Here is my review of March 8th Evolve pro wrestling independent event from New York City at Deer Park.
It was the coldest of opens as is the norm with iPPV and right into the first match of the evening.
Singles Match: Biff Busick Vs Martin Stone
Both men lock up and then Biff applies a side headlock to stone but stone backs Biff back up into the corner and breaks te hold with a gut shot to Biff. Stone then applies the side headlock to Biff but biff backs stone up into the corner and slaps stone hard across the face. Both men fired off some explosive looking suplexes to the delight of the crowd and this reviwer, as well as trading some fundamental holds on the mat. Overall I enjoyed this but could you imagine if these two had a few extra minutes then these could have had a really good match here. Stone fires off some European uppercuts in the direction of biff's jaw but biff comes back with a side headlock and then applies a rear naked choke to stone but the Brit battles out of it. Stone then gives biff a German suplex and applies a jaw lock to biff, biff counters the hold into a front face lock. Stone breaks the hold and nails biff with a uppercut then stone pummels biff in the corner. Both men then trade uppercuts and forearm smashes in the middle of the ring. Stone then counters a biff elbow smash and takes down biff and applies the crossface to biff but biff battles out. Stone nails biff with a German suplex and a lariat for near fall. Stone then goes back to the cross face and yet again biff counters out of it and gives stone a half nelson German suplex. Biff and stone go back and fourth trading forearm smashes then biff applies another rear naked choke and this time stone is forced to tap out.
Winner: Biff Busick
Quick match which was set up to showcase number 1 in the evolve rankings biff busick and not Englishman Stone who had a brief NXT run in 2013. Both men fired off some explosive looking suplexes to the delight of the crowd and this reviwer, as well as trading some fundamental holds on the mat. Overall I enjoyed this but could you imagine if these two had a few extra minutes then these could have had a really good match here.
Mystery Team Tag Team Match: Team Tremendous (Bill Carr&Dan Barry) Vs Larry Dallas Mystery Team (Jody Kristofferson&Earl Cooter)
After months of pressure from the evolve fan base evolve Booker Gabe Salposky (spell check gabes last name) finally cracked and booked the comedy team of detective to wrestle for his group for this show and like Larry Dallas's team would be making there evolve debuts this evening. Team tremendous were incredibly over as you would expect but as for larry dallas team they were not and I can't say I've ever seen the two (Jody as Earl) before. Barry and earl lock up at the start of the match and barry applies a side headlock to earl and takes cooter down. Back drop attempt by earl but barry counters it and takes earl back down with the side headlock. Barry chops earl in the corner and tags in his big bossman lookalike partner Bill Carr. Carr comes in and takes over where barry left off and chops earl cooter with some stiff knife edge chops. Quick tags between team tremendous who are working over cooter in there corner. Barry nails cooter with an Arabian press then Carr nails cooter with a senton. Then jody blind tags himself in and the big man goes to work on the smaller barry, he then body slams barry for a two count. Jody drops knees into the back off Barry's head for another two count, Kristofferson tags earl back in. Earl nails Barry with a face wash and works over barry in there corner. Jody is tagged back in and he gives barry a missile drop kick for a near fall on the part time police detective. Barry makes his comeback with a ddt to Jody, both men crawl to there respective corners but jody tags earl first and earl jut cuts Barry off from tagging Carr. After a back and fourth between barry and cooter Barry makes the hot tag to Carr. Carr wipes out both Jody and earl with a double clothesline then back drops earl. Then Barry nails earl with a big spinning side slam for a very near fall indeed, Carr follows it up with a tilt a whirl head scissors which even has the announce team speechless. Barry is in and he dives out onto earl and Jody who were regrouping on the floor with manger larry dallas. Bill Carr then dives out ontop of all three men and this is an impressive sight considering Carr is well over 300 pounds. Back in the ring Carr and barry double team Jody and earl respectively and get a near fall on Jody at one point with a steiner recliner. Jody recover and spears Carr which sends Carr to the outside, Barry then eats a rack Bomb by Jody for a near fall. Then some miscommunication between jody and earl sees the two run Into one another, Carr recovers and hoists earl up onto his shoulders as Barry goes up top. Barry flies off catching earl with a block buster as Carr dumps earl off of his shoulders and Barry covers earl for the win.
Winner: Team Tremendous (Dan Barry&Bill Carr)
At long last Team Tremendous have arrived in evolve, yes the gimmick may not fit the straight laced evolve wrestling roster but in my opinion with this performance these two will more than likely fit in very well in evolve in its thin at best tag team division.
