Evolve 3: Rise or Fall

EVOLVE

evolvewrestling.com

$15.00

Reviewed by Joe Babinsack

Dateline: Rahway, New Jersey

EVOLVE is now a proven product, with three DVDs out, and more to come. While the focus of the promotion has shifted from being a vehicle for Bryan Danielson (yeah, that Daniel Bryan fellow from the WWE) to a vehicle for Davey Richards, and tantalizingly close to returning to Danielson as the focus, the more important aspect is the structure and the formatting of the cards.

Each of the first three, and it seems like each Evolve event to come, focuses on one big matchup between names or anticipated names on the indy scene. And while the undercard is filled with a varied degree of solid matchups, there does seem to be some sense of distancing from Ring of Honor booking mentality, although that’s an almost impossibility, given that Gabe Sapolsky pioneered the ROH patterns, and while there are changes to his patterns, it’s still a Sapolsky product.

Which means it is top notch in terms of quality, quantity and expectations.

But there are some flaws. While EVOLVE is based on records, there are two seemingly significant issues in statistics, and one comes to a head on EVOLVE 3, which I will discuss at the appropriate time. The other question I ask, is how should multiple man matches be scored? To me, the winner should get a win, and the loser should get a loss, and the other participants get nothing on their record.

Which would lead to some interesting dynamics, not the least of which would be disinterest by one of the wrestlers, but think of the potential of that…. The other interesting aspect would be having three guys team up to take down someone with a better record, but again, there would be competition to get that win. Dynamics. It’s all about Dynamics.

What I do love about EVOLVE is the format, the approach and the structure that is otherwise lacking in the modern product. The use of records can be important (although there is a weakness in not explaining about cuts, and also about introducing new guys against each other) but there needs to be a stronger logic behind it all. Dropping the qualifier match concept only makes it seem like it was a one-shot gimmick to give Chuck Taylor some heat. Heat’s not a bad thing, but a qualifier that introduces the reality that EVOLVE is an elite group would do far more good than bad.

One other thing that I am concerned about is the lack of one dimension in the matches, and that dimension is Time. Egalitarian approaches to wrestlers fighting each other is nice, but niceties don’t create stars, and being nice doesn’t make matches realistic.

For every MMA fight that boringly goes the distance, there are matches that go only one or two rounds, and sometimes domination occurs and a match is finished very quickly. About the only flaw I readily perceive in the booking is that lack of approach, although surprisingly it is present in the matches of one of the best Wrestlers in the world, Mercedes Martinez.

So enough overview, let’s hit the matches.

Sami Callihan takes on Adam Cole in a strong opener. I like Callihan’s approach, as long as he’s not out to gross-out the audience. He has that sort of Frankie Edgar energy, and that’s a good thing. Adam Cole is somewhat of a prototypical indy guy, but has solid experience, and is the kind of wrestler we’re beginning to expect to see on EVOLVE – guys out to make a name for themselves.

Johnny Gargano vs. Ricochet matches up two guys of note in the promotion. Gargano is turning out to be a solid heel. Ricochet is a great young high-flyer. Their match had more than a few awesome moments, but it was marred by the finish, even if the finish developed Gargano as a better heel.

Count-outs aren’t a bad thing, even if the crowd craps on it. But counting both guys out for a 20 count, and then proclaiming that the winner is the first man back in the ring, just doesn’t ring right for me. I’d rather see both guys counted out to establish it as a finish. Perhaps a draw doesn’t count for records. Perhaps a draw means both guys get an immediate rematch. But despite Gargano using it to cut a good promo, it felt weak. Turning a match into a race, after the count-out, just didn’t fit in with the sports-like mentality of the product.

Next up is the best booked World Champion in the World, Mercedes Martinez. It obviously helps that she’s also one of the best in the biz. Squashing Brittney Savage gives me a bit of a mixed feeling, as Savage is really good, but this is the way to create big stars, and Martinez is moving in that direction.

Her challenge of Amazing Kong was an announcement that resonated with chills. That’s the way a big match needs to be set, and having the Champion challenge someone we all know is worthy of the opportunity makes it more meaningful. My reaction: “I want to see that now!”

Not just because of what I know about Martinez and Kong, but because of how the buildup generated the expectations and the emotions. This is how MMA is killing wrestling – creating matchups that the fans want to see, by building up the competitors, using expectations and, well, by building up the match and not just throwing two names out there at the drop of a hat.

Next up we have a three-way Tag Match, with EVOLVE’s established teams Aeroform and Cheech and Cloudy, taking on newcomer TEAM BEYOND. Beyond Wrestling’s Zane Zilver & Chase Burnett are the newcomers. Aeroform is Flip Kendrick and Louis Lyndon. Cheech and Cloudy are … well, that’s all speculative. I know it’s hard to do a review without spilling the result of the match and researching the names involved, but seriously, it’s not really a review if all you’re doing is spoiling results.

Aeroform and Cheech/Cloudy are proven EVOLVE talents, and high-flyers at that. There were a few spots that were in slow-motion with TEAM BEYOND, but they followed that up with a series of purely creative moves and positioning that forced me to forgive those miscues.

This is more a spot-fest match than an Old School tag team match, but 3-ways aren’t Old School, so who’s complaining?

