* We’re coming off of the excellent and heavily praised
Evolve 45 iPPV, with some excellent matches and a new Evolve & Open the Freedom Gate in Timothy Thatcher. Can the company follow up on that show and keep the momentum? Lets find out…
Trevor Lee defeated Anthony Nese: They continue to tell the story of the Premiere Athlete Brand having issues. Lee was looking to prove himself to earn an FIP Title shot against Caleb Konley. The match was largely fine, but the extra curriculars of the Premiere Athlete Brand tend to turn me off. The thing I really like about Evolve is the lack of that stuff, and while they have it scaled back dramatically, I’d rather they save it for a major angle down the line and not in an opener. Andrew Everett got involved to try and even the odds, and then Lee scored the win with a roll up. The cracks are still there with the Premiere Athlete Brand, and Nese is now looking to be set up as the weak link. The possible pairing of Lee and Everett to battle the Premiere Athlete Brand also works for me, as they would be facing established guys and it could be a good feud to launch them to the next level as the stable explodes. Not a great opening match, but I liked the story being told.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated TJ Perkins: This was a fantastic outing for both men. Zack Sabre Jr fits on the Evolve roster very well, as his style works with a lot of what they are doing and he just seems to be able to work with anyone whenever I see him. It’s a treat having him back. When I watch TJ Perkins in Evolve I get completely pissed off, not because of his work here, but because of how TNA has completely wasted this man. The good news is that he’s allowed to take dates and work iPPVs, which means we get a lot from him in Evolve and the guy delivers. They really had a great match, with the work featuring a lot of ground-based work, grappling and some creative counters by both men that looked completely effortless at times. The only real complains is at times it felt like a rehearsed series of counters instead of a grappling match, which to me takes away from some of the realism these style of matches tend to have. Perkins worked several near falls late off of cradles and such, but ZSJ came back with his submission work, scoring with the triangle into the chicken wing and then the arm bar to pick up the win and go 2-0 for the weekend. This was great, and both men continue to be so much fun to watch.
Drew Galloway defeated Trent Beretta: This match was originally scheduled to be an Evolve title match, but with Galloway losing at Evolve 45, both men are fighting for a higher rankings spot and shot at the title. Beretta being back is also a great thing for the company, he was delivering before he had to take leave for a bit, and is coming off of a great showing in the BOTSJ tournament. Galloway tried to bore everyone before the match by giving his traditional “wrestling, fuck yeah” promo, but after you hear it 10 or 15 times it loses its desired effect. Beretta sent the PAB people to the back so that this was one on one. They worked a very competitive match, with the story being that Galloway is now working a more aggressive and focused style because he lost the title. This was the kind of match that he needed to have following his title loss. They worked well together, Beretta did a great job of selling the aggressive style of Galloway, and it was a good match. Post match the PAB returned because Beretta lost, and tried to attack Galloway. He fought them off, including Andrea, and tried and failed to go after So Cal Val. I like the restart and attitude change with Galloway following the title loss, and now he just needs to stop cutting the same promo before every match.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Chris Hero: Thatcher won the titles at the previous night’s
Evolve 45 iPPV iPPV, and looks to move forward as the champion. He’s had a great 2015 and was red hot following the WM weekend events, but was slowed by an injury. Hero has been having a really good year as a freelancer, popping in, having great matches, and leaving. He’s set for the NY shows as well, so we get to see more of him in Evolve. These guys faced off on WM weekend, and had a MOTY contender. I felt that they had a very good match here, but not quit at the level of the one they had at the WWE Supershow. As you would expect, they worked in a nice mixture of grappling along with some very stiff striking. I know that the style is not everyone’s cup of tea, and that Hero is the center of jokes because of his look, but I don’t give a shit when I am getting good wrestling. Thatcher had defeated Hero at that event, and since then has been on a tear again and picking up big wins. I know that they had to change things up but I really wish they could have pushed the rematch back. They worked in some tremendous drama down the stretch, with Hero looking to destroy Thatcher with the rolling elbows. Thatcher would finally get the arm bar and survive Hero’s attempts to escape with elbow strikes, and retained the title. This was so very great.
* Zack Sabre Junior then challenged Thatcher to a title match in August, on the next set of shows. Awesome.
