By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S EVOLVE 41 REPORT
APRIL 17, 2015
YBOR CITY, FLA.
AIRED LIVE ON WWNLIVE.COM

The PAB came out first. Nese got on the mic and said things didn’t go as planned for them during WM weekend. He blamed Su Yung for their problems and he said he knew even though she wasn’t there, she was planting seeds to screw them over. Nese said it was okay because he had Andrea now. Nese told Yung she had one more chance or she would be fired. Nese said tonight he and Konley were going to beat on some newcomers before their street fight tomorrow against Ronin. Nese told Martin Stone to get to the ring.

(1) Anthony Nese (w/The PAB) vs. Martin Stone. The fans were behind Stone during the early going. Nese stalled at the beginning of the match before going at it with Stone. Stone got the better of Nese during the early going. Andrea grabbed Stone’s foot from the outside. Andrea kept trying to trip Stone and the ref did nothing. Nese tried to go after him, but Stone decked him with a right hand on the floor. Stone went after Andrea and ended up turning around into a superkick from Nese. Nese worked over Martin until he mounted a comeback. Stone went for a German, but Nese landed on his feet and hit a double stomp for a 2 count. Nese worked over Stone until he tried to mount another comeback and eventually decked Nese with a dropkick. Stone fired up on Nese and landed several punches from the mount. Nese fired back and hit a double jump quebrada for a 2 count. Nese went after Stone’s leg and went for a single like crab, but Stone fought him off and hit an ace crusher. He got a 2 count. Nese fired back and hit a one-arm buckle bomb on Stone. Nese followed up with a big running knee in the corner for a 2 count. Nese went for a single leg crab, but Stone got the ropes. Stone mounted a comeback and both men went back and forth until Stone hit a German and a big clothesline for a 2 count. Nese fired back and went for a 450, but Stone got out of the way and applied a crossface. Val got up on the apron and Nese tapped out, but the ref didn’t see it. Nese fired back and hit the dude buster. Stone kicked out and Nese applied the half crab for the win.

Winner: Anthony Nese

Star rating: (**) – This was a bit of a flat opener. The action picked up later, but the usual PAB interference throughout the match watered down the match.

Caleb Konley got on the mic after the match. The fans booed as Nese flexed on the ropes. Konley said the PAB party would roll on. He called out Rey Horus.

(2) Caleb Konley (w/The PAB) vs. Rey Horus. Horus had some fantastic performances at King of the Indies during WM weekend. Konley pie-faced Horus and then decked him with a punch. Horus fired back and hit a sick arm drag off the ropes into a pinning combination for a 2 count. Konley bailed to the floor and got a drink of water. Konley worked over Horus, but he mounted a comeback and hit a hurricanrana. They went to the floor and Horus caught Konley with another hurricanrana and the fans fired up. Horus went for a springboard into the ring, but Konley pushed him back down to the floor. Konley went to work on Horus on the outside before dropping him back-first over the apron. The fans tried to fire up behind Horus as he was down on the outside. Konley went after Horus’s mask inside the ring. The announcers mentioned that Konley had fallen out of the EVOLVE rankings after the WM weekend events. Horus fired back and hit a twisting arm drag off the ropes. The pace picked up and Konley slid to the floor, but Horus immediately nailed him with a flip dive and the fans went nuts chanting for Horus. Horus got a chair and nailed Konley across the back with it on the outside. He continued to run wild on Konley back inside the ring. Konley fired back and hit a blue thunder powerbomb for a 2 count. They went to another fast exchange and Konley ducked a kick from Horus, but he nailed him with a kick with his other foot and both men were down. Both men battled up top and Horus hit an ultra hurricanrana for a near fall. I can’t believe Konley kicked out of that. Horus went up top a short time later, but Konley hit him with a palm strike and a falcon arrow off the top for the win.

Su Yung got on the mic and said she had a surprise for the PAB. She said tomorrow she had a SHINE Championship match against Santana Garrett. Val got the mic and mocked her for making a plan by herself. The fans chanted for Yung. Val said there will be a SHINE Championship match tomorrow, but Andrea would get the match because she could actually win the match. Val told Yung she’s pathetic. She told Yung if she hit her, she would be fired. Yung went to hit Val, but Andrea stopped her. Val mocked Yung’s body and said no man would want to see that. Andrea ripped off Yung’s shirt and Val tried to get a training bra chant going. Ugh.

Winner: Caleb Konley

Star rating: (***) – The match dragged a bit while Konley was on offense at times. Horus was really good when he was on the offensive. They had some really good exchanges during the second half in the match and Horus showed he belongs in EVOLVE.

