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Csonka’s WWN Mercury Rising 2018 Review

April 6, 2018 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Matt Riddle EVOLVE WWN PWG
8.5
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s WWN Mercury Rising 2018 Review  

Csonka’s WWN Mercury Rising 2018 Review


– AR Fox, DJZ & Trey Miguel defeated Austin Theory, Travis Banks & Zachary Wentz @ 8:25 via pin [***¼]
– Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Munenori Sawa @ 13:24 via submission [****]
New Orleans Street Fight: James Drake & Anthony Henry defeated Tracy Williams & Dom Garrini & The End @ 13:25 via pin []
SHINE Championship Match: Champion LuFisto defeated Holidead @ 6:00 via pin [NR]
– Daisuke Sekimoto defeated Keith Lee @ 16:00 via pin [****]
EVOLVE Tag Team Championship Match: Champions Chris Dickinson & Jaka defeated WALTER & Timothy Thatcher @ 15:30 via pin [****]
EVOLVE Championship Match: Champion Matt Riddle defeated Will Ospreay @ 12:15 via submission [****½]


– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– You can check out reviews of Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport here, EVOLVE 102 here and EVOLVE 103 here.

AR Fox, DJZ & Trey Miguel vs. Austin Theory, Travis Banks & Zachary Wentz: AR Fox is replacing the injured Darby Allin. Banks missed EVOLVE 103 earlier today due to injury, but is working here since this was a more important match. This is lucha rules for tags. Wee open up with a lot of fast paced, back and forth action, with guys cycling in and out. DJZ hits a dive and then Wentz follows with one as well. Miguel scores with a step up dive and Fox hits lo mein rain. Everyone back in, Banks hits kicks and Germans and follows with a cannonball. It breaks down, with Miguel and Theory blowing a RANA spot. DJZ & Fox now run wild, Fox hits the cutter for 2. Theory cuts him off with 3 seconds around the world. DJZ cuts him off with a powerbomb and DDT. Banks hits the Michinoku diver Miguel hits meteora, but Wentz spikes him with a DDT. Fox then hits lo mein pain and DJZ and Miguel run wild with Fox, but Banks makes the save. We get superkicks, and DJZ hits a 450 for the win. AR Fox, DJZ & Trey Miguel defeated Austin Theory, Travis Banks & Zachary Wentz @ 8:25 via pin [***¼] This was a good and fun sprint to open the show, and to set up DJZ for an FIP tile shot against Theory by pinning him again.

– Jarek attacks Kincaid during his entrance and beats him down. He then attacks the ref. Jarek handcuffs Kincaid to a barricade, and continues to beat on him. He’s upset about not being booked and promised to prove a point this weekend.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Munenori Sawa: Sawa refuses the handshake and slaps Sabre. They lock up and work to the ropes, and Sabre grounds things. Sawa escapes. Sabre again grounds things, but Sawa counters out and they work to the ropes. They work to the floor and trade slaps and strikes. Sawa laughs at Sabre, takes a seat and Sabre continues to attack, but Saw alights him up and they roll back in. Sabre lays in uppercuts, and locks on an abdominal stretch. Sawa counters out but Sabre gets control back. They separate and trade leg kicks, Sawa gets a trip and grounds Sabre. Sabre transitions into a heel hook, they trade grounded strikes and kicks, and Sawa frees himself. The elbow drop follows, and Sawa lays in rapid-fire strikes. The leg lariat follows, and they roll to the apron. They trade strikes and kicks, and Sawa connects with a head butt. Sabre gets a guillotine, and then attacks the arm. Sabre ties him up in the ropes, Sabre breaks and Sawa hits a dragon screw in the ropes. Back in and Sawa continues to work the leg, hits a shining wizard and covers for 2. Sawa sets and hits the wind up punch. Sabre counters the spin kick and right into a submission, locking up both arms and then traps the head and Sawa makes the ropes. Sabre follows with uppercuts, but Sawa locks on the cobra twist, but Sabre make the ropes. Sawa looks for the wind up punch, but Sabre counters and looks for the arm bar. Sawa counters out and then Sabre counters into a pin for 2. PELE by Sabre, and the sleeper follows, and then transitions onto orienting with napalm death, and Sawa has to tap. Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Munenori Sawa @ 13:24 via submission [****] This was a great display of counter wrestling and submission work. Both guys were really great here, and Sabre picks up the big rebound win.