Singles Match: AR Fox Vs Matt Cage
During the introductions AR Fox nails the newcomer matt cage with a biscycle kick and say welcome to evolve matt cage. Dropkick by fox to cage but cage battles back with a Arm drag to fox which sends fox to the outside, cage then dives out onto fox and the crowd chant holy shit. Both men brawl on the outside then cage dumps fox with a back drop onto the ring apron. Back in the ring cage gets crotched on the top rope by fox then fox dropkick cage in the face which sends cage crashing to the floor on the outside. Fox Irish whips cage into the barricade then rolls cage onto the ring apron and drops a leg drop from the top rope down across cages throat. Back in the ring fox proceeds to work over cage in the corner, fox then gives cage a corkscrew suplex then fox goes up top comes off with a swantime Bomb down onto cage and covers him for the near fall. Fox applies a chinlock to cage but cage battles out and the two trade chops in the middle of the ring. Fox whips cage Into the corner and follows cage in but cage leaps up and drops a double stomp into the back of foxs head. Cage can't capitalise and both men take there time to recover, Both men then get up and trade strikes with one another in the ring to cheers from the crowd. Cage goes up to the second rope and comes off with a spinning forearm smash and covers fox but only gets a two count. Another biscycle kick by fox to cage then fox goes up to the middle rope and comes off with an ace crusher to cage and fox gets a near fall. Cage then gives fox a tiger driver for another near fall, cage applies a headlock but fox rolls through and drops cage with a drop kick. Fox goes to the ring apron and springboards up to the top rope and comes off with a 450 and covers cage for another near fall. Fox springboards up to the top rope again and flies off the top but cage catches fox with a code breaker and yet again it leads to another near fall. Cage then hoists up fox onto his shoulders and goes for what looks like a GTS but as fox falls in front of cage he nails fox with a big uppercut. Cage covers fox but only gets a two count as fox barley kicks out, cage whips fox into the corner and nails fox three times with a running knee lift. Cage goes for a fourth but fox blocks it pushes cage off of him then fox charges cage and nails cage with a sick kick. Fox goes up top poses for a second and comes down onto cage with another 450 and this time it's enough to finish off cage,
Afterwards both men shake hands to the delight of the crowd.
Winner: AR Fox
Good fast paced match which relied on spots rather than actually telling any kind of story. Cage on his evolve debut looked very good here and we'll your know if you've seen fox he looks good eveyte me he wrestles.
Singles Match: Chris Hero Vs Drew Gulak
Both men fill one another out in the early stages of the match with headlocks and arm bars. The two exchange a hammerlock on the mat, top wrist lock by hero to Gulak but Gulak counters into a wrist lock of his own. More chain wrestling between the two as both men try to gain the upper hand of the bout. Hero then drops Gulak with a toe hold and applies a funk spinning toe hold onto Gulak but Gulak counters with one of his own. The two continue to trade holds on the mat then hero fires a stiff looking elbow smash to Gulak lip which draws blood. Hero goes to the knuckle lock but yet again Gulak has an answer for hero hold and counters it into one of his own. Hero goes back to the spinning toe hold and again Gulak counters with a hammerlock. Hero counters the hold and is standing over Gulak back when he drops down all his weight onto Gulak back. Hero goes back to the hammerlock but as per with this match Gulak counters and rolls through to apply the ankle lock. Hero quickly reaches the ropes to break the hold and goes to the outside to gather his thoughts. The refree begins to count and gets to nine before hero rolls back into the ring. Hero open hand slaps Gulak hard across the face and then gives Gulak a few stiff looking forearm smashes. Gulak battled back with a few strikes of his own then both men battle to the outside and trade elbow smashes and chops on the outside. Back in the ring hero nails Gulak with one of his trademark elbow smashes and covers Gulak for a 1 count only. This amazes hero who is now arguing with the referee, this gives Gulak plenty of time to recover who gets up and nails hero with a dropkick. Then Gulak is on the offensive now and applies a crossface to hero but hero rolls through to counter the hold and kicks Gulak full force in the face. Hero covers Gulak and gets a two count as Gulak kicks out to the annoyance of hero. Hero then applies a front face lock to Gulak but Gulak is able to reach the ropes. Both men battle to the outside again and trade chops out in front of the crowd yet again. A hard elbow smash by hero to Gulak and then hero Rams drew's head into the barricade. Hero rolls Gulak back into the ring and Giants him then applies a front face lock, while In the hold Gulak suffers some stiff elbow smashes into the back of his head but eventually Gulak makes the ropes forcing the hold to be broken. Hero goes for a Saito suplex by Gulak counters it into one of his own then both men trade chops in the middle of the ring. Dragon screw leg whip by Gulak to hero and then Gulak grapevines Heroes leg but hero makes the ropes. Both men slap one another hard in the middle of the ring then Gulak gives hero a German suplex for a near fall. Gulak applies the ankle lock to hero but hero rolls through on Gulak into a pin attempt but only gets a two count on Gulak as Gulak still has hold of heroes ankle so hero is forced to break the pin attempt but eventually hero reaches the ropes and the hold is broken. Hero gets up but falls to the outside going through the ropes in the process. Back in the ring hero and Gulak trade forearm smashes and chops then from out of nowhere hero rolls up drew for a near fall. Hero goes for a spinning forearm smash but Gulak ducks and nails hero with the lariat for a near fall. Gulak goes for a suplex but hero counters with a go behind then Gulak counters hero go behind with one of his own and rolls up hero but hero rolls through also and both men are back on there feet now. Hero charges at Gulak with a running knee smash which only rocks drew. Both men trade chops but then hero nails with a KO elbow smash and then scopes up Gulak and drives Gulak into the mat with a tombstone piledriver for the 1,2 and 3.