(3) T.J. Perkins vs. Biff Busick. Both guys went back and forth on the mat during the early going before Perkins caught Busick with a dropkick. Perkins caught Busick with a pair of corkscrew head scissor takedowns. He went for a third, but Busick pushed him off. They went to an exchange off the ropes and Perkins got an octopus variation before rolling Busick into a pinning combination for a 2 count. Perkins went for a springboard to the floor a short time later, but Busick tripped him and he went face-first into the apron. Busick tossed Perkins back into the ring and began working him over. Busick worked a cravat for a long period of time. Both men went back and forth exchanging counters. Perkins finally dropped Busick down to the mat. Busick ducked a charge in the corner a short time later and hit a diving European uppercut for a 2 count. Busick went back after Perkins neck on the mat. Perkins fired back and elevated Busick up into the air and went to his back and lifted his feet so that Busick landed on them. Both men were slow to get to their feet after that exchange. Perkins got the upper hand and hit a neck breaker followed by a springboard splash. He then transitioned into a cross-arm breaker. Busick was close to the ropes and managed to get his foot on them a short time later.

The fans fired up with both men going at it on the apron. Busick got a rear naked choke, but Perkins slipped out and hit a double underhook into a knee strike for a 2 count. Perkins went to the second turnbuckle and came off, but Busick nailed him with an uppercut and a running blockbuster for a 2 count. The fans fired up and Perkins countered another rear naked choke attempt. Perkins countered a judo throw attempt from Busick and went for a cross-arm breaker. He didn’t have it at first, but then he got it and the ref called for the bell.

Busick told the ref after the match that he didn’t quit. Niemi said that Busick didn’t realize that he had quit. Busick continued to yell at the ref as they went to the back.

Winner: T.J. Perkins

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good technical battle with some good fast-paced exchanges mixed in. Busick tried to soften up Perkins’s head throughout the match while Perkins targeted his arm. Perkins eventually caught Busick in the cross-arm bar and got the win very quickly after Busick had managed to escape the hold earlier in the match by getting the ropes.

(4) Ethan Page vs. Rich Swann. Swann ran right into the ring and went after Page, who had his back turned. Swann hit a dropkick that sent Page to the outside. Swann tried to slide through the ropes, but Page caught him and spun him around and nailed him in the head. Page then dropped Swann off the apron and into a back breaker. The fans tried to fire up behind Swann. Leonard said Page had gone from being endorsed by Johnny Gargano to being hunted by him. They ended up back into the ring as Leonard said Page had learned from Ronin and Page was going to keep Gargano away from him as long as possible. The fans tried to rally behind Swann by singing “All Night Long” and Page danced behind him. Leonard said Page’s plan was to take out Gargano’s partner before their tag title match tomorrow night. Page went after Swann’s injured ribs with a body lock. Swann fired back and went for a handspring ace crusher, but Page fought it off and slammed him to the mat. Leonard mentioned that Page is now #10 in the EVOLVE rankings. Page lifted Swann and hit him with several knees to the ribs while he carried him around the ring. He finally hit a fallaway slam and he ended up on the floor. Page eventually went after Swann on the floor and they brawled up onto the stage. Page set up for a cradle piledriver on the stage and nailed Swann with it.

Page rolled into the ring as the ref counted. Swann began crawling towards the ring slowly as the ref continued to count him out. Swann barely beat the 20 count and Page immediately jumped on top of him and began working him over. Swann finally fired back and hit a swinging neck breaker. The fans fired up and chanted for Swann. Swann sold his ribs before going for a charge in the corner. He eventually hit an enzuguri when Page went up top. Swann then hit a jumping hurricanrana and covered Page for a 2 count. Both men battled up top a short time later. Swann fought Page off, but Page nailed him with a running kick. Swann fired back and went for a cross-body off the turnbuckles, but Page caught him. Page went for a lawn dart, but Swann slipped out and hit a superkick. The fans fired up and chanted for Swann. Swann went to the second turnbuckle, but missed a 450. Page then flipped Swann onto the turnbuckles and hit an ace crusher for a near fall. Page went for a cradle piledriver on the apron, but Swann fought out of it. Swann hit an enzuguri, but Page fired back with a knee to the ribs. He then backdropped him into the ring. Page went for a slingshot ace crusher, but Swann landed on his hands and hit a superkick. Holy crap! Swann went on the attack, but Page countered him and hit a big lawn dart followed by a slingshot ace crusher. He made the cover on Swann, who kicked out at the last second. Page went for the spinning Dwayne, but Swann blocked it. Page went for it again, but Swann land on his feet. They went back and forth and Swann hit a handspring ace crusher for a 2 count. Swann hit a big roundhouse kick to Page’s head and went up top. Swann sold his ribs and went for a frog splash, but Page got his knees up and hit the spinning Dwayne for the win.

