Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
To order the iPPVs, click the graphic below:
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s live coverage of Evolve 26 from the Downtown Rec Center in Orlando, Florida.
Match Number One: Shine Showcase Match: Su Yung (with Anthony Nese) versus Mia Yim
Su attacks Mia from behind after the bell rings and Mia trips Su and connects with a running knee to the head and Su goes to the floor. Mia teases a dive to the floor but stops in the ropes. Mia hits Su from behind on the floor and then she Irish whips Su into the guardrails. Nese distracts Mia and that allows Su to hit a senton off the apron onto Mia.
Su sends Mia back into the ring and Su with a rocking horse on Mia. Su gets a near fall. Su with an Irish whip and she puts Mia in the tree of woe. Su with kicks to the back and then she tries for a hesitation drop kick but Mia gets a foot out of the turnbuckles. Su blocks the kick and then hyper-extends the leg and gets a near fall.
Su with kicks to the leg and Mia blocks a kick and Mia hits a running sit out power bomb for a near fall. Su with a forearm and Mia with a forearm of her own. They go back and forth. Mia with a back fist and a German suplex for a near fall. Mia goes for a package piledriver but Su blocks it. Mia with a piledriver for a near fall.
Su with a Michinoku Driver. Su goes for another one but Mia counters with a crucifix for the three count.
Winner: Mia Yim
After the match, Nese says something to Mia. Su hits Mia from behind.
Match Number Two: Special Challenge Match: Caleb Konley versus Lince Dorado
Konley with an arm drag. Dorado goes for the legs but Konley moves out of the way.
Trina Michaels makes her way to ringside. Dorado with a rollup. Konley blocks a kick and tries for an O’Connor Roll but Dorado holds on to the ropes. Dorado with a head scissors that sends Konley to the floor. Dorado teases a dive to the floor. Konley with a springboard drop kick and then he goes for a dive but Dorado with a kick.
Dorado with a plancha onto Konley. Dorado goes up top and hits a cross body. Dorado with a chop and a leg lariat. Dorado with a chop. Dorado with an elbow when Konley charges into the corner. Dorado goes up top and Konley knocks Lince off the turnbuckles. Konley with a leg drop to the leg. Dorado with a kick and then Konley pushes Dorado across the ring and gets a near fall.
Konley with a kick for a near fall and then he applies a body scissors. Lince leans back and gets a near fall. Konley with a kick to the back for a near fall. Konley with a cravate but Lince with punches. Konley with a leg sweep and a back senton. Konley works on the arm but Dorado gets to the ropes. Konley with a baseball slide to Dorado and he gets a near fall.
Konley with a front face lock. Dorado with elbows but Konley with a uranage. Konley goes for a springboard move but Dorado counters with a drop kick. Konley with a chop and Dorado chops back. Dorado with kicks and he gains an advantage. Dorado blocks a back fist and Dorado with slaps. Konley blocks a handspring back elbow. Dorado with an enzuigiri and a reverse rana for a near fall.
Dorado with a boot to the chest and he goes up top but Konley moves on a double stomp. Konley with a chop . Konley with an uppercut. Konley with a suicide dive onto Dorado. Konley sees Michaels at ringside and he sends Dorado back into the ring and he goes up top. Dorado with a palm thrust. Dorado with a super rana but Konley rolls through and gets a near fall. Konley with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
Konley with a double sledge to the back. Dorado avoids a neck breaker and he hits a tornado DDT. Dorado with a sunset flip for the three count.
Winner: Lince Dorado
Match Number Three: Special Attraction Match: Chuck Taylor versus Maxwell Chicago
Maxwell says that he now knows five moves so he can stick with Chuck. Maxwell says that this is a big deal and he asks Chuck if he can hit his finisher. Maxwell tells Chuck to lean down and he puts his arm around Chuck’s head and he applies a side head lock. Chuck appears to be going out and Maxwell wants the referee to check his hand. The arm goes down twice but he keeps it up the third time.
