Mr Shh
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|  #1 Posted on 9.5.16 1502.09
Reposted on: 9.5.23 1502.57 | After this year’s ECWA Super 8, the next stop on my little indy wrestling tour was EVOLVE 61 near my old home in Woodside, Queens, NY at La Boom nightclub. This was my first real exposure to EVOLVE and, except for Drew Galloway, my first real exposure to any of the wrestlers on the card. I had come to learn about Zack Sabre Jr through short clips here and there, and he was the main reason I went. The next biggest reason was for the WWE Cruiserweight Classic qualifiers. I knew very little about existing storylines going on in...I was there for the wrestling. I snagged a GA ticket, and secured a sixth row seat on the hard camera side (first time ever sitting on the hard camera side at a wrestling show). I would estimate the crowd to be around 500, but I might be short-changing them a bit. The quickest and dirtiest of quick and dirty results below (additional details can be found elsewhere since it was televised).
Results
Matt Riddle d. Lio Rush
The Bravado Brothers d. Ethan Page and Chris Dickinson
TJP d. Fred Yehi to qualify for the Cruiserweight Classic
Drew Gulak d. “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams to qualify for the Cruiserweight Classic
Marty Scurll d. Zack Sabre Jr
Johnny Gargano d. Drew Galloway by DQ when EC3 interfered and attacked Gargano
This was originally set to be a seven-match card, but an injury to one of the Bravado Brothers’ original opponents caused some re-shuffling. Page and Dickinson were originally set to face each other, but ended up together as tag partners, shortening the card to six matches.
Now, with six matches, and the show-closing promo/angle (which ran about 20 minutes), the whole show clocked in at around two and a half hours. I don’t know if this is the norm for EVOLVE, but this seemed pretty short. And Riddle vs. Rush was criminally short, lasting only about five minutes. It was an excellent five minutes, though. So, if I can complain about anything, it’s the clock management, but I can’t complain because I only spent 20 bucks and got more than my money’s worth.
Smarky crowd was hot throughout, and was pretty evenly split during both CC qualifiers, which were incredible. I’ll point out here that hanging directly above the two corners on the hard camera side were these small light fixtures. And they were hanging low. And most every top rope move was done from one of these two corners, including TJP’s match-ending 450 splash. I’m shocked nobody hit those lights. Anyway, I really liked all four of these guys, particularly Gulak and Williams.
Crowd was surprisingly (to me) split about 60-40 in favor of Scurll over Sabre. This was also incredible and I am now a huge Scurll fan. Super look and the Villain persona owns. Side question: for those who saw it and know Scurll, how does he do the finger-breaking sound effect? Made me jump out of my seat. I can’t wait to see more of these guys in the (hopefully) near future.
The main event was also very, very good. If you watched and don’t know what caused that seemingly spontaneous “Fuck that guy!” chant from the crowd, it was in response to one guy who shouted “Same old shit!” in regards to Gargano’s offense.
Show-closing angle was neat, I guess – EC3 and Galloway teaming up as “TNA invaders” without actually saying they’re from TNA. While I was standing in line waiting to get in, Carter walked right past me with his bags to enter the building. But at the time, I didn’t recognize him. Anyway,EC3’s promo was a little too smarky for my tastes, but that’s just me. The loudest reaction from the crowd was when Gargano called Carter Derrick Bateman, and frankly, I’m shocked the crowd didn’t do that chant from the get-go.
Pretty awesome show for wrestling. I wouldn’t say the storylines hooked me enough to keep up with the promotion going forward, but we’ll see. EVOLVE comes back to Queens in July. Might go check them out again.
| Promote this thread! |             | kellogs
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|  #2 Posted on 9.5.16 1623.17
Reposted on: 9.5.23 1629.02 | | Marty Scurll is fantastic and becoming better every week. He is well worth watching if you haven't seen much of him. Ever since the TNA British Bootcamp he has really improved and is finally being recognized. | | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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