WWE planning new show with key backstage ally of Triple H - Reports
WWE has officially entered into 2025, which promises to be another exciting year for the company. Triple H and his team have been credited with improvements to the overall WWE product in recent years, and now a familiar face is set to present a brand new wrestling show. The unique format comes after another cancellation.
Gabe Sapolsky has been a full-time WWE Creative Consultant since September 2022. He recently added the role of Domestic Talent Scout of WWE ID to his résumé. Before that, Sapolsky worked as a freelance creative consultant from January 2017 to January 2022, reporting directly to Triple H. The Boston native began his career with Paul Heyman's ECW in September 1993 at age 21. After becoming Heyman's protégé, Sapolsky wore many hats in ECW and later with other promotions. He co-founded ROH in 2002 and EVOLVE in 2010.
Sapolsky began brokering an alliance between World Wrestling Entertainment and EVOLVE after September 2017, and this led to a close working relationship with the current Chief Content Officer. Triple H eventually brought Gabe to the NXT team, and now he's chosen the veteran behind-the-scenes worker to lead a special new project.
NXT Level Up is set to be replaced by a new show spearheaded by Sapolsky. The Wrestling Observer adds that the title for the new series is NXT Evolve, but the program is not scheduled to begin with the new year as the expected premiere date is not for a few more months. The current plan is for NXT Evolve to be taped exclusively for TV/streaming.
NXT Evolve was described as a Sapolsky project, and essentially for developmental talents, but not NXT TV regulars, similar to the Level Up format. It's believed that the new show will include angles and promos to be more like a standard TV show and not just in-ring matches.
NXT Level Up replaced 205 Live and ran from February 18, 2022, until December 27, 2024. The company streamed 150 one-hour episodes of the NXT B-show on Fridays at 10 p.m. ET via Peacock and the WWE Network.
Updated lineup for WWE NXT special
World Wrestling Entertainment's NXT brand is days away from presenting its first special episode of 2025. The fifth annual New Year's Evil episode will air live on Tuesday, January 7. Below is the updated lineup:
- Shotzi, Gigi Dolin, and Tatum Paxley vs. Fatal Influence
- Sudden Death Rules for the NXT Heritage Cup: Lexis King (c) vs. Charlie Dempsey
- #1 Contender's Fatal 4 Way: Cora Jade vs. Lola Vice vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Kelani Jordan (winner earns future shot at the Women's North American Championship)
- NXT Women's Championship: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Giulia
- NXT Championship Triple Threat: Trick Williams (c) vs. Eddy Thorpe vs. Oba Femi
New Year's Evil 2025 will air at Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, CA. This is the first NXT TV special to use the overall WWE branding and logo.
