Evolution

**Evolution** (エボリューション, *Eboryūshon*) is a unit in the All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) promotion. Started after the disbanding of Last Revolution when Doering and Suwama came back together under the new unit called Evolution the following September they recruited Hikaru Sato as the stable's third member in February 2014. Suwama has held the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship three-times and Doering once as representatives of the stable. The two were also former one-time World Tag Team Champions and won the 2013 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. In July 2014, Atsushi Aoki joined Evolution, bringing the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to the stable with him. As part of Evolution, Aoki and Sato formed a tag team named **Hentai Jieitai** (変態自衛隊, *Hentai Jieitai*, "Pervert Self-Defense Forces"), becoming two-time All Asia Tag Team Champions and three-time winners of the Jr. Tag Battle of Glory tournament.

## History

On September 23, 2013, after the disbanding of Last Revolution it was announced that Doering and Suwama were coming back together full time under the new team name "Evolution", challenging the reigning World Tag Team Champions, Burning's Go Shiozaki and Jun Akiyama, to a title match. The match took place on October 22 and saw Evolution defeat Burning to become the new World Tag Team Champions bringing the first champion to the unit. With the win, Suwama, now holding the three Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship belts and two World Tag Team Championship belts, became AJPW's first "Quintuple Crown Champion" in 12 years. However, just five days later, Suwama lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to Akebono. On December 8, Doering and Suwama solidified their spot as AJPW's top tag team by defeating Xceed's Go Shiozaki and Kento Miyahara in the finals to win the 2013 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. On February 16, 2014, Evolution was once again turned into a stable, when Suwama accepted Hikaru Sato's direct appeal and made him Evolution's third member, tasking him with bringing the World Junior Heavyweight Championship over to the stable. Suwama and Doering's reign as the World Tag Team Champions came to an end on June 28, when they lost the title to Wild Burning (Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori). However, the very next day, Suwama defeated Omori to recapture the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.

On July 27, after successfully defending the World Junior Heavyweight Championship against Hikaru Sato, Atsushi Aoki announced he was joining Evolution. Later that same event, Evolution's two original members faced off in a match, where Doering defeated Suwama to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the first time. On October 22, Aoki and Sato won the 2014 Jr. Tag Battle of Glory, defeating Último Dragón and Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the finals. On January 3, 2015, Doering lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to Go Shiozaki in his fourth defense. On March 27, Aoki lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Kotaro Suzuki. On October 23, Aoki and Sato won their second Jr. Tag Battle of Glory in a row by winning the round-robin tournament with a record of three wins and one loss. In late 2015, following Go Shiozaki's departure from AJPW, Suwama offered his tag team partner Kento Miyahara a spot in Evolution. Though Miyahara turned down the offer, he agreed to team with Suwama in the 2015 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. After winning the tournament, Miyahara expressed interest in continuing to team up with Suwama, but was attacked by Suwama, who instead announced Naoya Nomura as the newest member of Evolution.

On January 2, 2016, Suwama defeated Jun Akiyama to regain the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. However, Suwama was stripped of the title only ten days later after suffering an achilles tendon rupture. On February 21, Aoki defeated Sato in the finals to win the 2016 Jr. Battle of Glory and the vacant World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Aoki went on to lose the title to Sato on June 19. On July 24, Aoki and Sato defeated Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto at a Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) event to win the All Asia Tag Team Championship, bringing it back to AJPW. On July 16 Super Tiger asked Suwama to join the stable and Suwama accepted. On July 30 Nomura announced that he was going to leave Evolution to start over his career. On August 28, Sato lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Soma Takao in his second defense at an event held by DDT Pro-Wrestling. On September 19, Suwama defeated Zeus in the finals to win the 2016 Ōdō Tournament. On November 17, Aoki and Sato won their third Jr. Tag Battle of Glory in a row by defeating Soma Takao and Yuma Aoyagi in a playoff match. On November 27, Aoki and Sato lost the All Asia Tag Team Championship to veteran wrestlers Atsushi Onita and Masanobu Fuchi, who became the 100th champions in the title's history. On January 2, 2017, Joe Doering returned to AJPW after being sidelined for 18 months due to a brain tumor, teaming with Evolution stablemates Hikaru Sato and Suwama in a six-man tag team match, where they defeated Jake Lee, Kento Miyahara and Naoya Nomura. On April 28, Sato defeated Keisuke Ishii to win the World Junior Heavyweight Championship for the second time. On June 20, Aoki and Sato defeated Onita and Fuchi to regain the All Asia Tag Team Championship.

