BRM Reviews Evolve 7: Aries vs. Moxley (awesome)

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Big Red Machine
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BRM Reviews Evolve 7: Aries vs. Moxley (awesome)

Post by Big Red Machine » Dec 1st, '20, 21:52

Evolve 7: Aries vs. Moxley (4/19/2011)- Manhattan, NY


JIMMY JACOBS(4-2) vs. SHIIMA XION(0-0)- 6.75/10
The nightclub era of EVOLVE has officially begun. We’ve got an extremely enthusiastic ring announcer, no usual opening video, and no Lenny Leonard on commentary (it’s Austin Aries and Rob Naylor, at least for the opener).
Xion, the future DJ Z, is just over two months away from getting his big break in TNA. Fun fact: That match almost didn’t happen because he went for a moonsault press off of a barricade here and almost landed on his head and died. It was TERRIFYING.
He had a very good showing against Jimmy for the time they were given, and even got the win via roll-up. This the fist of three “spoiler” matches, where a wrestler making his EVOLVE debut was matched up against one of the three men on top of the leaderboard at 4-2, which was our little theme for the night.

SHIIMA XION PROMO- decent
He yelled a little more than necessary, but otherwise he was good. It was perversely entertaining to hear him cut this promo telling us “I’ve cemented my spot in EVOLVE” and things like that, knowing that him signing with TNA meant that he wouldn’t be back in EVOLVE for almost six and a half years.

FRIGHTMARE & JIGSAW BUMP INTO AKIRA TOZAWA BACKSTAGE- bad
Tozawa and Frightmare started making weird noises at each other. This was goofball WWE stuff, and felt like it did not belong anywhere near EVOLVE based on what we had seen so far.

SILAS YOUNG(1-1) vs. TONY NESE(0-1)- 6/10
Another short match that was great for the time it got.

POST-MATCH SEGMENT- meh
Larry Dallas and Reby Sky were shown watching from their table and said that Silas would never get his hands on Johnny Gargano. Silas cut a promo on Gargano and threatened Larry.

AUSTIN ARIES PUTS HIS BOOTS ON BACKSTAGE- This was kind of a weird spot to show us this in, considering that at this point in the DVD, Aries is currently in the commentary booth. It’s also the only really “documentary” shot we’ve gotten so far, aside from a short scene of Moxley arriving at the arena. Of course, this was short, too. And silent. It was kind of weird.

JOHNNY GARGANO(4-2) vs. JON DAVIS(0-0)- 7/10
This was the second “spoiler” match. Early on during this match we were told that we absolutely would have a lone Wins Leader by the end of the night because if there was still a tie at the top, there would be a “sudden death match” between the tied wrestlers to determine a winner.
This was the first match tonight to get real time. They told a power vs. speed and technique story, with Gargano’s back getting worked over. Gargano got the clean win to become the sole Wins Leader, at least for the moment. And speaking of Gargano being the sole Wins Leader, that was a key point in the…

POST-MATCH SEGMENT- good
Gargano cuts a promo about being the Wins Leader. Larry Dallas says that he wants Gargano and Taylor to both be the Wins Leader so he can double his investment. Chuck Taylor came out, and he didn’t like the idea of sharing any more than Gargano did, no matter what Larry or Reby said. Gargano challenged Taylor to a match, and Taylor seemed to accept.

JASON GORY & FAÇADE vs. CHIKARA SEKIGUN(Frightmare & Jigsaw)(2-0)- 6.5/10
At this point Jimmy Jacobs replaced Austin Aries on commentary. And in Lacey’s heart, dammit!
This was a perfectly fine action match. There’s nothing really wrong with that, but this match was definitely the most EVOLVE has felt like a generic indy so far (and Rob Naylor’s commentary exacerbated that feeling tenfold).
CHIKARA Sekigun won and cut a post-match promo challenging anyone in the world to come face them.

JON MOXLEY PACES AROUND AND GETS READY FOR THE MAIN EVENT- A fine contrast from the calm and collected Austin Aries.

