EVOLVE 35 IPPV LIVE Coverage and Discussion - 14th Sep, 2014

EVOLVE 35 IPPV LIVE Coverage and Discussion - 14th Sep, 2014
Location: The Lyceum in Brooklyn, NY

EVOLVE released the following recap video of last night's EVOLVE 34 in Queens, NY:

EVOLVE 35:

Johnny Gargano vs Drew Gulak

Gulak grabbed a side headlock. Gargano worked to escape and tried to work over Gulak's arm,but Gulak escaped and they faced off. Gargano grabbed an arm and began working it over. Gulak attempted a reversal but failed, but a second reversal succeeded. They faced off again, feeling each other out. They went back and forth with some really nice matwork before shaking hands and showing respect for each other.

Gargano attempted a single leg takedown but Gulak reversed and slipped on a one-legged Crab. Gargano rolled through and was able to grab a side headlock. Gulak reversed and was sent into the ropes. Gargano rolled through but was caught with a sunset flip variation for a near fall.

The pair locked up again, attempting to work over each other's arms. Gulak grabbed an Octopus and turned that into a second sunset flip. Gargano rolled through and turned it into an Indian Death Lock submission. Gulak was able to position his body in a way that Gargano almost pinned himself. Gargano grabbed a series of leglock submissions, controlling Gulak on the mat.

Gulak regained control on the mat, working over Gargano's shoulder. He trapped Gargano on the mat and nailed several strikes to the back, then cinched in a chinlock. They went back and forth with several counters and faced off, then shook hands again.

Gargano and Gulak battled back and forth with several armdrags before Gulak caught him with a stiff dropkick and tied up Gargano on the mat. He applied an anklelock but Gargano rolled through only to be nailed with an uppercut. Gulak missed a charge in the corner but was nailed with a rolling enziguiri. The crowd chanted for Gargano as he stalked and worked over Gulak. The crowd began a dueling chant. Gargano nailed several knees to the face and hit a leaping knee strike to the face before locking in going after Gulak's fingers and wrist.

Gulak was worked over in the corner and nailed with a superplex by Gargano. They battled over a suplex. Gargano won but Gulak landed on his feet and used a reverse roll into a Dragon Sleeper for a submission attempt. Gargano made it to the ropes to break the hold. Gulak was sent into the buckles like a lawn dart for a two count.

They battled back and forth in the center. They go back and forth with several awesome counters. Gulak grabbed an anklelock and dragged him into the center of the ring. Gargano made it to the ropes. Gulak tried to lock it in again but was nailed with several stiff kicks to the face. They went back and forth in a small package with a series of near falls. They rolled around the ring with Gargano finally ending up on top and almost scoring the three.

Gargano went for an enziguiri but Gulak turned that into an ankle lock attempt. Gargano slipped out and tossed him to the floor, the nailed a nice dive to the floor. They battled back in the ring with Gulak grabbing the ankleklocl. Gargano used the ropes to try and escape but missed a kick and was locked in a Crossface. Gargano reversed it and turned it into a Regal Stretch. Gulak tapped.

Winner: Johnny Gargano

After the match:
The two shook hands after the bout. Gulak left and Gargano saluted the crowd.


Su Yung and Mr. A from the Premier Athlete Brand came out. Yung is quite the hottie. She warned Gargano not to get in their way or their would be consequences. He asked if she was going to give him herpes. She ordered Mr. A to attack him. He attempted burt was taken down. Tony Nese and Caleb Konley hit the ring but Gargano slipped out and escaped.

Nese and Konley berated A and sent him to the back before the rest of the Premier Athlete Brand went to the back as well, arguing with some of the fans.


Tracy Williams vs Timothy Thatcher

Nice pop for Thatcher when he came to the ring. Williams was billed from Brooklyn so the crowd obviously loved that. They locked up and Thatcher forced Williams in the corner. They went back and forth on the the mat with some really good wrestling. There was some really crisp matwork and reversals. If you enjoy submission wrestling, this will really be up your alley.

Williams caught him with a stiff headbutt in between the eyes, which only served to piss off Thatcher. In the end, Thatcher nailed a butterfly suplex and a Fujiwara armbar for the submission.

Winner: Timothy Thatcher


EVOLVE champion Drew Galloway vs Roderick Strong

The ring announcer accidentally said McIntyre, then corrected herself and said Galloway. She looked like she was beyond embarrassed.

