wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s Evolve 36 iPPV Review 1.09.15
Loading...Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.
EVOLVE 36
OFFICIAL RESULTS
~ Open the Freedom Gate Title Match: Champion Johnny Gargano defeated Shane Strickland via submission [**½]
~ Biff Busick defeated Trevor Lee via submission [***]
~ Uhaa Nation and AR Fox defeated The Bravado Brothers via pin [***]
~ Ricochet defeated Timothy Thatcher via pin [****]
~ 10-Minute Flash Match: Rich Swann defeated Anthony Nese via 2-1 [***]
~ Non-Title Grudge Match: Evolve Champion Drew Galloway and Roderick Strong fought to a double DQ [****]
* You can order Evolve on iPPV by clicking here.
Open the Freedom Gate Title Match: Gargano vs. Strickland: Caleb Konely is out for this weekend, due to a believe a dislocated elbow. Evolve announced a new concept where current members of the roster will “endorse” newcomers for a spot on the card. Gargano came out to kick off the show and explained this, and Rich Swann (former ally and foe) appeared. They discussed their days in Ronin, and Swann endorsed CZW mainstay Shane Strickland. Gargano then decided to put the title on the line because he fears no man. They worked a solid opener; Strickland is very hit or miss for me and comes off as a less polished version of Swann. The match felt a bit slow as times, and never clicked into that next gear that both guys are obviously capable of. It wasn’t bad, disappointing is the best way to describe it I guess. Post match, Moose appeared and speared the hell out of Gargano. The Bravados then promised to make Gargano’s life hell.
Biff Busick defeated Trevor Lee: Biff Busick defeated Trevor Lee in the second match of the night, and it was a nice step up from the opening match. I am a huge fan of Busick and always look forward to his matches. I have seen a limited amount of Trevor Lee, but he gets a ton of praise and I was really looking forward to seeing him in Evolve. This was a really strong little match, that could have benefited from more time. But I feel that the purpose of the match was to give Lee some shine in his debut, and to also give Busick a much needed victory. Again, I have really liked Evolve’s move to bring in and focusing on guys like Busick, Thatcher and Gulak. Lee is a fun performer, I am not quite as high on his as many PWG fans that see him more regularly than I do, but I am impressed and want to see more of his work.
Uhaa Nation and AR Fox defeated The Bravado Brothers: Another good match, continuing the trend after the soft opener. I love the Bravados, and I have been praising Uhaa Nation for a long time, so I was really looking forward to the match. They worked a great mix of traditional tag, which the Bravados thrive at, while also focusing on the strengths of Fox and Nation, using their highflying and more modern style. This was easy to watch, enjoyable with Fox and Nation scoring the victory. Post match, Moose laid out the winners with spears.
Ricochet defeated Timothy Thatcher: Ricochet defeated Timothy Thatcher in a match that was not a traditional “Ricochet” match, but a match that was a really great technical wrestling bout. I knew things would be a bit different here to fit Thatcher’s style, but I really loved this and felt that Ricochet continued to show his evolution as a performer as he really abandoned a lot of what he relies on from match to match. Ricochet’s work of the mid-section was well done, and thankfully paid off as he used the shooting star press to finish off Thatcher. In US wrestling lately there is a trend to work a body part as a way to kill time, with no rhyme, reason or tangible payoff. This was the exact opposite of that, and it was tremendous. Ricochet continues to be great, Thatcher stepped up again and this was just a great wrestling match.
10-Minute Flash Match: Swann vs. Nese: The “10-Minute Flash Match” is essentially a 10-minute iron man match. I am generally not a fan of these kinds of matches, because I feel that we fall into the iron man match tropes in a Reader’s Digest format. Flash pins, heel DQ; we got that here. But, I have to say that the performances from both guys were really good. Swann is such a tremendous baby face, and his sell job of the chair attack from Nese was spectacular. Nese is such a great athlete, but showed a tremendous vicious side here that I felt has been needed. Against all odds, two great performers made me enjoy a match I tend to hate; great work to both guys. Post match Moose and the Bravados arrived for another attack, only for Gargano to make the save. They set up a six-man for Evolve 37, Moose and the Bravados vs. the reunited Ronin (Gargano, Swann and Chuck Taylor). I love it.
Non-Title Grudge Match: Evolve Champion Drew Galloway vs. Roderick Strong: This was a rematch from the spectacular Evolve 35 event, where Galloway defeated Strong in a **** match that got over 17-minutes. Unfortunately Strong was a dick post match and attacked the champion with his title, leading to this match. Hooray continuity. These dudes brawled all around the building, and did a great job continuing what they built on the last show and showing the hate that was needed after Evolve 35. I feel that brawls around the building can come off very lame and that they cam lose the crowd, but the good news is that with the smaller venue and hot crowd, they stayed invested as the guys worked their story. Galloway continues to change as a performer, shedding the WWE shackles and really entertaining as an all around performer. Strong is Mr. Consistency on the independents and almost never has a bad match. They are developing a really good chemistry, and I have a feeling that they could do something really special in a rematch. And there will be one because this went to a double DQ finish when the guys got chairs, went wild and the ref had to throw it out when he lost control. Once again, Evolve did a good job of making me enjoy something that I tend to hate. I am not a fan of non-finishes on PPV, especially in the main events unless there is a really good story and or there is a lot of logic there. They built off of the previous match, the hate grew and again I feel that they are building to a really special next match. Much respect to Drew Galloway for the hard work he’s putting in, and basically making me forget “Drew McIntyre”.
* End scene.
* Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
