PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

 
 

COMPLETE EVOLVE 25 REPORT: DAVEY RICHARDS RETURNS; WHO EARNS THE TITLE SHOT FOR EVOLVE 27?; TRENT BARETTA VERSUS TONY NESE; AND MORE

By Richard Trionfo on 2014-01-10 23:20:24

To order the iPPVs, click the graphic below:

WWNLive.com iPPV

Welcome to PWInsider.com’s live coverage of Evolve 25 from the Orpheum in Ybor City, Florida.

Match Number One: FIP World Title Match: Trent Baretta versus Anthony Nese (with Su Yung)

They lock up and Nese backs Trent into the ropes and Nese with a clean break. They lock up again and Trent with a clean break. They lock up again and Nese with a side head lock. Nese with a shoulder tackle and Trent with a hip toss. Nese kicks Trent away and Nese with a slam.

Trent with a side head lock and Nese with a head scissors. Nese with a side head lock and Trent with a head scissors. Trent and Nese with a test of strength. Nese with a series of near falls but Trent bridges. Trent with a rana and chop. Trent sends Nese into the turnbuckles and then he chops Nese. Nese floats over and he hits a springboard rana followed by a chop to Trent.

Nese with a punch and side head lock take down. Nese with a take down and he chops Trent and then he applies a modified Indian Death Lock. . Nese with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Nese with a head lock. Nese with a shoulder tackle and Trent with a back elbow. Trent chops Nese in the corner. Trent with a chop and Irish whip followed by a running chop into the corner. Trent goes to the turnbuckles but Nese pulls him off and Trent lands awkwardly and then Nese with a baseball slide that sends Trent to the floor.

Nese goes to the floor and he slaps Trent. Nese with a chop and he sends Trent back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Nese with kicks in the corner and the referee warns him. Nese with a hard Irish whip. Nese with a boot to the chest. Trent with forearms. Nese trips Trent and then hits a double jump moonsault for a near fall. Nese with a leg drop.

Nese gets a near fall. Nese with a body scissors. Trent with forearms. Nese goes for a suplex but Trent counters and they both go over the top rope and to the floor. Nese sends Trent into the ring post. Nese sends Trent into the apron and then he rolls Trent back into the ring.

Nese with kicks to Trent and he gets a near fall. Nese with punches and the referee warns Nese. Nese goes up top and Trent with a drop kick. Su gets on the apron and Nese tells her to go back to the floor because he has this match.

Trent with a chop and punch and then he hits an enzuigiri and a German suplex for a near fall. Trent tries for the Tornado DDT but Nese blocks it. Nese with a facebuster followed by a kick to the head. Nese runs into Trent and Trent with a double stomp. Trent goes up top but Nese with an uppercut and then he sets for a muscle buster but turns it into a Codebreaker for a near fall.

Nese tries for a shoulder from the apron but Trent with a slingshot leg drop. Trent with a plancha onto Nese. Trent with the elbow and then he hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. Trent misses the flying knee and Nese with a series of kick and enzuigiri. They go to the apron and Nese with a chop and kicks to the chest. Nese with a punch and Trent with a forearm and chop.

Nese with a kick and he gets Trent on his shoulders and hits a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Trent rolls back into the ring and Nese with a German suplex and bridge for a near fall. Trent with a chop and Nese fires back. They go back and forth and Trent wants more. They escalate to forearms and then Trent with a knee. Nese with a super kick and rollup into a single arm buckle bomb. Nese with a package power bomb for a near fall.

Nese goes up top but Trent is able to recover and he crotches Nese. Trent with a forearm to the back and he sets for a belly-to-back superplex but Nese sends him to the mat. Trent recovers and hits a German superplex followed by the flying boot for a near fall. Nese with a back slide for a near fall. Nese with a kick that sends Trent into the turnbuckles. Nese with a running knee. Nese goes up top but misses the 450 splash and Trent gets a near fall with a rollup.

Trent slaps Nese in the face and Nese slaps back. Trent with an enzuigiri. Nese grabs the ropes and Nese hits a flip piledriver for a near fall. Nese with an O’Connor Roll but Trent counters with a rollup for the three count.

Winner: Trent Baretta

They shake hands after the match while the crowd chants ‘That was Awesome’.

Trent says that he has known Tony Nese for 10 years. They were the original Dudebusters. Trent says that Nese is getting better every day and he respects him for that. He says the premier athlete thing is pretty good, but it is missing something.

Match Number Two: *Fray - (Winner Gets A Title Shot at Evolve 27): Jon Davis versus Chuck Taylor versus Uhaa Nation versus Caleb Konley versus Lince Dorado

Chuck Taylor and Lince Dorado start things off.

Lince licks Chuck’s knee. Taylor with a wrist lock and Lince reverses and he bites Chuck. They lock up again and Chuck with a wrist lock and he bites Lince and asks how he likes it. Lince bites Chuck’s ass. Lince with a single leg take down. Dorado with a head scissors. Lince with a wrist lock and he uses the ropes for an arm drag and Chuck goes to the floor. Dorado teases a dive.

