The 411 Top 10: The Top 10 Evolve Matches of 2016 (So Far…)

WELCOME: Welcome one and all, Larry here, and I will be presenting some top 10 columns until I can get someone to replace Kevin on a more permanent basis. Today I want to talk about Evolve, a promotion I really enjoy covering and also a promotion I feel more people should give a chance. After a rough few years, Evolve started to find their groove and had an outstanding 2015. So far, in 2016, they have delivered some top tier in ring action, and I feel that it needs to be shared with wrestling fans. Today I will share their top 10 matches of 2016, so far; I hope you enjoy. You can order Evolve on iPPV or VOD at this link.

10. From Evolve 55 – Style Battle Tournament Finals: Matt Riddle vs. Tracy Williams [****¼]: Catchpoint explodes here. Williams lost to Riddle prior to him joining Catchpoint. Gulak cuts a pre-match promo about his boys going to war for the Style Battle crown. He told them to make him proud and may the best man win. They slapped the shit out of each other to begin, and then Riddle went for an arm bar, and Williams had to get the ropes. Riddle then worked leg kicks, but when he got overly aggressive he missed a charge and spilled to the floor. Williams then hit a high cross from the top all the way to the floor, and almost ate the barricade. Back in and Williams jumped off, and ate a knee strike and Riddle hit a German with the bridge for 2. Deadlift gut wrench by Riddle followed that and he again laid in the kicks. Williams fired up as they slapped each other, big takedown by Riddle who then talked some trash. This allowed Williams to fight back and lock in his crossface but Riddle made the ropes. Williams ran wild with kicks and shotgun dropkicks, showing great fire. The pacing was good, as they worked a methodical style but never slowed it to a crawl. Riddle’s selling has also noticeable improved, partially because he’s had to do more, but also because he’s doing it well. They again were just beating the hell out of each other, and then Williams scored with the octopus hold. They dropped to the mat, with Williams keeping the hold, and Riddle finally getting the ropes. Riddle finally countered a German, dropped down and got a heel hook, but Williams countered into a heel hook of his own, which hasn’t been done to Riddle so far in Evolve. Williams again landed big strikes, including some brutal looking forearms, but it was not enough to defeat Riddle. They traded strikes, Riddle with a takedown and into a kimura try followed. Riddle on the ropes here, but Williams picked him up and hit the shoulder breaker for a near fall. Riddle then went all Memphis and hit a JUMPING TOMBSTONE and both men were down. They fought to their feet, and Williams hit a piledriver that riddle sold so well, almost RVD pop up style. Williams then worked into the crossface; Riddle fought to survive and as he almost had the ropes Williams just stomped on his head. Riddle fought back, slammed Williams to the corner and landed strikes as they worked up top and Riddle looked for the Fisherman’s buster. Williams countered, but then Riddle hit the dragon screw leg whip off the ropes and into the knee bar. Williams then started to kick Riddle in the face, but he wrenched in the hold even more and Williams had to tap. That was an excellent match, working the style perfectly and also serving as a star making performance for Riddle who has been rapidly improving. He went into deeper waters, showed that he can sell, that he can mix in the pro wrestling more and is becoming a more complete performer each time out. Williams has been great in the past and deserves a ton of credit for his work here, but Riddle has constantly improved and has even more importantly booked smartly and put in a position to succeed.

