By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

Evolve 18 iPPV Results
December 8, 2012
Voorhees, N.J.
Aired live on WWNLive.com
Report by Sean Radican, PWTorch columnist




1 - - Tony Nese vs. A.R. Fox – Winner advances to Four Way Freestyle

Arda Ocal is in the commentary booth with Colt Cabana. Nese sent Fox to the outside and nailed him with a big dive through the ropes and the crowd popped. Nese went for a springboard, but Fox nailed him with a dropkick and followed up with a splash over the top to the outside and the crowd popped. Fox set up Nese on the apron a short time later and nailed him with a leg drop off the turnbuckles. Nese blocked Lo Mein pain and hit a uranagi off the top on Fox. Nese hit a nice springboard moonsault a short time later for a 2 count. Fox fired back and hit a springboard dropkick. The crowd popped as Fox went on the attack.

Fox hit a springboard ace crusher, but Nese kicked out at two. They went to a crazy exchange with both men evading dropkicks. Fox got the upper hand and hit a huge swanton for a nearfall. The crowd fired up and let the wrestlers know the match was awesome. Nese caught Fox by surprise with a big boot, but Fox fired back with a running kick near the ropes. Nese hit a slick pump-handle powerbomb for a nearfall and the crowd popped again. Nese blocked Lo Mein pain again and rolled up Fox. Nese dead-lifted Fox and powerbombed him into the turnbuckles. Nese then hit a running knee to the head in the corner, but Fox kicked out at the last second. Nese went up top, but Fox kipped up and kicked the turnbuckles. Fox hit a Pele kick up top. They battled on the turnbuckles and Fox finally hit Lo Mein pain for the win.

Winner: A.R. Fox

Star rating: (***1/2) – Sick opening match with both guys putting on an excellent back and forth match with some great exchanges.

Papadon and Masada came out to elevator music. Masada got a big chant coming out.

2 - - Papadon vs. Masada –Winner advances to Four Way Freestyle

Things got heated quickly with both guys shoving each other and then exchanging chops. They exchanged blows and Papadon landed a big forearm. He then came off the turnbuckles with an uppercut for a 2 count. The crowd tried to rally behind Masada as Papadon worked him over. They went to another exchange of blows, but Papadon hit a German suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. Masada fired back with a powerslam for a 2 count. The crowd chanted for Masada as he went to work on Papadon. Papadon fired back and slammed Masada to the mat and hit a running dropkick for a 2 count. Masada caught Papadon by surprise with a belly-to-back suplex. Papadon caught Masada moments later and drove him face-first into the turnbuckles. Papadon followed up with a running kick before grabbing a chinlock.

They went to another strike exchange before exchanging running kicks near the ropes. Papadon caught Masada and hit a knee to the head. He then hit a running kick for a nearfall. The fans booed Papadon getting the upper hand again. They battled near the ropes and Papadon suplexed Masada back into the ring from the apron. Masada ducked a running kick and hit a leg capture suplex. Masada followed up with a brainbuster for the win.

Winner: Masada

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was another solid undercard match. Masada looked better than he did in his previous appearances with the company.

Larry Dallas came down to the ring with a clipboard. He told Papadon he needs proper guidance. He asked Papadon to sign a contract with the Scene. Dallas promised Papadon he would take Papadon to the top. Papadon signed the contract and they hugged.

Dallas called out Marti Belle to sign his open contract so she could get her hands all over him. Belle came down to the ring. Belle signed the contract and Dallas told her she had signed a contract for a handicap match against Dallas and Papadon.

3 - - Marti Belle vs. Larry Dallas and Papadon – Handicap match

Belle jumped Dallas, but Papadon nailed her with a powerbomb. Dallas recovered and taunted Belle. Dallas then covered Belle for the win.

Winners: Larry Dallas and Papadon – This was short, but I got a kick out of Dallas outsmarting Belle.

Swann came down for his match against Jigsaw beat boxing and leading the crowd in a chant.