Winner: Ethan Page

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was really good with Swann taking a beating and selling his ribs. Page looked like a smart heel here targeting Swann’s ribs throughout the match. Swann made several big comebacks before ultimately falling short in front of an appreciative crowd.

(5) Davey Richards vs. Johnny Gargano. Leonard mentioned that Gargano had fallen to #5 in the rankings after losing to Galloway during WM weekend. They went back and forth during the early going, but neither man could get the upper hand. Richards caught Gargano in a leg submission, but he quickly got the ropes. Richards offered to help Gargano to his feet after the ropes break. The announcers focused on how Gargano seemed to be the Gargano of old until his lost to Galloway after his long heel run. Leonard talked about how Gargano had fallen to pieces after losing to the Open the Freedom Gate Title to Ricochet at Open the Ultimate Gate 2014. Richards offered another handshake a short time later, but ended up nailing him with a forearm. Richards went on the attack and floated over Gargano into a combination arm/leg submission. Richards then rolled him over into a pinning combination, but Gargano countered it and locked Richards into an arm/leg combination submission. Gargano then rolled Richards up, but Richards kicked out and eventually tied him up in another arm/leg combination submission. Richards caught Gargano with a big dropkick off the ropes a short time later and he rolled to the floor. Gargano fired back and eventually caught Richards with a slingshot spear through the ropes and the fans fired up. Gargano fired up the fans before nailing Richards with a dropkick to the back of the head for a 2 count. Both guys went back and forth trading blows until Richards caught Gargano with a STO as he came off the ropes. The fans chanted this is awesome, but Richards told them that he is the one that’s awesome.

Richards went back to work on Gargano and hit a snap suplex and made a cocky cover for a 2 count. The fans tried to rally behind Gargano, who tried to punch his way into a comeback, but Richards cut him off with a knee to the gut as he went to bounce off the ropes. Richards tied up Gargano’s legs and dropped down to the mat to really put leverage on the hold. Gargano tried to kick his way out of Richards’s grip, but Richards hit a dragon screw. He teased a figure 4 and the fans cheered, so he stopped and flipped them off. Richards went to whip Gargano, but his leg gave out. Richards continued to work over Gargano’s leg. Richards went for a handspring off the ropes a short time later, but Gargano caught him with a neck breaker. The fans fired up and chanted for Gargano. Gargano ducked a charge in the corner and nailed Richards with a rolling kick.

Gargano sold his leg as he continued to try to build some momentum. Gargano hit a slingshot DDT, but Richards managed to kick out at 2. Gargano went for a lawn dart on Richards and tried to shake some feeling back into his leg. Richards slipped out and eventually nailed Gargano with a big running kick to Gargano’s chest for a 2 count. Gargano went for another rolling kick, but Richards countered it into a stretch muffler. Gargano managed to slide out and applied the Gargano escape. Richards managed to inch his way backwards and eventually got his foot on the bottom rope. The fans fired up as both men regrouped. Both men began trading kicks and strikes in the middle of the ring. Gargano then began snapping Richards’s arm over his shoulder and Richards fired back with kicks to his legs. They went back and forth until Gargano hit a lawn dart. Gargano then caught Richards with a big running kick to the mid-section for a 2 count. Gargano applied the Gargano escape again. Richards slipped out of the Gargano escape and went for the stretch muffler, but Gargano escaped. Both men exchanged pinning combinations. Richards eventually hit a big boot in the corner and a backdrop driver. Richards then went up top and hit a huge double stomp, but Gargano kicked out at the very last second. The fans chanted Gargano, but Richards nailed him with a roundhouse kick to the head for the win.

The fans chanted for Gargano after the match once Richards left the ring. Rob Naylor then caught up with Gargano to interview him near the entranceway. He asked Gargano about his loss and Swann’s rib injury heading into their DGUSA Tag Title match. Naylor said things were looking bleak. Gargano things were going to be very personal tomorrow about the PAB. Naylor asked for a comment on Ethan Page. Gargano said he has nothing to say about Page and walked away.

Winner: Davey Richards

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a good match overall. There were a couple of segments in the match that dragged a bit. Richards worked over Gargano’s leg throughout the match and Gargano did a good job selling it, but ultimately they dropped that part of the match and Richards put Gargano away with a roundhouse kick to the head.

