Evolve was back with its Evolve 39 show on March 26th in San Jose on the weekend of wrestlemania for another WWN ippv and the main event saw Evolve Champion Drew Galloway (Drew McIntyre) defend his title against PJ Black (Justin Gabriel).
Evolve 39 iPPV Review
Cold open to open the show as were thrown right to the ring announcer who proceeds to introduce the opening bout of the evening.
Singles Match: Drew Gulak Vs Timothy Thatcher
Drew Gulak comes out and cuts an impassioned promo about how he isn't afraid for his job and guys like him, Thatcher and Busick only wanted one thing as a wrestler and that was to win. The two exchange headlocks early on, Gulak gets the upper hand reversing a thatcher headlock by rolling out of it and floats over thatcher's back to apply the leg grapevine. Gulak then transisition over into a cross bar breaker, thatcher tries in vain to break the hold but Gulak is blocking his reversal at every turn. Gulak switches to a rear naked choke, Gulak has thatcher back and then picks thatcher ankle and teases the ankle lock but thatcher reverses the hold then Gulak counters thatcher ankle lock attempt and goes back to the arm. Thatcher tries to counter but Gulak pulls guard as thatcher tries to apply an arm bar. Gulak takes Thatcher's back by rolling out of the guard and then floats over thatcher. Gulak senses victory and goes back to the leg and applies the ankle lock but thatcher just reaches the ropes. Up until this point thatcher had not gone to the ropes as he was wrestling his way out. Both men get back up and lock up, single leg by Gulak to thatcher and reapplies the ankle lock but again thatcher reaches the ropes. Gulak goes back to the arm bar but thatcher counters into one of this own, Gulak bridges out of the hold and ends up sitting on top of thatcher for a one count. Gulak applies the arm bar then a leg grapevine but thatcher boots himself free, thatcher then takes Gulak down with a judo side slam. Thatcher stomps on Gulak hand and wrist then applies a top wrist lock, the two tussle for position and the hold is broken, they then strike one another. Thatcher then nails Gulak with a snap suplex and goes back to the arm and has the arm bar slapped on tight. Gulak then counters thatcher arm bar and mounts him and strikes thatcher with open hand strikes and goes for an arm bar of his own. Thatcher fights free from the hold and gives Gulak a dead lift suplex for a near fall. Thatcher nails Gulak with a stiff european upper cut and puts Gulak on the top rope, thatcher goes for the tower of Mcguiness (a top rope diamond cutter) but drew breaks free and comes off the top with a flying knee smash. Gulak nails thatcher with a lariat and slaps on the ankle lock but thatcher fights free. Gulak single legs thatcher and applies the ankle lock yet again but thatcher tries to roll through but Gulak sits down on him and has thatcher covered for the 1,2 and 3.
Winner: Drew Gulak
Yet again I'm finding Drew Gulak matches essential viewing and along with thatcher and Biff Busick who are bringing back grappling. Both men told the story of the each other really only wanted one thing from this match and that was the win. This may not be everyone's cup of tea as for months I found Gulak matches to be dull but now I can see why his matches gain so much praise the guy looks and wrestles like a legit bad ass who doesn't care about being flashy as he just wrestles.
Singles Match: Tommy End Vs Biff Busick
End and Biff circle one another after the bell to build the crowd for there eventually first move. End kicks the air as Biff looks for an advantage point to take ends down, eventually both men lock up and biff rolls up end for a 2 count. Tommy applies the wrist lock but Biff rolls through and rolls up end again for a 2 count. The two hit the ropes and go for a number of strikes on one another but none land as either man has a counter and reversal for it. Take down by Biff but end rolls out and takes down Biff, both men teases more kicks then chain wrestle one another on the mat. Both men then stand up to the delight of the crowd as both men begin trading forearm and elbow smashes then Biff nails end with an almighty running knee smash and covers end for a 2 count. End strikes biff with some leg kicks but biff fires up and open hand slaps end. Biff chops Tommy but Tommy fires up and gives biff a snapmere and kicks biff hard in the back. End works over biff with some more kicks and chops then a spinning elbow smash and a German suplex for a 2 count. Biff battles back with chops and a stiff european uppercut then he gives end a German suplex of his own for a 2 count. Biff backs end up in the corner and forearm smashes end over and over then nails a dazed end with a big lariat for a near fall. Biff applies the sleeper but end counters out of it, end gets back up and nails biff with another running knee smash which looks as if it has KO biff.