On July 30, Sato lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Tajiri in his fifth defense. Later after weeks of dissension after a prelude match, Doering turned on Suwama and Aoki tried to save him but he got overpowered by Doering which was followed by Sato also quitting the stable just four days later after losing to Suwama in a grappling match. Suwama and Doering immediately started feuding with each another, with Doering vowing to kill his former stable. On September 23, Suwama first defeated Doering in the semifinals and then Shuji Ishikawa in the finals to win his second Ōdō Tournament in a row. On October 9, Suwama defeated Kento Miyahara to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for a record sixth time. He lost the title to Doering on October 21. On February 3, 2018 after months of appealing to join Evolution Yusuke Okada was finally accepted to join stable after saving Suwama from a post-match assault by Kazuyuki Fujita, Nosawa Rongai and Kendo Kashin. Sato ended up rejoining Evolution on February 14 after accepting Suwama's offer. On August 26, Aoki lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Koji Iwamoto. On May 20, 2019, Aoki defeated Koji Iwamoto to win the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Aoki vacated the title following his death on June 3, 2019 in a motorcycle accident that ended his life. To honor Aoki's memory, Okada took Aoki's spot and the two competed in the 2019 Jr. Tag Battle of Glory in July, finishing the tournament with a record of three wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On July 28, Okada and Sato defeated Kagetora and Yosuke♥Santa Maria in the finals to win the tournament. On March 23, Suwama defeated Kento Miyahara to win the Triple Crown heavyweight Championship for his seventh time, becoming a quintuple crown champion in the process. In September, Suwama and Ishikawa took part of the 2020 Champion Carnival, with Suwama wrestling in block A and Ishikawa in block B. Both failled to advance to the finals with Suwama finishing his block of five wreslters tied third and Ishikawa tied second. On October 22, Aoki and Sato won the 2020 Jr. Tag Battle of Glory, defeating Atsuki Aoyagi and Rising HAYATO in the finals.

On January 2, 2021, Ishikawa and Suwama lost the World Tag Team Championship to Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi. On February 23, Koji Iwamoto and Shotaro Ashino were recruited to the stable by Suwama, after Ashino was kicked out Enfants Terribles and replaced by Jake Lee, who disbanded Jin. From April 9 to May 3, Ashino and Suwama took part in the 2021 Champion Carnival with Suwama finishing tied-third and Ashino finished third place in the tournament. On June 9, Iwamoto defeated CIMA to regained his World Junior Heavyweight Champion. On June 20, Suwama vacated the Triple Crown Heavwyweight Championship after testing postive for COVID-19 during Japan's State of Emergency. On June 26, Iwamoto lost the World Junior Heavyweight Champion to Francesco Akira. In August, both Suwama and Ashino took part in the 2021 Ōdō Tournament, both would eventually end in the finals with Suwama defeating Ashino to win the tournament on August 29. On September 7, Suwama and Ashino defeated Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi to win World Tag Team Championship. On December 6, Iwamoto announced that he was going to leave to AJPW on December 31 when his contract expires thus leaving the stable.

On February 23, 2022, Sato defeated SUGI to regain the World Junior Heavyweight Championship for the third time. On March 7, Suawama expelled Tamura from the stable due to his friendship with Abdullah Kobayashi. In April, two members of Evolution took part in the 2022 Champion Carnival, with Ashino and Suwama wrestling in separate round-robin blocks. Both failed to advance to the finals, with Ashino finishing tied second in his block of six and Suwama in third. Over the previous months, Ashino began falling out with Suwama. On May 14, Ashino and Suwama lost the World Tag Team Championships to Shuji Ishikawa and Kohei Sato. The following day, after an argument between Ashino and Suwama, Suwama turned on him and he was kicked out of Evolution, as he was looking to rebuild the stable with Tamura, while also addresing a potential challenge by TARU to face Voodoo Murders. On May 25, Suwama appeared in his VDM style attire, and left Evolution as he deffected to Voodoo Murders. Afterwards, Ashino stated that he wanted to take over the leadership of Evolution, alongside Tamura and Sato. However on May 29, Ashino announced that he no longer wanted to continue as part of Evolution, as he seeked to find a new path. On June 19, Sato lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Tiger Mask after the match Tamura alongside Izangai would challenge Tiger Mask for his World Junior Heavyweight Championship with the winner of Tamura and Tiger Mask facing Izanagi for the title. Afterwards, Sato and Tamura continued the stable on their own.

