January 16th, 2010 in Rahway
Davey Richards and Kyle O’Reilly are getting warmed up in their locker room. Someone tries to film them and Richards threatens to remove her.
An opening video package is shown. They also show interviews of a few wrestlers explaining why they wrestle.
Opening Match: Bobby Fish vs. Kyle O’Reilly
They trade control early. Fish connects with a dropkick but O’Reilly answers with an enzuigiri. O’Reilly misses a charge and goes to the floor. Fish follows out with a dive. Back in, Fish hits an exploder and lands a diving headbutt. O’Reilly comes back with kicks along with rolling butterfly suplexes. They exchange kicks. Fish takes O’Reilly down and locks in a cross armbreaker but O’Reilly makes the ropes. They trade forearms and O’Reilly hits a back suplex. Fish responds with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. They trade superkicks. O’Reilly connects with a clothesline and both men are down. O’Reilly hits a tornado DDT but falls victim to a falcon arrow. Fish powerbombs him into the turnbuckles. O’Reilly comes back with a tornado DDT followed by a brainbuster for the win at 6:32. This was a fine introduction to what EVOLVE is going to be. Both men wasted no time during their entrances and went at it hard in the ring. The crowd caught on and were into the action. As such, this was an effective opener. I’m glad that O’Reilly is getting a chance on a bigger stage to prove himself. **½
Match #2: Chuck Taylor vs. Cheech
The winner will officially be inserted into the EVOLVE singles division. Taylor avoids a dropkick but gets caught with a slingshot senton. Cheech locks in a sharpshooter but Taylor makes the ropes. Taylor snaps off a headscissors and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He follows with a belly-to-back suplex. Cheech lands a moonsault but walks into a dropkick. Cheech tries various pin attempts to no avail and connects with superkicks and dropkicks. Taylor answers with a mafia kick but gets speared into the corner. Taylor hits Sole Food along with a DDT and the Awful Waffle for the victory at 6:27. Besides the obviousness of Taylor winning, this was a fine contest. It kept up the trend of shorter matches, but they packed a lot of action into six minutes. **¼
Lenny Leonard enters the ring to interview Taylor. He has a feeling that someone in management doesn’t like him as he had to qualify for a spot on the roster. To make that person’s life miserable, he’s going to stay undefeated in EVOLVE.
Match #3: Arik Cannon vs. Ricochet
Ricochet sends Cannon to the floor with a headscissors and follows out with a space flying tiger drop. Back in, Cannon overhead suplexes him into the turnbuckles. Ricochet tries for some quick pin attempts but falls victim to a swinging neckbreaker. He does some flips, so Cannon just punches him and hits a brainbuster for a two count. Cannon follows with Total Anarchy for another nearfall. Ricochet spikes him with a sort of reverse hurricanrana and lands a 630 for the win at 4:00. These two had great chemistry and they certainly did a lot in four minutes. Cannon is so unique that it’s hard to not have fun watching him and I don’t mind Ricochet in the least. Probably the best four minute match I’ve ever seen. Of course, the only other four minute matches I watch are on Impact. **½
Chuck Taylor comes out after the match and challenges Ricochet to a match at the next show. Ricochet accepts in a roundabout way.
Brad Allen is in his locker room getting ready. His mom means a lot to him and he wrestles for her.
Match #4: Jon Davis and Kory Chavis vs. Louis Lyndon and Flip Kendrick
Aeroform connect with stereo dropkicks on both members of the Dark City Fight Club. Kendrick lands a dive to the floor on Davis and Lyndon mafia kicks Chavis. Chavis answers by clotheslining Lyndon. The DCFC utilize some double teaming to gain control. They work over Lyndon until Kendrick intervenes with a flying crossbody on Chavis. He follows with a headcissors on Davis. Lyndon sends Chavis to the floor but Davis blocks a dive attempt. Lyndon lands a moonsault to the floor on Chavis as Kendrick lays out Davis with a DDT in the ring. Kendrick lands a spiral tap on Davis for a nearfall. Davis pounces Kendrick and the DCFC hit Project Mayhem on Lyndon for the victory at 6:24. Apparently, no tags are necessary in EVOLVE. That’s fine with me as it plays into the high octane style that EVOLVE is going for. Aeroform can be extremely entertaining to watch when they want to be and that was the case here. The DCFC were solid as usual and this was a fine way to kick off the tag team division. **½
Match #5: Mercedes Martinez vs. Niya
Martinez connects with some forearms and a few kicks. She murders Niya with a corner boot and hits rolling suplexes. Martinez hits a fisherman buster for the win at 1:11. Simply a way to introduce Martinez and set her up for a title defense at the next show. It was an effective squash in that I felt sorry for Niya at times. ½*
Lenny Leonard interviews Martinez after the match. She has come to EVOLVE to show that women belong and they can hit harder than men.
