EVOLVE 76

January 27, 2017

From the Woodlawn Lake Park Gym in San Antonio, TX

Lenny Leonard is your host

Catchpoint heads out to interrupt Leonard as he hyped up the crowd. Tracy Williams tells us that tonight, Chris Dickinson & Jaka will prove that they are the “standard” as the show kicks off.

Peter Kaasa vs. Jaka

Kaasa cut his hair. They go back-and-forth to start until Jaka gets clotheslined outside. Jaka snaps Kaasa’s neck across the throat from the apron. Jaka gets two with a rolling koppu kick for two then beats on Kaasa in the corner. He stays in control until Kaasa hits a Thesz Press and dumps Jaka outside. Jaka drives Kaasa into the apron then the action heads back inside where Jaka hits an exploder for two. Jaka headbutts Kaasa after a rolling cradle then hits a DDT for two. Kaasa comes back with a clothesline and a forearm as he starts to build up some momentum. He gets two with a standing corkscrew press then heads up top for the Kaasa Tornado but Jaka gets out of the way and takes Kaasa off of the apron with a super kick. Jaka flies out with a pescado as both men are out on the floor. Jaka heads up top after a bit of stalling but Kaasa runs up and takes him off with an Angle Slam for two. Kaasa then tries a moonsault from the middle rope but it snaps and he falls down on his head and appears hurt. He gets to his feet where Jaka hits a spinning heel kick then gets the win with a sitout powerbomb (9:22) ***. After the match, Catchpoint gets into the ring and applauds Kaasa, who is clutching his neck.

Thoughts: Up until the rope break, this was turning into a pretty good match. Luckily, Kaasa was not seriously hurt here and they quickly went to the finish once Kaasa appeared okay to finish the match. I’d like to see these two face off again without the ropes breaking. Kaasa is starting to get some momentum going for EVOLVE while Jaka has acclimated himself well in Catchpoint. He fits in with that stable.

After a string of videos for the WWN Live promotions (Wish I presume were to stall so the ring could get fixed), Chris Dickinson calls out his opponent, Darby Allin.

Chris Dickinson vs. Darby Allin

Dickinson overpowers Allin, who counters with his speed and agility. Dickinson launches Allin into the corner then chops him down before getting two with a running powerslam. He continues to beat on Allin, who tries to fight back but ends up getting hit harder. Allin gets up top and knocks Dickinson down but gets cut off. However, Allin counters a splash mountain with a hurricarana then leaps off the top to the outside with a coffin drop in a trademark crazy Allin spot. Allin hits some headbutts from the apron but when they get inside Dickinson hits a pair of German suplexes as the crowd chants “one more time.” Allin counters a third attempt with a victory roll but gets drilled with a clothesline. Dickinson tries for a running splash mountain but Allin counters that with a sunset flip and gets the surprise win (6:17) **1/4. After the match, Dickinson attacks Allin but Yehi & Jaka pull him off.

Thoughts: Fun match as the overly aggressive Dickinson lost to the scrappy underdog then ended up snapping and attacking his opponent. Allin really excels in the underdog role and is really advanced as a worker for someone whose only been wrestling for about two years. He’s someone to keep an eye on and if was put in Sami Zayn’s role during his feud against Braun Strowman, he would be insanely over.

Jason Kincaid vs. DUSTIN

They go back-and-forth to start the match. DUSTIN works a headscissors on the mat but Kincaid escapes and eventually hits a headscissors takedown. DUSTIN then send Kincaid into the corner and dumps him outside where he hammers away. Back inside, DUSTIN stalks Kincaid before roughing him up. He gets two with a double underhook suplex then drops an elbow for another nearfall. Kincaid gets tossed outside again but DUSTIN brings him in and misses a slingshot senton as Kincaid got his knees up. DUSTIN comes back with the Sole Food then heads up top but Kincaid slams him off as both men are down. Kincaid eats boot on a charge but comes back with a slam and a double stomp. Kincaid gets two with a blockbuster but DUSTIN comes back with the Sole Food. Kincaid follows with a clothesline in the ropes then hits a slingshot neckbreaker for two. DUSTIN catches Kincaid with a knee and hits a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall but Kincaid blocks a piledriver attempt then floats over only to get caught with a powerbomb. DUSTIN turns him over and puts on a single leg crab then switches to an STF when Kincaid was close to the ropes. Kincaid eventually makes the ropes. Kincaid takes DUSTIN outside but has his tope blocked as DUSTIN lifts him up for a delayed vertical suplex. DUSTIN grabs a chair but the ref yanks it out of his hands. DUSTIN yells at the ref but that allows Kincaid to hit a neck snap then he heads inside with a double stomp from the top before making DUSTIN tap to the Compassionate Release (10:54) **3/4.

Thoughts: This wasn’t bad. DUSTIN is growing on me a bit in his role as someone who turned his back on the fans and acts like a dick. His work in the ring as a heel is not the greatest though but its slowly improving. Kincaid has a unique character and look but could use some more polish in the ring. Anyway, EVOLVE needs to push new talent and since Kincaid is getting over with the crowds they should let him win some matches.

