wrestling / TV Reports

411’s EVOLVE 17: Generico vs. Del Sol Review 9.12.2012

September 11, 2012 | Posted by TJ Hawke

September 8, 2012
Voorhees, NJ

Commentator: Lenny “Lenny Leonard” Leonard & Bryce Remsburg

The show starts with LLLL in the ring, but he is almost immediately interrupted by Jon Davis. He says that he demands an Evolve title. He makes the fans who want a title to stand up. Davis invites wrestlers from the back who want a title. Jigsaw, Rich Swann, Lince Dorado, and AR Fox come out. Fox is wearing his DGUSA Open the United Gate championship belt. Ricochet then came out with a fantastic vest. Ricochet says he’s better than everyone here. Fox goes to punch him, but Ricochet ducks out of the ring. Johnny Gargano then comes out with his Open the Freedom Gate championship belt. Gargano says he respects what Davis wants, but that he is already the champion for Evolve (finally that’s been brought up!). Gargano says he is a champion for the people. Gargano then suggests that they make their non-title match a match for the Freedom Gate belt. Davis agrees. Gargano wants the match now. The crowd agrees. LLLL confirms that Davis’s career is still on the line in this match, per his own stipulation, and that this is a Dragon Gate sanctioned match. This segment was OK.

Johnny Gargano© vs. Jon Davis [Freedom Gate Title]
Davis originally wanted this match to be non-title, because he wanted to just make a statement about wanting an Evolve Title.

They blocked each other’s signature moves early. Davis ended up on the floor, and Gargano wiped him out with a pair of tope suicidas and a rolling senton off the apron. Back in the ring, Davis caught him with DAT SPINEBUSTAH. Davis was in control after that. Gargano eventually managed to catch Davis with a slingshot DDT: 1…2…NO! Gargano then hit a trio of corner dropkicks for another nearfall. Gargano hit a kneeling superkick and then a proper superkick, but Davis no sold them. Gargano got the Gargano Escape (which he beat Davis with at Evolve 7), but Davis managed to escape and sent Gargano to the floor. They brawled on the floor until Gargano caught him with a Hurt’s Donut on the floor. That was really close to the end of the 20 count. Gargano got in before 20, but Davis did not. Gargano won the match and Davis’s career is now supposedly over.

Gargano says he’s not OK with winning this match that way. He doesn’t want Davis to retire like that. Davis promptly killed Gargano with a discus lariat, and Davis then destroyed Gargano’s corpse with a Border Toss out of the ring and through a table. The crowd then chants “CZW!” Lol. Gargano had to be helped to the back. Initially, I thought this would mean Davis was suspended (much like Sami Callihan was for attacking Generico after a match), but Evolve said after the show that this was a Dragon Gate sanctioned match, and thus, there would be no suspension. Whatever. Let’s hope they are just consistent with that rule.

That was a solid opener, but I know these two are capable of having a really good, if not a great match. Plus, the non-finish just made the story of the match feel incomplete. The post-match heel turn from Davis was by far the highlight of everything that happened here. Davis’s facials during the heel turn were great, and his promos before the show made it clear that something like this loss could make Davis completely snap. Good stuff.
Match Rating: **1/2

Lince Dorado [1-2] vs. Jigsaw [1-1]
Jigsaw locked in a Mexican Surfboard almost right away, but Dorado escaped. Dorado hit a diving hurricanrana that sent Jigsaw to the floor. Dorado then hit an Asai Moonsault. Back in the ring, Dorado hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Jigsaw eventually came back with a sliding kick and a tope suicida. Back in the ring, Jigsaw hit a double stomp. Jigsaw had Lince in a torture rack position, but Lince reversed it into a spike hurricanrana for a nearfall. Lince then hit a Michinoku Driver. Lince went for a shooting star press, but Jigsaw avoided it and hit a deadlift bridging German suplex: 1…2…NO! Jigsaw went to the top rope, but Dorado met him up there and hit a one man Spanish Fly: 1…2…3!

This was a fun undercard match with some cool action. It didn’t really come together though like I thought it could have though. I like both guys being in Evolve, and I hope they are booked regularly in the future.
Match Rating: **1/2

Christina Von Eerie vs. Marti Belle
This is a SHINE showcase match. Von Eerie has been very annoying in DGUSA/Evolve as a non-wrestler, but I’ve liked some matches from her over the years.

