Csonka’s Evolve 68 Review 9.10.16

Csonka’s Evolve 68 Review 9.10.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Fred Yehi defeated Jigsaw @ 10:35 via submission [***¼]
– Ethan Page defeated Dan Barry @ 8:20 via pin [**]
– TJ Perkins defeated Darby Allin @ 8:25 via submission [***]
– Tracy Williams defeated DUSTIN @ 0:50 via DQ [NR]
– Extreme Match: Tracy Williams defeated DUSTIN @ 8:55 via submission [**½]
– Tony Nese defeated Ricochet and Matt Riddle @ 9:25 via pin [****]
– Drew Galloway defeated Drew Gulak @ 16:22 via pin [***½]
– Zack Sabre Jr defeated Johnny Gargano @ 24:10 via submission [***½]

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Jigsaw vs. Fred Yehi: Jigsaw recently returned to Evolve, and it has been very welcomed as he freshens things up and is also really good. Jigsaw is wearing his traditional red Jigsaw attire as opposed to heel gear he wore at King of Trios. Yehi is short and pissed off as always, and says Jigsaw is in big trouble. These guys were part of a tag match at Evolve 66, which led to this match. After some nice back and forth grappling, they took turns slapping each other and then worked a series of pinning combos. Yehi is short and compact, and his offense reflects that as his stuff is tight and appears brutal. Yehi scored with the koji clutch early, but Jigsaw got the ropes. More back and forth action, with Jigsaw getting his real first run of offense, and hitting a standing double stomp for a near fall. Jigsaw ct off Yehi with a dropkick and followed with chops and uppercuts. Yehi battled back and hit a spinning back fist and got a roll up for a near fall. He then stacked him up after a powerbomb for a near fall. Yehi with stomps and a rolling elbow, he then got the koji clutch again but Jigsaw made the ropes. After some back and forth, Jigsaw hit the Michinoku driver for a near fall. Yehi to the apron and ate the enziguri, and then Jigsaw flew in with the double stomp and missed. German from Yehi and another. Jigsaw countered the third and hit a superkick, and followed with a dropkick off the second rope. The corner boot and brainbuster followed but only got 2. Jigsaw missed the double stomp off the top, and Yehi again attacked the leg and got the koji clutch again and Jigsaw taped. That was a good opener, with a nice pace and both guys working well together. Yehi needed he singles win and Jigsaw continues to do well in Evolve.

Ethan Page vs. Dan Barry: Barry usually works as part of Team Tremendous, but is getting a singles shot this weekend in two matches. Page has been winning a ton of undercard matches in short order, while looking for the approval of Johnny Gargano. Barry took Page to the mat early and controlled. They did some comedy where page said he didn’t know basic chain wrestling, only knowing the powerbomb, jackhammer and package piledriver. Barry jokingly showed Page how to do a wristlock reversal, and the fans played along. Barry then out wrestled Page and tied him up in the ropes. After the fun and games ended, Page got serious and said that this was longer than his last four matches. Barry sent him to the floor and hit a plancha, and then hit a slingshot senton back into the ring for 2. Page then took the heat, hitting a jackhammer for a near fall. Barry made a comeback and got a roll up for a near fall. He countered the RKEGO and followed with a standing moonsault for 2. He missed the top rope moonsault, package piledriver by Page and that was that. This was fine, but I felt they worked the wrong match here. Page doing comedy at this point, during his redemption tour where he is looking for Gargano’s approval felt out of place here.

TJ Perkins w/Stokely Hathaway vs. Darby Allin: Allin is looking for a win this weekend to earn a contract so as Perkins made his entrance he hit a dive. Back in he went rapid fire and hit a bunch of highflying moves and then brawled with Perkins to the floor. Great aggression from Allin here, playing into the story that he needs a win to get a contract. Back in the ring, Perkins hit a series of suplexes and took control back. Perkins is so smooth with everything he does; Allin isn’t bad by any means but looks out of his league against Perkins. After some back and forth, Perkins missed the slingshot dropkick and Allin went for an attack off the ramp but Perkins moved and Allin ate the ring post. The kid is insane. Allin barely beat the count, and when he did Perkins went on the attack, working the knee to soften him up for the knee bar. Perkins is so focused and clean with his limb work, going fro move-to-move with little effort. Allin tried to fight back, and did well but was constantly slowed by the knee. Great work by Perkins and great selling so far from Allin. Perkins with a superkick, but Allin then hit a head butt and went up top, but when he came off Perkins countered and scored with the knee bar and Allin tapped. This was a good match, clean work and layout, Perkins continues to be great and this was another strong outing from Allin. He could be a great underdog for Evolve moving forward.

DUSTIN vs. Tracy Williams: These two have history from the recent shows, and they started brawling right away with Williams sending DUSTIN to the floor and connecting with the suicide dive. Galloway attacked Williams with a chair, and that gave us the DQ. Catch Point (minus Riddle) made the save and Joey Styles arrived. Styles then booted everyone from ringside, and said the match is restarting and if anyone gets involved again they would be sent home without pay. He then said that the match would be… extreme.