(6) Roderick Strong vs. Timothy Thatcher in a 2/3 Falls match – winner receives a future EVOLVE Title shot. Strong jawed with a fan and then bailed to the outside when Thatcher went after him during the early stages of the match. Leonard said Strong was #1 in the rankings currently and Thatcher had moved up from #10 to #2 after WM weekend. Thatcher got on top of Strong, but he escaped and rolled back to the outside. The announcers mentioned that Drew Gulak seems to be the only thorn in Thatcher’s side in EVOLVE. Strong hit a series of punches, but Thatcher got on top of him on the mat. Thatcher went for a cross-arm breaker, but Strong blocked it. They went back and forth on the mat and Thatcher went for a cross-arm breaker again, but Strong blocked it and got to the ropes. Strong rolled out to the apron and eventually went to the floor. Thatcher got the upper hand and slammed Strong’s arm into the mat. He then got on top of Strong and began manipulating his fingers. Thatcher went for a cross-arm breaker again, but Strong blocked it by clasping his hands together. Strong got on top of Thatcher and eventually hit a big knee to the gut. Thatcher blocked a chop in the corner and hit a big uppercut. He went back after Strong’s arm, but got caught with a kick to the throat. Strong taunted Thatcher with some light kicks to the head. Thatcher got to his feet and glared at him. Thatcher hit a series of European uppercuts after blocking a chop from Strong. He then hit a suplex before going back after Strong’s arm, but Strong managed to get to the ropes.

They went at it near the apron and both men traded forearms. Strong eventually kicked Thatcher’s legs out from under him. Strong hit a big sliding dropkick on Thatcher. Thatcher tried to mount a comeback, but ate a dropkick as he came off the ropes. Thatcher nailed Strong with a European uppercut when he charged at him in the corner. Thatcher went after Strong’s arm, but Strong caught him with a pinning combination for a 3 count to go up 1-0.

They ended up going at on the outside and Thatcher sent Strong into a post on the outside. They continued to brawl around the venue before ending up back at ringside. Thatcher nailed Strong with a big uppercut, but Strong fired back a short time later and shoved him into the post at ringside. Strong nailed Thatcher with a big chop against the post and went for another one, but Thatcher got out of the way and Strong’s hand made a thudding sound when it connected with the ring post. Thatcher slammed Strong’s hand over the ring apron and went to work on him back inside the ring. Thatcher lifted Strong’s hand up and stomped it down to the mat for a 2 count. Thatcher then got a wrist lock on Strong, who tried to break it. Thatcher bent Strong’s wrist backwards, but Strong kicked him away. Thatcher fought Strong off up top and then put the boots to Strong in the corner. Thatcher then nailed Strong with a big knee strike to the head and fired up. Strong fired back with a jumping knee and a boot to Thatcher’s face. Strong put the boots to Strong, but Thatcher countered. He got a cross-arm breaker, but Strong got out of it and stomped down on his face. The fans fired up with both men slow to get up. Strong went for a Gibson driver, but Thatcher blocked it and got the cross arm breaker. This time Strong was forced to tap and Thatcher tired the match at 1-1.

The deciding fall began with both men going at it near the turnbuckles. They ended up on the apron where they traded blows. Strong eventually got the upper hand and dumped Thatcher back-first into the apron. Strong rolled Thatcher back into the ring and got a near fall. The fans tried to rally behind Thatcher, who looked out of it. Thatcher tried to mount a comeback and both men traded strikes until Thatcher nailed Strong with a headbutt. The fans chanted for Thatcher, who fell down on his rear end. The fans clapped with both men slow to get back to their feet. Strong hit an enzuguri out of the corner and placed Thatcher on the top turnbuckle. Strong hit another enzuguri on Thatcher up top a short time later. He set up for a superplex and hit it. The fans fired up as Strong made the cover, but Thatcher managed to kick out at 2. Both men began trading chops and uppercuts. Thatcher tried to block a chop, so Strong chopped him in the forehead and hit a jumping knee for a 2 count and the fans fired up. Thatcher fired back and went for the tower of London and connected. Thatcher made the cover, but Strong kicked out at 2. Thatcher went for the Fujiwara arm bar, but Strong slipped free and hit a sick kick and a Gibson driver for the win.