End covers biff and gets a nearfall on the man who is number 2 in the evolve rankings. End goes up top and comes off with a big double foot stomp but biff moves out of the way. Biff goes behind on end with a waist lock but end counters and end nails biff with a big jumping kick for another near fall. End then follows it up with a spinning wheel kick to biff for another near fall. End goes for a dragon sleeper but biff counters it into Minuro Suzuki side head/arm bar lock, end tries to counter but can't and has to tap out.
Winner: Biff Busick
This was another match I was really looking forward to as of late I've been hearing good things about 9 year pro Tommy End and the Netherlands native showed me why so many are praising this man. This was another very good match as both men relied on strikes and some stiff strikes at that. In the end, end was made to look like a star here by Biff and in turn end (in his biggest match to date in the U.S.) made Biff look like a star.
Afterwards biff called out Chris Hero yet again claiming the knockout artist was scared of him and he would put hero to sleep if hero ever faced him one on one.
Singles Match: Chris Hero Vs Ethan Page
Page grabs a microphone on the way to the ring and says "he would like to thank man who endorsed him to get this spot on evolve roster Open The Freedom Gate Champion Johnny Gangero. He added "he wouldn't let Gangero down tonight and prove he deserves his spot on this roster. Both men lock up and hero applies a wrist lock and takes page down and applies a head lock onto page. Page battles out but hero takes page down with a snapmere and goes back to the headlock. Page breaks the hold and both men get back up but hero gives page Irish whip, hero lifts up page onto his shoulders and gives page a Death Valley driver and a double foot stomp. Hero works over page then chops him in the corner but page fires up and screams at hero to hit him harder. Both men exchange chops in the middle of the ring, page gets the upper hand and works over hero in the corner. Hero battles back with a big boot, hero picks up page and slaps him hard across the face and says "you want me to hit you harder Huh" as page clutches his face while down on his knees. Hero gives page a hangman a clutch for a 2 count, hero begins to stomp on page's hand over and over again. Hero works over the hand but page battles back with number of big right hands but then hero cuts him off with another open hand slap which sends page to the outside. While on the outside hero Rams page head first into the ring post then rolls page back into the ring. Hero senses victory and goes for a senton splash but page gets his knees up, page nails hero with a biscycle kick and then gives hero a release German suplex for a near fall on the former evovle champion. Both men then trade forearm and elbow smashes in the middle of the ring, page gives hero a back drop and a nails hero with a sit down powerbomb for another near fall. Page strikes hero but hero battles back with a big boot and a powerbomb for another near fall. Page recovers and nails hero with a leaping enzuigiri for another near fall, both men trade elbow smashes. Hero then catches page with a big spinning back elbow smash. Hero taunts the crowd and removes his elbow pad and gives page a second spinning back elbow smash to pick up the win.
Winner: Chris Hero
Another very solid wrestling match, page who is still very unknown won't be unknown anymore after this match with the knockout artist Chris Hero. Both men had a stellar outing and currently left there mark on that weekend proceedings.
Afterwards hero told "biff he was only causing trouble for himself uttering his name because biff Busick you haven't earned the right to say my name and tomorrow night (Evovle 40) im going to knockout you out". Biff Busick comes into the ring and tells hero "he would put him to sleep and offered hero a free shot at him. Hero thought this over and said no, it made biff lower his guard then hero charged him but biff scooped up hero onto his shoulders. Hero wiggled free and runs into the crowd as biff looked on smiling. Meanwhile Timothy Thatcher just stands at the top of the aisle way watching this all take place.
