Anyone who was a wrestling fan around 2003-2005 is sure to remember when the biggest names in the game came together to form a super group (stable) that dominated WWE programming for years. Evolution was an idea to mix the best of past, present and future. The group began when Triple H, a champion and occasional fan favorite but usual heel joined forces with long time veteran Ric "Nature Boy" Flair. The two existed as a duo until they decided to infuse some new blood into their experiment and brought in relatively unknowns Dave Batista and Randy Orton. As soon as the 4 joined forces, they were pushed as the ultimate heels, the guys that every fan loved to hate. They had it all, they did it all, they took what they wanted and they dominated anyone who dared question them. Evolution, as they begin calling themselves, was a Ferrari while the rest of the WWE roster were Ford Pintos. As Ric Flair could possibly say, they were limousine ridin', jet flyin', kiss stealin', wheelin' dealin' sons-of-guns...WOOOOO! These days I am starting to see something similar in professional sports and it is soon coming to an NBA arena near you....
The Miami Heat
The Heat are Evolution, just minus the ring or steel chairs. As soon as LeBron spurned Cleveland, Bosh escaped Canada, and they united with Pat Riley and D-Wade, they became the heels. They became the team everyone loves to hate.
RIC FLAIR
A.K.A:
PAT RILEY
The Nature Boy was the veteran of the group. Wise, experienced, Flair didn't do much physically within the group but he helped pick the players. He saw potential in the trio of younger guys and worked hard to bring them together. Feared by many, hated by all, his 16 titles proved he knew what it took to win a championship as well as keep one.
Riley took this role within the HEAT. He personally picked the pieces, playing puppeteer behind the scenes to orchestrate the building of the HEAT "dynasty". An experienced vet, a multiple time champ, Riley too knows how to win a title and is sure to live by the motto to be the man, you have to beat the man.
TRIPLE H
A.K.A:
DWYANE WADE
Other than Flair, Triple H was the only member of Evolution to have ever won a title prior to joining forces. He was the lynch-pin, the undeniable leader and there was never any question that Evolution was his baby and it was his team. The other members followed his lead, did what he said and believed he would lead them down the path to glory.
Wade was the only member of the Big 3 who had won a title prior to the group forming. There is no doubt that he is the leader and that the HEAT are his team. He knows what it takes to be a champion and the other members are simply following his lead.
RANDY ORTON
A.K.A
CHRIS BOSH
Early on in Evolution, many wondered why Orton had been included. He was obviously less talented than his counterparts, mainly due to inexperience. Randy was the first member of the group to be expelled. When the group felt he had outlived his usefulness, he became expendable.
Early on after the forming of the HEAT, many wondered why Bosh had been included. While talented, he is not considered on the same level as Wade or James. When things didn't start well for the HEAT, it was widely rumored Bosh would be expendable and would be the one to go if the team needed to make changes.
DAVE BATISTA
A.K.A
LEBRON JAMES
Many fans openly questioned why Batista, a talented individual on his own, would join a group like Evolution. It appeared as though he was willing to sacrifice personal glory and fame to play second fiddle to Triple H.
When the HEAT was first formed, many people hated Lebron for joining the other superstars in Miami. Why would a talented individual sacrifice a promising career to play second banana?
Eventually egos played a role in the demise of Evolution and one can sumise that something similar will happen to the HEAT. Orton and Batista eventually got tired of being told what to do and not being held back. Something similar could eventually happen to the HEAT. How long is it before Bosh and Lebron get tired of not being "the man"?
