RADICAN’S EVOLVE 58 iPPV Review – Sabre vs. Ospreay classic, Thatcher vs. Riddle for EVOLVE Title, Overall Review

RADICAN’S EVOLVE 58 iPPV REPORT
APRIL 1, 2016
DALLAS, TEX.
AIRED LIVE ON WWNLIVE.COM

Lenny Leonard and Rob Naylor introduced the show. They said this was the biggest EVOVLE crowd in history. They then brought out the EVOLVE Tag Team Champions, Drew Galloway and Johnny Gargano, to kick off the show. Galloway cut a promo to welcome the fans to the WWN Live Experience. Gargano then pandered to the fans and said he wanted to start the show off with a bang. Gargano said he had gotten them a special corner man for this match. Gargano then brought out Kota Ibushi to be in their corner. Ibushi came out to a big pop.

If Konley & Nese lose this match, they can never team again. I hope it also means we never have to listen to So Cal Val cut another promo again.

(1) EVOLVE Tag Team champions Johnny Gargano & Drew Galloway (w/Kota Ibushi) vs. The PAB (Caleb Konley & Anthony Nese w/So Cal Val & Andrea). Konley and Nese jumped Gargano and Galloway as the ref tried to get the bell to ring. Nese accidentally kicked Konley on the outside and Gargano immediately wiped him out with a dive and the fans fired up. Gargano worked over Nese and nailed him with a nice rolling kick and then a neck breaker for a 2 count. Nese fired back and tagged in Konley, who went to work on Gargano. The feed died and apparently Gargano and Galloway retained. Let’s all rejoice! No more PAB!

WINNERS: Johnny Gargano & Drew Galloway to retain the EVOLVE Tag Team Championship

Matt Riddle ran down to the ring and demanded the mic. He got on the mic and asked if Tim wanted a fight. He then told him to get out to the ring. EVOLVE Champion Timothy Thatcher quickly ran down to the ring and the match was on.

(2) EVOLVE Champion Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle. Both men went back and forth on the mat and came to a stalemate. Leonard said the last match had a questionable finish, as it appeared Riddle was the victim of a low blow before Thatcher nailed him with a headbutt to give him his first EVOLVE loss. They went at it again on the mat and Thatcher had a kimura, but Riddle got out of it. Riddle went for a rear-naked choke a short time later, but Thatcher fought out of it. They finally got up from the mat and squared off once again. Thatcher blocked a double leg takedown and went after Riddle’s arm once again, but Riddle countered into a cross-arm breaker attempt. Thatcher transitioned to an ankle lock, but Riddle wouldn’t tap. Thatcher worked over Riddle on the mat with several body strikes, as they continued to have a very physical mat-based match.

The announcers mentioned Riddle had given Hero his first loss in a year recently. Thatcher got a modified ankle lock once again, but Riddle managed to get to the ropes. Thatcher caught Riddle with a big knee to the chest and got a back mount. Thatcher hit some big punches to Riddle’s back. Thatcher continued to pound Riddle with strikes and got a dragon sleeper. He then began nailing Riddle with some big knees to the head. Thatcher got a dragon sleeper from the standing position. Riddle tried to get out of it, but Thatcher flipped his feet on to the ropes and dropped him right on his head for a 2 count! Wow!

The fans chanted for Thatcher, who sold great intensity. They exchanged blows and Riddle fired back and hit a fisherman buster with a bridge for a 2 count. Both men went for a side salto suplex. Thatcher managed to hit one and rolled right threw and hit another. Thatcher held onto Riddle and the fans fired up chanting for yet another side salto suplex. Riddle tried to fight it, but Thatcher dropped right down into the Fujiwara arm bar. Riddle managed to get to his feet, but Thatcher dropped him back down into the hold. Riddle countered a side salto suplex and dropped Thatcher down into a Fujiwara arm bar.

Thatcher rolled over and they went back and forth. Thatcher escaped a cross-arm bar and countered it into a Fujiwara arm bar. Riddle floated over and went for a cross-arm breaker. They continued to go back and forth on the mat. Riddle got a cross-arm breaker, but Thatcher got the ropes. Riddle dragged him away from the ropes and got the cross-arm breaker, but Thatcher got the ropes yet again. Wow! Riddle wrenched down on Thatcher’s elbow when he was breaking the hold and the ref called for the bell.

Riddle was handed the EVOLVE Championship. Gabe Sapolsky was shown checking on Thatcher on the outside. Tolle took the belt from Riddle and yelled at him for not breaking the hold. The match was announced as a no contest. Thatcher suddenly crawled back into the ring and attacked Riddle from behind. Catch Point quickly ran into break it up.

