EVOLVE 73

November 13, 2016

From the MCW Arena in Joppa, MD

Lenny Leonard is your host

Stokely Hathaway comes out with the EVOLVE Championship as he says that champion Timothy Thatcher is not here tonight. He raises the belt but Darby Allin comes out and grabs the mic. Allin sits down and wants to talk about failure. He mentions how Jaka beat him last night but challenges him to a match right now. Stokely tells Allin he can have his moment but will give him a life lesson and that is “don’t get lost in the sauce.” Jaka then came out to face Allin. This was done to establish the fact Thatcher was not here as he suffered a concussion at EVOLVE 72 in his title defense against Drew Gulak and to allow Allin the chance to express frustration over losing a match he wanted last show.

Darby Allin vs. Jaka

Allin ducks a chop then rolls up Jaka for a nearfall. Allin grabs a front facelock but gets lifted up and rammed into the corner. Allin fights back and hits a springboard attack but ends up getting knocked down as Jaka then traps Allin between the ring apron and hits a super kick. Back inside, Jaka stays on the attack. He gets a few nearfalls then catches Allin’s springboard coffin drop attempt and hits a German suplex. Allin sidesteps a corner splash then gets a few rollups but Jaka takes him down with a spinning heel kick for the win (6:16) **.

Thoughts: Fine match to put over Jaka but Allin, who was on a bit of a winning streak, did not get in much offense here at all. It was pretty much all Jaka here, who is being put over strong in his debut weekend for the company.

Icarus vs. Jason Kincaid

Icarus is probably best known for his work in CHIKARA as this is his first appearance in EVOLVE since the company’s debut show back in 2010. He offers a handshake then turns around and dropkicks Kincaid from behind. Kincaid then floats over in the corner and sits down cross-legged. Kincaid then rolls up Icarus for two. Icarus runs inside before Kincaid can dive out and ends up hitting Kincaid with a suplex for two. Icarus targets the back of the neck then slaps Kincaid around. Kincaid fights back and hits an alley-oop in the corner. Kincaid then sends Icarus into the corner with a sunset bomb and follows that with a coast-to-coast dropkick for two. Icarus fights back and gets two with a wheelbarrow suplex before he chokes out Kincaid in the corner. Icarus tries to springboard in but Kincaid turns it into a stunner then flies out to hit Icarus with a blockbuster as the crowd is really getting behind Kincaid, who then proceeds to climb the pole next to the ring and lands a double stomp for the win (5:07) **1/2.

Thoughts: Solid match here for the time allowed. Icarus did a fine job as a heel while Kincaid is starting to get a bit of a following in EVOLVE now as the crowd got behind him. Kincaid seems to be a regular going forward now and Icarus did not do anything to not warrant a return.

Chris Dickinson w/ Jaka vs. Ethan Page w/ The Gatekeepers

Dickinson takes Page down to start and gets a “dirty daddy” chant from the crowd. He then challenges Page to a test-of-strength and ends up getting outwrestled again and bails. Dickinson heads out and ends up with Jaka staring down The Gatekeepers but that allows Page to attack Dickinson from behind. Page whips Dickinson into the guardrail before heading back inside where he hammers away. Page now works over the back of Dickinson, who fights back, but Page takes him off the top with an Iconoclasm for a nearfall. Dickinson fights back again and they trade shots for a bit until Dickinson backs Page into the corner. They fight up top where Page knocks Dickinson to the floor with an elbow smash. He drags Dickinson up to the middle rope from the apron but Dickinson fights back and takes Page off with a springboard hurricarana as both men are down. Dickinson is up first and hits some mounted punches in the corner. Death Valley Driver gets two for Dickinson as Page then rolls out to the apron. Dickinson takes him down with a pair of running kicks but misses a third attempt as Page follows up with the RK-Ego for a nearfall. Dickinson escapes from a package piledriver attempt and they trade kicks until Dickinson almost puts him away with a 360 enziguiri. Page is then able to catch Dickinson with another RK-Ego before hitting the Spinning Dwayne for the win (12:33) **3/4.

Thoughts: The match started off slow but really picked up at the midway point and became enjoyable. Page is hit-or-miss in the ring and needs the right opponent but seemed to have some chemistry here with Dickinson, who with all the talent leaving EVOLVE has the skills necessary to be a regular going forward.