Galloway wanted to put the belt up but the referee said that due to the rankings system, they could not do that. He said that if Strong beat Galloway, he would be in line for a shot. Strong said he would beat Galloway tonight, then beat him for the belt and Galloway would be as big of a failure here as he was in WWE, then attacked him....

They started strong with Strong and Galloway brawling all over the ringside area with stiff shots. Strong nailed a powerbomb onto the apron. He worked over Galloway in the corner, then nailed a big back suplex for a two count.

Strong grabbed a waistlock but Galloway eventually freed himself. He used a Judo throw but was caught with a leg lariat. Strong began arrogantly kicking at Galloway, who charged and nailed him with shots in the corner. He whipped Strong, who reversed and Galloway hit the buckles hard. Strong covered him for a two count.

Strong stretched Galloway on the mat and drilled him with a series of shots across the chest. Galloway battled back with hard shots but was caught with a forearm. Galloway nailed a leg lariat to rock Strong. Strong was caught and worked in the corner with a series of rights. Galloway nailed a tiltowhirl backbreaker for another two count.

Galloway came off the top with a flying clothesline for a two count. Strong nailed him with a big right hand but was nailed with one. Galloway caught him with a Sky High sitdown powerbomb for a two count. Galloway carried Strong, on his shoulders, to the ropes. Strong slipped off and nailed an enziguri. Strong attempted a superplex and nailed it.

Strong was the first to recover and nailed a series of strikes and an Olympic Slam for a two count. Strong picked him up on his shoulder but Galloway slipped out. Strong nailed him with a Gutbuster for a two count and caught him with a Boston Crab. Galloway made it to the ropes. Strong went for the Gibson Driver but Galloway shoved him off and nailed a big right. They traded blows but Strong nailed a leaping knee strike. He went for a move but was tossed into the buckles.

Galloway cut him off with a big lariat that looked awesome. He picked up Strong and went for a cradle tombstone, but Strong kicked up at the last second. McIntyre went for a Razor's Edge but Strong slipped out and nailed a series of knee strikes. Strong nailed the Gibson Driver for a two count. He nailed another but Galloway kicked out at the last second. This is really great stuff.

They continued the battle until Galloway finally scored the pin.

Winner: EVOLVE champion Drew Galloway


After the match:
Strong grabbed the title belt and nailed Galloway with the belt, laying him out.


Biff Busick vs Zack Sabre Jr

Some really nice wrestling early, as you'd imagine. They went into a test of strength with Sabre being forced backwards to the mat as he bridged his shoulders up. Busick cut him off with a headlock and grinded away at him on the mat. They returned to their feet and faced off. They continued some really awesome mat work and reversals. Sabre was far more cocky than I remember him being when he worked for CZW a few years ago. They continued all the back and forth until facing off.

Busick caught Sabre with a several big uppercuts that dazed him. Busick locked him in a figure four headscissors and locked him up on the mat, trying to wear him down. Sabre trapped him on the mat, then forced him hand and arm down in an awkward position before stomping it into the mat. He focused his attack on Busick's arm. He continued the attack, snapping the arm awkwardly into a bad position, teasing that he might have damaged it.

Sabre continued working over Busick's arms as the audience rallied him. Sabre continued to control and forced Busick to the mat. Busick tried to nailed a belly to back suplex but Sabre landed on his feet and grabbed a half nelson for a suplex. Sabre cut him off and nailed a series of uppercuts in the corner, then nailed a butterfly suplex. He nailed a Dragon suplex for a two count.

Sabre came off the top but was nailed with a mid-air European uppercut. Busick finally caught him with the half nelson suplex. Busick placed him on top for a belly to back superplex. They battled on top. Sabre went for a sunset flip powerbomb but Busick held on and nailed him. Sabre took his legs out and nailed a big kick for a two count.

Both men were down and trying to recover as the audience rallied them. Sabre locked in a Kimura while vicing Busick's body. Busick went to the mat, where Sabre tied up his arms. He went for the Backlund Bridge but was grabbed into a rear naked choke. They went back and forth with some nice counters for near falls.

Sabre nailed another Dragon suplex. Busick grabbed a rear naked choke. Sabre tried to fight it out but was choked out.

Winner: Biff Busick

After the match:
They showed Timothy Thatcher watching from the crowd. Biff Busick made it clear he wants to see Thatcher in a rematch soon.


DGUSA Open the United Gate champions The Bravados with Moose vs. Anthony Nese & Caleb Konley with Mr. A & Su Yung

AR Fox came out and said that he has the option for any title match he wants. He knows he's a top contender and can get to the DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate title anytime so he's declaring he wants a title shot for these belts right now. The Bravados told him he can have a title shot next time because not only does he not have a partner, he doesn't have a friend. Out came Rich Swann.