Taylor with a shoulder tackle. Taylor runs the ropes and goes over Maxwell who is turtled on the mat. Taylor gets exhausted and he has to stop and rest against the ropes. Maxwell mentions that he has Chuck on the ropes. Taylor with a kick to the midsection. He says that he is going to hip toss Maxwell but he blocks it. Maxwell says that he is going to hip toss Chuck. They go back and forth and eventually they dance and Chuck dips Maxwell.
Maxwell with a rollup for a near fall. Taylor with a kick and then he goes to the floor when Maxwell ducks. Maxwell goes up top while Chuck watches him and worries that Maxwell is going to fall. Maxwell decides to go to the apron and he mentions that AR Fox told him to do something on the apron. Maxwell decides to roll Chuck back into the ring.
Maxwell with a cover but Taylor counters and gets a near fall. Maxwell with a drop kick to the knee. Maxwell does the Flair strut and sets up for the Figure Four and he has some trouble applying it. Eventually he locks it in but Chuck reverses immediately. Maxwell gets to the ropes.
Chuck tries for a suplex but Maxwell lands on his feet. Taylor with Sole Food but Maxwell with a neck breaker for a near fall. Maxwell says that he is going for the high risk maneuver. Taylor crotches Maxwell. Chuck tells Maxwell that he loves him and that he is sorry as he hits the Awful Waffle for the three count.
Winner: Chuck Taylor
After the match, Rich Swann comes out and tells everyone to give it up for Maxwell Chicago and Chuck Taylor. Swann says that he knows that they have had their problems in the past but that is behind them. They were the first American stars to go to Japan in DGUSA. They tore it up in Evolve and Dragon Gate and everyone knew what Ronin was about. Swann says that they can stick it to Gargano and prove that they were the backbone of Ronin. Does Chuck want to prove that they are the best. Why not do something magical and for one more night, they can tear it up against the Bucks.
Chuck says that Swann has it. One more night.
Swann hugs Chuck before they leave the ring.
Match Number Four: Open the United Gate Title Match: Bravado Brothers versus Dos Ben Dejos
Rios and Harlem start things off and Lance tries to sneak attack Rios but Rios sees it and Harlem kicks Rios and then Lance joins in the double team. Harlem kicks Cruz off the apron. Lance tags in and he kicks Rios. Lance with a forearm. Harlem tags back in and Rios with a kick to Harlem and an arm drag to Lance. Rios and Cruz with a series of kicks to Lance. Rios with a reverse atomic drop to Harlem and then Cruz with a kick while Rios holds Harlem for a near fall.
Cruz tags in and connects with boots to the arm. Cruz with a head scissors to Harlem and then Lance with a knee to stop Cruz on a dive to the floor. Harlem sends Cruz into the guardrails. Lance sends Cruz back into the ring and Harlem gets a near fall. Harlem with a forearm to the back. Harlem with a belly to back suplex for a near fall. Lance tags back in and he kicks Cruz.
Lance sends Cruz into the turnbuckles and Harlem is tagged back in. Harlem with a kick in the corner. Cruz with a back slide for a near fall. Harlem with a lariat and kick. Lance tags back in and he connects with forearms to Cruz and then he knocks Rios off the apron. Lance chokes Cruz while taunting the fans. Lance with an arm bar. Cruz with a rollup for a near fall. Harlem tags in and he gets a near fall.
Harlem stomps on the hand. Lance makes the phantom tag and then he slingshots Cruz’ throat into the bottom rope and he gets a near fall. Lance with a reverse chin lock. Cruz with a jawbreaker but he knocks Rios off the apron. Lance tries for a German suplex but Cruz with a counter and near fall with an O’Connor Roll. Lance with an elbow and then Harlem tags in but Cruz kicks Lance into Harlem.