9. From Evolve 56 – Chris Hero vs. Tracy Williams [****½]: At Evolve 48, Hero knocked out Gulak, Thatcher and Williams, because he could, and not Williams wants to man up and get some revenge. They did a lot of back and forth wrestling, with striking mixed in. More grappling and holds, but not the mat based stuff that we just saw. Williams got a sort advantage, when he hit an open handed slap to the ear of Hero, which staggered the big man. Hero then was able to send him to the floor where he unleashed a nasty barrage of strikes. Form there, Hero kept punishing and Williams would not quit, he kept firing up and fighting back, but hero kept knocking him on his ass. Hero kept brutalizing Williams, telling to stand up like a man, and Williams just kept coming back for more. Williams kept digging for this backdrop suplex, and would get shut down by elbows of death or other things. He eventually got it, which allowed him to made the big comeback. After about 10-minutes of ass beating, Williams was getting his revenge and even locked in the crossface, but Hero was able to get the ropes. Hero’s agility is always undervalued, as he did some great stuff here (the over and back in on the ropes, jumping kick and kip up into the spinning boot) with ease and precision. Williams worked a series of near falls off rollups, but then Hero spiked him with a piledriver for a near fall. It broke down into the bit time striking exchange, Williams turned Hero inside out with a clothesline, and he hit a piledriver but Hero kicked out. That was a pretty amazing sequence overall there. Williams then ht the high angle DDT, the piledriver and Hero kicked out again but just barely. Williams lit up Hero with strikes in the corner, but Hero managed a rolling elbow and then another for a near fall. Hero was completely flabbergasted that Williams survived, so he went to the Gotch style piledriver, which finally put Williams away. That was so, so great. Chris Hero delivers again, and Tracy Williams steps up and delivers again. Williams loses nothing by losing this match, as he continues to put in some excellent performances and Hero is ridiculously consistent in delivering some greatness. The pacing was great, and it kept building and building throughout and again was different from the other matches. For a comparison, this was like an Ishii vs. Shibata match in all the best ways.

8. From Evolve 57 – WWE Cruiserweight Classic Qualifier: Drew Gulak vs. Tracy Williams [****½]: Both men are part of the Catch Point stable (Gulak is the Godfather of the family), and are also the current Evolve tag team champions. Lenny Leonard did a nice job discussing Gulak’s experience advantage, but made sure to note that Williams makes up for his lack of experience with the size and strength advantage. They started slowly with catch wrestling and counters, but then Williams fired up and hit a shotgun dropkick and suicide dive. Following that they worked a series of pinning combos, where Gulak showed some frustration when Williams got a near fall off of a rollup. Gulak busted out a powerbomb, and then went back to grounding Williams, using stomps and more aggressive limb work. Basically the elder statesman got pissed off at the young ion here, and is trying to make him pay. Williams was able to escape, and he then took chances, taking Gulak down and then hitting a top rope splash for a near fall. Gulak also started to take more risks, hitting a top rope clothesline for another near fall. Gulak followed with a series of basement dropkicks. Gulak challenged his young protégé to fight back, they fought up top and Williams hit the DDT to the apron, and then spiked Gulak with the brainbuster for a near fall. He locked in the crossface; Gulak fought and tried to roll for the ropes, and finally got the ropes. Williams connected with the backdrop driver, and went for a splash but ate boots by Gulak. Gulak connected with the lariat, went to the second rope but Williams caught him on the way down and pulled him into the crossface. Gulak escaped again. They worked in some good back and forth and near falls, with Gulak finally catching a slick dragon sleeper with the body scissors to pick up the victory. Goddamn that was great, they worked it completely differently than the previous match, and for as good as that was, this surpassed it. Gulak is great, and we all know that, bit Williams keeps impressing each and every time out. They almost worked past a point where I thought they should finish, but they did a great job of closing this out on a high note. This match kicked all of the asses.