Match #6: Silas Young vs. Brad Allen
They stare each other down and trade strikes. Allen boots Young to the floor and follows out with a dive. He enters the ring with a slingshot leg drop but misses a flying crossbody. They exchange chops and Allen hits a clothesline along with a springboard senton. Young DDTs him on the floor and takes control back in the ring. Allen comes back with a neckbreaker and a half nelson slam. He follows with another springboard senton and tries a moonsault to outside but Young catches him with a dropkick. Allen narrowly avoids a countout loss. Young hits his backbreaker-lariat combination but misses his headstand moonsault. Allen lands a corkscrew crossbody for a nearfall. Young answers with a superkick. Allen counters another headstand moonsault attempt with a flatliner for the victory at 10:21. It’s clear that they want Allen to be a major player in EVOLVE. Unfortunately, this match wasn’t too successful at making that happen. They focused a little too much on flashiness (aka Allen almost killing himself off a moonsault to the floor). This isn’t terrible but I think they are capable of better. **
Lenny Leonard interviews Allen after the match. Allen thanks the fans and his mom. He challenges Chris Hero to a match at the next show.
Match #7: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Kenn Doane
Jacobs says that he’s going to make Doane “wish he was playing dress up in a cheerleader outfit again” before the match. Doane works in some cheap shots in the corner but Jacobs returns the favor. Doane fights off an End Time attempt but gets sent to the floor. Jacobs goes for a baseball slide but gets trapped in the apron. Doane takes over, utilizing headlocks to make the crowd angry. It works in a good way. Jacobs back drops him and starts hulking up. He snaps off a spinning headscissors. Doane counters another End Time attempt into a spinebuster. He misses a charge and Jacobs hits a rope-assisted DDT. Doane responds with a german suplex and lands a top rope leg drop for the win at…JACOBS’ FOOT WAS ON THE ROPES! TOMMY DREAMER IS HERE!! He tells the referee and the match is restarted. Jacobs locks in the End Time for the win at 10:48. The crowd loved Jacobs and hated Doane. So both men went out there and worked a match that fed those emotions even more. This match was different from the other six up to this point in that they slowed things down and stuck to what they knew how to do best. The finish was pretty cool too as the crowd was going crazy at the end. They didn’t reinvent the wheel, but they delivered the best match on the show thus far. **¾
Tommy Dreamer cuts a promo after the match. He thanks the fans and the wrestlers in the back. Jacobs grabs the microphone and thanks Dreamer for advertising EVOLVE on his Twitter. He says that he didn’t need Dreamer’s help tonight and wonders why Dreamer even came to the show. Dreamer connects with a punch but Jacobs low blows him and starts stomping away. Dreamer hits a DDT and stands tall. Absolutely tremendous promo work from Jacobs, as usual.
Kenn Doane is shown angrily leaving the building.
Match #8: Johnny Gargano vs. Chris Dickinson
Dickinson shows off his powerful chops to start. Gargano catches him with an enzuigiri but falls victim to more strikes. Gargano hits a spear through the ropes and an ace crusher. Dickinson comes back with a gutbuster. They trade forearms and Dickinson takes Gargano down with a kick. Gargano responds with a superkick but walks into a lariat. Dickinson connects with a running kick in the corner and follows with a falcon arrow. He lands a springboard elbow drop but falls victim to a DDT. Gargano sends him into the turnbuckles and hits the Hurts Donut for the victory at 6:04. Fine post-intermission match. They meshed pretty well, although Dickinson has some work to do on his character. Gargano is a great wrestler to showcase as he is solid in the ring and has the charisma to boot. **¼
After the match, Sean Davis and another associate appear in the crowd. Gargano goes over to them and it is clear that they are allies.
Match #9: Munenori Sawa vs. TJP
They slap each other before the opening bell. Sawa hits a german suplex. They have an exchange straight out of a karate movie. Of course, that karate movie would have to feature pin attempts so maybe that’s a bad comparison. They exchange slaps and kicks. Sawa applies an octopus hold but TJP makes the ropes. Sawa misses a charge and TJP hits a northern lights suplex. He transitions into a cross armbreaker but Sawa gets to the ropes. TJP starts working over the left arm. Sawa connects with a baseball punch, TJP responds with a stiff kick, and then they both kick each other down to the canvas. Sawa goes back after the leg but TJP finds an opening for to synch in another cross armbreaker. Sawa makes the ropes. They have another strike exchange and TJP hits a neckbreaker. He locks in another cross armbreaker but Sawa turns it into a pin attempt for a two count. Sawa connects with more kicks along with a shining wizard for a nearfall. Sawa follows with another baseball punch and locks in an octopus hold for the win at 9:36. There wasn’t a split second during this contest where I didn’t think that the competitors were trying their hardest to win the match. These two showed what EVOLVE is all about and had one of the most unique matches I’ve seen in some time. TJP is another wrestler that needs to be showcased and I would love to see Sawa come back. This encounter proved that the EVOLVE format can work, with the story of the matches being that the competitors are trying their hardest to actually win the matches. Not a second of this match was wasted. ***
Adam Cole is shown talking to Tommy Dreamer. He will do whatever he needs to do to wrestle for EVOLVE.
