. We're together!," he says. "They're not backing me up. Ric Flair is a manager. He's not a hired thug.' He's one of the greatest of all time. Ric is there for support and advice when I'm in the ring. Nobody knows more about this business than him. If anybody thinks the have a chance to beat 'The Game,' then go ahead and do it. I'm 'The Game' with them around me, but I'd still be 'The Game; if they were gone.
While he is still "The Game," Triple H, too has evolved into what he has long admired - the high-class and sharply tuned image that was pioneered by his idol and mentor, Ric Flair. Long gone are the snickering, Locker-room antics and rebellious actions of his DX days. What you see now is Triple H conciously setting a higher, more evolved standard for what a WWE Superstar should represent.
"I've changed a lot in the last year. I've gotten older," he says. "I've gone from ripped jeans and a leather jacket to wanting to represent something else in the business. I've taken it to a different level. We represent something different; a higher standard in this business. We're not just a bunch of immature thugs."
Not immature, amybe, although the "thug" label might depend on who you ask. Certainly, many of Evolution's victims would gladly call the thugs - and worse. And while Triple H might deny the comparisons to the Four Horsemen and brislte at the people who compare Evolution to DX, he cannot and would not den y that Evolution is arguably now as powerful, if not more poweful, than DX ever was, and could conceivably one day become as legendary as the Horsemen.
Ric Flair - The "Nature Boy" Reborn
For Ric Flair, Evolution might as well be called "Resurrection."
In the wake of his battles with Mr. McMahon over control of Raw and ultimately, WWE, Flair was a noticeably downtrodden man. Instead of the usual pomp and bluster that preceded the "Nature Boy" wherever he went, there was a somber air to him, as if he was staring straight into the face of irrelevance after his long and storied career.
Then came his partnership with Triple H. People had been saying for years that Triple H was a younger version of. the legend himself, and it was proven true. Triple H was just the man upon whom Flair could impart his vast wealth of knowledge. Bit by bit, the "Nature Boy" of, years past re-emerged. And when Randy Orton was added to the mix as another prodigy, eager to bask in Flair's teachings, the "Nature Boy" was bursting at the seams of his famous designer suits.
"Just to be at this level, with this group and this caliber of talent, it's an honor for me," he says. "It's an honor to know that Triple H looked up to me when he was growing up. That alone has allowed me to hold my head a little bit higher than I had over the last five years. I've known Randy's father for years. To see him come along as a top performer with an endless amount of ability and opportunity, he should have a phenomenal career. The name Evolution is real - we're the past, present and' future of this business. For me, I'm at my best when I'm having fun. And working with these guys every' night is tremendous."
It has even spurred Flair to return to the ring with a vengeance. Superstars decades younger than him have been finding out the hard way that time has not diminished Flair's gifts or talent. He remains one of the most dangerous men ever to compete. Who better to have your back in a match than Ric Flair?
But Flair will be the first to point out that in the equal partnership that is Evolution, his main role is that of a mentor.
"As far as I'm concerned, Ric always has been and always will be 'The Man,"' Triple H says. "What's important for people to realize is, I didn't do this with Flair randomly. The` long-term goal has always been the formation of Evolution; Ric and I got together with that intent. One of the reasons I wanted to involve him is that, for young guys today, there's no place to go work for five or six years before hitting the big time. You have to learn under fire, right away. Randy Orton's got to be able to go, right away. 1iow you learn is by being around guys with more experience. Ric has a wealth of knowledge that is unbeatable in this business. For guys like Randy to be around Ric puts them on a faster track. That was one of my goals in doing this. The goal is to build new stars. Ric, with his knowledge and ability, can build stars faster than anybody.` That's why I wanted him there."
Randy Orton - The Talent Backs Up the Confidence
In WWE, as in almost any professional setting, the role of the rookie is normally to be as quiet, unassuming and modest as possible. But Randy Orton is no ordinary rookie, and Evolution is no ordinary group.
The 22-year-old Orton possesses a swagger and self-confidence worthy of the two other men he now calf colleagues and mentors.
"I believe that I was chosen because of my athlcticism and my bloodlines in the business," says the third-generation Superstar. "I think the respect is there - maybe I haven't earned it myself, but my name has. The potential is there. Also, my respect for the business and my dedication to it are always there. Maybe that was another reason I was chosen."
Whatever the reasons, Orton hasn't made Triple H and Ric Flair regret their choice for one second. After overcoming foot and shoulder injuries that kept him sidelined for months; Orton hit the ground running. Because of that, there is definitely no weak link in the Evolution chain, and experts are ahuzz with the possibility that Orton may very well be the next great WWE Superstar.
"I think Randy's a phenomenal athlete," Flair says. "He's had some injuries, so he's yet to really go as high as he can, but he has the opportunity now. He has a great look and attitude. His father was a tremendous wrestler. Randy has the genetics. He's also a guy whi wants to learn and improve in every match he's in."
Aside from learning every piece of knowledge therk is to know about life in the ring, Orton is also learning the perks of running with the top guys in the business. And, he says with a sly grin, there are many more. "Fast women, fast cars, lots of money, respect from just about everybody - that's what life in Evolution is all about."
Ric Flair is the best ever. Triple H is the best today," he continues. "There's no better company to be in when you when you want to be at the level of WWE's best. I'm lucky because I get to learn from the best. I'm in a very good position, and I'm taking advantage of it as much as 1 can."
It's easy to see why Orton struts, or why he feels comfortable getting in the face of - and many say disrespecting - such WWE legends as Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels. Randy Orton can back it up night in and night out; he possesses a tremendous amount of self- confidence.
"When you're given the opportunity, you run with it. I was given the opportunity to be the one guy they chose to give a push," he says. "To be that new guy, the one who will represent the future of this business - there's no greater feeling, especially since I grew up in this business. This is all I ever wanted to do. Now I see myself sitting pretty. I'll never forget where I came from, how I got here, or how much faith has been placed in me. But I have faith in myself as well, that I can succeed. Sure, I've had a few setbacks, a few injuries. BUt that's in the past now, and the future is ahead."