New Orleans Street Fight: The End (Parrow & Odinson) vs. James Drake & Anthony Henry vs. Tracy Williams & Dom Garrini: This is the continuation of the catch Point vs. The End feud. It immediately breaks down as The End arrives, with Garrini & Henry hitting dives. Everyone brawls at ringside. Williams gets a table, as the End powders to the floor and the other brawl in the ring. They finally return as Garrini gets a ladder. He attacks Odinson with it, and then Williams uses it to work over Parrow. He then dropkicks it into Drake. Drennen gets involved, attacking with his club. Drake & Henry cut him off, and beat him down. The End returns and brawl with Henry & Drake. The sound is completely out of synch with the video here. Catch Point brings in a table, and Parrow gets sent onto the table on the floor, it didn’t break. Odinson is put through the table in the ring. Garrini works for an arm bar, but Drake takes him out. Henry slams the ladder onto Garrini’s feet with chair shots. Drake & Henry isolate Garrini and take him up top. Williams makes the save, and Williams and Garrini look for superplexes, but the End cuts that off and hits a super collider for a near fall. Odinson gets a table, sets it in the corner and Garrini gets pounced through the table. Williams fires up and attacks the End, but eats a powerbomb for 2. Drake now saves Henry and they work over Parrow. Henry hits a cutter and Drake hits the moonsault for 2 as Henry stops the ref. They use ladders to attack; Drake gets a chair and lays in chair shots. Henry slides in a table, they set it up and Henry double stomps Odinson but the table doesn’t break. That finishes it. James Drake & Anthony Henry defeated Tracy Williams & Dom Garrini & The End @ 13:25 via pin [*½] I love Henry & Drake winning, but this was sloppy, and lifeless a lot of the way. They tried, but it just felt like a poorly done chaotic brawl that never felt locked in as they just did stuff and it felt really long. It just never connected with me on any level, BUT Henry & Drake easily stood out as the best of the bunch, and should be set up for a tag title shot.

SHINE Championship Match: Champion LuFisto vs. Holidead: LuFisto misses a charge and Holidead rolls her up for 2. She misses a big boot, and LuFisto puts her in the tree of WHOA and hits a cannonball. The stream dies. We’re back as Holidead hits a side slam for 2. She heads up top and misses the leg drop. LuFisto hits the burning hammer for the win. Champion LuFisto defeated Holidead @ 6:00 via pin [NR] can’t really discuss due to streaming issues.

– LuFisto says she will defend against anyone at SHINE 50, and hold the title until she retires. Kimber Lee arrives and she looks to be her challenger.

– Zack Sabre Jr. is leaving EVOLVE.

Keith Lee vs. Daisuke Sekimoto: They work the power game to begin, they trade shoulder tackles and Lee takes Sekimoto down. He follows with chops, but Sekimoto fires back with big rights and then Lee fires back. Lee grounds the action, and then lays the boots to Sekimoto. Lee lays in vicious chops, and Sekimoto fires back with some chops of his own. Lee fires up and drops Sekimoto and covers for 2. Lee starts delivering big strikes, but Sekimoto fires up and starts firing back and Lee cuts him off with a head butt. They are just destroying each other here, Sekimoto counters ground zero and hits a slam; both men are down. Sekimoto follows with corner appears and locks on an abdominal stretch. Lee escapes with a hip toss. Sekimoto counters a slam, but Lee hits a shoulder tackle and covers for 2. Lee looks to finish things, and but Sekimoto powers him up and hits a delayed suplex. Sekimoto heads up top, and hits the missile dropkick. He covers for 2. Lee avoids the lariat and hits a running cross body for 2. Sekimoto counters out of a powerbomb, and they continue to battle back and forth. Lee now misses the second rope moonsault. Sekimoto hits a head butt and bridging German for the win. See you at Takeover Keith. Daisuke Sekimoto defeated Keith Lee @ 16:00 via pin [****] Much like Sabre vs. Sawa, this was great as they played to their strengths and just worked an all out hoss fight. It was exactly what it needed to be, hard-hitting, gritty, and two big lads doing big lad things. It was everything I wanted it to be.

– Nick gage arrives and kicks the shit out of refs and security. He calls Lee a pussy and says he’ll be in the parking lot if anyone wants to try him.

EVOLVE Tag Team Championship Match: Champions Chris Dickinson & Jaka vs. WALTER & Timothy Thatcher: Thatcher and Jaka begin. Thatcher grounds things, and immediately works for an arm bar. Jaka makes the ropes, and they break. Thatcher takes Dickinson to he floor and WALTER tags in. he and Thatcher work double teams, and Thatcher again grounds Jaka. WALTER back in and he takes out Dickinson and then gets a cover for 2 on Jaka. WALTER starts laying in chops, taking Jaka down, with Thatcher tagging in and working uppercuts. Jaka fires back with kicks and a German. Dickinson gets the tag and runs wild on Thatcher, and the suplex follows for 2. He now lays in chops. Jaka tags in and continues control on Thatcher, covering for 2. He follows with strikes and knees, tagging in Dickinson. They isolate Thatcher, but he slowly takes Dickinson down and then makes the ropes. Jaka back in and hits the DDT f or 2. Jaka follows with strikes in the corner, and tags in Dickinson. Thatcher makes the comeback, hitting the belly to belly, and WALTER gets the hot tag. Chops for all! Lariats follow and then suplexes to the champions. Dickinson and WALTER now trade chops and kicks, just lighting each other up and Dickinson finally takes WALTER down, but WALTER rebounds and hits the big boot. Thatcher and Jaka in now, they trade strikes and kicks, and now everyone is down. Dickinson hits an enziguri and takes WALTER down; he then does the deal with a falcon arrow on WALTER for 2. WALTER has had enough, lays in chops and hits the powerbomb for 2. Jaka takes out Thatcher, and Dickinson hits a desperation tornado DDT. Jaka tags in and lays in strikes and chops, WALTER cuts that off and hits a lariat for 2. WALTER set him up top, lays in shops and follows him up. Dickinson makes the save and they look for death trap, but Thatcher makes the save; WALTER gets the choke on Dickinson, but Jaka makes the save with the top rope splash. Thatcher gets the tag, hits an enziguri and Saito suplex. Dickinson makes the save, and death trap connects, and Thatcher is done. Champions Chris Dickinson & Jaka defeated WALTER & Timothy Thatcher @ 15:30 via pin [****] I really loved this, it was a great mix of great tag team wrestling and violence without using any weapons. Just four dudes looking to hurt each other, and telling a violent story along the way; WALTER & Timothy Thatcher were game, but the boys from Catch Point continue to dominate, and retained with better team work and surviving WALTER’s onslaught.