They started trading some strikes right away. Von Eerie hit Snake Eyes and a big boot to the face. Von Eerie then hit a stranglehold backstabber: 1…2…3

Just a squash for Von Eerie. Not much to discuss.
Match Rating: ½*

Larry Dallas came out after the match, but he wasn’t wearing a sweater vest. Fail. Dallas says she’s clearly not a wrestler, so she could go fuck him in the back (in so many words). Dallas ran her down, but Belle yelled at him in Spanish. Caleb Konley and Scott Reed then came out with NEW The Scene shirts, which means The Scene now have had two shirts come out this year. Earth. Of all people, Pinkie Sanchez came out to defend Belle. Sami Callihan then came out, and the crowd popped huge for him. Sunny then came out to bring Marti to the back.

The Scene (Caleb Konley & Scott Reed w/Larry Dallas) [4-0] vs. The Dirty Ugly Fucks (Sami Callihan & Pinkie Sanchez) [0-0]
The Scene tossed Pinkie out of the ring, and they immediately beat down Sami. This crowd does not want to see The Scene beat down Sami. Sami came back with a superkick to Reed’s leg in the corner. Pinkie tagged in and a made a comeback. He a nice guillotine DDT on Konley. He then killed Reed with a moonsault press. Pinkie then hit a diving ass stomp on Konley. The Scene managed to beat down Pinkie for a bit. Sami then sent Konley to the floor and locked in a Stretch Muffler on Reed. Reed reversed it into a small package, but Sami kicked out. Sami hit Brogue Kick and the locked in a Callihan Death Clutch (rear naked choke). Reed immediately taps out!

Much better match than I would have expected. The impromptu nature of the match probably helped. Also, the CZW crowd loves Sami, and Pinkie looked really good for the first time in a long time on a DGUSA or Evolve show.
Match Rating: **1/2

Sami wants his match with Masada now.

Sami Callihan [3-6] vs. Masada [0-0]
Callihan’s announced record implies that the 2011 Style Battle once again does not count toward the wrestlers’ records. Masada was in complete control early on. Sami almost got the Stretch Muffler locked in at one point, but Masada easily regained control. Sami was bleeding from his mouth and clutching his ribs half-way through the beatdown. Masada locked in his STF variation. Sami tapped nearly right away. The fuck?

That was pretty much a squash. Makes me wonder if Sami’s ribs were injured so bad that they went to the finish earlier than expected. Regardless, this was probably more effective match for Masada than the two squashes he had in DGUSA. The main downside of this in terms of the show (assuming Sami suffered no long-term damage) was that the crowd was very hot for Callihan when he first appeared on the show, and he was just destroyed here.
Match Rating: *

The Gentlemen’s Club (Chuck Taylor, Drew Gulak, & Orange Cassidy w/ Jake Manning, Dr. Colonel Nolan Angus, & The Swamp Monster) [0-1] vs. Rich Swann and The Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno & Player Dos) [2-2]
I believe this is the first time that The Gentlemen’s Club has been out in full force. It was glorious to see. Orange Cassidy was zonked out of his mind. The record for SSB and Rich Swann is only reflective for the SSB, and the match result will only affect them.

Uno dispatched of Taylor early on. Dos then took down Orange Cassidy, who actually moved while he was in the ring, much to my surprise. The tecnicos worked over Chucky T for a while. I don’t know what is going on. The crowd does not seem to care much. Eventually, The Club used the numbers game on Swann to cut him off. The rudos worked over Swann for a bit. Taylor hit a powerbomb on Swann for a nearfall. Taylor went for another, but Swann reversed it into a hurricanrana. Player Uno made a hot tag. Dos tagged hit and hit a release Dragon suplex on Taylor. Dos hit a lionsault, but Gulak made the save. Swann then hit Cassidy with the Lethal Injection. Gulak hit Swann with a Choke Backbreaker. Dos took out Gulak and Cassidy with a double Pele. Taylor and Gulak hit Dos with German suplexes and Cassidy hit him with a lariat. Gulak tried to unmask Player Uno. Cassidy and Taylor were the victims of the Get Over Here Suplex. Swann and Uno then took out Gulak. Cassidy hit Swann with a Michinoku Driver and locked in the SQUEEZE! All the rudos locked in submissions. All the tecnicos managed to escape. Dos wiped out Taylor and Cassidy with a somersault plancha. Swann then killed Gulak with a Trouble in Paradise: 1…2…3!