Six Man Tag: Rich Swann, Ricochet and Uhaa Nation Vs The Premier Athlete Brand (Caleb Konley, TJ Perkins and Brian Cage)/with So Cal Val and Andera
Who said evolve doesn't do a bit of light hearted comedy as after a rountine entrance by the premier athlete brand some very familiar music hits and rich Swann comes out singing Lionel Riches classic all night long as uhaa nation and ricochet danced in the back ground like back up dances. This went on forever as rich shook his money maker in the direction of so cal Val, who seemed repulsed by all of this. Val bodyguard Andera protected her boss as rich continued his song and dance routine, also uhaa danced with the ring announcer. Val then demanded the singing and dancing stop and the bell be rung bringing an end to all the fun and games, cheers Val (that was a nice change after sitting through all those serious wrestling matches). Rich tries to have a little fun with Caleb early on but Konley is having none of it and slaps rich. Both men hit the ropes and kris cross one another then leapfrog over one another then Caleb goes for a knee lift in mid sprint but Swann back flips out of it and poses for the crowd who came out of there seats for that. Swann then drop kicks Caleb and tags in wwe bound Uhaa Nation while Caleb tags in lucha undergrounds Brian Cage. A chant of get your shit in is directed at cage as him and Uhaa trade shoulder blocks with one another. Cage then gets the upper hand by drop kicking Uhaa knee which sends Uhaa down to one knee and cage gives Uhaa a side breaker face plant. Uhaa battles back with some chops then a biscycle kick but cage recovers as Uhaa shows off for the crowd and gives Uhaa a drop toe hold and near 300 pounder nails Uhaa with a 619. Ricochet and Perkins are both tagged in by there respective partners the two hit the ropes and ricochet does a handspring elbow but Perkins rolls through and hooks himself onto the ropes like Puma used to do back in the day. TJ P then runs through ricochet with a shoulder block but ricochet pops back up with a nip up and then ricochet crashes TJ P in a tilt a whirl headscissors and follows it up with a tilt a whirl slam. Then the stream cuts out and is left blank for serveal minutes which really took all my enjoyment out of the show. Yes it resumed streaming fine after a few minutes but I really wasn't very happy and to WWN credit they couldn't have been more apologetic to me via email. The action resumed (for me anyway) with cage scoop slamming Swann and he applies a chinlock to wear down Swann. At ring side Val talks some trash to Swann saying "sing a song for me now rich. Cage works over Swann in the corner and tags in TJ P who gives Swann a clothesline in the corner then takes out Swann with Russian leg sweep and then applies Abdormal strecth. TJ P drags Swann back to his corner and tags cage back in. Cage works over Swann in the corner but Swann battles back with series of kicks then a jawbreaker. Swann then makes the hot tag to ricochet who springboards to the top rope and comes off with a missile dropkick to cage. Caleb comes in but ricochet tries them (cage an Caleb) up together and drops backwards taking Caleb out with a neckbreaker while at the same time Caleb takes out his own partner cage with a ddt because Caleb and cage are still all tied up together. Ricochet spring boards onto the middle rope and comes off into the path of cage but cage just stands there and ricochet bounces off of him. Cage goes for a pump handle slam but ricochet counters out of it and tags his partner Uhaa nation, Uhaa comes in like a house on fire with shoulder block to cage. Uhaa then gives cage a stinger splash in the corner and then a flying clithesline, Uhaa then gives cage a German suplex he goes for another but cage counters and drives Uhaa into the mat with a wheel borrow slam. Uhaa is back up quickly but walks into the awaiting arms of cage who gives Uhaa a belly to belly suplex but again this has no effect on Uhaa who gets back up. Both cage and Uhaa charge one another and both men nail the other with a pair of sick kicks. Caleb comes into the ring and fires off a shotgun dropkick into the face of Uhaa which in turn sends Caleb into the corner. Caleb springboards to the top rope and flies off onto Uhaa but Uhaa catches Caleb and drills him to the mat with a Death Valley driver. Uhaa covers Caleb for a 2 count, Caleb battles back with some elbow smashes to Uhaa and a back stabber but Uhaa falls into his corner and Swann tags himself in. Swann gives Caleb a swinging neckbreaker and the rolling thunder splash for a near fall. Caleb then recovers and single legs Swann and applies some sort of Texas cloverleaf variation but ricochet is in to help Swann break the hold. Ricochet tosses Caleb to the outside and ricochet flies out on top of him with a springboard back flip. While at the same time Uhaa does a moonsualt out onto cage and the crowd comes alive with chants of holy shit. Ricochet and Uhaa roll Caleb back into the ring and into the awaiting arms of Swann but Caleb pushes Swann into this his corner and tags TJ P. TJ P whips Swann into the ropes but Swann does a handspring into the ropes and back flips out of the way of TJ P Attack and nails Perkins with a diamond cutter. Uhaa and Swann now have the 2 on 1 advantage over TJ P and Uhaa picks up TJ P into a military press slam and drops TJ P into the awaiting arms of Swann who gives Perkins a diamond cutter in mid air. Then Uhaa and Swann nail TJ P with a wheel borrow ddt a double team combo move for the near fall as cage breaks up the pin attempt at the count of two. Cage drills Swann with a pump handle sit down powerbomb but in comes ricochet and he takes out cage with a leaping enzuigiri. Caleb slides back in the ring and nails ricochet with a biscycle kick, Uhaa returns and he gives Caleb a Death Valley driver and a standing moonsault. Uhaa then turns around into brian cage who gives Uhaa a clothesline. All six men are down now and the crowd begins to chant this is awesome as all six men have a rest. Cage and ricochet get up first and ricochet delivers a 360 enzuigiri which sends the big man to the outside. Ricochet then dives from the ring out onto cage, back in the ring Caleb and tj miss time a spot and end up crashing into one another. Swann then gives Caleb a 450 splash and then Uhaa returns who gives Caleb a standing moonsault and a standing shooting star press to pick up the win for his team.