On May 29, 2023, after Suwama was kicked out of Voodoo Murders, began trying to return to Evolution, which he later did, as he announced their self-promoted show on July 8, despite still feuding with Voodoo Murders. On their return match on July 8, Suwama, Tamura and Sato defeated Jun Saito, Rei Saito and Toshizo, ending their feud with Voodoo Murders. On July 16, Suwama and Tamura defeated Yuma and Atsuki Aoyagi to win the Tenryu Project's United National Tag Team Championship. In November, issues began arising in Evolution, during a tag team match, where Suwama was distracted by Hokuto Omori in a tag team match, causing Tamura to question Suwama's allegiances, with him or with Mayumi Ozaki and Maya Yukihi, leading Brute Issei to try to help them come together again. From November 12 and December 6, Tamura and Sato took part of the 2023 Jr. Battle of Glory. While Sato failed to reach the finals, Tamura finished in first place with a record of three wins, two draws and two losses, advancing to the finals. In the finals, Tamura defeated Naruki Doi to win 2023 Jr. Battle of Glory. On December 31, Tamura defeated El Lindaman to win the World Junior Heavyweight Championship.

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ All Asia Tag Team Championship (2 times) – Aoki and Sato
	+ Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (5 times) – Suwama (4) and Doering (1)
	+ World Junior Heavyweight Championship (9 timees, current) – Aoki (4), Sato (3), Iwamoto (1) and Tamura (1, current)
	+ World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – Doering and Suwama (1) and Suwama and Ishikawa (1) and Suwama and Ashino (1)
	+ Jr. Battle of Glory (2016) – Aoki
	+ Jr. Battle of Glory (2023) – Tamura
	+ Jr. Tag Battle of Glory (2014, 2015, 2016) – Aoki and Sato
	+ Jr. Tag Battle of Glory (2019) – Okada and Sato
	+ Jr. Tag Battle of Glory (2020) – Tamura and Sato
	+ Ōdō Tournament (2016, 2017, 2021) – Suwama
	+ World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2013) – Doering and Suwama
* **European Wrestling Association**
	+ EWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – Doering
* **Tenryu Project**
	+ United National Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Suwama and Tamura
* ***Tokyo Sports***
	+ Lifetime Achievement Award (2019) – Aoki