7. From Evolve 53 – EVOLVE Tag Team Title Tournament First Round Match: Sami Callihan & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Chris Hero & Tommy End [****½]: Callihan is replacing Thatcher, due to his staph infection. Hero and ZSJ with the grappling to begin things, ZSJ controlled here, grounding Hero. Callihan in, wearing his hoodie, and working the side headlock on Hero. Hero fought back with a shoulder block and back splash, and End tagged in. End worked leg kicks, utilizing his striking, and Callihan had to take a powder. Callihan then tried to strike with End, which was a mistake as End started to just destroy him with kicks. Callihan eventually powered End to his corner, ZSJ tagged in and worked the technical grapplefuck with ease on End. ZSJ is so damn smooth and makes things look easy. They worked a great series of strike counters, End then just kicked him in the face, but ZSJ fought back, only to eat a kick by Hero. Hero in and just drops bombs on ZSJ. End in with kicks as they work the heat on ZSJ. Hero and End worked over ZSJ in the corner, and then Callihan ate a kick to the face. Hero and End are brutalizing their opponents here, keeping control on ZSJ and working very well as a team. Hero can be so spectacular as a dick, slapping and kicking ZSJ and telling him that “there is no Thatcher here to help you” as he beats on him. ZSJ eventually rolled into the hot tag, hit a delayed suplex on Hero and then forearms for a near fall. It broke down here, Callihan fighting off both Hero and End; he hit the face wash on hero and then End. Hero had no time for that bullshit and he and End hit a sick Suplex/knee strike combo for a near fall. Callihan kept fighting, ate a kick to the chest but then connected with the boot to the face. They fought up top, slaps by Callihan followed and then the sunset flip bomb was countered and End hit a knee strike and German for the near fall as ZSJ saved the match. He hit rolling elbows and then a Tiger Suplex on Hero, which looked like it sucked to take. Callihan then accidentally kicked ZSJ in the face, but they then fought together to hit a double team tombstone on End for a near fall. Then worked the arm of End with strikes, and rolled into the double armed submission but Hero started to kick ZSJ in the face, but he refused to break. Callihan in with a sleeper on Hero, End is almost broken in half, but Hero escaped to break that up. This is pretty damn great here. Hero worked over ZSJ with forearms and elbows, but End and Hero worked together and hit a version of total elimination for a near fall. Hero just bludgeoning ZSJ with strikes here, and then hits machinegun chops onto ZSJ. ZSJ back with the running uppercut, captures the leg and into a bridging pin combo for 2. Hero then spiked him with a piledriver, and both men were down. Hero then recovered and hit another piledriver. Hero hen took ZSJ to the corner, set him up top but Callihan made the save. He and End fight to the floor, back in and hits a powerbomb on Hero, suicide dive on End and ZSJ with the soccer kick to Hero for a near fall. Hero hit the ripcord elbow and ZSJ survived somehow. Hero called for End to come back in, but Callihan tried to stop him but End hit a moonsault to the floor onto Callihan. Gotch piledriver try by Hero, but ZSJ countered into a hanging guillotine and then into he kimura. Hero escapes, ZSJ gets the cross arm breaker; they fight and hero pulls him up and End in and hits a double stomp onto ZSJ. Elbow, high kick, and then a KO combo and ZSJ is finally done. Yeah, follow that, this was some insane shit. It lasted nearly 30-minutes and never felt like it to me. They worked a nice beginning, and then built and built and built and it was awesome. This had great wrestling, grappling, striking, violence and drama; it was an ass kicking adventure and I loved it. This was a great match, one of the best of the year so far for the promotion.

>

6. From Evolve 57 – Best In The World Challenge Series – The Technician: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Drew Gulak [****½]: ZSJ is so damn good and makes everything look easy; Gulak is really underrated by a lot of fans because he’s so consistently good that he’s often taken for granted. Slick and effortless grappling from both men in the early portion, and quite honestly the opening six or so minutes flew bye. ZSJ’s work kept going back to the arm, Gulak was largely able to avoid this and he was targeting the leg to ground his opponent and to also soften him up for the Gu-Lock (ankle lock). It was a constant battle for position, Gulak was succeeding in not allowing ZSJ to work the arm but ZSJ was still doing damage. Gulak finally got an extended time of control, working the strangle hold and generally tying up ZSJ. Gulak plays the grapple game extremely well, but I think it’s the mix in of the basic pro wrestling moves/suplexes and such that works so well for him. ZSJ escaped and went right after the arm, but Gulak cut him off and worked a Gory special. ZSJ was again able to show off more of his aggressive side, lighting into Gulak with stiff stakes repeatedly. Gulak tried to take a powder on the floor, but when he returned he ate stiff uppercuts and got twisted up like a pretzel. Gulak was able to get a brief ankle lock, but the ropes saved ZSJ. Gulak again started to work the legs, this time opting for punishing moves (slamming the legs to the mat and such) instead of grappling. ZSJ actually took off his boot to sell the ankle, so Gulak slammed him to the ropes, making sure that the ankle hit the cables each time. ZSJ refused to allow the reef to stop the match, allowing Gulak to continue his assault. ZSJ eventually countered a slam into the hanging guillotine, scissored the body but Gulak escaped with a northern lights suplex. They traded slaps and strikes, which I felt as if I see way too much near the end, they then worked a series of pinning combos and ZSJ scored some crazy submission on Gulak to pick up the win. They did some tremendously beautiful things in this match, ZSJ was on point, Gulak was on point and showed again that grappling based bouts can be entertaining and have a great pace to them. The big difference between this match and the last two long matches are simple to me. The work/grappling was much better, it felt as if it had an end game/was part of the plan, the pacing was better, it never felt slow and it never felt as if it was going too long. The time never came into my thoughts during the match, and it was longer then both of those matches. In many ways this was what I expected it to be and what it needed to be, and those are good things.