Extreme Match: DUSTIN vs. Tracy Williams: BACK TO BRAWLING, Williams got control again and then ate a chair as he went for the suicide dive. They brawled on the floor for a while, Williams hit a suplex onto a chair and they worked back into the ring. DUSTIN hit a German suplex and then slammed Williams into a chair in the corner. This led to a near fall. If Chuck Taylor wants to be called “DUSTIN,” he should stop wearing tights that say TAYLOR on them. Anyway, he grabbed a ladder and we got more brawling on the floor. DUSTIN tossed Williams onto the ladder and hit a superkick to send him back into the ring. He brought in the ladder in and set it in the corner. Williams sent DUSTIN into the ladder, bit a brainbuster and that got a near fall. Williams got a chair, they fought over it, knee by Williams and set up the chair and set DUSTIN on it and locked in an abdominal stretch. DUSTIN escaped and hit the Raven drop toehold and then the DDT for a near fall. DUSTIN then retrieved a bag, as we got thumbtacks involved. Williams then hit a suplex into the tacks as DUSTIN screamed like a woman, but kicked out. Williams worked a sleeper and rolled Williams into the tacks. Williams refused to let go and the bell rang as DUSTIN tapped. This was pretty good, but I felt as if going to the tacks here was really early in the feud and was done for more of a shock to the viewer than something important. Williams looked like a bad ass staying in the tacks to keep the submission; it was a great finish to a match I fount to be solid because I never really got into it. Respect to both guys for taking the tack spots though.

– Before the next match could start, Johnny Gargano made his way out to the ring. Gargano praised Ricochet and their matches they had in the past, and says they are proud of Ricochet and was glad to see him back. Gargano then put over Nese as the best all around athlete in wrestling, and can eat all kinds of shit and look that great. Gargano then spoke about riddle, and said that they have never faced but that he’s watched him grow into an amazing wrestler already and that these guys are the future of Evolve. A big spot is opening up tomorrow, and he wants then to fight to take it. Johnny wrestling putting everyone over here was great.

Ricochet vs. Matt Riddle vs. Tony Nese: This was originally Riddle vs. Nese, but Ricochet became available for the date and was added to the match. They worked a wild and very athletic opening, with cool counters and then a series of three-way kick and kick counter spots. Riddle started to light them up with leg kicks, so Ricochet and Nese double teamed him and then tried to one up each other and they worked over Riddle with an assortment of submission holds. They argued, allowing Riddle to fire back with some wicked chops only got Ricochet and Nese to take control back. Riddle fought back with a series of suplexes, Ricochet cut him off but then Riddle hit a flying knee and a SICK delayed German suplex. Riddle then got sent to the floor, Nese hit a dove, a tornado DDT on Ricochet and then a dive on Ricochet. Riddle worked over Nese in the ring, hitting the fisherman’s buster for the near fall. Ricochet back in, hitting the northern lights into the delayed suplex for the near fall on Riddle. They then worked into some strong three-way spots; with Riddle looking right at home as he works a very different match than he is used too. They then went into a striking session, with Ricochet leveling Riddle with a lariat and all three men being down. They fought to their feet, trading uppercuts and chops. Ricochet hit a series of kicks and then Nese followed, Riddle sent Nese to the floor and ate a superkick from Ricochet. Riddle countered the bennadryller and hit the leaping tombstone for a GREAT near fall. He locked in the bro-mission (twister) and then Nese in with the 450 on Riddle to pick up the surprise victory. That was an awesome match, with a great layout that avoided the typical two in, one out formula and used the time to the best of their ability. Matt Riddle is really good, and is a guy that everyone should be watching; I can’t say this enough.

– Post match Drew Galloway arrived and tried to sell Riddle on joining his cause, and even called Riddle the uncrowned Evolve champion. Galloway said that Riddle could be is equal as they save Evolve. But as he talked, Drew Gulak attacked Galloway. Gulak and Riddle went face to face, and Riddle bailed as Gulak continued his attack.