4 - - Rich Swann vs. Jigsaw – Winner advances to Four Way Freestyle

After a slow start, they went to a fast-paced exchange and Swann took down Jigsaw with a dropkick for a 2 count and the crowd chanted for Swann. Swann went for a rolling thunder, but Jigsaw caught him and slammed him to the mat. Swann rolled to the outside and Jigsaw followed up with a dive through the ropes and the crowd applauded. Jigsaw tossed Swann in the ring and worked him over for several minutes. Swann cut off Jigsaw and hit a top rope hurricanrana. Swann then wiped out Jigsaw with a flip dive over the top to the outside and the crowd applauded. Swann hit a nice tornado DDT back in the ring, but Jigsaw kicked out at the last second. Swann went for a sunset flip, but Jigsaw rolled through and hit a doublestomp. Jigsaw followed up with a German with a bridge, but Swann kicked out at the last second.

The crowd fired up as Jigsaw regrouped. Swann fired back and kicked Jigsaw before jumping on his back and coming down with a legdrop for a 2 count. The crowd chanted for Swann as he went back after Jigsaw. Jigsaw caught Swann on his shoulder going for a springboard and he turned it into a powerbomb for a nearfall. The crowd applauded as Jigsaw went back on the attack. Swann evaded Jigsaw and hit a handspring ace crusher. He followed up with a standing SSP for a nearfall and the crowd applauded. Jigsaw tossed Swann neck-first over the top rope and hit a northern lights suplex, but Swann kicked out at the last second. The crowd applauded after the great near fall. Swann caught Jigsaw with a spinning kick to the head a short time later for the win.

Winner: Rich Swann

Star rating: (***1/2) – Fantastic match with good crowd heat. They really had the crowd hear and put together some fantastic sequences.

Colt said he was leaving and mentioned he had recorded some podcasts.

Jon Davis came out to some boos. Davis took a long time to get into the ring and stared down several fans before getting into the ring. Taylor got an ovation coming out. Ocal welcomed Johnny Gargano to the commentary booth. Gargano asked if anyone was awake after Davis’s entrance. He said he was here to say something to Davis after the match.

5 - - Jon Davis vs. Chuck Taylor (w/The Gentleman’s Club) – Winner advances to Four Way Freestyle

Davis just sat in the corner and wouldn’t get up to face Taylor. Davis got up and the fans chanted holy s—t. Taylor told Davis to bring it with a shoulder tackle and Davis obliterated him. Taylor sold it like he was dead. The ref checked Taylor’s arm and he fired up after the third try and shook the ropes, which got the crowd going. Davis sent Taylor down to the mat again and he shook the ropes. Taylor continued to try to take Davis down, but he wouldn’t go down. Taylor finally took Davis down with a big shoulder tackle and the crowd applauded. Taylor tried to suplex Davis from the apron back into the ring, but that didn’t work as you can imagine. Taylor hit a running knee to send Davis to the floor. Taylor went for a springboard dive to the outside, but Davis caught him and slammed him onto the edge of the ring apron.

Davis continued to dominate the action back inside the ring. The crowd chanted for Taylor after he kicked out of a big suplex. Taylor hit several punches, but Davis took him down with one punch. Taylor took out his invisible grenade, but Davis knocked it to the outside. The Swamp Monster and Gulak tossed it back and forth. The Swamp Monster ended up getting blown up. Davis was distracted and nearly got rolled up for a nearfall. Taylor followed up with a nice DDT for another nearfall and the crowd fired up. Davis fired back and hit a powerslam for a nearfall. The crowd tried to rally behind Taylor, who fired back and went for a half crab. Davis fought him up, but Taylor caught him with a uranagi and a running kick for a 2 count. The Roku channel will debut in a few weeks, said Ocal! Taylor caught Davis with soul food, but Davis hit a big running clothesline a short time later for the win.

Winner: Jon Davis

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a good match with Taylor getting the crowd into the action. Davis’s offense looks devastating. The crowd was not happy to see Taylor not advance to the Freestyle match.