5. From Evolve 56 – Best In The World Challenge Series: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Johnny Gargano [****½]: ZSJ has announced that he wants to prove that he is the best in the world and make Evolve his company in 2016, so the Best In The World Challenge Series was born. Hero is out on commentary, and will also be one of the opponents in the series. Gargano proved that he can work the grapple style, working a great match with Thatcher, which was very important to the crowning of Thatcher as the man. Excellent back and forth match wrestling to begin, both men had times to shine, but they kept ending in a stalemate. ZSJ is amazingly smooth, and it almost feels as if he improves every time I watch him. Gargano was starting to get the better of ZSJ and controlling more often than not, so ZSJ stomped the arm of Gargano and that allowed him to take control and start to work toward the arm bar. Gargano was great as he started to sell, looking afraid when ZSJ would attack, which works especially well because Gargano is left handed. As compared to stuff earlier on the show, when Gargano would go on offense or fight back in any way, he kept selling that arm. And not only the selling, but ZSJ kept going back to the arm repeatedly, to weaken it for the potential finish but also to cut off Gargano when he got a hope spot. Gargano was resilient, but ZSJ opened up the arsenal and landed the soccer kick and scored a near fall. They did a great series of counters late in the match, built around Gargano fighting off a dragon suplex repeatedly (in about 10 different ways) and finally hitting a dive onto ZSJ. Gargano tried for the Gargano escape, but he had issues holding on, due to the arm work, allowing ZSJ to escape and counter into another near fall. After a back and forth battle of strikes, ZSJ got the octopus hold, and Gargano dropped to the mat with both arms trapped and had to submit. That was another excellent match, with Gargano doing another big and clean loss to help put over another guy, paying back for the long runs he had with the title when he was beating everyone. This was excellent, on the level of Hero vs. Williams, but it was a completely different style of match. The work was clean, felt effortless, and they kept the crowd the entire way though. Gargano is a guy that can take the loss, even a clean submission one like this, especially when it means so much more for ZJS as they build his series. I knew that this would be really good, but it ended up as excellent.