Next up is a surprisingly well fought match between Jon Moxley and Drake Younger. Surprising on a few levels, but not because of my disdain for either gentleman…. If I can call them such. Younger is a definitive hardcore/garbage style wrestler, but shows that he can work. Moxley has a certain deranged something that could lead him to higher levels, or could scare off the scouts.

New talent has to debut some way, and this was great, but I would have rather seen Younger debut and move up the card, instead of your typically indy booked feel. But it was a powerhouse type of match, with big moves and lots of give-and-take. It works for me, but again, I’m halfway through the card and I know the next four or five matches are going to have this same footprint.

Chris Hero vs. Bobby Fish

Fish is growing into a very likable wrestler, and the backstage vignettes with him are quite interesting. Chris Hero is one of the indy world’s blue-chippers, and is coming off a big battle with Ikuto Hidaka. Both these guys are veterans of Pro Wrestling NOAH, which of course is the heir to All Japan Wrestling of the 1990’s, which of course featured the stiffest pro wrestling around, short of garbage style.

Stiff is what Hero/Fish is all about.

I loved the match because it’s not the typical back-and-forth deal; while competitive, it was believable;  it was a presentation of guys at two different levels; and in the end, I had more appreciation for both.

To me, the finishing sequence was awesome pro wrestling.

A nice change in pace ensued, with a Four Way match between Gran Akuma, Brodie Lee, Chris Dickinson and Hallowicked.

It’s a fun Sesame Street inspired game, but let’s play “who doesn’t belong here?”

Well, they all do, because all four are solid workers, even though they have vastly different styles. But on one level, we’re dealing with three CHIKARA talents, and one talent more known from BEYOND WRESTLING. Then again, we’re dealing with one masked guy. Then again, we’re dealing with one rather tall guy (although Hallowicked is pretty tall.) And then again, we’ve got one bald guy, unless you hold to the theory of who Hallowicked really is.

But moving from frivolity to fundamentals, this is a CHIKARA style match, which is a great blending of styles, and spot-oriented inching up to the point of spot-fest, but not quite so bad that curmudgeonly complainers won’t want to watch it. And all four guys here deserve a strong look from fans.

TJP takes on Kyle O’Reilly in a really strong, really competitive match. I don’t have much of a problem with the way this played out, and I was surprised by the finish in some ways, but in the coming months, there needs to be real ramifications to wins and losses, not just announcing those records in the ring.

Both TJP (aka TJ Perkins) and Kyle O’Reilly are destined for greater things on the indy circuit. They can be the top names in the business in a few years, and this match really highlights why, as both show that sense of an evolved pro wrestling mentality, a combination of styles and especially working to the finish, which is heavily influenced by MMA.

Jimmy Jacobs is definitely a favorite of mine. Even in the Age of the Fall, I thought he was brilliant, even if that faction never got the momentum it deserved. Jacobs is the prototypical indy guy, just a little too small for the tastes of big man promoters, but vastly talented and super in the ring, with gimmicks and on the mic.

What’s entertaining about Jacobs is this ongoing situation with him, Johnny Gargano, Sean Davis and the unnamed tall guy in the white suit, whom my sources name as Larry Dallas.

There’s a very interesting storyline of the Sean Davis Faction (not to be confused, I would believe, with the Sean Davis Project, even though Sean Davis is one and the same in both groups.) Basically, Jacobs is portrayed as the serious wrestler, and Gargano and others are the crazy party guys, looking to party after the matches.

Go back and look at EVOLVE 2 for one of the most impressive portrayals of pro wrestling I’ve seen around, both in-ring, setup and aftermath…. and they’re continuing to build on that.

Brad Allen is a guy who reminds me a lot of BJ Whitmer, but isn’t quite as crazy, or is he. Allen’s storylines are prominent in EVOLVE, first that he’s fighting in memory of his Mother, and also in that he’s been challenging Chris Hero, and that’s a match that is building up nicely, despite the unpredictable nature of the path.

Jacobs as the veteran measuring stick is a great role for him. Big guy/little guy matches aren’t always the best, but EVOLVE knows how to put them on, and this doesn’t take much of a back seat to Hero/Hidaka.

Persistence does pay off.

Finally, the main event puts together everything that is great about EVOLVE, and makes me forget about the complaining.

Claudio Castagnoli is another blue chipper, and Chuck Taylor just put himself on the map.

In an era where making stars is fading fast as an ability in most promotions, EVOLVE shows how to do it, using the format, expectations and match quality, and then pumping it up. Who wins and who loses is important for the record book, and hopefully more important in the presentation down the road, but here, the win and loss comes after the awesome match.

Taylor and Castagnoli are no great strangers to each other, both coming from the CHIKARA promotion, and they sure can work well together.

I’ve not mentioned it, but another aspect of EVOLVE is the seconding, and here, Chris Hero returns the favor for Claudio, but this is professional seconding, not that crazy expectation of cheating. I loved the way Hero got involved – just talking, cheerleading and by doing so, emphasizing and enhancing the match, not distracting from it, not ruining it. (In fact, the earlier match where Hero was seconded by Castagnoli was awesome by the interplay… not the interference or physical nature, but the interplay that could only have worked with a second.)

Will Chuck Taylor be made by this match?

I’ll let you watch and find out, but I believe strongly that he was.

Joe Babinsack can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Beyond Wrestling coming up, plus much more, including a bio on Angel Orsini.