Ethan Page w/ The Gatekeepers vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre attacks Page from behind then takes out the Gatekeepers. Page fights back as they end up knocking each other down outside. Sabre works an octopus hold as the ref tells them to take it inside as the match has officially begun. The bell finally rings as Page rolls Sabre inside. He stomps away but Sabre takes him down and works the leg. Page no-sells a few uppercuts before taking Sabre down with an elbow smash. Page hits a running knee in the corner then taunts the crowd, who boos him. Page whips Sabre into the corner but gets caught with a big boot. Page then boots Sabre off of the apron then calls off the Gatekeepers when they surround Sabre. Page heads out but Sabre catches him with a tornado DDT as Sabre gets the crowd going. Page then catches Sabre with a tilt-a-whirl slam on the floor. Page sets up for a draping DDT on the floor but turns it into a backbreaker as Sabre is in pain. Back inside, Page continues to beat and taunt Sabre. Page tries to attack the arm but Sabre comes back with a few kicks then follows with a running uppercut as both men are down. Sabre now kicks the legs of Page, who blocks a Penalty Kick. Sabre comes back with a German suplex but unable to work a bridge. Sabre then stretches Page out on the mat then works a hanging kimura but Page is able to counter that with a fallaway slam. Page once again uses his strength to get out of a submission hold then they end up on top where Page hits a powerslam as both men are down. He follows with the RK-Ego but Sabre is just able to kick out. Sabre blocks the spinning Dwayne and puts Page in a triangle hold and gets the win After the match, The Gatekeepers run in as Sabre refuses to break the hold but Allin takes them out. Allin then looks right in Page’s face and smiles as Sabre keeps the hold on but we then get word the referee has reversed the decision and awarded the match to Page, who remains out on the mat (12:58) ***1/4. . Sabre leaves as Allin continues to laugh and smile at Page.

Thoughts: I liked the match but the ending was lame, even though I saw what they were going for in putting over Sabre’s aggressiveness while protecting Page. Both guys hated each other and it showed here. I also liked Allin coming out and finally enjoying Page get revenge for all the stuff he pulled as a mini program between Page and Allin can really help get Allin over more, IMO.

ACH vs. Matt Riddle

This is the EVOLVE debut of ACH. Riddle takes him down to start but ACH sends Riddle into the ropes. ACH rolls out for a breather then heads back in as the work a nice sequence that ends in a stalemate. We even get a dueling chant as Riddle takes control. He hits an exploder and follows with a senton before taking ACH outside and chopping him down. Back inside, Riddle hits a pair of gutwrench suplexes but misses a charge as ACH takes him down. Riddle rolls outside where ACH hits a Penalty Kick from the apron but Riddle avoids a slingshot inside and nails ACH with a release German suplex. They work a reversal sequence after both men get up as ACH puts Riddle in a Muta Lock. Riddle is able to get the ropes then ACH chops him down. ACH hits another chop as the seat flies off of Riddle’s chest. ACH decks Riddle with an elbow smash but Riddle blocks an Irish whip by hanging on to the ropes. ACH hits several more hard strikes then uses the Matrix to avoid a clothesline but gets caught with a jumping knee strike after a reversal sequence. They get up and trade strikes but Riddle pops right back up after a snap German suplex and hits one of his own as both men are down. A “this is awesome” chant breaks out as they get up and trade more strikes as that ends with Riddle knocking out ACH’s mouthguard with an upkick then he hits the Bro to Sleep before getting the win with a fisherman’s buster (13:31) ****. After the match, Riddle and ACH hug then Riddle tells us by the end of 2017 he will hold more gold, besides his title in PROGRESS, but DUSTIN attacks him from behind with a chair and mocks the “big, tough, MMA legend” as he tells Riddle unlike the “octagon” there are not going to be rules in their no-DQ match tomorrow.

Thoughts: Excellent match. Both guys had great chemistry together here and ACH is a welcome addition to the EVOLVE roster after being underutilized in Ring of Honor. They also hyped up tomorrow’s no DQ match between DUSTIN and Riddle at the end

EVOLVE Tag Team Title Match: Timothy Thatcher & Jeff Cobb w/ Stokely Hathaway vs. Fred Yehi & Tracy Williams (c)

