EVOLVE 14: Generico vs. Del Sol on June 28th, 2012
Opening Match: John Silver (1-1) vs. Jake Manning (1-1)
Chuck Taylor and the Swamp Monster accompany Manning to the ring. Silver connects with a dropkick and snaps off an armdrag. Manning retreats to the apron after getting caught by an uppercut. They battle on the apron where Manning just grabs Silver by his head and slams him overhead onto the apron. That looked painful. Manning hits a delayed vertical suplex and takes control. Silver avoids a charge and connects with a gamengiri. He hits an inverted DDT along with a corner cannonball. Manning dodges a diving uppercut and hits a backbreaker-flatliner combination for a nearfall. Silver responds with an innovative backcracker for the win at 7:12. I was surprised at how well these two worked together. They both did enough to get the crowd involved without going overboard. If there are any doubts that Manning isn't serious enough or that he can't fit the EVOLVE style, this match should clear away some of those doubts. **¾
Chuck Taylor interrupts Silver's post-match interview before it can begin. Taylor says after he defeats Johnny Gargano for the Open the Freedom Gate Title, the Swamp Monster can have a shot. Colt Cabana comes out, leading to…
Match #2: Chuck Taylor (8-3) vs. Colt Cabana (0-0)
Cabana gets to use his own entrance theme; hopefully, he doesn't behave like Low Ki. Taylor starts one of his infamously-long chants to psyche out Cabana. Cabana frustrates Taylor with his usual comedy spots to the point where he has to hug the Swamp Monster. Cabana avoids a crossbody by standing still. Taylor connects with a dropkick to the right leg and begins to work it over. They actually roll out of the ring during a figure four. Taylor puts a barstool on Cabana's back, runs into the ring, and tells the referee to count him out. Cabana makes it back into the ring at three. He blocks a springboard maneuver and fights back with a series of strikes. Taylor runs into a flying hip attack. Cabana blocks Sole Food and applies a figure four of his own. Taylor escapes the hold but misses a top rope moonsault. After a quick exchange, Taylor applies a half crab for the victory at 12:42. If you pretend that this match didn't happen in EVOLVE, it was more entertaining than your standard Cabana exhibition because Taylor complemented him so well. However, the comedy did feel a bit out of place when considering that Taylor should have been trying to pick up momentum for his title match tomorrow and Cabana should have wanted to make a successful debut in a promotion where records matter. Admittedly, Taylor hasn't been too serious since turning heel (he wrestled barefoot on a DGUSA show), so I'd just enjoy this match for what it was. ***
Match #3: Caleb Konley and Scott Reed (2-0) vs. Mike Cruz and Cheech (0-0)
Cheech snaps off a headscissors on Konley. Reed cheap shots Cheech from the apron. Cruz dropkicks Konley out of the ring and Cheech hits a slingshot senton on Reed. Cruz lands a dive to the floor onto Konley. In the ring, Reed pushes Cruz off the top rope and the Scene isolate him. He catches Reed with a series of kicks and makes the tag. Cheech walks across Reed’s back to hurricanrana Konley. He follows with a gory special slam on Reed and lands a dive to the floor on Konley. Back in, Cheech lands a flying crossbody onto Reed. Konley hits a spinebuster on Cheech and catapults him into a powerslam from Reed. Cruz catches Konley with a series of strikes and Cheech adds a facewash dropkick. Cruz lands a springboard frog splash onto Konley for a nearfall. Reed enters the ring and takes out Cheech. The Scene hit Obscene on Cruz for the win at 8:41. Everyone worked hard to make the most out of their nine minutes and to deliver a solid tag team match. However, there's something about the Scene that has me frustrated. Perhaps that they're looking at a shot at the Open the United Gate Titles if they keep winning but I don't think they'll get one as quickly as their record would indicate. Nonetheless, this was a decent showcase for both teams. **½
Match #4: Style Battle Tournament Match: Jon Davis (1-3) vs. Tommy Taylor (0-0)