Cruz with a boot to Harlem and he leaps over Harlem and tags in Rios who hits a head scissors. Rios with a Yakuza kick but Harlem with a forearm. Rios with a drop kick for a near fall. Rios lands on his feet but Rios has trouble with a springboard move and Harlem sends Rios to the mat. Lance tags in and he sends Rios into the turnbuckles with a drop toe hold. Lance with a knee and baseball slide into the corner for a near fall. Lance with clotheslines front and back of the neck.and then he hits a lariat and gets a near fall.
Rios with chops to Lance but Lance with a power slam for a near fall. Lance is sent into the turnbuckles and Cruz tags in and he hits a cross body and he snap mares Lance. Cruz goes up top and hits a missile drop kick for a near fall. Cruz with a drop kick to the knees followed by a double stomp to the back for a near fall. Harlem tags in and Cruz with a knee.
Harlem with a bicycle kick to Cruz. Cruz sends Harlem to the apron but Lance with a clothesline and Harlem with a slingshot stunner and Lance with a power slam but Rios breaks up the cover. Rios sends Lance to the floor and he punches and kicks Harlem.
Harlem is Irish whipped and Harlem with a forearm to Rios and an Exploder to Cruz onto Rios. Harlem with a power bomb for a near fall. Lance tags in and he goes to the floor. Cruz with a rana to Harlem. Rios goes to the apron and he holds the ropes open for Cruz to hit a suicide dive onto the Bravados and then Rios with an Asai Moonsault.
Rios and Cruz go up top and Rios with knees to Lance followed by a frog splash from Cruz for a near fall. Cruz with an Asai DDT followed by a springboard 450 by Rios for a near fall that is broken up by Harlem. Cruz and Rios with punches, kicks, and super kicks to Lance. Lance sends Rios to the floor. Lance with a clothesline to Cruz and then he presses Cruz onto Rios on the floor. Lance with a power bomb to Cruz and he picks him up for a second one. He hits a buckle bomb enzuigiri combination on Cruz and then they hit the Gentleman’s Agreement for the three count.
Winners: Harlem Bravado and Lance Bravado
It is time for an intermission.
Match Number Five: > Ricochet versus Trent Baretta
Ricochet mocks the fans and then he tries to get them to chant for Trent. They lock up and Ricochet with a clean break despite teasing a chop. They lock up again and Trent backs Ricochet into the corner and Trent with a chop and forearm. Trent with a chop but Ricochet chops back. Trent with a chop. Ricochet with a rollup for a near fall. Ricochet with a head scissors and arm bar.
Trent runs Ricochet into the ropes and then Trent with a boot. Trent with a side head lock take down but Ricochet with a near fall. Trent with a shoulder tackle but Ricochet kips up. Ricochet with a head scissors and then he teases a dive to the floor. Trent gets back into the ring and Ricochet with kicks to the leg.
Ricochet with a chop and snap mare followed by a kick to the back. Ricochet gets a near fall. Ricochet with a European uppercut. Ricochet with a elbow and cross body. Trent drops Ricochet on the top rope. Trent with a knee drop. Trent with an elbow. Trent with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall.
Trent with a boot to the head. Trent with a slam and then he goes to the apron and he slingshots back into the ring to run his boot across Ricochet’s face after a lot of flourish on the apron. Trent with a forearm but Ricochet with an uppercut. Ricochet with a facebuster and an enzuigiri and both men are down. Ricochet with a running uppercut and a shoulder into the corner. Ricochet with a springboard cross body for a near fall.
Ricochet tries for a Regalplex but Trent blocks it. Trent with a boot and then he hits a double stomp to a charging Ricochet in the corner. Ricochet avoids the running knee and he kicks Trent. Trent with a power bomb for a near fall. Trent tries for a tornado DDT and Ricochet sends Trent to the floor. Ricochet with a handspring into a plancha onto Trent on the floor.
Ricochet rolls Trent back into the ring and he hits a springboard cross body for a near fall. Ricochet with kicks to the ribs and then he kicks Trent in the temple but Trent with an enzuigiri. Trent with a German suplex but Ricochet lands on his feet and he hits a cradle belly-to-back suplex and bridge for a near fall.
