RADICAN’S EVOLVE 55 iPPV Report – first-ever EVOLVE tag champs, Style Battle Finals, more

EVOLVE 55 iPPV REPORT
JANUARY 24, 2016
ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED LIVE ON WWNLIVE.COM

Lenny Leonard and Rob Naylor did an introduction to the show inside the ring. Leonard has gotten himself into great shape and dropped a lot of weight. Leonard plugged the finals of the Second Chance Tag Team Tournament in a Four-Way Final along with the rest of the card. Naylor then plugged the finals of the EVOLVE Tag Team Tournament with Hero & End vs. Galloway & Gargano.

(1) Jason Cade vs. Fred Yehi vs. Ethan Page vs. Anthony Nese (w/Andrea & So Cal Val) in a Four-way Freestyle match. Leonard said Yehi was inserted into the match because he was 0-2 in the Style Battle Tournament. The action was and furious during the early going. Page finally got into the ring and went after Nese. Cade wiped out Nese with a dive and ran into the ring and hit a flip dive over the top to the floor to take out Nese. He went for a dive off the apron Page, but Page caught him and whipped him into the barricade before nailing him with an apron bomb. Page got the upper hand on Yehi, but Cade came off the top with a big knee to Page’s head and a frankensteiner for a near fall. Yehi nailed Cade with an exploder into the turnbuckles a short time later. Page tried to get out of a German with an elbow and accidentally nailed the ref. He hit a spinning Dwayne on Yehi, but the ref was down. Nese then caught Page with a pump-handle piledriver for the win.

WINNER: Anthony Nese.

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was in some way a reminder of the old EVOLVE before the reboot in that it was just a random match with a lot of action. It was fun while lasted, but forgettable.

Caleb Konley came down to the ring after the match. He said he knew Thatcher was ducking him and he wanted some real competition. Ciampa’s music played and he came down to the ring.

(2) Tommaso Ciampa vs. Caleb Konley (w/Andrea & So Cal Val). Ciampa went for a dive early, but was forced to slide under Andrea when she got up on the apron. Konley then capitalized and whipped him into the guardrail. Konley then worked a bodyscissors back inside the ring. Konley used some shortcuts to keep the upper hand as the pace slowed inside the ring. Ciampa fired up as Konley lit him up with kicks to the chest. Ciampa fired back with several strikes and eventually hit a draping downward spiral for a 2 count. Ciampa nailed Konley with some big chops in the corner and lowered his knee pad, but Konley popped up and hit a superkick. Ciampa stayed on his feet and they went back and forth. Ciampa eventually caught Konley with an air raid crash for a 2 count. Konley hit a Gory special and tried to transition into the o face, but Ciampa kicked his way free. They went back and forth again until Konley hit a blue thunder bomb for a 2 count. They battled up top and Konley hit a superplex, but Ciampa rolled him up into a pinning combination for a 2 count. Konley fired back and got a pinning combination of his own for a 2 count and both men were down.

They got up and traded bombs in the middle of the ring. They went back and forth and Konley eventually lifted Ciampa up into a powerbomb right into a buckle bomb. He then hit a falcon arrow for a near fall with Ciampa barely grabbing the bottom rope at the last second. Konley missed a double jump moonsault and landed on his feet. Ciampa then nailed him with a clothesline and locked in a nasty arm submission. Konley escaped and Ciampa went for the arm submission again, but Konley rolled him up for a 2 count. Ciampa then suplexed Konley into the turnbuckles and both men were down. They ended up on the apron and Ciampa nailed Konley with some big chops to the chest. Konley went for a kick from the apron, but Ciampa caught his leg and tied it up in the ropes before nailing his leg with a running knee strike. Ciampa hit a running knee lift from the floor to the apron that connected with Konley’s head. He followed up with Project Ciampa, but Konley kicked out. The fans woke up and chanted for both men. Ciampa went for an air raid crash off the top, but Konley blocked it and headbutted him to the mat. Konley then hit the double jump moonsault for the win. The fans loudly booed Konley winning.

Ciampa got a nice round of applause after Konley headed to the back.

WINNER: Caleb Konley

Star rating: (**1/2) – This match wasn’t very exciting at times and the crowd was dead until the very end of the match. Konley is talented, but needs a big overhaul for this kind of a push to get over. He’s being positioned for a shot at Thatcher’s title, but the fans didn’t seem to buy into it here.

Sami Callihan came charging down to the ring and motioned for Zack Sabre Jr. to come down to the ring.