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *ja:全日本10.23後楽園大会　Jr.Tag Battle of Glory／青木＆光留vs.ヤンキー二丁拳銃、鼓太郎＆中島vs.舎人一家、諏訪魔vs.宮原vs.ゼウス* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2015-10-24). Retrieved on 2015-10-24.
2. ↑ 全日本プロレス10・22新潟でEvolutionの世界タッグ挑戦、10・27両国で曙の三冠挑戦＆ドリフのアジアタッグ挑戦が決定！  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-09-24). Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 *ja:世界タッグ王者* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
4. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔５冠！２７日・両国でダブル防衛戦も* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2013-10-23). Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 *ja:三冠ヘビー級王者* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
6. ↑ *ja:曙が諏訪魔下し悲願の初３冠／全日本* (in Japanese). *Nikkan Sports* (2013-10-28). Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 *ja:世界最強タッグ* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
8. ↑ *ja:ドーリング、諏訪魔組が優勝／全日本* (in Japanese). *Nikkan Sports* (2013-12-09). Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
9. ↑ *ja:世界タッグＶ２ 諏訪魔全ベルト独占宣言* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-02-17). Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
10. ↑ 新生Evolutionが会見を行いました  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-02-18). Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 *ja:３冠奪取！諏訪魔 全日取締役就任も決意* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-06-30). Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
12. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2014-06-29. Sun. update: Money in the Bank preview, Sonnen update, FS1 coverage, Sad news on death of Audrey Russell, Triple Crown title, WWE on Netflix, WWE legend in Time Magazine, Austin media promoting new show . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved on 2014-07-25.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 【全日本プロレス】諏訪魔vsドーリングの三冠戦、青木vs光留の世界Jr戦  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2014-07-28). Retrieved on 2014-07-27.
14. ↑ *ja:世界ジュニアＶ２の青木が諏訪魔軍入り* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-07-28). Retrieved on 2014-07-28.
15. ↑ *ja:ドーリングが諏訪魔破り３冠奪取 他団体出撃も視野* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-07-28). Retrieved on 2014-07-28.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 *ja:【10.22】復活！2014 ジャイアント・シリーズ 【最終戦】 ～全日本プロレス旗揚げ記念大会～* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-10-22). Retrieved on 2014-10-22.
17. ↑ 全日本10.22後楽園大会　42年目の旗揚げ記念日は秋山＆大森vs.曙＆吉江の世界タッグ戦、Jr.Tag Battle of Glory決勝戦  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2014-10-23). Retrieved on 2014-10-22.
18. ↑ 全日本1.3後楽園大会　ドーリングvs.潮崎の三冠戦、鼓太郎＆宮原vs.DKのアジアタッグ、Kensovs.土方のGaora TV王座戦  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2015-01-04). Retrieved on 2015-01-03.
19. ↑ 【1.3】 ニューイヤーウォーズ 2015 後楽園大会  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-01-03). Retrieved on 2015-01-04.
20. ↑ *ja:【3.27】 2015 ドリームパワーシリーズ　最終戦・後楽園大会* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-03-27). Retrieved on 2015-03-28.
21. ↑ *ja:潮﨑が３冠Ｖ２！電流爆破にも前向き* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-03-28). Retrieved on 2015-03-28.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 優勝決定戦・後楽/ *ja:【10.23】 2015 ジャイアントシリーズ　優勝決定戦・後楽園大会* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-10-24). Retrieved on 2015-10-24.
23. ↑ *ja:全日タッグリーグ戦は青木、佐藤組が２連覇* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-10-24). Retrieved on 2015-10-24.
24. ↑ *ja:宮原健斗「全日本盛り上げる」諏訪魔と合体し最強へ* (in Japanese). *Nikkan Sports* (2015-10-24). Retrieved on 2015-12-07.
25. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔、宮原組初優勝も空中分解* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2015-12-07). Retrieved on 2015-12-07.
26. ↑ *ja:【全日最強タッグ】諏訪魔組Ｖも波乱の幕切れに* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-12-07). Retrieved on 2015-12-07.
27. ↑ *ja:全日本1.2後楽園大会　秋山vs.諏訪魔の三冠戦、新春無差別級バトルロイヤル、大森＆ゼウスvs.関本＆岡林* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2016-01-03). Retrieved on 2016-01-03.
28. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔選手欠場及び三冠ヘビー級ベルト返上のお知らせ* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-01-12). Retrieved on 2016-01-12.
29. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔がアキレスけん断裂で三冠返上* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2016-01-12). Retrieved on 2016-01-12.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 *ja:【全日】Ｊｒリーグは青木篤志が制覇* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-02-22). Retrieved on 2016-02-22.
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 *ja:【2016 ダイナマイトシリーズ】 北海道・東京ドームホテル札幌 ピアリッジホール ［観衆］631人(超満員)* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-06-19.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Takagi, Hiromi 2016-07-24. *ja:星野が伊東破り涙のデスマッチ王座戴冠 岡林が新鋭・神谷に敗れ王座転落* (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Yahoo!. Retrieved on 2016-07-25.
33. ↑ *ja:7･24　大日本両国国技館大会　【デスマッチヘビー級】伊東vs星野　【世界ストロングヘビー級】岡林vs神谷　【BJW認定タッグ】石川＆佐藤vs曙＆浜　【アジアタッグ】宮本＆木高vs光留＆青木* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2016-07-25). Retrieved on 2016-07-25.
34. ↑ *ja:両国ピーターパン2016～世界でいちばん熱い夏～* (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-08-28.
35. ↑ *ja:【ＤＤＴ両国】高尾蒼馬が世界ジュニアヘビー級王座奪取* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-08-29). Retrieved on 2016-08-29.
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 *ja:諏訪魔が復活の王道Ｔ初Ｖ！次は３冠挑戦だ* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2016-09-20). Retrieved on 2016-09-19.
37. ↑ *ja:【全日・王道Ｔ】初Ｖ諏訪魔の原動力は不沈艦魂* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-20). Retrieved on 2016-09-20.
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 *ja:11.17愛知・日進市民会館ホール(小ホール)［観衆］322人(満員)* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-11-17). Retrieved on 2016-11-17.
39. ↑ *ja:【全日本】ジュニアタッグリーグ 青木組が３連覇* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-11-18). Retrieved on 2016-11-18.
40. ↑ *ja:激勝！渕＆大仁田がアジアタッグ１００代目王者に* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-11-28). Retrieved on 2016-11-28.
41. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2016-11-27. AJPW Sumo Hall results: Miyahara vs. Suwama for the Triple Crown . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-11-27.
42. ↑ *ja:全日本・ドーリングが脳腫瘍から奇跡の復活！豪快パワー健在* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2016-01-03). Retrieved on 2016-01-02.
43. ↑ *ja:4.28岡山大会[観衆* *495人(満員)*] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2017-04-28). Retrieved on 2017-04-28.
44. ↑ *ja:6.20帯広大会[観衆**703人(満員)*] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2017-06-20). Retrieved on 2017-06-20.
45. ↑ *ja:10.9後楽園大会[観衆**1301人(満員)*] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2017-10-09). Retrieved on 2017-10-09.
46. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=281