Winner: Chris Hero
If you enjoy mat wrestling and a tribute to the European/UWFI hybrid style then you would love this match. I really enjoyed it as both men Showed they can produce a piece of art with this style of grappling. I would not expect to see this match anywhere else in North America but thankfully that is why evolve exsists to cater to fans who yearn to see this style of wrestling.
Singles Match: PJ Black (Formely WWE Justin Gabriel) Vs The Premier Athlete Kaleb Conley/with Anthony Nese
Both men lock up and trade a hammerlock on the mat, counter and reversal by black who then applies a side headlock. They hit the ropes and black leap frogs up and over Conley and then gives Kaleb a arm drag which sends Kaleb to the outside. Back in the ring Conley Rams blacks head into the top turnbuckle, Conley then chops at blacks chest. Hip toss by black to Conley then black fires off some chops of his own into Kaleb chest. Both men battle out onto the floor where Conley gives black a tornado ddt onto the floor. Conley rolls black into the ring and covers him for a two count, Both men battle it out in the corner then Conley gives black a stiff kick to the ribs and a running shoulder tackle for another two count on black. Chinlock by Conley to black but PJ battles out and gives Conley a Superkick which sends Conley to the outside. Black then does a suicide dive out onto Conley then gets back in the ring and does a twisting corkscrew dive out onto black. Back in the ring PJ spring boards to the top rope and nails Conley with a dropkick for the near fall. Both men trade chops in the middle of the ring then Conley nails black with a spinning enzuigiri for a near fall on the former wwe "Superstar". Kaleb goes up top and goes for a moonsault but PJ moves and Conley hits the mat hard. Both men then go up top and battle it then Conley gives black a huancanrana but black counters it mid Air and has Conley in a pinning positon for a near fall. PJ goes for a sunset flip Bomb but botches it, both men continue there battle up top and Conley goes for a powerbomb but PJ blocks it and both men fall off the top rope. Black recovers first and springboards up onto the top rope and nails Conley with a 450 splash for the win. AR Fox who was on commentary throughout calls attention to black using his finisher. Back in the ring Nese and Conley representing the premier athlete brand try to attack black but he is wise to this and leaves. Nese grabs a microphone and calls out returning to evolve TNA wrestler Davey richards as there match is up next.
Winner: PJ Black
Another very good match was this one and it gave PJ a chance to show what wwe wouldn't let him show and that is like Conley a premier athlete. Shame you could of knew the result going in as Ar Fox kept alluding to a match between him and black at the next show as this match was designed to showcase black rather then Conley.
Singles Match: Davey Richards Vs The Premier Athlete Anthony Nese/with Caleb Konley
Lock up by both men to start the match and they trade the hammerlock and a arm bar. Headlock take down by Davey to Nese then Davey applies the head scissors to Nese but Nese breaks the hold and pops back up. Another head lock take down by Davey to Nese then he floats over and applies a Mexican surfboard to Nese but Davey breaks the hold when Nese refuses to quit. Shoulder block by Davey to Nese and Nese rolls to the outside to regroup. Davey goes up
And over the top rope landing on his feet on the ring apron, Davey then kicks Nese in the face. Back in the ring Nese works over Davey in the corner and gives Davey a dropkick of his own. Back on the outside Davey works over Nese and rolls him back into the ring and gives Nese a snap suplex. Davey applies a knee brace to Nese which elects a response from the crowd of sleazy Davey as he does a Rick Rude hip shake. Nese battles back with forearms, chops and kicks to Davey and then takes Davey down with a arm bar but Davey counters the hold to reach the ropes. Davey applies the leg grape vine to Nese but Nese breaks the hold by reaching the ropes, back on the outside both men trade chops right in front of the front row of fans. Back in the ring Nese works over Davey and nails Davey over and over again with crossface forearm smashes. Nese then drops a leg drop across Davey's chest for the near fall, chinlock by Nese to Davey but Davey just reaches the ropes. Nese works over Davey with more forearm smashes but Davey battles back with a spinning enzuigiri and a German suplex for the near fall. Both men battle it out on the top rope where Nese nails Davey with a top rope ace crusher for another near fall. Davey goes for another German but Nese counters out of it and lands on his feet, Nese then kicks Davey in the back of the head and gives Davey a double stomp onto his chest. Nese covers Davey and only gets a two count, the premier athlete taunts Davey which only upsets the American wolf who comes back at Nese and sends him to the outside. Nese and his fellow premier athlete Caleb Konley try to regroup on the outside but Davey is outside quickly and the two trade chops on the floor again. Back in the ring both men trade kick, punch and chop combos then Nese nails Davey with buckle Bomb and his money in the bank finisher (a inverted ddt) for another near fall. Nese goes up top and goes for a 450 splash but Davey moves and Nese hits the mat hard, Davey recovers first and nails Nese with a double foot stomp and then applies the leg grapevine to make Nese tap out.