(3) Sami Callihan vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. They start hot and heavy with Callihan hitting a running kick on Sabre followed by an exploder for a 2 count. Sabre then hit a dragon suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Both men sat up and glared at each other before sliding back into opposite corners. Both men traded bombs and then clothesline, but neither man would go down. The crowd seemed to be grossed out by Callihan’s constant spitting. Sabre finally got an arm bar, but Callihan got to the ropes right away and then rolled to the floor. Sabre went to work on Callihan’s arm and set up his elbow and wrist before stomping down on them. Callihan sold his arm and called Sabre a bitch. Sabre took a free shot and nailed Callihan’s arm with a kick. Callihan slapped Sabre across the face, but Sabre fired right back with some kicks to his arm. Callihan ducked a double stomp to his arm a short time later and hit a big clothesline before connecting with a dive to the floor and the fans fired up. Callihan ducked a charge and swung Sabre knee-first into the guardrail on the outside. Callihan sent Sabre right back to the outside and he nailed him with a superkick to the leg. The fans chanted for both men as Sabre sold his leg on the outside. Callihan went for a tombstone variation, but Sabre got a near fall with a nice bridging pin. Callihan then jumped on top of him and pummeled him with forearms. Callihan taunted Sabre after hitting a headbutt. Both men started exchanging blows from their knees. Callihan hit another headbutt and Sabre fired back with some kicks. They got to their feet, but Callihan got a dragon screw and a single leg crab. Sabre struggled, but managed to get to the bottom rope.

Callihan missed a charge into the corner and ended up going all the way to the floor. Sabre nailed Callihan with a huge kick to the inside of his leg once he got back into the ring. Sabre sold his leg as he went after Callihan. Sabre hit a Liger bomb and transitioned into a nasty double arm submission. He tried to roll Callihan up, but his shoulders weren’t down. Callihan went up top a short time later, but Sabre cut him off with some headbutts. He went after Callihan’s arm as they went at it up top. Callihan slid out under Sabre and superkicked his leg. He then hit a Liger bomb before transitioning into the stretch muffler. Sabre countered and locked in a double arm submission, but Callihan quickly got to the ropes and the fans fired up and chanted for both men. Sabre went for a stomp on Callihan’s arm off the top as he was holding the rope, but ended up hurting his own leg in the process after connecting. Callihan set up for a jack knife powerbomb, but Sabre slipped out of it. Sabre went for a double arm bar, but Callihan countered it into a rollup for a 2 count. Callihan got the stretch muffler, but Sabre rolled him up for a 2 count. Sabre hit a suplex and then a bloody Sunday DDT. Sabre then hit a penalty kick for a near fall. Sabre transitioned right into a kimura attempt. Callihan stood up and lifted sabre into the leg trap tombstone and connected. He then lifted Sabre up and dropped him right on his head for a near fall! Callihan then finished Sabre off with a diving forearm for the win.

WINNER: Sami Callihan

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good match. They went right after each other from the start and eventually went back and forth with Sabre going after Callihan’s arm and Callihan going after Sabre’s leg. The crowd just didn’t come across all that great during the match, but the last five minutes or so elevated this match several notches.

Drew Gulak got on the mic before the finals of the 2016 Style Battle. The fans chanted back and forth for Riddle and Williams. Gulak got boos as he talked about how they collectively represent the movement known as Catch Point. Gulak said it was about the idea that through competition that they improve. He said may the best man win. Riddle won their last meeting at EVOLVE 52.

(4) Matt Riddle (2-0) vs. “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams (2-0) in the 2016 Style Battle Finals. Both men started trading bombs. Riddle then lifted Williams and hit a big slam. He then hit a series of elbows before going for an arm bar. He got the arm bar, but Williams managed to get to the ropes. Williams went up top a short time later and hit a splash off the top to the floor. Both men went flying into the guardrail and it looked worse than it was apparently. Williams went up top and Riddle caught him with a jumping knee to the head. Riddle then hit a German with a bridge for a near fall. He hit several kicks and a fisherman buster for a 2 count a short time later. Riddle slapped Williams across the face several times. Williams fired back, but Riddle caught him with a judo throw. Williams fired back and got a modified crossface, but Riddle got to the ropes. The fans chanted for both men with Williams in control. He dropped a knee on Riddle’s head at one point for a 2 count. Williams nailed Riddle with some huge chops to the chest. Riddle tried to fire back, but Williams got a cravat. He then transitioned into an octopus. He transitioned the hold on Riddle again into a nasty arm submission with a double grapevine, but Riddle managed to get to the ropes. Riddle countered Williams and got a heel hook. Williams countered and got a modified heel hook of his own. Riddle struggled, but managed to get to the ropes.

Williams went up top and hit a flying forearm. He then hit a diving forearm for a 2 count. The fans chanted for Williams. They had a big strike exchange and Riddle went for a kimura. Williams went into the corner and lifted Riddle into a shoulder breaker for a 3 count. Riddle fired back and hit a huge jumping tombstone and both men were down. Holy s—! Riddle went for a double leg takedown and Williams turned it into a piledriver for a 2 count. Williams got the cross face again. Riddle went for the ropes, but Williams dragged him away and apples the hold again. He released the hold again and stomped on Riddle when he was about to get to the ropes. They battled up top and Riddle went for a fisherman Buster, but Williams fought him off. Riddle hit a dragon screw off the top and grabbed a heel hook. Williams kicked himself free with some vicious kicks to the head, but Riddle applied the hold again and Williams was forced to tap.