4. From WWN Live Mercury Rising – The Six Man Tag Team Tradition Continues – Days Of Future Past: Kota Ibushi, Johnny Gargano & TJ Perkins vs. Will Ospreay, Tommy End & Marty Scurll [****¾]: We’re starting this match 3 hours and 24 minutes into the show. They worked clean and basis stuff early, keeping a methodical pace and making it feel as if they are going to go long. They worked their way to Ibushi vs. Ospreay, and that got a great reaction. These two worked a really fun and quickly paced set, with some slick counters. After Ibushi and friends got some run, Ospreay was able to slow up Gargano and then lads took the advantage and worked the heat on Gargano. Good choice, as TJP is a heel and Ibushi needs to be saved for a big hot tag. I need to watch more Scurll, dude is fun in the ring and has a great villain presence. And that’s what they did; Gargano sold for a while, Ibushi got a short hot tag, and then it broke down with everyone hitting everyone in a three on three battle. They traded superkicks, Ospreay was isolated and TJP and Ibushi worked him over. Things then got fast paced, with rapid-fire offense and the Europeans jus wrecking Gargano with all of their signature stuff. They then worked over TJP, and did a sweet triple team elevated cutter spot for a great near fall. Ibushi then came in to save the day, ran wild until Ospreay cut him off and then Gargano returned with spears and a suicide dive. Ibushi hit a moonsault and a 450 by TJP, and Scurll made the save and they have the crowd back big time. We then go the big signature move buffet and EVERYONE is down! Scurll did the broken fingers spot on Ibushi, Gargano hit a dive onto the pile on the floor and then End hit a moonsault onto everyone! This is beautiful madness. They then poured into the crowd and brawled. Ibushi and Ospreay battled onto the top of the setting in the bar area, it was hard to see them and then the both hit a moonsault onto the pile of guys. Ibushi and Ospreay then returned to the ring and had a hell of a sequence until the others returned. We then got Ibushi hitting the big powerbomb and that was all. They had a lot to work against after a really soft middle of the show, but they worked their asses off, got the crowd back and delivered one hell of a main event. It was exactly what it was supposed to be in the best way possible.

3. From Evolve 59 – USA vs. Europe Series Match: Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay [****¾]: The opening minutes was all fast paced work, counters and both guys trying to one up the other in a what ended up a mirror/mirror deal. The big thing is that Ricochet has been regarded as the best high flyer for the past few years, and now Ospreay is getting that buzz, so it makes sense. A match like this feels so refreshing, the pacing, the different things (Ricochet pulling out the ripcord leg sweep) and just the general work are very enjoyable. Ricochet missed the People’s Moonsault, countered Ospreay’s attempt and then finally hit it. They are playing this perfectly as the “king of flight’ defending his crown against the young upstart. The story made perfect sense, and the work was a joy to watch as both guys seemed to have an answer for the other, including both guys hitting reverse RANA back to back for a double down spot. For a regular match I would loathe that spot, but here it works because of the story. Both of these guys did a great job with the mirror aspect, which is the real hook here like when they would do the same counters, and then end up kicking each other with the same style of kick at the same time. The action escalated to a striking battle, to a DVD on the apron and then the 450 by Ricochet for the near fall, which he sold so well. Ospreay countered and then absolutely spiked ricochet with the cutter, the shooting star and the phoenix splash for a near fall of BEAUTY. Sweet Baby Jesus they have done such a good job of building to this point, Ricochet made a comeback and planted Ospreay with a sick regal-plex for another great near fall. Ospreay avoided the 630, and hit the Spanish fly for a near fall, the Essex destroyer followed and some how Ricochet survived. Ospreay misses some wild looking twisting shooting star, Ricochet then did the deadlift brainbuster for another near fall. Michinoku driver by Ricochet, but Ospreay says I ain’t got time for that shit and kicks out. Ricochet ate knees on the shooting star, KO kicks by Ospreay and then he did a back handspring into the benadryller by Ricochet for the win. For as much as Zack Sabre Jr vs. Ospreay was awesome, this was awesome in a completely different way in on the same level. FAN FUCKING TASTIC.

FUCKING NASTY PILEDRIVER BY HERO TO WIN IT. Another great match against ZSJ. #EVOLVE60 pic.twitter.com/H9nwhQ6fnV