Gargano grabbed a mic and went to the ring. The fans chanted for Gargano before he addressed Davis. Gargano said he wasn’t out here for a fight. He told Davis he had him figured out. He said the people didn’t care about him when he stared them down because he’s fake. Gargano told Davis nobody cares about him. The fans chanted no one likes you at Davis. Gargano told Davis he’s a mediocre bully because he’s still standing in front of him with the Open the Freedom Gate title.

Davis grabbed the mic after Gargano left. The fans chanted no at Davis. Davis said Gargano could say whatever he wants. He mentioned the main event tonight is contested under DGUSA rules. That didn’t get over too well.

Ocal announced in the ring the Young Bucks would be part of DGUSA during WrestleCon weekend and during the events in California in January. Ocal also announced that John Morrison had sent an email to the DGUSA office. Ocal said Morrison had signed an open contract to face one of Japan’s best.

A woman came down to the ring. She said she wants to be John Morrison’s manager. Christina Von Eerie then came out. She lifted the woman and drove her down to the mat. Von Eerie told the woman that Morrison thinks he can just come in and take over. She mentioned the Young Bucks as well. She said Dragon Gate and EVOLVE will belong to Mad Blankey. Von Eerie ended up flipped off the fans. Whoever that woman was, she was awful in her role here.

6 - - El Generico & Samuray Del Sol vs. The Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno & Player Dos)

Generico took Dos down with a series of arm drags during the early going and shouted ole! Generico helped Dos up before they went back at it. Uno fired back and took down Generico with a headscissors takedown. Generico sold shock on the mat. Uno offered to help Generico up, but Generico got up on his own before slapping hands with Uno. Dos and Del Sol had a sick exchange that ended with Dos taking him down with a hurricanrana. The crowd applauded before they went back at it. The SSB cut off Generico and nailed him with a double team trip/leg drop for a 2 count. They continued to tag in and out to work over Generico. Uno slammed Generico and the SSB did their signature pose in the ring. The crowd tried to rally behind Generico, as he took a sustained beating from the SSB.

Del Sol got the hot tag and ran wild on Dos. Uno ran in, but Del Sol hit him with a standing sliced bread. Generico tagged himself in and went to work on Uno. Generico slammed Uno and Del Sol hit a slingshot flipping splash from the apron for a 2 count. Del Sol locked in a leg submission on Uno, but he eventually got the ropes. Generico went for a running kick, but Uno cut him off with a flat liner. The crowd clapped as both men tagged out. Dos ran wild and took out Del Sol and Generico. Dos teased a dive to the outside on Generico, but ended up pulling the ropes up. Uno then hit a dive through his legs to the outside and the crowd applauded. The crowd fired up as Dos went after Del Sol. Del Sol caught Dos with a spinning kick and put the boots to him in the corner.

Generico finally cut off Dos with a michinoku driver. The fans chanted for Generico, who tagged in Del Sol. Generico shoved Uno off the apron and they went after Dos. Generico and Del Sol hit their combo 450 on Dos, but Uno broke it up. Generico hit a big boot on Dos and went for a brainbuster, but Dos countered it into a hurricanrana and rolled him up for a nearfall. They went back and forth exchanging nearfalls and the crowd applauded. That was a nice sequence there. Del Sol tagged in, but ended up taking the assisted suplex into the corner from the SSB brothers and he crashed into Generico. The SSB hit a tandem cannonball into the corner on Generico and a 450 onto Del Sol, but Del Sol kicked out at the last second and the crowd popped.

Generico hit a running kicks and a half and half suplex on Dos. Del Sol then hit the rising sun on Dos, but Uno broke up the pin at the last second. The crowd applauded as the SSB went after Del Sol. They went for the fatality, but Generico broke it up. He went for a super brainbuster on Dos, but Uno broke it up. Generico got rid of Uno and went for the super brainbuster again on Dos, but Dos pushed him off. Del Sol then ran up drove him down to the mat with a variation of the code red for the win.

Winners: El Generico & Samuray Del Sol

Star rating: (***3/4) - This was very good. The crowd just didn’t provide the necessary heat to take the match to the next level. They had to work awfully hard to get the crowd into it at the end. The move from Del Sol off the top at the end on Dos was crazy.