Drew Gulak vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Gulak backs Sabre into the corner to start then breaks cleanly. They take it to the mat and end up in a stalemate before going back down. Both guys are using all sorts of nifty reversals as they battle for control of the match. They start to get more aggressive as they tie each other up in knots and bend back their limbs but end up in another stalemate. We get a rollup reversal sequence that ends with Sabre going over to the ropes. Sabre now grounds Gulak and works a modified bow-and-arrow lock but Gulak is able to reach the ropes. Sabre takes Gulak back down and works a full nelson on the mat. Sabre stretches out the arms of Gulak, who fights back and puts Sabre in a key lock. Sabre then puts Gulak in a headscissors while Gulak maintains the key lock and they break the hold. Sabre then twists Gulak’s neck with his legs and ends up working a headscissors on the mat. Gulak counters and stretches out Sabre before they engage in another struggle on the mat. They are both up now as Gulak works the arm but Sabre counters and turns it into a cross armbreaker. They have another reversal sequence until Sabre is able to use a Japanese strangle hold for a bit. Gulak escapes and hits a crossbody for two before working a cravate. They get up after a breather as Sabre works a guillotine choke but Gulak gets out and stretches Sabre’s legs. Gulak tries a sunset flip that Sabre blocks as Sabre tries for his bridging pin but Gulak counters with a Dragon Sleeper. Sabre desperately tries to reach the ropes but Gulak grabs his arm to prevent him and has no choice but to tap out (25:19) ****. After the match, both men get a standing ovation from the crowd.

Thoughts: Excellent technical wrestling match. These two were not just trading holds and counters for the sake of it as this was portrayed as a total struggle with both men doing everything they can to win the match. One minor complaint is that they probably could have shaved off a few minutes but both guys did a great job at making a style that can tune out the crowd and the home viewer into something compelling. I’d seek this out, personally.

Matt Riddle vs. Chris Hero

Hero cheap shots Riddle with a bicycle kick before the bell then stomps away in the corner. Riddle fights back and catches Hero with a knee smash before firing away in the corner as he is all fired up. Hero gets booted in the face then Riddle takes him down with a German suplex. Riddle tries for a running senton but Hero got his knees up as Hero is back in control. Hero lays into Riddle and hits a senton for two. Riddle lands more shots but Hero knocks him to the floor. Hero roughs up Riddle on the floor then brings him back inside for some more punishment. A mild “please don’t leave” chant is directed towards Hero as he chops Riddle in the corner. Riddle then hulks up and goes nuts on Hero in the corner as the crowd cheers. Riddle hits a double knee smash then follows with an exploder. Senton gets two for Riddle, who is now kicking Hero in the chest. Hero catches one kick and that leads to a reversal sequence with both men out on the mat as the crowd chants for both men. They get up where Hero sends Riddle down in the corner with an elbow smash. Riddle counters a tombstone attempt and hits one of his own for a nearfall. Hero reaches the ropes as Riddle tries for the Bromission. Hero then catches Riddle with an elbow smash and hits a short piledriver, a regular piledriver, then a Gotch Piledriver all in rapid secession as that gets the win (11:03) ***1/2.

Thoughts: I liked the finishing sequence and how awesome Riddle’s comebacks were. However, most online were talking this up as a classic and personally, I didnt come away with that feeling. At times, it felt like they were trading strikes for the sake of it but it was still a pretty good match. Just not a classic.

After the match, Drew Galloway and DUSTIN head out to the ring. Galloway laughs over what Riddle said to him last night about relaxing and wants the crowd to bow down to Hero. He then demands the crowd to show DUSTIN and himself proper respect because he sacrificed everything in order to make it in wrestling. Galloway once again puts over Hero for beating Riddle and says that he has saved EVOLVE from itself and the war is over. DUSTIN says since the war ended they can go out and have some fun. However, Tracy Williams & Fred Yehi head out to the ring. Williams tells Galloway he proved Catchpoint was not a failure last night when he made Hero tap out. He then talks about being owed a Tag Title match as Galloway puts Hero over as his enforcer and since he is not cleared, Hero will take his place in a title defense. Hero grabs the mic and talks about having nine matches the past ten days and his weekend is over. However, since Williams wants to brag about making him tap out, it will be his pleasure to break open “this bottle of hot sauce.” Gulak comes out to remind everyone that Catchpoint is in fact a failure and he brought his Monday Night RAW tag team partner, Tony Nese, here for a Tag Title shot. Then the Gatekeepers come out with Ethan Page, who he refers to as his “kingdom of chaos” and wants to prove how dominant they are by eliminating these three teams.