Drew Galloway vs. Drew Gulak: This is their first singles match against each other. Galloway has taped up ribs, and Gulak is attacking them right away. Gulak was running well, but Galloway cut him off and stomped away on him. Really good aggression from both guys here, reflecting their issues and also changing the tone from the previous match, which was about getting the important win and was nothing personal. The fight went to the floor, where Galloway hit a dump suplex onto the apron. Gulak managed to sent Galloway to the post and broke the count before slamming Galloway to the apron ribs first. Galloway slammed Gulak to the apron again and yelled at the ref as he counted. Back in the ring they traded chops and strikes, and Gulak hit a belly to back suplex and then another. The lariat followed for a near fall, and Gulak then went the bow and arrow to go back after the injured ribs. Galloway escapes and hits the stuff piledriver, but that only got 1 as Gulak fired up and kicked out. Galloway then just slapped the piss out of Gulak, Gulak answered with a flurry of strikes and then locked in the dragon sleeper in the ropes, and that led to a near fall. Gulak slammed Galloway on the ropes, and then set him in the tree of WHOA. Galloway begged off and then spit at Gulak, so Gulak hit repeated stomps and a dropkick to the ribs. Gulak continues to stomp him, but made the mistake of climbing the ropes and ate the spider suplex for the double down. Galloway hit the claymore for a near fall, and then the sitout powerbomb for another near fall. To the corner again as Galloway sets Gulak up top, but Gulak slips out of the air raid crash and hits a powerbomb and then transitions into the crab. Galloway makes the ropes, and then manages a big boot for the double down. They fought to their feet and traded strikes and chops, Gulak fired up and locked in the dragon sleeper, but Galloway made the ropes. Gulak to the second rope, leas off and caught, Galloway plants him with the tombstone and then hits the future shock and that is that. This was a very good match overall, with good emotion and aggression from both guys. I felt it could have ended a bit sooner and it would have helped the match, because they were running hot and then took their foot off the gas and tried to go for the slower and more dramatic finish. The finish was good, but clip out a little bit and keep the heat going and the match is great.

Johnny Gargano’s Last Singles Match In EVOLVE – Battle Of The Aces: Johnny Gargano vs. Zack Sabre Jr.: Joey Style is joining Lenny Leonard on commentary for this match. These two had an amazing (****½) match back at Evolve 56. They did mat wrestling/grappling early, with ZSJ looking to try and work the arm right away. ZSJ even toyed with Gargano a bit, leading to ZSJ out wrestling him and grounding Gargano with a cravat. That led to a slick counter sequence, and a stand off. Gargano finally started to get the advantage, taking ZSJ to the mat. That ended up leading to more back and forth mat work, with ZSJ starting to work the knee of Gargano which is still taped up from the NXT angle and he as been selling during his independent appearances. They picked up the pacing, and Gargano went for the spear through the ropes, but ZSJ had it scouted and backed off. Gargano went fast paced, scoring with some cradles and then a kick. Gargano laid in a series of chops, the basement dropkick followed and that got 2. Gargano then gave ZSJ some of his own medicine, working the arm and manipulating the fingers like ZSJ does. ZSJ was able to come back, hitting a quick series of different submissions to take Gargano to the mat. ZSJ went to work on the knee of Gargano once again, and then drove him to the mat and was just breaking him down at this point. Gargano to the apron, ZSJ still attacking and locking in an octopus in the ropes. ZSJ backed off and charged in and hit his slingshot spear. Gargano fired up, sending ZSJ to the floor and hitting the suicide dive. The slingshot DDT spiked ZSJ on his head, and then hit the lung blower. Gargano was too slow to cover, due to the knee, and when he did cover only got 2. They went back and froth through a series of counters, and Gargano got a roll up and even used the tights, only getting 2. ZSJ escaped the lawn dart, hit a series of uppercuts and then the PK for the near fall. They worked through another nice series of counters, with Gargano planting ZSJ with a lariat. ZSJ blew Gargano a kiss as they started down from their knees and they sat across form each other and then started to slap the hell out of each other. They brawled to their feet, half nelson suplex by ZSJ for the near fall. Gargano cut off ZSJ with the powerbomb and then the lawn dart, a superkick followed for a near fall as Gargano is running through shit and in a surprise, no longer selling the knee as he once was. ZSJ managed to hit the tornado DDT, looked for the dragon sleeper but Gargano got the Gargano escape, and ZSJ got the ropes. They again traded strikes center ring, both got near falls off of cradles and then ZSJ got the octopus hold. ZSJ transitioned into a bow and arrow style hold and laid in some kicks and Gargano tapped. This felt like a match that they were working too hard at to make an epic encounter, going too long and losing some of the music between the notes. It felt like moves to do moves, which were well done, but it would have been better if they had edited themselves and stayed more focused. Also Gargano dropping the selling of the knee was really uncharacteristic of him, and is another sign of going too long because they felt the need to unload it all during the home stretch, forcing him to drop that, which also hurt things.

– Zack Sabre Jr. cut a promo, saying that he would graciously take Gargano’s torch and beat Thatcher for the title. Ricochet then arrived and praised Gargano, and says that Evolve will miss him but that they have a lot of talent that can carry on without him. Ricochet then said he was the man and that he would prove it tomorrow. They all hugged.

– Gargano was left alone and left to “Johnny Wrestling” chants.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

Evolve gets back to form with a good and strong show, clocking it at just under 2.5 hours. They continued their angles from the previous show while honoring Gargano in the first of his final two events, and also gave us the excellent Ricochet vs. Matt Riddle vs. Tony Nese match. Good work team.