Winners: Uhaa Nation, Ricochet and Rich Swann
This was your usual indy spot fest six man, at times I had trouble keeping up so just think how much harder it must have been for the wrestlers. All six did what there paid to do and that was put on a performance which would sit perfectly inbetween all these serious wrestling matches and warm the crowd back up for the main event matches.
So far Gangero has held the Open The Freedorm Gate title for over a 1,000 days
Open The Freedom Gate Title Match: Johnny Gangero (Champion)/with Ethan Page Vs AR Fox
Both men lock up to begin with they both go behind on one another but Gangero is the one who is able to take down fox. Both men lock up again and Gangero applies a headlock and takes down fox onto his back with the hold. Gangero then arm drags fox but fox pops right back up and hits Gangero with a dropkick. Bulldog by fox to Gangero then both men roll to the outside and trade chops with one another, both men then trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Both men are back outside and brawl into the path of Ethan page, fox gets in a big kick to Gangero and heads up top and drops a 450 leg drop from the top rope down onto both Gangero and page on the outside. Both men then brawl in the aisle way where Gangero gives fox a Superkick but fox rebounds with a tornado ddt to Gangero on the outside. Both men tease a Countout but both make it back into the ring at the count of 16. Back in the ring Gangero nails fox with a dropkick to the back of the head then applies some sort of submission hold then Gangero rolls through and transisitions into the arm bar. Gangero rolls through on his own hold and has fox in a pinning position for a 2 count. Gangero then works fox over in the corner then whips fox from one side of the ring to the other but fox goes up and over onto the ring apron. Fox springboards to the top rope and comes off with a missile dropkick into Gangero chest, fox follows it up with a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. Both men take the battle Onto the ring apron where fox gives Gangero a enzuigiri which sends fox to the floor while Gangero is seated on the ring apron. Both men recover and Gangero superkicks fox from the ring apron, Gangero then drops down onto fox who is on the floor with a seated senton (how he didn't break his back in beyond me). Back in the ring Gangero nails fox with an impalier ddt for the nearfall, fox catches Gangero with a small package from out of nowhere for a near fall on the champ. Fox then drives Gangero into the mat with an ace crusher for another near fall. Fox heads up top and comes down onto Gangero with a swantime Bomb for another nearfall. Fox springboards to the top rope and goes for a 450 splash but Gangero moves and fox lands on his feet. Both men trade elbow and forearm smashes then Gangero nails fox with a superkick and a lariat for the near fall, both men get up and tease giving one another a tombstone. Both men wrestle to the outside, fox downs Gangero on the floor and heads back into the ring a dives out onto Gangero with a tope suicida. Both men hit the guardrail hard as the crowd chant AR Fox's name, both men get back into the ring and trade forearm and elbow smashes yet again. Then fox nails Gangero with a canadian destroyer for a near fall, Gangero battles back with a buckle Bomb to fox then he lawn darts fox into the top turnbuckle for a near fall. Gangero can't believe it and gets caught with another enzuigiri by fox, fox heads up top and this time he hits the 450 splash for another near fall. Gangero sells his knee but fox is relentless and he gives Gangero a yazuka kick but Gangero rebounds with a superkick. Gangero senses victory and gives fox a full nelson slam and applies the koji Clutch to fox and fox has to tap out to the champion.
Winner: Johnny Gangero
I can't knock these two for this match but I did fill there was something lacking with this match. Maybe it was due to styles clash with fox being a high flier why Gangero is more of a traditional wrestler with a few fancy moves along with solid submission skills. Whatever it was I felt there was something lacking in this match and it effected my enjoyment of it.
It's right into the main event as the no spills WWN rarely has video packages.