Four-Way EVOLVE Tag Team Title Elimination Match: The Gatekeepers w/ Ethan Page vs. Tracy Williams & Fred Yehi vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak vs. DUSTIN & Chris Hero (c) w/ Drew Galloway

Nese and Yehi start off going back-and-forth until Yehi takes Nese down and hits a basement dropkick. Nese uses the Matrix to avoid a clothesline then takes Yehi down with a leg sweep but DUSTIN ends up tagging himself into the match. Gulak works the arm of DUSTIN and tags Nese as they are in control of the match. DUSTIN uses an eye rake before tagging Hero, who points at Williams. Gulak looks at his former partner and makes the tag. Hero knocks Williams down with an elbow smash but Williams fights back with chops. They trade bicycle kicks then Hero rolls away from Williams, who climbed up top. Williams clotheslines Hero for two but the Gatekeepers are tagged in and beat Williams down. Yehi tags in and chops both men but also ends up getting beat down. Yehi fights back and stomps both their feet but ends up running into a double big boot. Yehi once again tries to fight off the Gatekeepers but gets dumped with a fallaway slam as the Gatekeepers now clear everyone from the ring. Hero comes in and pie-faces both guys. He then breaks up a double clothesline and lays into both guys as the crowd applauds but ends up getting caught in a double chokeslam. Allin then runs out to chop block one of the Gatekeepers as DUSTIN rolls him up for the pin as the Gatekeepers have been eliminated (10:50). Page is going out of his mind as Nese runs into a knee smash courtesy of DUSTIN, who flies out with a tope con hilo onto Nese & Williams. DUSTIN heads back in and works over Yehi in the corner. Hero tags in and hits Yehi with a senton for a two count after a double-team move. DUSTIN & Hero neutralize Yehi in their corner as DUSTIN heels on the crowd in the process. DUSTIN hits the Sole Food as Hero yanks Williams off of the apron. Yehi ducks an attack and hits a German suplex then makes the tag as Williams runs wild. Hero ends up dragging Williams outside and knocks him down. Back in the ring, Williams fights off DUSTIN’s Awful Waffle attempt then lays into him before tagging out. Yehi drops an elbow for two after landing some strikes as Yehi & Williams are in control. Nese tags in and hits Williams with a suplex for two. He hits a few other suplexes but DUSTIN tags himself in and beats on Nese in the corner as Hero wants DUSTIN to hit harder. Hero then tags and shows him how its done with a vicious bicycle kick. Nese then ducks a double team move as Hero accidentally hits DUSTIN with an elbow smash. Nese then sends Hero outside with a super kick and follows with a tope. Back in the ring, Gulak, Williams, and Yehi surround DUSTIN and beat him down. Williams puts DUSTIN in a crossface and DUSTIN ends up tapping out as the champs have been eliminated (20:19). Its now down to Williams & Yehi vs. Gulak & Nese as Galloway flips out and pulls out the referee and knocks him down as Leonard tells us that will be a suspension. Nese catches Williams with a reverse rollup and takes Gulak out in the process as that gets two. Williams shoves Nese off top then eventually drops him on the turnbuckle with a DDT as that gets two. Williams lays into Nese, who comes back with a Michinoku Driver as Yehi breaks up the pin. Yehi tags in and lays into Nese with strikes. Nese catches Yehi with a super kick after a reversal sequence then heads up top but Yehi dodges him and hits a kick for a nearfall. Yehi hits a rolling elbow then catches Nese in the Koji Clutch for the win (24:26) **3/4. After the match, Williams & Yehi shake hands and celebrate with the belts while Gulak looks displeased. Nese offers a handshake to the winners then Gulak approaches as Williams & Yehi extend their hands but Gulak ends up walking out.

Thoughts: The work here was fine. However, once DUSTIN & Hero got eliminated the drama was gone as the rest was really heatless for the most part. I didnt mind the title change and Williams & Yehi as champs is a good idea since there are more heel teams in EVOLVE. Plus, it gets the belts off of Galloway and he doesnt get hurt from it due to being unable to compete. Gulak walking out on his former partners makes sense in storyline too as they can play up on that.

Final Thoughts: I thought this was a decent show overall but nothing more than that. However, the main event scene is changing now and they are doing all they can to replace guys. Riddle being groomed as the top face is a given and watching newer talent come is fun but remains to be seen how well they can thrive.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Thursday: Kayfabe Commentaries Guest Booker: Re-Booking Dallas with Gary Hart

Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 6/3/89

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 5/13/82

Sunday: WWF Boston Garden 6/3/89

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 6/4/89

Tuesday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling 6/5/89

Wednesday: EVOLVE 74