WINNER: No contest; Thatcher retained.

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good technical match with some great exchanges on the mat. The action down the stretch was great with both guys exchanging counters of arm submissions. It looks like we will see another match between these two in the near future.

(3) Fred Yehi vs. Marty Scurll. They had a great exchange early and came to a stalemate. The fans fired up and chanted for both men. Yehi went after Scurll with his unique offense and hit a backwards stomp to the back of Scurll’s leg. Scurll nearly got the chicken wing, but Yehi escaped. Scurll slammed Yehi arm-first into the canvas and then nailed him with a superkick from the apron to the floor a short time later. Scurll picked Yehi apart and then taunted him with some slaps to the back of the head. Yehi surprised him with a back slide for a 2 count. They went back and forth and Yehi countered Scrull and nailed him with several kicks to the chest while holding onto his hand. Yehi nailed Scurll with a pair of big release German suplexes. He then nailed with a discus forearm for a near fall. Yehi hit a really nice spinning pump-handle suplex, but only managed to get a 2 count.

Yehi went for a chicken wing of his own, but Scurll grabbed him by the fingers. Yehi hit several forearms. Scurll hit a pair of big clotheslines, but Yehi wouldn’t go down. Yehi ducked a clothesline, but Scurll got his fingers again and snapped them apart. The fans gasped at that spot. Holy crap! Yehi fired back and stomped on Scurll hand. Scrull trapped Yehi’s hand in his feet and snapped his fingers apart again. Scurll hit a suplex and got the crossface chicken wing and it was all over.

Post-match, Leonard said Thatcher was being evaluated at a medical facility and they weren’t sure if the Scurll-Thatcher match would take place later this weekend.

WINNER: Marty Scurll.

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good match. The crowd wasn’t into it as I expected, but Yehi looked good here giving Scurll a run for his money before he ultimately fell short.

(4) Ethan Page vs. Sami Callihan. Callihan surprised Page with a big running kick, but he fired right back with a huge lariat. Callihan fired back and wiped out Page with a big dive through the ropes and the fans fired up. Callihan ran wild on Page on the outside. Page blocked a charge with a boot to the face and draped Callihan over the barricade before nailing him with a back breaker. Page went to work on Callihan back inside the ring and hit big backdrop for a 2 count. Callihan fired back and nailed Page with a big kick in the corner. Callihan had some red in his hair, which the announcers said was an ode to Terry Taylor. Callihan hit a big face wash in the corner. Page ducked another face wash attempt and they went back and forth exchanging big kicks. Both men finally hit bicycle kicks at the same time and the fans exploded.

They got up and went at it and Callihan caught Page with a DVD as he came off the ropes for a 2 count. Callihan nailed Page with several slaps, but Page fired back with a big slam and a Liger bomb for a 2 count. The fans fired up once again as both men regrouped. They went at it up top, but Callihan slipped under Page and eventually hit a Liger bomb. He immediately went into a stretch muffler when Page kicked out. Page struggled, but managed to get to the ropes. They went back and forth near the apron and Page hit a slingshot ace crusher and the spinning Dwayne, but Callihan kicked out at the very last second! Page went for a package piledriver, but Callihan countered it. He rolled over Page and got the stretch muffler, but Page kicked out of it. Callihan then nailed Page with several big kicks and a diving forearm and it was good for the win.

Callihan signaled he was ready to take the EVOLVE Championship tomorrow after the match. Callihan flipped off Page from the outside after the match and gave him a thumbs down from the entrance ramp. Page sold frustration, so something has to give with him playing the rehabbed heel in the near future.

WINNER: Sami Callihan

Star rating: (***1/2) – This match was really good and they were going back and forth with some great hard-hitting exchanges. The end of the match felt abrupt as it seemed like it could keep going and really build it up to an excellent match.

(5) T.J. Perkins vs. Ricochet. They had a crazy back and forth exchange during the early going and Ricochet sent Perkins to the floor with a dive. He then faked a dive to the floor and the fans went nuts. Ricochet went for the people’s moonsault a short time later and hit it for a big pop. Perkins fired back and got a leg lock, but Ricochet quickly got to the ropes. Perkins rolled through again into another leg lock and started to apply more pressure to his leg. They had an amazing exchange out of a knuckle lock and Perkins hit a DDT on Ricochet’s knee. Perkins distracted the ref so he could tie his shoes while stomping on Ricochet’s groin as he was hung upside down. Perkins continued to dominate the action and he worked over Ricochet with a series of spinning head scissors. Ricochet finally spun out of a head scissors attempt and they went back and forth until Ricochet surprised Perkins with a diving cutter and both men were down. Ricochet lit up Perkins with a series of kicks and went down selling his leg and the fans fired up once again.