Lenny Leonard reveals that Taylor is coming out of retirement for this weekend. Ironically, Davis might retire if he doesn't win this tournament. Mull over that for a minute. Taylor hits a blockbuster and transitions into a neckbreaker. They have a nice exchange out of a test of strength where Davis shows off his power. Davis catches Taylor in midair and hits a powerslam. He takes control until Taylor comes back with some quick offense. Davis halts his momentum with a spinebuster. Taylor responds with a tornado DDT and both men are down. Taylor connects with a shotgun dropkick but gets pounced. Davis hits Three Seconds Around the World for the victory at 10:47. Taylor looked excellent in the ring for taking so much time off and he contributes a unique style to a tournament based on them. I'm now really looking forward to his match against Bobby Fish, as I think their styles will mesh well. Davis is clearly destined for big things this weekend and he got to look pretty dominant here. This match could have used more time but I think they accomplished what they were aiming for going into the contest. **¾
Match #5: Style Battle Tournament Match: AR Fox (4-1) vs. Bobby Fish (3-4)
After a frustrating start to his EVOLVE career, Fish has the chance to go .500 with a win in this match. They trade control of a wristlock and Fox snaps off a japanese armdrag. Fish misses a slingshot senton but connects with a dropkick. Fox responds with a dropkick of his own. He attempts his kick-flip moonsault but gets tripped on the apron. Fox connects with a boot and now lands his kick-flip moonsault. In the ring, Fox hits a slingshot leg drop and takes over with a split-legged corkscrew senton. Fox hits a guillotine leg drop from the top rope but finds knees on a frog splash. Fish lays in a few knees to the midsection and hits a slingshot senton. He takes control until Fox matrixes to avoid a kick and connects with an enzuigiri. Fish hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and lands a top rope moonsault. He levels Fox with a knockout kick for a nearfall. Fox tries a quick rollup to no avail. Fish hits a gutbuster and goes up top. Fox sets up Lo Mein Pain but can't hit it. He instead dropkicks Fish to the floor. Fox follows out with a springboard 450 splash. In the ring, Fox connects with a corner lariat and a slingshot dropkick. He hits a shooting star corner cannonball for a two count. Fox jumps over half-way across the ring with a swantan but Fish won't stay down. Fish hits a neckbreaker along with a dragon screw leg whip. Fox answers with a springboard ace crusher. Fish escapes a sliced bread and Fox lands on his bad leg. Fish applies the Fish Hook for the win at 16:03. Just an awesome display from both men. Fish tried to keep up with Fox in the high-risk department but that plan ended up not paying dividends. It was only when Fish reverted back to his submission-based style that he was able to make Fox tap out. Throw in the story of Fish getting to .500, the fact that styles meant something in the Style Battle Tournament, and Colt Cabana doing an awesome job on commentary and you have a terrific match that truly came through. This is the type of match that really highlights the strengths of EVOLVE. ***¾
Match #6: Sara Del Rey vs. Santana Garrett
This is a Shine preview match. Shine is a new promotion that will be doing iPPVs on WWN Live. Daffney is on commentary. Garrett snaps off a headscissors and connects with a cartwheel elbow. Del Rey comes roaring back with a mafia kick and takes over. Garrett fights back with a hurricanrana but gets caught by a few kicks to the back of the head. Del Rey connects with a kappou kick and hits the Royal Butterfly for the victory at 4:26. This was pretty much a showcase for Del Rey and the crowd loved her. She took down the more agile Garrett in quick fashion. I wish Del Rey could have appeared on the other two EVOLVE cards this weekend but that wasn’t in the cards. *½
Del Rey asks if Garrett is the best that Shine has to offer. She wants some new competition for Shine’s first iPPV. Del Rey challenges Jazz.