– Tracy Williams arrives and celebrates with his Catch Point pals. He congratulates they for defending their titles, and then says they have to address their issues. He says that Hathaway has only brought drama to Catch Point, and Williams says he is no longer needed, and future endeavored him. Hathaway says Williams doesn’t understand contracts, because he owns Catch Point, and can’t be fired, and fires Williams. Garrini arrives and low blows Williams, and Jaka and Dickinson rip off Williams’s Catch Point shirt and stand tall with Garrini & Hathaway.

EVOLVE Title Match: Champion Matt Riddle vs. Will Ospreay: Under Riddle rules, there are no rope breaks. Ospreay attacks, running wild right away and hitting a German. He sends Riddle to the floor and follows with a dive. Ospreay knows he’s hurt and if he wants to win, has to do it quickly. They work to the apron and Riddle about kills him with an apron German. Back in they go, and Riddle works him over with strikes, and an XPLODER. The senton follows and Riddle covers for 2. The rolling gut wrenches follow, and Riddle covers for 2. Riddle now lays in kicks and continues to keep Ospreay grounded. Ospreay fires up, and hits the back handspring kick. The hesitation dropkick follows, and then the springboard forearm and running shooting star press gets 2. Riddle fights back, Ospreay hits a back heel kick and inverted suplex for 2. They work into a series of counters, Riddle hits a powerbomb and knee strike, covering for 2. Ospreay cuts off the superman punch, he heads up top but Riddle cuts him off and follows him up. Ospreay slips out, but Riddle locks on a sleeper. Ospreay escapes, but Riddle lays in elbows to the neck and lock son the bromission. Ospreay rolls but eats more elbows, he gets to his feet and climbs the ropes with Riddle on his back, and jumps back to the mat to break the hold and both men are down. They have refs check on Ospreay. He gets to his feet and Riddle kills him with a knee strike and tombstone, but Ospreay kicks out. Riddle rips of the tape and stomp away at Ospreay, and hits a senton. Riddle has an evil look here, giving no fucks. The running knee strike follows, but Ospreay with FIGHTING SPIRT is out at 1. Ospreay counters the Gotch piledriver into a triangle! Riddle counters out, but Ospreay hits a RAINMAKER! He holds on, Riddle fights him off with kicks, but Ospreay folds him in half with a sitout powerbomb for an awesome near fall! Riddle counters the Oscutter into the bromission and Ospreay has to tap. Champion Matt Riddle defeated Will Ospreay @ 12:15 via submission [****½] THIS… THIS is what I have been waiting for, we’ve had a lot of good, and very good, and even great this week so far, but we’ve been missing that outstanding match and finally got it here. This was an excellent match. The story was simple, Riddle was coming in on the championship high, he just beat Sekimoto and Sabre, and the match was under his rules. On the other hand, Ospreay was coming in all banged up and he knew that. He attacked right away, shock and awe, looking to win the match as quickly as possible. It was a great plan, but his reckless nature is what allowed Riddle to take control, and he focused on that neck. This match had the most heat of anything on the WWN shows this week, by a wide margin. Riddle was awesome, showing a ruthless side here, while Ospreay played the resilient babyface, doing his all to overcome. The homestretch was amazing, with excellent near falls, and a real feel that Ospreay could actually win here. This fucking ruled.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.5
The final score: review Very Good
The 411
Despite having great talents on the shows, in the past, the WWN Mercury Rising event has traditionally fallen short of expectations and under delivered. That was usually because it was on Saturday and willed with guys coming off of 5-8 matches, and not only were they tired, but the crowds were usually burnt out. But the 2018 WWN Mercury Rising event was a great show, with four must-see matches. So far, this is the best show of the Mania weekend.
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