MAIN EVENT
Evolve Championship Title Match: Drew Galloway (Champion) Vs PJ Black
Both men (who in the build up to this used there real life friendship and wwe run to sell this match) shake hands then PJ goes to kick drew low but he catches him. Drew and PJ lock up and drew backs pj into the corner but the referee steps in to break the hold at four. PJ nails galloway with an arm drag then he tires up drew's arms and rolls over into a pinning position but galloway kicks out at one. Snapmere another roll up by PJ to galloway for another 1 count, drew battles back with some big right hands then he applies an arm bar but PJ counters the hold by leaping to the top rope and monkey flips out of the hold. PJ goes for a crucifix pin attempt but drew counters with a Samoan drop for a 2 count. Galloway works over black in the corner with chops, then the champ begins to choke out black by using the top rope and his boot. Galloway whips black into the ropes and goes for a tilt a whirl slam but PJ blocks it and applies a front face lock but drew walks over to the ring rope and places PJ on top of it to break the hold and chops PJ which sends PJ to the outside. Both men trade chops on the floor then both men take a tumble over the guardrail and into the front row. PJ recovers first and spring boards to the top of the guard rail then he comes off with a swinging ddt driving Galloways head onto the floor. Both men brawl around ringside and at one point drew gets hot and throws a chair into the ring but the referee quickly removes it. Back in the ring drew stomps a mudhole in PJ and then chokes PJ out in the corner with his boot, drew then nails the challenger with a suplex for a 2 count and applies a chinlock. PJ battles out of the hold but walks into a big boot by the champion and a back drop for another 2 count. Short arm clothesline by drew to PJ gets him another 2 count, drew begins to fill the frustration and talks trash to PJ while slapping him around. PJ recovers and gives drew a headscissors which sends drew to the outside, PJ follows up by diving out onto drew not once, twice but three times. PJ rolls the champion back into the ring and nails him with a spinning back elbow and then heads up top but drew cuts black off and PJ ends up crotching himself on the top rope. Both men battle on the top rope and drew ends up falling and getting his feet caught on the top rope. Now Galloway is tied to the tree of woe and black comes down with a double foot stomp onto the champion. PJ heads back up top to do the same thing again but the champion pops back up and gives PJ a belly to belly from the top rope to the mat below for a near fall. Both men recover and trade strikes in the middle of the ring, drew then nails PJ with the reverse albamha slammer for another near fall on the South African. PJ battles back with a pair of superkicks to the champion but Galloway is only dazed so PJ nails him a third time for the nearest of near falls. Drew recovers with an elbow strike to PJ jaw then goes for the tilt a whirl slam again but yet again PJ counters but this time with a tornado ddt for another near fall. PJ then misses a top rope missile drop kick as drew nails PJ with one of his own, Galloway then spikes PJ with a Piledriver for another near fall. Galloway holds out his arms and shouts what do I have to do, Galloway sets PJ up on the top rope and drills PJ with a back drop from the top for another near fall. The champion doesn't lose his composure this time and goes for ddt which PJ can't fight off, drew then covers PJ to get the 1,2 and 3 and retains his evovle title.
Winner: Drew Galloway (and still Evovle Champion)
Good match as both former wwe superstars had a point to prove and that was neither man was a joke like they had booked as such in wwe. Evovle gave them 20 minutes and both men went back and fourth throughout to prove to evolve they were right in doing so and wwe got it wrong with releasing Galloway an letting black walk away at the end of last year.
Drew challenges Gangero to a unification match, which Gangero accepted.
Afterwards drew grabs a microphone and says "the boys in the back and himself are ready bust there asses for the fans here this weekend and everyone on the evolve roster gives it a 110% and every time they come in this ring". Drew then says he doesn't care about rankings or who's next in line as he wants a title shot at a man who has held a title in this company for over 3 years because for the last 8 months as evovle champion I've taken on all comers and I want to wrestle and be the best wrestler in the world like I know I am". Drew thenputs over johnny and his lengthy regain, Johnny Gangero comes out and accepts Galloways challenge to a double title unification match for evolve 40 to ends the show.
Rating and Round Up
Evolve currently isn't for everyone but it is for wrestling fans who crave something different to the norm. TNA and wwe fans would not have the patience for a show like this as it's essentially more about the grappling and styles rather than flashy ring entrances and state of the production. WWN is trying to give evolve better lighting but I think evolve will forever be wrestling best kept secret which will only ever be appreciated by a few. Overall I yet again enjoyed this show the first three matches delivered as everyone in there respective match tried to outdo the other with grappling. The six man tag was really needed in the middle of show because after all those serious wrestling matches you needed a break and all six men delivered a fun fast paced match which really got the crowd on there feet. The two title matches were good as well but only really solid wrestling matches which seemed to lack something. For me personally I would give this show a 6.5 out of 10 as the quality of the show dipped towards the end and my match of the night has to go to six man tag which reminded me of an 2002/2006 ROH scramble madness match, but if you like your glitz and glamour then sorry this show is not for you.
By Billy_Jay_222 @billy222me or @RantsWrestle
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