Winner: Davey Richards
This was a very good match both men who incorporated stiff kicks throughout, there is a reason Nese is called the premier athlete as he carried himself here and didn't rely on Davey to carry him (like so many have in TNA). Overall Nese proved he is more than ready for a return to TNA or ready for a stint in NXT as he really impressed me here with his showing.
MAIN EVENT
NON Title Steel Cage Match- Where must be a winner: Evolve Champion Drew Galloway Vs Roderick Strong
As strong makes his way to the ring he attacked by Galloway in the aisle way and the two men brawl all over ringside and a bell hasn't even rung yet. Galloway drops strong across the guardrail then nails him with the evovle belt, drew chokes out strong on the outside then he slaps strong in the face. Eventually both men get in the cage and the bell rings signalling the start of the match. Strong charges Galloway but drew lifts up strong and strong lands in the top rope. Strong teases leaving the cage but Galloway pulls him down and powerslam strong as he comes off the top. Galloway works over strong in the corner but Strong battles back with a fall away slam to drew. Strong works over Galloway In the corner with chops, dropkick by strong to Galloway then strong covers drew but only gets a one count on the evovle champion. Strong then whips Galloway chest first into the top turnbuckle then both men go up to the top rope and slug it out up there but both men fall crotching themsevles on the top rope in the process. Galloway charges strong but strong moves and Galloway hits the side of cage head first. Strong covers Galloway but only gets a two count so then strong puts the boots to a downed drew. Both men exchange left and rights then strong suplexes drew into the cage for a near fall. Both men battle it on the top rope again and this time drew gives strong a Russian leg sweep from the top rope. They exchange left and rights again then Galloway Irish whips strong into the cage. Galloway does some kind of reverse albamha slammer for a near fall, drew is hot now and Rams Strong's head over and over again into the side of the cage. Both men go up top again but this time strong gives drew a super plex from the top. Strong then drives Galloway with a angle slam and follows it up with a back breaker for a near fall. Galloway recovers by back dropping strong into the cage but can't capitalise as he's to hurt to pin strong. Both men get up an trade chops and punches with one another then strong nails Galloway with the fall from grace for a near fall. Both men go up top and strong knocks drew's feet out from under him and drew crotches himself. Drew is tied to the tree of woe but pops back up and gives strong a belly to belly suplex from the top rope. Both men recover and get up and trade chops then Galloway powerbombs strong into the cage for another near fall. The two trade chops again but this time strong goes and puts the referee Inbetween himself and drew then low blows drew as the referee is temporarly stunned. Strong nails Galloway with a back breaker for a near fall, strong then Rams galloways head over and over again into the cage. Strong racks drew's face across the cage which draws blood from drew then strong nails drew over and over with the sick kick and as galloway is struck between the ropes and Cage he just passes out and strong is declared the winner by KO. Afterwards strong applies the strong hold to Galloway but it is broken up by PJ Black and after some back and fourth strong leaves. PJ asks for a microphone and the evolve title and challenges drew to a match (even though evolve have a ranking system that was thrown out
To do this match). Drew accepts and says he'll wrestle black any place, any time and anywhere then black leaves and drew cuts a promo about how great the evolve fans had treated him since his wwe exit and also mentions TNA to end the show.
Winner: Roderick Strong
This was another very good match as both men took some incredible punishment with the bumps they took. This has been a great independent feud between these two and every time I see one of there matches I know I won't be dissappionted as they always deliver even if the finish was a little to cheap for my liking.
Round Up and Rating
Overall I would give this show a solid 7 out of 10 as everyone on this card produced a match of high quality my performer of the night has to go to Drew Gulak he was booked as a bad ass and looked like a bad ass in his match with hero and I would also give hero v Gulak may match of the night as it told a more compelling story than anything else on the card.
By Good_Brother_Billy @billy222me or @RantsWrestle
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