They go to the apron and exchange forearms and chops. Ricochet tries for a Death Valley Driver on the apron but Trent counters with a half nelson suplex onto the apron. The referee gets to 19 and Ricochet gets back into the ring and Trent goes up top for a double stomp to the back for a near fall.
Trent kicks Ricochet in the back of the head and he taunts him before slapping Ricochet in the face. Ricochet slaps him back. Trent with a forearm and they go back and forth. Ricochet with kicks but Trent with a discus forearm. Trent with a knee in the corner but Ricochet with a drop kick into the corner. Ricochet goes up top and tries for a shooting star press but Ricochet lands on his feet when Trent moves.
Trent with a flying boot that flips Ricochet for a near fall. Ricochet with an enzuigiri and two rolling suplexes for a near fall. Ricochet puts Trent on the turnbuckles and Trent with head butts to send Ricochet to the mat but Ricochet pops up again and he hits a super rana followed by a shooting star press for a near fall.
Ricochet pulls Trent into the corner but Trent stops Ricochet. Ricochet with a round kick to the head. Ricochet hits the 630 splash for the three count.
Winner: Ricochet
After the match, Ricochet gets on the mic. He mentions that he beat Chris Hero last night. Tonight, he beat Trent. He says that he has been on a roll. Whoever has the Open the Freedom Gate Title, whether it be Uhaa Nation, Roderick Strong, or Johnny Gargano, they are only holding it for him and he will see whoever the champion is in New Orleans.
Match Number Six: Evolve Champion AR Fox and Uhaa Nation versus Open the Freedom Gate Champion Johnny Gargano and Jon Davis.
Fox and Gargano go for kicks but they block it and hop off. Gargano kicks Fox and then he hits Uhaa on the apron. Fox with a drop kick. Fox with a pescado onto Gargano on the floor.
Gargano and Fox start things off in a battle of the champions in this match. Gargano with a wrist lock but Fox with a reversal into a side head lock. Gargano with a kick to Fox but Fox with a Japanese arm drag. Fox puts Gargano on the turnbuckles but Gargano kicks Fox away. Gargano avoids Lo Mein Pain and Gargano with a sunset flip.
Uhaa tags in and he hits a shoulder tackle. Uhaa misses a splash in the corner and Gargano with chops that don’t really affect Uhaa. Davis with a knee to the back from the apron and Uhaa knocks Davis off the apron. Gargano rolls through and kicks Uhaa. Davis with a German suplex and he returns to the apron. Gargano knocks Fox off the apron.
Davis tags in and he punches Uhaa. Davis with forearms to the back. Davis with a series of slams to work on Uhaa’s back and he tags Gargano back into the match. Gargano runs the ropes and then he tags Davis back in. Uhaa with a forearm and he tries to get Davis up but he is unsuccessful. Uha with a kick but Davis with a spinebuster for a near fall.
Davis with a forearm but Uhaa with a Samoan drop. Gargano and Fox tags in and Fox with a kick from the apron and then Fox with a senton onto Davis. Fox kicks Davis and then hits springboard drop kick to Gargano followed by a springboard senton onto Davis on the floor. Fox with a springboard splash for a near fall.
Fox with a baseball slide to Davis. Gargano pushes Fox to the apron. Gargano sends Fox to Davis for a uranage on the apron. The referee starts his count. Fox gets back into the ring at 19. Gargano with a suplex for a near fall. Davis tags in and he chops Fox. Davis with a delayed vertical suplex and he tags Gargano in and he hits a drop kick for a near fall.
Gargano with a snap mare and then he says that everyone’s hero will break AR Fox’s fingers for you. Gargano sends Fox to the floor and then Gargano has the referee deal with him and Uhaa while Davis hot shots Fox onto the guardrails. Gargano rolls Fox back into the ring and gets a near fall.