Strong got on the mic after the match and said on May 31 in New York he was coming to embarrass Drew Galloway and take the EVOLVE Title. The fans booed. Thatcher got on the mic and told Strong that tonight he was the better man. He said whoever one Strong-Galloway, he would work his way back up and stand across the ring from them. Busick ran down to the ring and said he got screwed by the ref. Strong said the people were getting screwed because they were supposed to be celebrating him right now. He said he sounded like baby Busick and not Biff Busick. Busick went after Strong, but he begged off. Strong said he would become champion on May 31 and both of them would have to live with the fact that they’re both losers and he’s a winner. Strong teased jumping Thatcher and Busick, but stopped short and left the ring when they saw him coming after them. Busick and Thatcher went nose-to-nose before Busick bailed. Busick left and Thatcher got an ovation from the fans.

Winner: Roderick Strong 2-1 to earn a future title shot at the EVOLVE Championship

Star rating: (****) – This was a really good match. Strong got a flash pin during the early going. Then Thatcher went after his arm during the second fall. The match picked up nicely during the second fall after Strong went for a chop on the floor, but ended up connecting with the ringpost. Strong had blocked the cross-arm breaker throughout the match, but Thatcher caught him and Strong tapped quickly. The third fall featured a lot of good hard-hitting action. Thatcher nearly had the Fujiwara arm bar until Strong slipped out of it and caught him with the sick kick/Gibson driver combination for the win. The entire build to the match was really well done with Strong establishing himself as the dominant challenger in EVOLVE by beating Thatcher, who had climbed near the top of the rankings after an outstanding showing during WM weekend.

Overall thoughts: (7.5) – This was a very good show, but it felt like a bit of a comedown after EVOLVE 40 and the WWN Supershow during WM weekend. The crowd was into a lot of the action during the night, but they didn’t provide a stellar atmosphere in terms of crowd heat. There were a lot of good matches up and down the card, but the 2/3 Falls match between Thatcher and Strong was the highlight of the show.

With the exception of the opening match, everything on this show was good to excellent. The show lacked a must-see match until the main event, but the undercard did a good job of progressing storylines.

It was nice to see Rey Horus get a spot in EVOLVE after his outstanding showing at the King of Indies tournament during WM weekend. He had a good match against Caleb Konley and showed flashes of the slot he could fill in EVOLVE with his Lucha style of offense. The opening of the show dragged with the PAB brand involved in two long segments, but Horus managed to liven things up.

Page-Swann was the second best match on the show. Page has shown a lot of growth during his short time in EVOLVE and it was impressive to watch him go right after Swann, who was scheduled to team with Gargano to go after The PAB for the DGUSA Tag Titles on the next show. Page worked over Swann’s mid-section throughout the match and Swann did a really good job selling leading into the finish.

Perkins-Busick and Gargano-Richards were both very good matches. Busick seems to be setting up a heel turned, as he yelled at the ref after Perkins submitted him. Busick then later came out during the main event and whined about not tapping out in his match against Perkins. It looks like Thatcher and Busick will be in contention for the EVOLVE title after Strong faces Galloway on May 31, although Thatcher being out with an injury at this time after these shows took place could hinder that.

Gargano-Richards was another very good match on the show. They had a good back and forth match with Richards going after Gargano’s leg. Gargano sold his leg well, but they seemed to get away from Richards working over his leg for the most part once they went to the finishing sequence that saw Richards get the win. Gargano cut a good promo to set up Ronin’s match against the PAB on the next show after taking the loss. I’m interested to see how Ronin does in the match with the odds stacked against them with Gargano and Swann having a rough night on this show. I also liked Gargano having nothing to say about Ethan Page when Rob Naylor asked him for some comments on Page to close the interview.

I’m not usually a fan of 2/3 Falls matches, but the Thatcher-Strong match was really good after the first fall. Strong got a flash pin during the early going, but after that the match picked up nicely. The crowd didn’t make a ton of noise during the match, but you could tell they were into it. Thatcher had worked over Strong’s arm leading into the second fall and continued to capitalize after he ducked a chop from Strong and he ended up chopping the post on the outside of the ring. Strong tapped out quickly once Thatcher finally got the cross arm breaker to tie the match at 1-1 heading into the final fall. The final fall was really good with both men engaging in some back and forth hard-hitting action. Strong managed to slip out of a Fujiwara arm bar attempt and finished off Thatcher with a sick kick/Gibson driver combination to win the match.

Overall, this show is worth checking out. It’s a fun show to watch and there are several good matches up and down the card capped by an excellent main event. EVOLVE continued to keep things going in a positive direction from a creative standpoint on this show and the promotion is one of the most enjoyable indies to watch in 2015.

You can purchase EVOLVE 41 on VOD by visiting WWNLive.com. For more information on EVOLVE visit DGUSA.TV.

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