7 - - A.R. Fox vs. Masada vs. Rich Swann vs. Jon Davis – Four Way Freestyle match

Davis went after Fox and Swann before turning his attention to Masada. Masada booted Davis to the floor after a hard-hitting exchange. Fox set himself up and hit the Lo Mein rain onto Swann and Davis. Masada waited in the ring before hitting a huge dive onto Davis. Fox went to work on Masada hitting him with a springboard leg drop as he tried to enter the ring. Swann ran in and nailed Masada with a kick. The action is going too fast to keep track of here. Fox went for a springboard, but Davis caught him and powerbombed him into Masada and Swann, who were piled in the corner. Davis then hit the jackhammer on Fox, but he kicked out. Davis continued to run wild and he hit a big spinebuster on Masada, but Swann broke up the pin. They did the tower of doom spot with Fox taking everyone down with a powerbomb on Masada. Fox tried to cover Swann and then Masada, but could only get a pair of 2 counts.

The crowd tried to fire up. Masada countered Lo Mein pain and suplexed Fox, who appeared to land right on his neck. Davis broke up the pin and hit the 3 seconds around the world powerbomb on Masada, but Swann broke it up. Fox and Swann then went after it. They had a sick exchange that saw Swann hit the spinning kick on Fox for the win.

Winner: Rich Swann

Star rating: (**) – This was a good dose of athleticism, but in terms of being a match that was promoted as a focal point for the show the length of the match was disappointing. Swann goes to 3-2 after picking up two wins tonight.

Davis tried to jump Gargano during the introductions, but Callihan cut him off. Callihan got on the mic and told Davis to get out. The fans chanted get the f—k out. Callihan said tonight is about him to Gargano. He said he wanted all of Gargano vs. all of Callihan. He said he wanted everyone to know who the best wrestler in EVOLVE is once he beats Gargano.

7 - - Open The Freedom Gate Champion Johnny Gargano vs. Sami Callihan

Callihan didn’t offer a clean break and Gargano slapped him across the face. Callihan fired back with a headbutt and hit a big running kick in the corner. Callihan hit another running kick in the corner. The crowd chanted for Callihan to do it one more time. Callihan went for a third kick, but Gargano caught his foot. Callihan sit several slaps, but Gargano told him to bring it. Gargano locked in the Gargano escape, but Callihan rolled to the outside. Gargano nailed Callihan with a dive through the ropes and the guardrail collapsed. Gargano hit another dive to the outside and the fans applauded. Callihan fired back and hit a springboard clothesline to the apron and both men fell to the outside.

They brawled on the outside and Callihan nailed Gargano with a big running chop. He set up Gargano against the ringpost, but Gargano ducked a chop. Callihan’s hand ended up colliding with the ringpost and Gargano went to work on him. They went at it in the ring and Gargano countered a suplex from Callihan and ended up suplexing Callihan into the turnbuckles. Gargano began working on Callihan’s arm inside the ring. Gargano tied up both of Callihan’s arm and leaned back on them. Gargano turned it into a pinning combination, but only got a 2 count. Both men battled up top. Callihan bit Gargano’s hand to break free from a superplex. Gargano held on when Callihan went for a sunset bomb, but Callihan ended up super kicking Gargano’s leg out from under him and he spilled to the floor. Callihan began working over Gargano’s leg. He applied a leg lock on the mat. Callihan ended up mounting Gargano’s back and he pounded on his head before rolling him over for a 2 count.

Callihan hit a big DVD as Gargano came off the ropes. He set up in front of Gargano and went for a slingshot splash, but Gargano got his knees up. The cried tried to rally as both men got to their feet. They went to an exchange of strikes in the middle of the ring. Gargano got the upper hand and hit his signature rolling kick on Callihan for a 2 count. Gargano went for a spear through the ropes, but Callihan blocked it. Gargano ended up hit a springboard DDT, but only got a 2 count. Callihan cut off Gargano and hit a dragon screw before locking in a figure 4. Gargano eventually got the ropes and Callihan had to break the hold. They went back and forth in the middle of the ring. Gargano finally hit a clothesline and both men were down. Some of the fans applauded as both men were slow to get up.