Match #10: Gran Akuma, Icarus, and Brodie Lee vs. Mike Quackenbush, Hallowicked, and Frightmare
Quackenbush connects with a leg lariat on Icarus along with double knees. Hallowicked gourdbusters Frightmare onto Icarus. Lee and Hallowicked trade shoulder blocks and Hallowicked snaps off a hurricanrana along with an enzuigiri in the corner. Frightmare catches Akuma with a few armdrags. Icarus takes Frightmare out with a clothesline and follows with a spear. Team Frightning execute some nice teamwork before Lee just powerbombs Frightmare. Really cool spot as Lee knocks Frightmare to the floor, forcing a tag. Icarus and Akuma keep Quackenbush and Hallowicked out of the ring. So Lee brings Frightmare back inside and continues the attack. Frightmare snaps off a few hurricanranas and makes the tag. Hallowicked hits Go 2 Sleepy Hollow on Icarus but falls victim to a spinning slam. Quackenbush sends Lee to the floor. Akuma hits a lungblower on Frightmare but Quackenbush catches him with a top rope hurricanrana along with a swantan. Frightmare adds double knees but gets laid out by a dropkick from Icarus. Icarus death valley drivers Quackenbush into the turnbuckles but gets blindsided by a kick from Hallowicked. Lee lays him out with a boot. Frightmare hits a tornado DDT on Lee and lands a dive to the floor on Akuma. Quackenbush follows with a dive of his own on Lee. Hallowicked hits a rydeen bomb on Icarus for the victory at 11:33. Give Chikara a chance to showcase their wrestlers on any show and they’ll usually deliver. This match was no different. They actually toned down the lucha offense considerably throughout the match. Nothing against that style of wrestling, but less of it actually made for a match more tailored to the style that EVOLVE is trying to present. Everyone was game here and the finishing stretch provided the clean, fast-paced action that we’ve come to expect from Chikara. Fun and energetic six-man tag. ***¼
Lenny Leonard interviews Quackenbush after the match. Multi-man matches are his specialty and he proposes a four-team elimination match for the next show.
Match #11: Kota Ibushi vs. Davey Richards
They trade yakuza kicks and forearms. Richards spin kicks Ibushi to the floor and fakes a dive. He takes time to celebrate and gets caught with a missile dropkick. Ibushi lands a plancha to the floor onto Richards. They battle on the ring apron and Richards hits an arm wringer. Richards works over the left arm, hitting a divorce court from the middle rope. He goes up top and Ibushi connects with his double pele kick. Ibushi lands a moonsault to the floor and connects with kicks back in the ring. He lands a standing moonsault but Richards comes back with the Alarm Clock. Richards connects with a missile dropkick and more kicks. They block each other’s kicks and Richards locks in a cross armbreaker but it’s too close to the ropes. Richards hits a superplex but Ibushi is up! They yakuza kick each other. Richards goes for a clothesline…Ibushi matrixes out of it. KICK…GERMAN…TWO COUNT! Ibushi lands his miss-than-hit moonsault and hits a powerbomb. Richards german suplexes him off the top and hits a saito suplex. He murders Ibushi with a kick for a two count and locks in the kimura. Ibushi turns it into a pin attempt for a two count. He hits a reverse hurricanrana but Richards answers with a clothesline. Both men are down. They trade forearms and slaps. Richards hits the Alarm Clock and lays Ibushi out with a clothesline. He hits the DR Driver for a nearfall. They battle up top, exchanging headbutts. Richards dropkicks the bad arm and lands a shooting star press. Richards locks in a kimura, transitions into repeated elbows to the back of the head, and goes back to the kimura for the win at 18:11. Tremendous main event for the inaugural show. It’s always a treat to watch Ibushi wrestle. When you put him in there with someone the caliber of Richards, greatness should be expected. Especially considering that these two have such similar styles. They matched each other’s kicks and strikes perfectly. Ibushi provided the high flying while Richards brought his excellent mat work. Richards targeted the left arm throughout the entire match and it played into the finish. This was a smartly worked, exciting match that you should seek out. ****
Brad Allen talks about his mom more. Thanks to her help, he was able to win tonight. This needs to be toned down significantly.
Johnny Gargano and Jimmy Jacobs leave with Sean Davis to go party. They ask Silas Young if he wants to come. Young hesitantly accepts as his wife calls his phone.
Overall: EVOLVE 1: Ibushi vs. Richards is definitely an interesting start to the promotion. For the most part, I would consider this show a success. The wrestlers went out to the ring and just tried to win their match. Plain and simple. While this style was executed better by some, there wasn’t a match on here that I regret watching. When you consider that there’s eleven matches, that’s pretty good. The show closes with three quality matches. TJP and Sawa put on a unique contest that really represented what EVOLVE is all about. The Chikara guys impressed as usual while Richards and Ibushi have a great match to cap off the inaugural event. Ultimately, you just have to watch this show to see whether you’ll like the format that EVOLVE presents. In my opinion, you’re more than likely going to be happy with it. Therefore, I give this show a solid recommendation.
To hear more about Ryan’s and Jerome’s thoughts on EVOLVE 1 check out this podcast