This is Thatcher’s first match back since his concussion from EVOLVE 72. He starts this off with Yehi and works a side headlock. Williams tags in and takes Thatcher down but Thatcher reaches the ropes. Williams stays in control until Thatcher hits a knee to the gut. Williams tags after making it to the topes as Yehi stomps Thatcher after a low dropkick. Thatcher comes back with a belly-to-belly suplex but the Catchpoint guys are able to make quick tags. Cobb finally gets into the match and catches Yehi with a sidewinder suplex after the latter had a brief flurry of offense. He then catches Yehi with a slam for two as he stays in control. Yehi makes a tag after blocking a reverse rollup as Williams hits a missile dropkick. He floats over on a suplex and eventually hits a suplex. Thatcher tags himself in and slugs it out with Williams. Cobb tags in and tosses Williams with an overhead suplex and follows with a few more suplex variations. Thatcher tags in and boots Yehi off the apron before getting two with a suplex as Yehi runs in for the save. Williams eventually tags out as Yehi runs wild on Thatcher. Yehi then knocks Cobb off of the apron but runs into a boot. Yehi comes back then Cobb breaks up a pin with a sidewinder suplex so Williams runs in for the save as the match breaks down. Williams takes Cobb out with a pescado and that leaves Thatcher and Yehi inside as they slug it out. Yehi is able to put on the Koji Clutch and that gets the win (15:42) **3/4. After the match, Larry Dallas runs out wearing a white suit and asks if Thatcher can rebound to face Cobb tomorrow for the title. Hathaway yells and calls Cobb a “fat slob” and accuses him of giving up on the team and blames him for this loss, even saying he was the one who tapped out. Cobb tells Thatcher they trained and grew up together but tomorrow he will take the belt off of his waist. He then wants to know when he became Hathaway’s bitch as he leaves. Dallas bails when Thatcher stares him down as Dallas said he made tomorrow’s match a lot more interesting.

Thoughts: This match lost me towards the end but the story was Cobb and Thatcher teaming up together and not making it work as they will also be facing off for the title tomorrow. Hathaway has really enhanced Thatcher’s character, or lack of one, as the other story of Thatcher possibly not being 100% since the concussion was stressed here too.

Keith Lee vs. Chris Hero

They start off slow by working the arm as Leonard puts over Hero’s career. The crowd chants after a stalemate then Hero grabs a side headlock before switching to a cravate. Hero floats over on a back suplex then runs the ropes as they break again as the fans chant “these ropes suck.” Again, another potentially dangerous situation averted. Lee is carrying the top rope then tosses it outside but Hero fires away. They are now trading chops as Lee wins that battle. Hero rolls outside but Lee follows and hits him with a belly-to-belly on the apron before firing away. Hero comes back with a boot to the face then they stare each other down before trading elbow smashes. Hero then comes back and hits a running senton from the apron to the floor as he then rolls inside of the ring. Lee heads back in as Hero kicks him in the face after talking a bit of trash then goes on about how much this match means to him. Lee gets to his feet then stares down Hero down as he fires back. Lee hits a suplex after a slugfest as that gets two then he applies a chinlock. Hero gets out of a fireman’s carry and hits an elbow smash then he stands on the middle rope and hits a blockbuster as that gets two. He sets up for the rolling elbow but Lee catches him with a clothesline for two. Lee then goes up on the middle rope and tries a moonsault but the ropes snaps and he falls backwards on Hero as that looked painful as heel. They get up as Hero hits a few elbows but gets caught with a pop-up powerbomb as that gets two. Wow. Hero collapses in Lee’s hands but Hero says he can still continue. The crowd rallies behind Hero as he fights out of a fireman’s carry. Hero hits a three rolling elbows after a bicycle kick as Lee is swaying back-and-forth. Hero tries for the Gotch Piledriver and finally hits it as that gets the win (21:05) ***1/4.

Thoughts: I give both men a lot of credit for making this work despite of the ring conditions. They made this enjoyable and the finish was quite impressive. It also gives Hero momentum heading into his final EVOLVE match before heading to NXT. Lee is a welcome addition to EVOLVE and much bigger than anyone else they have.

After the match, Hero talks about despite the rope snapping, he managed to win the match. He then puts over Lee and asks the crowd to cheer for him. Hero then puts over how he has the killer instinct and he had to find that and if Lee finds that, there is no stopping him. Sabre comes out and says this is Hero’s weekend and he deserves it but tomorrow, he will finally beat Hero in an EVOLVE ring and show him the killer instinct and when that happens, Chris Hero can stay and “Kassius Ohno can piss off to Florida.” Hero then mocks Sabre for out he pronounced “Kassius” and promises to kick his ass before shaking Lee’s hand. I liked this segment a lot. Hero came off genuine as Sabre continues to act like a dick, the role he is best suited for in all honesty. They are pushing Hero vs. Sabre not just as Hero’s last EVOLVE match but also the story of Sabre never beating Hero in EVOLVE and vowing that he will tomorrow so Hero can go on to NXT.

Final Thoughts: This was still a good show. The poor ring conditions derailed it a bit as EVOLVE has never had anything like that happen before. Kaasa would be held off of the show the following night but thankfully he did not become seriously injured. They set up tomorrow night’s show well and continued some ongoing storylines while pushing newer talent. It appears that Riddle is going to get a title shot soon and WrestleMania weekend could be a real possibility. This is a promotion I would seek out, especially for those who are unhappy with the WWE’s current direction.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Thursday: Kayfabe Commentaries Timeline Series: 2007 Blue as told by Swoggle

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/6/89

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 6/10/82

Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 8/12/89

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 8/13/89

Tuesday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling (3 Hour SummerSlam Special) 8/13/89

Wednesday: EVOLVE 77 1/28/17