Paid Members Big Benny HG Posted March 24, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted March 24, 2012 EVOLVE 9 - Gargano vs. Taylor (26 July 2011)   The third (and what would turn out to be final) EVOLVE offering of 2011, held in Times Square at BB Kings, sees a DVD release. The titular main event matches Ronin/F.I.S.T./A-Listers stablemates Johnny Gargano and Chuck Taylor one-on-one in a continuation of the scenario from EVOLVE 7, as these two hold the most wins here in the records-based promotion. It isn't an amazing main event like some of the early EVOLVE shows, but it is pretty good. There is more story going on here than in perhaps any other match in the organisation so far, as their mutual manager Larry Dallas again tries to prevent them from fighting only to be cast aside by both. The main gist of the match as it develops is that these guys know each other inside out from being partners all over the place, and it plays out as we see them knowing counters for each other's signature spots and hitting one another with the other's trademark moves. It should be said that you'll enjoy this one more if you know the wrestlers, know the story and know their moves, but it is far from shabby as a stand-alone effort too.  The show is most notable for the first EVOLVE appearance of former WWE and WCW veteran Dave 'Fit' Finley. Finlay is shown ripping into youngsters backstage in awesome fashion about respect and proving that they have what it takes (which, impressively, actually manifests itself in the actions of those youngsters in several ways over the course of the show), before heading to the ring for his match with wild rising star Sami Callihan. The opening bell sees Callihan charge across the ring towards his opponent, only for Finlay to react with a straight forearm smash right to Sami's face. From that start, it doesn't let up and is all out war of the most intense kind. Finlay is perfect as the grizzly, hardened veteran and Callihan has never looked better. The action is hard and heavy, making for a wonderfully absorbing encounter. Definitely a match worth checking out.  The evening's opening match pits bland unknowns Eric Ryan and Bobby Beverly against each other. It looks like a horrific example of the worst of US independent wrestling, but is actually just a set-up for the EVOLVE debut of a ridiculously bloated Kevin Steen. Steen kills both guys, which is fun, rips on the EVOLVE rules and, basically, just builds his ROH storyline. A bit weird. Steen's disdain for EVOLVE's values produces a verbal confrontation with Bobby Fish, which then results in Steen breaking up Fish's match with Jon Davis in the opening moments. What all of this leads to is a surprise Steen vs. Fish vs. Davis unsanctioned 3-way bout. It's pretty good fun while it lasts, but isn't given enough time to become anything more than that. I get the impression they had plans to do more with Steen, but with this ending up being EVOLVE's last show of 2011, together with Steen being back full-time in ROH six months later, it didn't come to pass.  If anyone can be said to have grown and improved over the course of EVOLVE's run, that definitely applies to Tony Nese, who has been getting better with each showing and now has the audience genuinely interested in what he does. Here, he faces fellow Mikey Whipwreck product John Silver (who, disappointingly, is no pirate) in a match that takes time warming up, but ends up being a strong showing for both. To say I'd never heard of Silver before, I rather enjoyed this one.  The rest of the card is rather unimpressive. Silas Young against Chikara's Sugar Dunkerton is dull and uneventful, and a contest between former Bruderschaft des Kreuzes stablemates Pinkie Sanchez and Lince Dorado doesn't offer much of any substance either. EVOLVE's naff tag division doesn't get any better. Up In Smoke against Larry Dallas' new charges The Scene isn't entirely bad, but Jason Gory & Facade vs. Super Smash Bros has absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. A soulless collection of stupid moves, this is just plain bad.  In closing, this is just like so many other EVOLVE shows, with one fantastic bout, a few good ones, and a heck of a lot of shit. It's a DVD that comes recommended for the Finlay-Callihan cracker, with a couple of strong supporting efforts, if you can ignore the rubbish underneath.   Full show results: <-- click on 'spoiler' to show/hide the spoiler Bobby Beverly (0-0) vs. Eric Ryan (0-0) went to a 'no contest' when Kevin Steen ran in and destroyed both men  Super Smash Bros (Player Uno & Player Dos)(1-1) beat Jason Gory & Facade (0-2)  Silas Young (3-1) beat Sugar Dunkerton (0-1) with a delayed Arabian moonsault  Pinkie Sanchez (1-0) beat Lince Dorado (0-1) with a figure-four leg-lock  The Scene (Scott Reed & Caleb Konley) (1-0) beat Up In Smoke (Cheech & Cloudy) (4-1). Cheech turned on Cloudy afterwards  Bobby Fish (1-4) and Jon Davis (0-1) fought to a 'no contest' when Kevin Steen ran in  Unsanctioned 3-way: Jon Davis beat Bobby Fish{L, Blue Thunder powerbomb} and Kevin Steen  John Silver (1-0) beat Tony Nese (0-3)  Dave Finlay (1-0) beat Sami Caliihan (3-2) with a tombstone piledriver  Chuck Taylor (6-3) beat Johnny Gargano (6-3) with the Awful Waffle  [close spoiler] ");document.close(); Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Big Benny HG Posted March 30, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted March 30, 2012 So, 'Mania weekend is here and DGUSA are once again putting on 2 iPPV events over the next couple of days. Â I'll be ordering tonight's effort, which is the $1.99 (about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Eddie Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 The $1.99 deal for Low Ki Vrs PAC sounds a total bargain. Â I've never done the ippv thing so might give it a go tonight if I'm up (which I probably will be). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Dearly Devoted Dexter Posted March 30, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted March 30, 2012 Quick results from DG :USA "Heat" Â * Low Ki defeated Boby Fish via pin * Riccochet defeated Mike Cruz via pin * Samurai Del Sol defeated Masato Yoshino via pin * CIMA and Masaaki Mochizuki defeated Scott Reed and Caleb Konley via pin * Pac defeated AR Fox via pin * Elimination Tag Match: Mad Blankey (Akira Tozawa, BxB Hulk, and Uhaa Nation) defeated Ronin (Johnny Gargano, Chuck Taylor, and Rich Swann) and D.U.F. (Sami Callihan, Arik Cannon, and Pinkie Sanchez) Â CZW Matches * Danny havoc defeated Lucky tHURTeen via pin * DJ Hyde defeated Drake Younger via pin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members gadge Posted March 30, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted March 30, 2012 Damned iPPV technology probably means you'll all be able to see me posting thoughts on Twitter from the second row... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobystag Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Think I'm gonna take the punt with the iPPV tonight. At Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarloKid Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Think I'm gonna take the punt with the iPPV tonight. At Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobystag Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 1am as per Hat Guy's post above. I'd think the $2 also entitles you to the replays, but with them doing a show tomorrow, don't count on it being up that quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Big Benny HG Posted March 30, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted March 30, 2012 1am as per Hat Guy's post above. I'd think the $2 also entitles you to the replays, but with them doing a show tomorrow, don't count on it being up that quick. No, the $1.99 price tag only applies to the live showing. If you want the on-demand versions too, it's the full $14.99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members IANdrewDiceClay Posted March 30, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted March 30, 2012 How are Evolve and DGUSA doing as far as their alround perception at the minute? Are they doing well? Looking at the cards they put on and the wrestlers on them, you'd think they would be doing well. I dont think there can be many things in the US currently that look as appealing as Low Ki vs Pac. That sounds like a blinding match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members gadge Posted March 30, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted March 30, 2012 How are Evolve and DGUSA doing as far as their alround perception at the minute? Are they doing well? Looking at the cards they put on and the wrestlers on them, you'd think they would be doing well. I dont think there can be many things in the US currently that look as appealing as Low Ki vs Pac. That sounds like a blinding match. I'd say it'll be interesting to see which company draws better this weekend, DGUSA in Miami or ROH in Fort Lauderdale. Â Last year, ROH had the better, more central venue, and better shows. In the year since though, the product seems to have lost it's buzz completely. All DGUSA needs to do is draw the crowds now, because as you say, the likes of Pac vs Low Ki are fresher matches than anything ROH are doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobystag Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 1am as per Hat Guy's post above. I'd think the $2 also entitles you to the replays, but with them doing a show tomorrow, don't count on it being up that quick. No, the $1.99 price tag only applies to the live showing. If you want the on-demand versions too, it's the full $14.99. Â Yikes. Will watch it tonight and downlo-.......... Buy it on DVD later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spurs 4 life Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Is it on Gofightlive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members gadge Posted March 30, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted March 30, 2012 Is it on Gofightlive? No, WWNlive.com  Just read Fight Club Pro stars MK McKinnan and Trent seven are wrestling each other on the show, no idea if that's on the iPPV or Pre-show.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobystag Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Where was that? Would love to see MK get some massive exposure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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