EVOLVE and DGUSA management were really happy with the quality of their live events over the weekend. Gabe Sapolsky felt it was the best EVOLVE series of shows to date. All three shows are available for VOD replays at
this link.
AR Fox was said to have had a great first weekend as champion. They based him around the idea that as a fighting champion, he would defend the title all weekend and also that he would pull out a new move every night.
Samuray del Sol finished over the weekend as he'll be signing with WWE developmental. In a post weekend meeting, Gabe Sapolsky praised him to the locker room for being so giving and allowing Johnny Gargano to unmask him as part of the finish for his last night, feeling it gave Gargano more heat. Sapolsky felt that if their bout had happened on Wrestlemania weekend, it would be getting a lot of raves from fans.
Sapolsky is also extremely high on Gargano's work since turning, feeling he has really hit a great stride as a heel who's acting like a babyface. Ironically, Mickie James is starting the same deal in TNA and is awesome at it too.
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Lots of raves over the weekend for the Young Bucks' singles matches.
Visiting at the Orlando show were, among others, Briley Pierce, Chris Hero, Jason Harding, Sakamoto, Harry Smith, Yatsu, Tyson Kidd, Jay Lethal, Roderick Strong, Daffney, and Sami Zayn. The running joke at the show was what an awesome card they could have with everyone who was just visiting.
Of course the weekend was not without its problems. The crowds were small but the company drew exactly what they had expected to show up. Jacksonville turned out to be a real problem. Sal Hamoaui had driven the 8 hours to test the Internet feed used for the iPPV and it worked fine, then on the day of the show, the promotion arrived at the venue to discover they no longer had a dedicated line for the feed. They ended up offering refunds and other offers to make it up to those who ordered the show.
EITA and Tomahawk T.T. are booked for the NYC weekend on 7/27 and 7/28. There is talk that Dragon Gate will be sending another young talent over to stay Stateside and learn and work.
There are already plans for a Florida weekend return, likely in the Fall.
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