Match #7: Johnny Gargano (6-4) vs. Lince Dorado (0-1) vs. Tony Nese (0-3) vs. Alex Reynolds (3-0)
Gargano and Reynolds have a nice exchange ending with Gargano connecting with a dropkick. Dorado catches Gargano with a springboard corkscrew press. Nese blocks a dive from Dorado and lands a lionsault. Dorado comes off the top rope with a seated senton onto Reynolds. He tries a lionsault of his own but Gargano takes him out in midair with a dropkick. Gargano hits a slingshot spear on Nese and lands dives to the floor onto all three of his opponents. He reenters the ring with a slingshot DDT on Reynolds. They do a tower of doom spot in the corner, with Nese standing tall. He connects with a superkick on Reynolds. Dorado enzuigiris Gargano but runs into a superkick. Reynolds slams Gargano down to the canvas and lands a top rope moonsault. Nese german suplexes Reynolds but gets caught by a flying double stomp from Dorado. Gargano and Reynolds retreat to the floor where they’re taken out by a corkscrew dive from Dorado. Back in, Gargano powerbombs Dorado. Nese dropkicks Gargano’s back and hits a backbreaker. Reynolds sends Nese to the floor. Gargano lawn darts Reynolds into the turnbuckles. Dorado lands a shooting star press onto Gargano while Nese lands a 450 splash onto Reynolds. Nese pins Reynolds first for the win 9:35. Dorado took advantage of his opportunity to be apart of this match and looked amazing. In fact, everyone worked hard to make the breakneck pace of this match work. Nese taking advantage of Gargano’s back injury is interesting and at the very least adds some intrigue to Nese if he makes consistent appearances in EVOLVE past this weekend. Overall, this was a fun sprint that I’m sure some will enjoy a lot more than others. ***
Nese accepts Gargano's open contract for EVOLVE 16 as Gargano slowly walks away while holding his back.
Match #8: El Generico (1-2) vs. Samuray Del Sol (0-2)
Lenny Leonard immediately resolves my complaint that two wrestlers with losing records are in the main event by explaining that upper management has great faith in this match to deliver. Generico connects with a leg lariat after a fast-paced exchange. Del Sol snaps off an impressive headscissors and Generico retreats to the corner. Del Sol follows with a hurricanrana and dropkicks Generico to the outside. Back in, Generico gets more intense but Del Sol once again impresses with a unique headscissors. He runs the ropes and snaps off a hurricanrana. Generico slows him down with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and takes control. Del Sol blocks an enzuigiri and comes off the top rope with a corkscrew armdrag. He lands a fosbury flop to the floor. In the ring, Del Sol hits a standing sliced bread. He stands on Generico's back and transitions into a code red. Jesus. Generico hits a blue thunder bomb. Del Sol dodges a corner yakuza kick but runs into a michinoku driver. Generico connects with a yakuza kick and hits a half nelson suplex for a nearfall. Del Sol escapes a brainbuster attempt and tries a quick rollup to no avail. Generico connects with another yakuza kick and hits a top rope brainbuster for the victory at 16:24. This felt like a featured match on a PWG card and that is undoubtedly a compliment. It's always fun when Generico becomes frustrated and decides to get intense. Del Sol definitely brought the impressive offense to frustrate Generico and these two put together some outstanding exchanges that deserve to be seen. This was the first time in EVOLVE history that two wrestlers with losing records were in the main event. Considering the quality of this match, I think “upper management” was justified for putting them in this spot. ***¾
After the match, Generico calls out Low Ki. He turns to Del Sol and says that he sees a lot of himself in Del Sol. Del Sol says “tomorrow” into the microphone. Christina Von Eerie enters the ring. She informs Generico that DGUSA belongs to Mad Blankey. She slaps Generico, who responds with a yakuza kick. Generico seems upset with himself as staff comes out to check on Von Eerie.
Overall: As someone who watches a lot of professional wrestling, shows like EVOLVE 14 are always more than welcome. Every match on the card, even some of the undercard contests that I wasn’t necessarily interested in, found ways to be entertaining. The show was also incredibly consistent and featured different styles of matches that offered something for everyone. The eight matches, highlighted by Fox/Fish and Generico/Del Sol, flew by as the pacing of the card was done right. EVOLVE 14 was a great overall package and started the triple shot off on the right foot. As a result, the show earns a solid recommendation.