This match ended up being a lot of the fun. The crowd mostly sucked (they reacted to a few of the funnier spots), and that held the match back from being the standout that I thought it could be. The Drew Gulak of Beyond Wrestling would be a much better fit in Evolve, then the persona he is portraying here. Orange Cassidy is also a really talented athlete. Neither character really makes sense for Evolve, but as long as they continue to be fun, I won’t complain (too much).
Match Rating: ***

Ricochet [4-2] vs. AR Fox [6-3]
These two have had some good matches in Insanity Pro Wrestling, but both men have improved so much since those matches. These two started feuding in DGUSA/Evolve after Fox and CIMA defeated Ricochet and Swann for the United Gate belts.

Fox hit a split-legged senton early, but Ricochet was too close to the ropes to be pinned. Fox went for the diving leg drop on the apron, but Ricochet avoided it. Fox landed ass-first on the apron. Ouch. Fox ended up on the floor, and Ricochet hit a double jump Asai Moonsault. That was beautiful. Ricochet was in complete control after that. Fox eventually managed to start a comeback with a delayed Mic Check. Fox then hit a springboard dropkick and the incredibly dangerous Lo Mein Rain! At least he didn’t come close to killing himself this time. Ricochet came back with a springboard DDT and a standing shooting star press: 1…2…NO! Fox killed him with a crucifix driver: 1…2…NO! Ricochet came back with an exploder suplex into the corner. Fox came back with Twister: 1…2…NO! Fox then hit a shooting star cannonball splash. Fox tried for Lo Mein Pain, but Ricochet blocked hit and hit a backslide driver. Ricochet then hit a reverse hurricanrana and a shooting star press: 1…2…3!

Ricochet ran down AR Fox on the microphone after the match. This is clearly a feud that will last a while.

This was a really good match that I had a lot of fun watching. This was also definitely better than their two matches from IPW that I’ve seen. Much like the last match though, the complete lack of reaction from the crowd for most of the match prevented this match from reaching the heights that it could have. Luckily for us, this feud will continue, and hopefully they will have a chance to truly have a great match down the line.
Match Rating: ***1/2

El Generico [2-3] vs. Samuray Del Sol [2-3]
This is Generico and Del Sol’s third match against each other in Evolve. They each have won one match. They also started a tag team in DGUSA, which I hope is a team that is booked again and again. Much like their first match, this is a main event between two Evolve wrestlers who have sub .500 records. “Evolve is all about wins & losses!”

Not much of note happened in the early goings. They were showing each other a lot of respect. Del Sol got the first advantage, but Generico cut him off briefly. Del Sol came back with a hurricanrana and a slingshot somersault press. Del Sol sent Generico to the floor and hit a double jump corkscrew senton to the floor. Back in the ring, Generico caught Del Sol with an exploder into the corner. Del Sol came back with a hurricanrana for a nearfall. Del Sol hit a standing Sliced Bread #2 for another nearfall. Del Sol tried for the springboard reverse hurricanrana, but Generico caught him with a Blue Thunder Bomb: 1…2…NO! Generico hit a Michinoku Driver: 1…2…NO! Del Sol came back with a Code Red: 1…2…NO! LLLL randomly announced that there would be an Evolve Title. Del Sol hit the Rising Sun (springboard reverse hurricanrana): 1…2…NO! Del Sol defeated Generico with that at Evolve 15. They went to the top rope. Generico dropped him on the turnbuckle. Generico then hit a Yakuza and a Top Rope BRAINBUSTAHHH: 1…2…3!

That was a very strong main event, and another great match in the Generico/Del Sol series of matches. Ideally, their matches would have been spaced out over a longer period of time, so that all of the matches felt fresh, but all the matches were so entertaining that it didn’t matter too much. I’m surprised Del Sol didn’t get the win, as Generico is probably harder to lock down for future shows, but that didn’t bother me at all. I’m glad Generico is getting pushed here, and Generico vs. Gargano has to happen soon. I hope these two tag together in DGUSA, and that seemed to be implied after the match. DGUSA/Evolve has pushed Samuray Del Sol almost perfectly since he debuted at Wrestlemania weekend. I want to see him have matches with so many other members of the roster now. He is a main eventer for the promotion already (in fact. he probably became a bona fide main eventer faster than any other American prospect in Evolve/DGUSA’s history). Also, it’s time for El Generico to get new matches. Generico vs. Johnny Gargano, vs. AR Fox, and vs. Rick Swann (Yes, I know PWG announced this already) all should be happening soon.
Match Rating: ***3/4

Overall Thoughts: Another Evolve show, another show with good wrestling that is hampered by a really dead crowd. I usually make an effort to keep a promotion’s content a separate conversation from a promotion’s business practices. However, Evolve’s failure to establish a single crowd that they can go to for a big show, because they know that those fans will care, is greatly harming their product. Yes, I’m a broken record. This promotion has such a great roster, but their efforts are going to waste on some of these shows.