Ricochet went for the benadriller, but Perkins countered it. They went back and forth and Ricochet hit a standing SSP for a 2 count. The fans fired up once again with Ricochet in control. Perkins rolled through on Ricochet and went for a knee bar, but he got on top of Perkins for a 2 count. They went back and forth and had a crazy exchange of kicks until Perkins finally caught Ricochet with a basement dropkick. Ricochet hit a big series of moves including his signature float over suplex, but only managed a 2 count with a weak cover and the fans fired up once again. Ricochet went up top and missed a 450. He landed on his feet and his leg gave out. Perkins applied a knee bar a short time later. Ricochet struggled, but ended up tapping out. Wow! That’s unreal. The fans booed and appeared to be in shock at the result.

Post-match, Stokely Hathaway came out after the match and Leonard sold shock. He gave Perkins a pen and a contract. He told Perkins to sign the paper. Perkins signed the contract. Stokely said Perkins had decided to sign to his agency The Dream Team. He said Perkins was now TJP for marketing purposes. He said he had a special message for Triple H. He said if he wanted the best cruiserweight for the WWE Cruiserweight Series, than look no further than TJP. The fans chanted for TJP. Hathaway said to give him a call as soon as possible. He said they could go anywhere together. Hathaway said they represent the dream team.

WINNER: T.J. Perkins.

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good back and forth match. Perkins worked over Ricochet’s leg throughout the match and got the surprise win. Hathaway absolutely killed the post-match promo.

(6) Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. They had a fast exchange and came to a stalemate. They continued to go back and forth and the fans fired up for the fast-paced action. Ospreay finally caught Sabre with a big dropkick and posed for the hard camera before making the cover for a 1 count. They went back and forth until Sabre caught Ospreay with a big dragon suplex for a 2 count. Sabre had the upper hand and he tied Ospreay up by placing his feet on his head and then bringing his legs up into a submission. Ospreay managed to escape, but Sabre went right back on the attack. Sabre taunted Ospreay before locking in a bridging leg submission. He then butterflied his arms before dumping him down to the mat. Ospreay sold his legs and neck as the fans chanted for both men. Ospreay mounted a comeback and nailed Sabre with a kick from the apron. He followed up with a standing SSP, but Sabre rolled to the floor. Ospreay immediately nailed him with a Sasuke special to the floor. Holy s—.

Ospreay then caught Sabre with a fall away diamond cutter for a 2 count and the fans went nuts. Ospreay went up top and signaled for the 630. He missed, but rolled through. Sabre caught him and hit a tiger suplex with a bridge. He then locked in a dragon sleeper with Ospreay’s legs tied up in his arms. Ospreay slipped up and hit a running SSP to Ospreay’s back and then a Phoenix splash off the second rope for near fall. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Ospreay stood behind Sabre and went for a clothesline. They went back and forth and Sabre caught him in a bridging pinning combo for a near fall. Ospreay landed on his feet out of a tornado DDT and went for a SSP, but Sabre caught him in a triangle. Holy s—t! ARE YOU KIDDING ME pt.2! Ospreay began to fade and the ref checked his arm. It fell twice and then he stopped it from falling a third time. Ospreay eventually muscled Sabre up and hit a buckle bomb with one arm. Ospreay jumped over Sabre and landed on the top rope. Sabre then tripped him with a superkick and he landed upside.

They battled up top and the fans went nuts. Ospreay then hit a superkick with Sabre hung in the ropes. He then hit a one man Spanish fly for a near fall. Ospreay went up top , but Sabre got his knees up. He hit a soccer kick and a Liger bomb. He got on top of Sabre and sat down on his head with a double arm submission and Ospreay tapped! Are you kidding me? Holy s—t! That was ridiculous.

WINNER: Zack Sabre Jr.

Star rating: (*****) – This was just an amazing display of athletic innovative wrestling. So many moments in this match stood out between these two rivals as they went back and forth on the mat and in the air. Sabre’s finishing submission was sick. Go out of your way to see this match.

Both men embraced after the match as the fans applauded. Chris Hero and Tommy End came down to the ring. He told the fans to give it up for Sabre. Chris said it was cool, but Sabre has never beaten the greatest of all time. Sabre slapped Hero lightly on the face and said that changes tomorrow before walking away. Leonard said Hero just can’t Sabre.