Gargano with more near falls on Fox. Gargano kicks Fox and sends him to the ropes again. Gargano chokes Fox in the ropes. Davis tags in and he connects with a forearm. Davis presses Fox over his head but Fox tries for a sunset flip but Davis picks him up and hits an overhead suplex. Davis gets a near fall. Gargano tags in and he gets a near fall after a slam.
Gargano with an elbow to the head and he sends Fox over the top rope but Fox lands on the apron. Fox with a double jump springboard cutter for a near fall. Davis and Uhaa tag in and they exchange forearms and punches. Davis with a knee but Uhaa with a forearm. Davis with an elbow. Uhaa with forearm. Uhaa with a Death Valley Driver followed by a running drop kick that sends Davis into the turnbuckles. Uhaa with a Stinger Splash and flying clothesline.
Davis misses a boot and Uhaa with a German suplex for a near fall. Fox with a leg drop to Davis over the apron. Gargano with a suicide dive onto Fox. Uhaa with a drop kick to Gargano followed by a moonsault off the apron onto everyone. Uhaa and Gargano return to the ring and Johnny begs for mercy. Uhaa with punches followed by an Irish whip but Davis with a POUNCE. Fox with a wheelbarrow into a stunner.
Gargano with a slingshot DDT for a near fall to Fox for a near fall. Fox with elbows to Gargano. After avoiding clotheslines and elbows Fox with a clothesline. Gargano with a super kick to Fox and Uhaa with a clothesline to Gargano. Gargano with a super kick to Uhaa and Uhaa with a clothesline to Davis. Fox with a springboard codebreaker.
Uhaa gets Davis on his shoulders and Gargano tries for a cross body but Uhaa catches Gargano and he hits a Fallaway slam on both men. Uhaa puts Davis on the turnbuckles. Gargano pulls Uhaa to the floor and Davis with a flying clothesline when Fox sets for Lo Mein Pain but Uhaa breaks up the cover. Davis gets Fox up for Three Seconds Around the World but Fox counters. Gargano with a super kick to Davis when Fox moves. Fox with an enzuigiri to Gargano. Fox with a clothesline in the corner. Fox with a clothesline into the corner followed by a hesitation drop kick but Davis with a German suplex. Uhaa with a frog splash to break up the cover and he gets a near fall.
Uhaa presses Davis over his head but Davis gets to his feet. Gargano tries for a super kick but Uhaa moves and Davis blocks it. Davis punches Uhaa. Davis catches Fox and then Gargano with You’re Dead. Davis with Three Seconds Around the World but Uhaa sends Gargano into Davis to break up the cover.
Davis with a facebuster but Uhaa with a pop up power bomb. Uhaa with a boot to Gargano in the corner. Uhaa runs into a boot but Fox hits Lo Mein Pain. Uhaa drops Davis behind him and then Fox with a 450 splash followed by a moonsault and a shooting star press for the three count.
Winners: AR Fox and Uhaa Nation
After the match, Gargano yells at Davis and he tells him that he had one job to do and he failed. Gargano leaves the ring before Jon can do anything.
Before the match, Chris Hero has a message for Trent Baretta. Last night, Trent ridiculed him for losing to Ricochet and he points out what happened to Trent tonight. He says that it isn’t easy to beat Ricochet.
Trent comes to ringside to watch the match.
Match Number Seven: Hero Runs the Gauntlet Match Number 2: Chris Hero versus Anthony Nese (with Su Yung)
Chris corrects the fans who claim that Hero is going to kill Nese and they change their chant.
Hero offers his hand to Nese but Nese refuses. Nese with a wrist lock into a hammer lock. Hero with a reversal and snap mare into a rollup for a near fall. Nese with a reversal but Hero with a wrist lock. Nese with a reversal and rollup. Hero with a rollup for a near fall. Hero with an arm bar. Nese with an arm bar.
Nese stretches Hero. Hero gets a near fall with a rollup. Hero with a cravate. Hero with a body scissors. Hero with a body scissors and Nese tries to lean back to get a near fall. Nese with a head lock take down. Nese with a side head lock. Hero with a shoulder tackle and then Nese goes to the floor.