SAMI CALLIHAN(2-1) vs. ZACK SABRE JR.(0-0)- 8.75/10
So are count-outs just not a thing anymore in EVOLVE?
Other than that one issue, this was TREMENDOUS! I was in total disbelief when I saw that this didn’t even go twelve minutes. This match was the mix of limb-work, technical wrestling, and hard strikes that would exemplify the EVOLVE style a few years later.

JON DAVIS INTERVIEW- good
He gives a total babyface interview, talking about how the fans accepted him with their cheers during his match earlier and apologizing for letting them down. He vowed that he would not let them down again.

A.R. FOX(1-0) vs. RICH SWANN(0-1)- 7.5/10
This was a sprint of highspots, but these guys absolutely blew the crowd away with their athleticism.

SHIIMA XION WANTS JASON GORY & FAÇADE TO COME TO A GENTLEMEN’S CLUB WITH HIM- meh
Shiima was very arrogant about his win and was a little mean to Gory and Façade. They didn’t want to go, but he acted like they would show up anyway. After Xion left, Façade and Gory had a conversation which I couldn’t hear because they were speaking far too softly for the microphone to pick it up.

AKIRA TOZAWA(0-0) vs. CHUCK TAYLOR(4-2)- 8/10
I had totally forgotten about Tozawa’s little American excursion around this time where he just went nuts and had awesome matches everywhere he went.

POST-MATCH SEGMENT- fine
Chuck Taylor’s victory means that he and Gargano are now tied for the lead in wins, and thus are going to have a tiebreaker match later tonight. Larry Dallas, who manages both guys, doesn’t like this. He says that Chuck’s neck is hurt so it’s not fair to have the match tonight. Chuck says he doesn’t want to share the Wins Leader spot, and he doesn’t want to wait, either so we got…

CHUCK TAYLOR(5-2) vs. JOHNNY GARGANO (5-2)- no rating, GREAT segment
First of all HUGE props to EVOLVE for not listing this on the back of the DVD and spoiling things. This was a short match, with both guys selling their fatigue. Gargano managed to lock in the Gargano escape, at which point Larry Dallas gave Reby Sky a towel to throw in, ending the match. As you might imagine, Chuck Taylor was NOT happy about this. Reby wasn’t happy, either, as Larry had told her to throw the towel in, and then tried to tell Chuck that she did it of her own accord. Taylor stormed out, and Reby followed him.
The fan chanted “YOU SCREWED CHUCK!” so Gargano gave us the obligatory “no, Chuck screwed Chuck” line, even though it made no sense here. He then cut a good bragging heel promo.

ZACK SABRE JR. & SAMI CALLIHAN SHOW MUTUAL RESPECT BACKSTAGE- very good, and very human

AUSTIN ARIES(1-0) vs. JON MOXLEY(1-1)- 7.25/10
Both guys worked the head, and there was also a little story with Moxley trying to use Aries’ moves against him. I could have done without the long “will Moxley go hardcore and get himself DQed for no reason” spot.

POST-MATCH SEGMENT- great
This was Moxley’s last indy match, so Aries let Moxley cut a promo even though Moxley lost. Some babyface came out to celebrate with Moxley while he gave his goodbye speech.

THE SCENE ARGUE IN A HALLWAY- good
Chuck is still with them, as is Reby, but they’re all arguing. Gargano bumped into Silas Young, who looked at him threateningly, so Gargano left with his pals.


This was an awesome show from EVOLVE. The booking was good and the wrestling was consistently great all up and down the card. The announcing was not what it could have been, but I’m sure Lenny Leonard will be back next show. EVOLVE is really kicking at this point.


BONUS MATCH:
SINGLES MATCH FOR THE VACANT FIP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: Roderick Strong vs. Jon Moxley (from FIP Southern Stampede 2010)- 7/10
This was very good technical match, but having the dirty finish of the Erick Stevens distraction is absolutely not how I would crown a new champion.
Hold #712: ARM BAR!

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FIP in 2005
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DGUSA Open the Ultimate Gate 2013
ROH/CMLL Global Wars Espectacular: Day 3

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