Riddle got on the mic after the match. He said he’s undefeated in EVOLVE and he wants the EVOLVE Title in March 19 in NYC. He told Thatcher to bring out his chipped tooth and staph infection. Riddle asked Thatcher if he was man enough to give him an answer since he couldn’t even do it in front of William Regal. Thatcher said okay.

Calve Konley came out and grabbed the mic. He demanded a shot from Thatcher. He slapped Thatcher several times and demanded a title shot. Callahan then decked Thatcher and Andrea with big kicks. He got in Riddle’s face, but Williams grabbed a choke from behind. He then hit a piledriver on Callihan. Riddle picked up the belt and smiled in Thatcher’s face. Gulak said Catch Point creates a bond. Gulak said they own everyone and dropped the mic.

WINNER: Matt Riddle to win the 2016 Style Battle

Star rating: (****) – Given his level of experience, this was an incredible outing by Riddle. They had a credible hard-hitting technical battle that went back and forth until the end. This was really good and you’ll love it if you like the new hybrid EVOLVE style of technical and strong style.

(5) Team Tremendous (Dan Barry & Bill Carr) vs. The Bravado Brothers (Lancelot & Harlem Bravado) vs. Drew Gulak & T.J. Perkins vs. RPG Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta) in the Second Chance Elimination Tag Team Tournament Final. Gulak and Barry did a rolling pin spot during the early going and exchanged several 2 counts before coming to a stalemate and the crowd applauded. They did a multi-man spot where Catch Point got all of their opponents in submissions, which was pretty cool. Carr ended up tossing Trent over the top to the floor onto a pile of bodies after the action broke down. Barry then wiped out everyone on the floor with a SSP. The fans chanted for Carr to hit a dive. Carr got a running start and hit a big flip dive over the top t the floor and the fans popped huge and chanted for Team Tremendous. Gulak came off the top, but Barr caught him with a Bossman slam. Team Tremendous then isolated Perkins and hit a book em Danno on Perkins to eliminate Catch Point.

The fans fired up and chanted for Team Tremendous once again. Everyone left in the match tried to jump Team Tremendous and were successful. The Bravados and RPG Vice worked together to work over Barry and Carr. Romero and Lancelot ended up working together to wear down Barry. The Bravados then began working him over with Carr down and out on the outside. Barry finally hit a double DDT on The Bravados after taking a sustained beating. He then went to tag in Carr, but Romero dragged him to the floor. The Bravados set up Barry on the outside on Harlem’s shoulders. Lancelot then came through the ropes with a big clothesline. RPG then turned on The Bravados and hit strong zero on Lancelot to eliminate them.

It was down to RPG Vice vs. Team Tremendous. Barry was brought back into the ring and continued to take a beating. Barry finally slipped behind Trent as he charged at him and hit a release German. Barry then finally tagged in Carr, who ran wild. Romero went for the forever lariats, but Carr surprised him by popping out of the corner and hitting a Bossman slam. It took two tries, but RPG Vice took Carr down with a double knee strike. Carr hit a Canadian destroyer on Trent and Carr hit a moonsault slam on Romero for a double near fall and the crowd fired up huge. Barry and Carr then hit book em Danno on Trent for the win.

WINNERS: Dan Barry & Bill Carr to win the Second Chance Tag Team Tournament and a future shot at the EVOLVE Tag Team Championship

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a good match. It dragged in spots, which was expected given the elimination stipulation, but it was enjoyable during the long heat segment on Barry. RPG Vice and The Bravados worked together to take out Team Tremendous, but eventually RPG Vice turned on them, which built to a solid final fall.

(6) Drew Galloway & Johnny Gargano vs. Heroes Eventually Die (Chris Hero & Tommy End) in the Finals of the EVOLVE Tag Team Title Tournament. Hero and End jumped Gargano and Galloway as the ref was raising the EVOLVE Championship belts. The action quickly spilled to the floor with both teams brawling at ringside. The action eventually spilled into the crowd. Galloway suplexed End into a wall. Hero and Gargano brawled up into the stands. All four men eventually brawled in the stands, as the action was crazy during the early going. The action ended up back in the ring and Gargano got the Gargano escape on End, but Hero made the save. Both teams eventually came to a stalemate and went face-to-face in the middle of the ring. Hero and Galloway ended up going at it and Galloway put the boots to Hero in the corner. End tagged in, but took a series of kicks from Gargano and Galloway. The action broke down again a short time later with all four men going at it. Gargano tried to go at it by himself against Hero and End, but he got cut off and Hero tossed End into a release German and Hero followed up with a running kick to his head. Galloway then recovered and wiped out End and Hero with a shotgun dropkick. Galloway got caught with an elbow/leg kick total elimination variation for a 2 count. Galloway got isolated and took several big sentons, but Hero couldn’t put him away. Galloway took a beating for a long period of time and the fans finally rallied behind him. Galloway finally made the hot tag to Gargano.