Evolve also promoted this show as the start of the Road to WrestleCon. Based on that marketing, there are some things that this show may have set up that should be noted. Generico and Del Sol’s single series is apparently over, but they could be a tag team going forward. Generico/Del Sol vs. the Super Smash Bros, vs. Fox/CIMA (again), and Ricochet/Swann could all be great. Plus, they could wrestle any number of Dragon Gate teams that come over. Fox and Ricochet are now obviously in a feud. I could see this feud ending at WrestleCon in a big singles event. I also hope both men challenge for the Freedom Gate title in the meantime. Finally, Jon Davis is now a heel and he has to be the favorite to be the first winner of the Evolve title. That could very well happen at WrestleCon as well. All of those storylines sound fun to me.

Recommendation: Thumbs ever so slightly up. The last three matches are fun, but this show had a lot of potential on paper, and it did not live up to that potential.

Bonus Free Match Reviews
These are matches you may be interested in watching, if you were interested in Evolve 17 (All of these matches are legally available for free)

AR Fox vs. Ricochet from IPW’s Showdown in Naptown 2011

They started out a little more tentative than I expected. Fox eventually managed to send Ricochet to the floor. Fox went for the kick-flip moonsault, but Ricochet avoided it and hit him with a superkick. Ricochet rolled him back into the ring, and he started to work Fox over. Ricochet hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Fox came back with a bulldog that drove Ricochet’s face into a turnbuckle. Fox followed that with a diving single knee codebreaker. Ricochet fell to the floor, anf Fox then hit a somersault plancha. Fox put him on the ring apron, and he then hit the diving guillotine legdrop. That always looks painful. Back in the ring, Fox hit Thugbait: 1…2…NO! Ricochet then hit a standing flipping senton for a nearfall. Ricochet hit a backslide driver: 1…2…NO! Fox came back with his twisting brainbuster: 1…2…NO! Fox went to the top rope, but Ricochet crotched him. Ricochet went for a super back suplex, but Fox knocked him down. Fox went for a Phoenix Splash, but Ricochet avoided it. Ricochet then hit a middle rope Phoenix Splash: 1…2…NO! Ricochet then hit a Torture Rack Driver: 1…2…3!

This match was a lot of fun, and I can only imagine what they would be capable of doing now. AR Fox had only just joined the DGUSA/Evolve family at this point, and he has made tremendous strides since this time. Ricochet was already having great matches around this time, but he too is so much better now. I definitely recommend that you check out this match.
Match Rating: ***1/2

El Generico vs. Samuray Del Sol from IWC’s Super Indy 2011

They went back and forth to start. Del Sol managed to send Generico to the floor. He did a feint dive when Generico ran out of the way. Back in the ring. Generico hit a tilt-a-whirl gutbuster. Something must have went wrong there, but they covered it well enough. Generico was in control after that. Del Sol came back with an enzugiri and a diving cross-body for a nearfall. Del Sol got a nearfall with La Magistral Cradle. Generico got a nearfall with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Del Sol came right back with a standing Sliced Bread #2: 1…2…NO! Generico avoided a moonsault. Yakuza from Generico . Brainbuster: 1…2…3!

These two just scratched the surface of what they would do together in 2012. It’s basically a nice teaser match that is worth watching if you want to see how good their chemistry is.
Match Rating: ***

Grizzly Redwood vs. Orange Cassidy (w/ Chuck Taylor, Drew Gulak, & The Swamp Monster) from Chikara’s Road to Ruin Fest 2012

Orange Cassidy had to be carried to the ring by Swamp Monster. Drew Gulak had a fantastic shirt on, and Taylor had a PBR tall boy with him. These are some great men. Everyone needs to book these men now. Cassidy looked comatose. Grizzly, with a much shaggier haircut than the last time I saw him, gave him a big lumberjack chop: 1…2…3! Five Stars! Watch this episode. Watch all the Gentleman Club episodes. Support great professional wrestling like this!

Thanks everybody for reading! You can send feedback to my Twitter or to my email address: [email protected]. Also, check out my site: FreeProWrestling.com .

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TJ Hawke

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