Hero goes to the floor but Nese returns to the ring. Nese goes to the apron and then Hero goes for a boot but he almost hits Su. Nese with a kick and they return to the ring and Nese gets a near fall. Nese chokes Hero and the referee warns him. Nese gets a near fall. Nese with a drop kick into the corner and Hero falls to the apron. Hero with a boot to Nese from the apron. Hero tries for a sunset flip but Nese holds the ropes and Nese kicks Hero. Nese with a springboard moonsault for a near fall.
Nese with punches to Hero. Nese with a rear chin lock. Nese with a slam and then he picks up Hero for a German suplex but Hero with elbows. Hero with a boot to Nese but Nese with a rolling European uppercut. Nese with a super rana for a near fall. Hero with a series of chops to Nese. Hero tries for a slam but Nese gets to his feet. Hero holds on to the ropes on an O’Connor Roll attempt and Hero with a boot to the head. Hero with a swinging neck breaker.
Hero with an elbow for a near fall. Hero with a slam but he goes up top and misses a moonsault. Nese with a dead lift German suplex for a near fall. Hero with a flying boot to Nese followed by a suplex for a near fall. Hero misses the roaring elbow and Nese with a running knee and he gets a near fall.
Nese picks up Hero but Hero gets back to his feet. Hero misses an elbow and Nese with a knee. Hero has a kick blocked and Nese with a rollup for a near fall. Hero with a double leg take down into a sunset flip for a near fall. Nese with a rollup and then he hits a one arm buckle bomb. Nese with a package Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Nese goes up top. Nese goes for the 450 but Hero with a cravate power bomb for a near fall.
Hero runs into an elbow but Hero with a roaring elbow in the corner. Hero with a roaring elbow to the back of the head for a near fall. Nese with a back heel kick followed by an enzuigiri and a German suplex. Hero with a boot and running boot for a near fall. Hero with a cravate stretch and Nese taps out.
Winner: Chris Hero
After the match, Trent comes into the ring and he tells Hero that he still thinks he is the guy. He is not that guy any more. While Chris was wasting his time in NXT learning from Bill DeMott, he has been tearing up all over for the last year. In Japan . . .
Chris tells Trent that everyone knows that he is good. He wants cry baby Trent to go away. Chris says that if Trent wants to get sad about not being mentioned last night. Chris points out that he won tonight while Trent lost.
Match Number Eight: Rich Swann and Chuck Taylor versus The Young Bucks
Nick and Swann start things off and Nick with a kick but Swann with a drop kick. Swann with a rana to Matt and then he hits a flip dive. Taylor kicks Nick and then Taylor with a suplex and he kips up. Taylor with a series of clothesline to Nick. Swann and Taylor with a double back elbow to Matt and then they send Nick into his brother’s groin. Swann and Taylor with a fist drop and elbow drop to the Jacksons.
Nick with a kick but Swann with an elbow. Swann pulls Nick to he floor and Matt with a spear to Swann. Nick with a drop kick that sends Taylor off the apron. Matt tags in and he kicks and chokes Swann. Nick tags back in and he connects with shoulders in the corner. Nick sends Swann into the ropes and hits a neck breaker followed by a splash from Matt.
Nick punches Swann and Matt tags in and he punches Swann and kicks him. Matt with a snap mare and then Nick tags in and hits a slingshot senton while Matt hits a fist drop. Nick punches and kicks Swann in the corner. Matt tags in and he hits the back rake. Swann with a kick to both Jacksons. Nick with a kick to Swann. Matt pulls Taylor off the apron.
Nick with a kick and he hits a back breaker for a near fall. Nick misses a kick in the corner but he does not miss with a back fist. Swann with a forearm and kick followed by a rana from the turnbuckles to Swann and both men are down. Taylor tags in and he hits a springboard drop kick to Matt and then he sends Nick to the floor and he hits a plancha onto both men.