So, we have a three-way Elimination.

Fox and Swann attacked the Bravados as the bell rang. Konley and Nese got involved and everyone began brawling. Fox hit a big dive. Swann went for one as well but Moose caught him and powerbombed him on the floor into Fox, which was cool.

The Bravados tried to score several two counts and isolated Swann, beating him down. The battle went all over until The Bravados were eliminated, which means we are going to have new champions. The Bravados, shocked, attacked Swann as the Premier Brand worked over Nese.

The Athlete Brand told the Bravados to leave. Moose got in their face. Mr. A wiped out Moose. Nese began berating him anyway.

Nese covered Fox and scored a two count. Fox tried to fight them off and tagged in Swann. Swann went nuts with all his intense, highflying offense. He was cut off by Konley and nailed with a punch. Konley missed a charge in the corner but was kicked and nailed with a leaping rana off the top. Swann's charisma in playing to the camera has really grown.

Swann went for the handspring stunner but was caught and nailed with a one armed powerbomb in the corner. They went into an awesome series of hot moves and near falls. Su Yung got on the apron to distract Swann. He grabbed her but Nese caught him. Swann went for an enziguiri but Nese ducked and she was nailed and was out.

Swann nailed Nese and Fox caught Konley with a Spanish Fly off the top. Konley blocked it and nailed a death valley driver off the top onto the apron, which was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. Nese nailed a 450 splash off the top on Swann and scored the pin.

Winners and new DGUSA Tag Team champions: Caleb Konley and Tony Nese


Open The Freedom Gate champion Ricochet vs. Uhaa Nation

Ricochet was unable to use his speed and finesse to throw Nation off early. Nation cut him off and began suplexing him and throwing him around, but was only able to score a one count. Nation nailed a big gutwrench overhead suplex and locked in a rear chinlock.

Nation suplexed Ricochet again for a two count. He picked him up for an extended vertical suplex. Ricochet tried to escape but Nation's power was too much. Nation went for a move but Ricochet faked him out. Nation stopped on the apron and went for a moonsault but Ricochet moved. He hit the ring and nailed an awesome springboard shooting star press to the floor as the crowd chanted, "Holy sh**."

Ricochet tossed Nation back into the ring and drilled him with a kick. Nation seemed to be favoring his knee, which he once had surgery one. Ricochet drilled him and worked the knee over, using the ropes for leverage. Ricochet backed him into the corner and dropkicked the knee.

Ricochet nailed a springboard knee strike. They battled back and forth. Ricochet caught him with an Ace Crusher for a two count. He charged Nation and nailed a shooting star press for a two count. Ricochet tried to whip Nation out of the corner but he was too strong. Ricochet went for a move but was caught with an enziguiri for a two count. Nation went to the top and muscled him up for a superplex for another two count.

Nation went for a press slam but Ricochet slipped free. He nailed a series of kicks but missed an enziguiri. Nation went for a German suplex but Ricochet landed on his feet. Ricochet nailed a Northern Lights suplex and a big brainbuster. He went to the top for the shooting star press but Nation kicked up.

Ricochet went for a move but it was blocked. Nation missed a clothesline but caught Ricochet with a pair of powerbombs. He pressed and dropped Ricochet then nailed a standing moonsault but Ricochet caught him with a leg submission. Nation made it to the ropes.

Ricochet nailed him but was drilled with a right hand. They battled back and forth with strikes. Nation finally drills the champ with a right hand that sends him to the mat. Ricochet kicked him low in the knee and went for a move but was caught and drilled with a tombstone that looked brutal. Ricochet kicked out at the last second.

Nation went to the top for a big splash but missed. Ricochet nailed a spinning enziguiri. Ricochet went to go for the ropes but Nation cut him off. Ricochet drilled him with a kick to the head and sails with a 630 splash for the pin.

Winner and still DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate champion: Ricochet!

After the match:
Nation handed Ricochet the championship and raised his arm.

Ricochet took the mic and said that despite what you may read, he is here to stay for good. He asked everyone to give it up for Uhaa Nation (who had gone to the back). He said Nation has only been wrestling for four years and is one of the best in the world. He then said that Fox said he wants a title shot and he wants Fox but there's no way Fox is taking it from him either. He closed out by saying he is here to stay not just in EVOLVE and Dragon Gate Japan but Dragon Gate USA. He said he was the best in the world and he was here to stay.