Both men got up and exchanged counters. Gargano hit a big kick to Callihan’s head and hit the lawn dart. Gargano hit the hurts don’t it, but Callihan kicked out. Gargano applied the Gargano escape. Callihan struggled, but eventually got the ropes. Callihan acted as if he was out on the mat and surprised Gargano with a delayed belly-to-back suplex for a two count. Both men battled on the turnbuckles. Callihan ended up hung up between the ropes near the ringpost and Gargano nailed him with a superkick from the apron. Gargano went for a sunset bomb to the floor, but Callihan blocked it. Gargano then hit the hurts don’t it off the apron and into the guardrail.

The ref was going to count Callihan out, but Gargano told the ref not to. He tried to roll Callihan back into the ring, but Callihan hit a belly-to-back suplex on the apron. Callihan tossed Gargano back into the ring and the crowd fired up. Callihan went up top and hit a splash on Gargano’s leg. He applied the stretch muffler, but Gargano rolled him up for a nearfall. Callihan hit a big kick and a sit down powerbomb, but Gargano kicked out. Callihan applied the stretch muffler again, but Gargano countered it into the Gargano escape. Callihan rolled him up for a 2 count, but Gargano applied the Gargano escape again. Callihan slipped out and got the stretch muffler. Gargano rolled over and kicked Callihan. Gargano eventually escaped and applied the Gargano escape. The crowd booed. Callihan lifted Gargano, but Garagano rolled him over with a crucifix bomb. Gargano applied the Gargano escape and hit several knees to Callihan’s head while applying the hold. The ref ended up calling for the bell when Callihan didn’t respond.

Winner: Johnny Gargano to retain the Open the Freedom Gate title

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a very good match, but the crowd put a damper on it and didn’t respond to what they were doing in the ring. The submission work was well done and the exchanges on the apron were fantastic.

The crowd booed the finish. Some fans chanted for Gargano after the match. Ocal signed off as Callihan struggled to recover and appeared to question the ref.

Overall score: (7.5) – The crowd in Voorhees put a damper on what otherwise was a really good show. They were hot for the first half of the show, but rarely got into any of the action during the second half, which featured two really good matches with Generico & Del Sol beating the SSB and Gargano retaining the title by beating Callihan in a very good match.

There wasn’t a bad match on this show, but the crowd didn’t add enough heat to take any of the matches to the four star range, although Del Sol & Generico vs. SSB and Gargano-Callihan were both very close.

Looking at the records of the wrestlers trying to get themselves in position for a spot in the EVOLVE title tournament at WrestleCon, it was a surprising choice to have Swann get two wins on this night. The Four Way Freestyle match was short, but perhaps they were running up against their allotted time before the CZW show had to start. Swann started the show at 1-2 and ended the night at 3-2. I’m guessing all of the people in the eight man tournament to crown the EVOLVE champion are going to have winning records, so it made sense to get Swann over the .500 mark if they want to include him in the tournament. The ideal situation would be to have eight competitors in the tournament with all of them having impressive win-loss records.

EVOLVE has put on some good shows this year that have been hampered by poor crowd heat and that was the case again tonight. The Voorhees crowd always seems to be dead for most of the action and I really wonder why they bother showing up if all they’re going to do is sit on their hands. EVOLVE and DGUSA need to find a better place to run to enhance the iPPV viewing experience. Sapolsky is doing the right things in terms of putting together compelling cards and storylines, but something isn’t clicking where EVOLVE is running shows.

It seemed like the crowd favored Fox, Swann, and Masada the most on this show. Nobody else got much of a reaction, although they did seem to like Callihan in the main event. That being said, this show is worth watching on replay and you’re not going to be disappointed with the quality of matches up and down the card, especially the first half where the crowd was into the matches.

***

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