End got on the mic and said he’s the most vaunted striker in Europe. He said he will go through Perkins and then be known as the man who knocks out Kota Ibushi. Hero called out Catch Point.

(7) Heroes Eventually Die (Chris Hero & Tommy End) vs. Catch Point (Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams (w/TJP). Leonard said they didn’t have an update on Thatcher. End and Williams went back and forth before coming to a stalemate during the early going. Hero and Gulak went back and forth. Hero hit a twisting arm drag off the turnbuckles. They continued to go at it at a rapid pace. Gulak got a pinning combination for a 2 count. Gulak tagged in Williams, who nailed Hero with a pair of big uppercuts, but he shrugged them off. Hero fired back with a kick. Gulak ran into the ring and Hero fought him off. Hero eventually nailed Williams with a bicycle kick on the apron. He landed on End’s shoulders and Hero nailed him with another kick through the ropes. Williams got worked over in the ring by Heroes Never Die a short time later. End kept nailing Williams with kicks to the head in the corner. Williams would then chop Hero, but End finally kicked him in the head one time too many and he fell to the mat. Williams fired back and dropped Hero with a big German. He went for the tag, but Hero dragged Gulak off the apron.

Williams continued to take a sustained beating from Hero and End. Hero nailed him with some big slaps. Williams tried to fire back, but Hero dropped him with a big kick. Williams fired up as Hero nailed him with some huge chops. Hero told Williams that he can’t hurt him. Williams tried to go after Hero’s leg and he blocked it and yelled at it him while nailing him with elbows. Williams then fired back with a tear drop suplex. Gulak got the hot tag and ran wild. They hit an assited belly-to-back suplex on End for a near fall. Gulak worked a stranglehold on End. End took a beating for a long period of time. End finally mounted a comeback and threw Gulak into Williams. He nailed Gulak with a series of kicks and strikes. He did the same to Williams and went down to the mat.

The fans fired up and End made the hot tag to Hero, who ran wild on Catch Point. Catch Point tried to double team Hero, but he fought them both off. Hero wiped out Gulak and hit the cyclone kill on Williams for a 2 count. Gulak ran back in and saved Williams from a rolling elbow attempt. Gulak and Williams went back and nailing Hero with strikes. End ran in and helped Hero turned the tide. They nailed Williams with a double umping knee strike. They continued to double team Williams and hit a suplex and a knee strike, but he managed to kick out.

Gulak ran in to break up a pin on Williams. End tossed him to the outside. Williams finally hit End with an uppercut and Gulak came off the top with a lariat. Williams got a rear-naked choke on End. Gulak tried to hold Hero off from making the save. Hero eventually suplexed Gulak into Williams and End to break up the submission. Wow! The crowd fired up with everyone down on the mat. Gulak tagged himself into the match. Gulak and Williams had End isolated, but Hero made the save.

All four men began exchanging blows in the middle of the ring. Both teams continued to exchange blows. Hero hit a piledriver on Williams and End hit a brainbuster on Gulak at the same time for a double near fall and the fans fired up. End and Hero both went for Gotch piledrivers, but Gulak and Williams countered it into a double submissions. They eventually got a double pin attempt for a 2 count. All four men began exchanging blows. Gulak ate a huge rolling elbow from Hero and everyone was down once again! Wow! Hero and End isolated Williams and nailed him with a Gotch piledriver double stomp combination. They then took turns nailed Gulak with a series of big strikes. Gulak fired back and suplexed Hero. End nailed Gulak with a jumping knee strike, but he kicked out at the last second. Gulak suddenly jumped over End right into a dragon sleeper for the win.

Post-match, Perkins stood over End and laughed at him after the match. TJP faces end tomorrow. Hathaway ran out to the ring and told TJP to come with him. He told Perkins to save it for tomorrow when he’s getting paid.

WINNERS: Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams/

Star rating: (***3/4) – The match dragged a bit and had a hard time following the previous match, but once they got it going, this was really good. It seemed to go a bit too long down the stretch, but all four men really delivered a great back and forth encounter leading into the finish. This was a good way to build up Williams and Gulak for their title shot tomorrow night.

Overall score: (n/a) – I’ll have to see the opening match again due to the technical difficulties, but this show is easily in the 8.0 range right now. All the matches on the card were good. The Ospreay-Sabre match blew me away. It was incredible. The main event was very good as well. I really enjoyed the pairing of Hathaway and TJP. Hathaway cut a great promo building up TJP for the WWE Global Cruiserweight tournament. This show is definitely worth checking out if you missed it live.

***

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