Csonka’s EVOLVE 102 Preview

WELCOME back to column time with Larry! Today, I am going to discuss and preview the EVOLVE 102 event. WWN has another loaded WrestleMania weekend slate of events, and today we look at EVOLVE 102, featuring the EVOLVE title on the line, and some high-quality guest stars coming in for the weekend. Feel free to make your picks in the comment section. Thanks for reading! It’s wrestling, we love it and will disagree. The only rules are “have a take, be respectful, and don’t be a dick.”

Austin Theory vs. DJZ: Austin Theory is the current, reigning and defending FIP Champion, and star on the rise. But after putting together a great run, Theory failed to capture the EVOLVE title at EVOLVE 100, losing to Zack Sabre Jr. At EVOLVE 101, he failed in a four-way #1 contender’s match, losing out to Matt Riddle, Darby Allin, & Jaka. Riddle won the title shot, while Theory’s anger grew. WWN Officials have decided to suspend Priscilla Kelly from the WWNLive Experience, so Theory will have to go it alone during the weekend. His first challenge will be DJZ, who I assume is doe with Impact Wrestling since May of 2017, which is a shame because he’s great and he was completely underutilized. Bu Impact’s loss has been EVOLVE’s gain, as he’s put in some great performances for them and is the perfect guy to pair with Theory here. This has the chance to be a great kickoff to the main show, and give Theory a rebound win in a high-quality match. WINNER: Austin Theory

Non-Title Special Challenge Match: WWN Champion Keith Lee vs. Darby Allin: Darby Allin is still looking to recover from his EVOLVE title loss to Zack Sabre Jr, which was a great match. Allin is a great underdog performer, who always gets the crowds into his matches. Watching him pinball for Lee and scoring some fun desperation near falls will be what makes this match. I really don’t see Lee losing here, as he needs to continue to be built up as a badass champion that wrecks the smaller guys in fun matches, plus, it doesn’t feel like Allin’s redemption story is anywhere near complete. Losing in a great effort to Lee will not hurt him, and could serve as a good launching pad for his next run towards a championship match. WINNER: Keith Lee

Tag Team Scramble – 2 In At A Time, No Tags Needed, 1st Fall Wins It: EVOLVE Tag Team Champions Chris Dickinson & Jaka vs. The End vs. James Drake & Anthony Henry vs. Tracy Williams & Dom Garrini: If Dickinson & Jaka lose the fall, they will lose to the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles. The tag title scene has been a bit of a mess, revolving around the four teams, and some solid, but forgettable match. The End has been running wild over the division, causing havoc, and coming close to taking over, but coming up short. It feels like the right time to freshen up the tag ranks, and having Dickinson & Jaka drop the titles makes the most sense. That allows the other teams to continue feuding over the titles, and to hopefully bring in a new team. I also think that Dickinson & Jaka are heading towards being singles performers, which will also freshen up the title scenes. This should be chaotic and fun. WINNER: The End

AR Fox vs. Will Ospreay: AR Fox has made his return to EVOLVE, and has been really good and motivated in his latest run. He’s picked up quality wins over Jason Kincaid, DJZ, and Matt Riddle before losing to WWN Champion Keith Lee at EVOLVE 100 in a great match. Ospreay is making his return to EVOLVE after being away due to being under ROH contract and working with NJPW. His last appearances were over Mania weekend in 2016, in spectacular matches with Ricochet & Sabre, and he has gotten even better since then. I expect this to be a fast-paced, high flying, exhibition style match with obvious show-stealing potential. This will likely be a very evenly booked match, but I see the returning Ospreay taking the win in his grand return to the company. WINNER: Will Ospreay

Daisuke Sekimoto & Munenori Sawa vs. Timothy Thatcher & WALTER: This is being billed as a dream match, and it certainly has the makings of a weekend stealing match. Sawa worked two of the early EVOLVE shows against TJP & Bryan Danielson and is making his US & EVOLVE. He retired between 2011 & 2016, and in a limited capacity, appearing several times in 2017 for DDT Pro, including DDT Pro’s 20th Anniversary Extra Edition. It’s a cool and fun addition of an early EVOLVE performer to the weekend. Sekimoto is a veteran of Pro Wrestling ZERO-1, All-Japan and Pro Wrestling NOAH, this will mark Sekimoto’s first trip to the US since appearing for CZW in 2011. He’s one of the most consistent big match performers over the last few years that doesn’t get enough love, hopefully, his appearances over Mania weekend leads to more people discovering him. Lord knows I don’t get to see him enough and I watch a metric fuck ton of wrestling. Ringkampf (Timothy Thatcher & WALTER) are great singles wrestlers, but are also a spectacular tag team. Paring them with Sawa & Sekimoto is a smart move, even if I would have personally preferred singles matches. I see the special guests (Daisuke Sekimoto & Munenori Sawa) winning here to give them momentum for their main event matches at WWN Supershow that same weekend. WINNER: Daisuke Sekimoto & Munenori Sawa

EVOLVE Championship Match: Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends vs. Matt Riddle: Riddle picked up big wins at EVOLVE 100 & EVOLVE 101, and then made his intentions clear, he wanted the EVOLVE Title. He wanted the EVOLVE Title. Sabre is coming off of hard-fought wins over Theory & Dickinson on the same shows, and has been a dominant champion since EVOLVE 79 in February of 2017. Sabre is one of the very best in the world, and Riddle continues to grow into an awesome performer. These two rarely disappoint. Riddle has been looking for gold since dropping the WWN Title to Keith Lee, and with the possibility of Sabre’s NJPW schedule getting busier in 2018, I think that we see a title change here. WINNER: Matt Riddle

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– End scene.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”