— DTAM (@DeathToAllMarks) May 7, 2016

2. From Evolve 61 – Chris Hero vs. Zack Sabre Jr. [****¾]: The story here is that the promotion did a “Best in the world” series of matches, featuring Zack Sabre Jr. Hero took issue with this, because he’s constantly KO’d ZSJ and thinks of himself as “the best of all time.” Hero’s goal is to continue to make ZSJ his bitch, which ZSJ needs to beat Hero to lay claim to being the best. ZSJ worked his magic, doing the smoothest chain wrestling in the world and not even looking like he’s trying. While ZSJ had the pretty work down, Hero had counters to almost everything and not only would escape, but he would also work holds and basically go into ZSJ’s wheelhouse. Hero was cool working in ZSJ’s world, but really took control when he went to his striking game. He brutalized ZSJ on the floor, and then brought it back to the ring. Hero then worked holds and tried to out grapple ZSJ, which he did for a time. Great counter as hero went for the running senton and ZSJ caught him in an arm bar, which Hero sold awesomely. Hero is so good in this style of match, he gets to play the bully and does it so well, and helps who ever he faces come off as the sympathetic face. ZSJ started to make his comeback and was focused on the elbow, manipulating it in ways it should not go, and likely trying to stop that deadly elbow of Hero. ZSJ started to show great fire; calling on Hero to give him his best shots and he’d then take them and continually ask for more. The action is great as is the story being told here. ZSJ is really good, but stretches like this, where he is fighting with everything he has and mixing in a mean streak are when he comes off even better. Hero is a bully, but he’s not a pussy; he also keeps taking everything his opponent has and gives as well as he gets. ZSJ worked into the hanging kimura lock, which Hero turned into a dragon sleeper and looked to submit the grappler as an ultimate insult. Hero had time to mock the crowd as he repeatedly kicked ZSJ in he head, and then berated him and demanded, “get up boy, hey may love you, but you don’t mean shit to me.” Hero then countered a RANA into a piledriver, which ZSJ sold like death. ZSJ manages to then counter a tombstone onto a cradle for a near fall, and then hero ht the stuff piledriver for the near fall as they are mixing in callbacks to the previous matches very well here. Hero then adjusted the elbow pad and looked for another KO of ZSJ. ZSJ fought with all he had to avoid another piledriver, got the Gotch hold but ZSJ countered out and then bent Hero in half with the double arm bar and then into the pinning combo, but Hero barely escaped. ZSJ hit a German and then Tiger suplex, the soccer kick followed, but Hero was still alive and then connected with the ripcord elbow and spinning kick. SICK TOMBSTONE on ZSJ, and that was that. These two men were made to wrestle each other, and not only put together another awesome match, but played into the feud and previous matches very well. Chris Hero simply has ZSJ right now, no matter how hard or how much heart ZSJ shows. These guys can feud forever as far as I am concerned.

1. From Evolve 58 – Best In The World Challenge Series – The Flyer: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Will Ospreay [****¾]: The opening minutes was a display of fast paced, clean and very fun grappling. This was world of sport on crack, and was so well done. After the back and forth, Ospreay took control with strikes and kicks, leading to a near fall. ZSJ then came back with some great counters, and hit a bridging dragon suplex for a near fall. ZSJ then worked a series of holds, working the neck, the knees and then the arms to ground the flyer. ZSJ’s work is so crisp and clean, and Ospreay’s selling was really good here. Ospreay started to make a comeback, running wild with kicks and then a Sasuke special to a huge reaction. They are working a great pace here, slowly escalating the action and getting the crowd invested big time. Ospreay rolled through the 630, and then ZSJ hit the tiger suplex and then locked in a sick dragon suplex variation into a roll up but Ospreay rolled out into the shooting star and then a phoenix splash for a near fall. Sweet baby Jesus that was awesome. Ospreay went for a Rainmaker, but ZSJ countered and we got a series of near falls. Ospreay went for a shooting star press (standing) and got caught in the triangle! The ref checked the arm, but Ospreay survived. He then did a single arm left and powerbombed ZSJ to the corner. Ospreay dead jumped to the top and got his legs kicked out from underneath him, and he fell into the tree of WHOA. They then worked up top, Ospreay countered out and then hit the Spanish fly as ZSJ charged him for a near fall. Ospreay up top, left off and ate knees. Soccer kick by ZSJ into the Liger bomb and then a sick double-armed submission and Ospreay had to submit.

That was fucking amazing, and a clear match of the year candidate. This is a MUST SEE match, and I cannot stress that enough. Zack Sabre Jr. is legit one of the very best in the world, and the hype around Ospreay is real kids. The crowd reaction to the match and the finishing sequence made this truly feel special. The mark had been set for the weekend, and possibly the year for Evolve. Many may come close, but this was amazing.