Gargano knocked End off the apron and went to work on Hero. They did a big sequence with all four men near the apron that ended with Gargano wiping out Hero with a senton. Hero blocked a slingshot DDT from Gargano inside the ring a short time later and hit a release suplex. Hero and Galloway mirrored each other hitting offense on each other’s partners. Both men eventually went for tombstones, but Gargano and End fought out of it. They then walked into a pair of double piledrivers. Hero and Gargano were legal and Hero got a near fall as Galloway covered End for no reason. That didn’t make sense to me at all given that Galloway probably should have been saving Gargano. Galloway got sent to the floor and Gargano was once again left in the ring alone. Hero accidentally hit End with an elbow. End then accidentally nailed Hero with a running kick. Hero and End then began kicking each other in the middle of the ring. They then decided to get along and went after Galloway and Gargano. Galloway measured End for a kick a short time later, but End blocked it. Everyone started hitting moves and Galloway hit a rolling kick on Galloway, but Galloway fired right back with a sick kick. End then hit a German with a bridge on Galloway for near fall. End then hit a running knee to the head on Galloway, but Gargano made the save. Galloway and Gargano teased stereo lawn darts, but End and Hero countere3d. Gargano and Galloway hit stereo lawn darts a short time later and then a pair of future shock DDTs for a double near fall. Gargano got the tag to make himself the legal man.

Gargano got isolated and took a series of elbows, kicks, and knees from Hero and End, but he managed to kick out at the last second. End accidentally nailed Hero with a big running kick as they had Gargano set up. Gargano hit a slingshot DDT on End and then hit a diving DDT through the ropes to the floor on Hero and the fans fired up. Gargano and Galloway hit a spiked tombstone on End, but he kicked out. Gargano got the Gargano escape on End, but he rolled him up for a 2 count. End went at it alone against Gargano and Galloway. Galloway got him draped over his back and Gargano nailed him with a superkick as he hung upside down. Galloway then slammed End down right into the Gargano escape. The fans fired up and End finally tapped.

Gargano and Galloway were presented with the titles after the match. The fans applauded once Hero and End recovered and rolled out of the ring. Hero appeared to signal for a rematch before clapping for Gargano and Galloway. Gargano got on the mic and said he wasn’t going to ask if the fans enjoyed the show because he heard them all night and thought they enjoyed the show. Gargano said it had been one hell of a weekend. Gargano called it a history making weekend. He said on Friday he wrestled for NXT and then got in the car and drove 2 hours to Ybor City and wrestled for EVOLVE. Gargano said that had never been done in the history of pro wrestling. Gargano said he’s very lucky to have a partner for Galloway. He said if it wasn’t for Drew, they wouldn’t be there today. He then thanked Galloway.

Galloway got on the mic and said he needed to catch his breath. He encouraged people to watch the past year or so of EVOLVE if they had just started watching. Galloway said his first match on the Indies saw him beat Hero for the EVOLVE title and he tried to make the belt special and now he puts EVOLVE first. He said he had one of the best matches of his life against Gargano during WM weekend 2015. Galloway said they had made history and he’s a Florida guy. Galloway then thanked the fans to close the show.

WINNERS: Drew Galloway & Johnny Gargano to become the first-ever EVOLVE Tag Team Champions

Star rating: (***3/4) – This match dragged at times, as it seemed like an endless exchange of moves with very little storytelling. The last portion of the match was quite good and they woke up the crowd with some great sequences down the stretch, as miscommunications eventually cost Hero and End the match. The crowd was up and down for this match and weren’t as enthusiastic overall as they were for the first two shows of the weekend.

Lenny Leonard signed off and plugged the Royal Rumble in a couple of hours on the WWE Network.

Overall thoughts: (8.0) – The show got off to a bit of a slow start, but overall the sum of the parts here are well-worth investing in, especially if you had already watched the previous shows. The highlight of the show was the excellent hard-hitting technical battle between Williams and Riddle in the finals of the 2016 Style Battle tournament. Several other matches including Callihan vs. Sabre, Gargano & Galloway vs. Hero & End, and the Second Chance Tag Tournament Final were very good as well. The crowd seemed much quieter compared to the first couple of shows of the weekend, which could have been in part because of the early start time. Overall, this show is worth checking out and the three shows as a whole play into each other really well.

***

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