Taylor runs into the corner and he is sent to the apron. Swann with a clothesline in the corner and then they hit a double stomp and flatline combination. Matt with a kick and then Swann with a plancha onto Nick on the floor. The Jacksons with suicide dives onto Swann and Taylor on the floor.
Nick tries for a super kick but Taylor blocks it and he applies a single leg crab. He blocks a super kick from Matt and puts him in a single leg crab. Swann adds a double crossface. Swann is sent to the floor by Matt but Chuck crotches Matt and calls for the Awful Waffle. Nick with a super kick and then Matt with an aided Asai DDT and Nick gets a near fall.
Chuck sends Nick to the arpon and Matt runs into a boot. Taylor with a kick to Nick and Swann with a kick. Swann with a handspring cutter while Taylor goes for Splash Mountain. Nick counters a standing 450. The Jacksons with super kick to Chuck while he has Swann for a tombstone piledriver and then they hit super kicks on Swann.
The Jacksons with an enzuigiri and buckle bomb combination. The Jacksons get the three count after a spike piledriver.
Winners: Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson
After the match, Johnny Gargano comes out and he says that Swann did a good job of stealing from him. He carried Ronin. They are a bunch of lackeys. You can’t have N’Sync without Justin Timberlake and Johnny says that he is Justin Timberlake.
Swann attacks Gargano on the floor and the Bravados attack the Young Bucks.
Chuck comes into the ring and shakes hands with the Jacksons.
Evolve 26 Thoughts:
I thought the opening Shine Showcase match was okay. Su and Mia have a good chemistry in the ring. I liked that they had Tony Nese at ringside during the match, even though he did not do anything during the match. I was surprised that they did a piledriver spot that was not the finish of the match.
The Konley versus Dorado match upped the tempo and continued to show that Lince Dorado is someone to watch in 2014 after a strong 2013. Konley is starting to show what he can do when he is not part of The Scene. The presence of Trina Michaels at ringside was a bit confusing since Caleb is no longer involved in the angle and appeared to have moved on. I would assume it was mentioned on commentary.
I know that Maxwell Chicago mentioned how much he was looking forward to facing Chuck Taylor because a lot of people were hoping for it. I really enjoyed this match and it was a good contrast to the matches before and after it. I was having flashbacks to Sal Rinauro versus Larry Sweeney from the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup. Maxwell is very over with the Florida crowds and both men clicked from the opening bell. I thought there were some great sequences during the match. If you like some good comedy with your wrestling, this is a match for you.
The Open the United Gate Title Match was a good way to finish the first half of the show. The Bravados and Ben Dejos have had a strong feud in FIP and they gave everything in their match tonight. The Bravados have improved so much over the last year and the Ben Dejos are an up and coming team and one of the best in Florida.
The match coming out of intermission is usually something that gets the crowd warmed up for the second half of the show and not necessarily have a spectacular match. No one told Ricochet or Trent to hold back. After being part of two of the best matches on Friday night, I think they outdid themselves facing off against each other. Trent has shown over the last 12 months how good he is and Ricochet showed in his two victories that he is one of the rising stars in the business and someone who you should go out of your way to watch.
The Uhaa Nation and AR Fox versus Johnny Gargano and Jon Davis match was a match I was really looking forward to and they blew every expectation I had out of the water. All four men were at the top of their games during this match. Everything clicked and there were some sequences that were spectacular. This is a match that is worth the price of the iPPV.
The Chris Hero versus Tony Nese match reminded me of Hero’s match on Friday against Ricochet. The match started off with a lot of mat wrestling and a slower pace, but things picked up in the second half of the match.
I liked the main event, but there were times when it seemed like they were trying to do too much. There was a lot of action in the match and the fans appreciated what they did.
Thank you for following the live coverage of Evolve 26. I will have my thoughts in a post game show for Evolve 25 and 26 in the Elite Section of PWInsider.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