The next entrant in the Fray is Jon Davis. Lince with a drop toe hold. Jon with a knee drop to Taylor. Lince with an elbow and he sends Lince into Chuck and then Jon with an Ace Cutter while Chuck hits a DDT on Dorado. Dorado with elbows but Davis with a buckle bomb to Dorado and a leaping leg lariat to Taylor for a near fall. Davis with a delayed vertical suplex.

The fourth entrant is Caleb Konley. Davis with an Irish whip and he runs into a boot. Konley with a sunset flip to Davis and Davis with a German suplex for a near fall. Konley with super kick and Jon misses a kick. Konley with a suicide dive onto Taylor. Dorado chops Davis while Konlock with a forearm to Taylor. Davis counters a rana by Dorado and he sends Dorado onto Konley and Taylor.

Davis moves when Dorado comes off the turnbuckles and then Davis with a back breaker followed by a spinebuster for a near fall. Davis with a hard Irish whip to Dorado. Davis with a forearm to the back followed by a belly-to-back suplex.

The fifth man in the match is Uhaa Nation. Davis press slams Dorado onto Uhaa and Uhaa catches him and puts Dorado down safely. Nation and Davis square off the ring and Taylor with a stunner and Uhaa with a boot. Taylor with a running cutter on Davis. Konley with a springboard moonsault. Dorado with a Shooting Star Press and everyone but Uhaa pile on for the three count.

Jon Davis eliminated

Uhaa with a double clothesline to Dorado and Konley and then he sends Taylor to the floor. Dorado with chops while Uhaa connects with forearms. Dorado with a kick and Konley tries for a German suplex but Dorado lands on his feet. Dorado with a reverse rana and then Uhaa charges at Taylor but Taylor ducks and Uhaa goes to the floor.

Taylor with a belly-to-back into a piledriver to eliminate Lince Dorado.

Lince Dorado Eliminated

Konley with a kick to Taylor for a near fall. Konley misses a splash in the corner but Taylor runs into an elbow. Konley with a DDT for a near fall. Konley goes up top. Uhaa catches Konley and hits a Samoan Drop and then he presses Konley over his head and then hits two standing shooting star presses to pin Konley.

Caleb Konley Eliminated

Taylor with a uranage for a near fall. Taylor goes to the turnbuckles and tries for a missile drop kick but Uhaa catches him and hits two power bombs followed by a sit out power bomb for the three count.

Winner: Uhaa Nation

Match Number Three: Chris Hero versus Ricochet

They shake hands at the start of the match. Hero with a single leg take down and Ricochet gets to the ropes. Ricochet with a waist lock and Hero with a snap mare into a rollup and he gets a near fall. They lock up again and Ricochet with a waist lock and hip lock take down and Ricochet celebrates his achievement. Hero with a wrist lock but Ricochet with a flip and he reverses.

Hero with a wrist lock take down and rollup for a near fall. Hero continues to work on the arms and he take Ricochet down but Ricochet gets back to his feet. Ricochet with a double leg take down into a side head lock but Hero escapes. Hero with a full nelson but Ricochet drops down and gets a near fall with a rollup. Hero with a rollup for a near fall and then he applies a rear chin lock.

They lock up and Hero with a side head lock. Hero with a shoulder tackle and Ricochet kips up. Hero with another shoulder tackle and Ricochet pops up immediately. Hero with a third shoulder tackle and Ricochet bounces up and Hero with a side head lock take down and Ricochet with a head scissors. Hero escapes and Ricochet with a rollup for a near fall. Ricochet with a leg sweep and he gets a near fall.

Hero with a forearm. Ricochet with a head scissors and Hero sends Ricochet to the floor. Hero flips to the floor but Ricochet is back in the ring. Ricochet with a series of handsprings and Hero waits and connects with a boot. Hero with a head butt and chops. Hero sends Ricochet into the turnbuckles and his boot at the same time.

Hero blocks a kick and he connects with a boot to the face and gets a near fall. Hero with a forearm to the back. Ricochet with European uppercuts and Hero with a boot for a near fall. Hero with a boot to the head from the apron. Hero gets back into the ring and he kicks Ricochet in the head and then the chest.

Ricochet with a kick to the back of the legs and then he chokes him. Hero with a kick to the back of the knees. Hero with a leg drop to the left leg. Ricochet with a kick to Hero’s leg. Hero with a knee drop and he gets a near fall. Ricochet slaps Hero.

Hero shows Ricochet how to slap someone and he kicks him. Ricochet with a back heel kick and axe kick for a near fall. Hero runs into an elbow. Hero with a boot and he gets a near fall. Hero with a snap mare and he pulls down the knee pad and he connects with a series of knee drops. Hero gets a near fall.

Ricochet with a punch to Hero’s leg. Hero with kicks to Ricochet while he taunts him. Hero with a boot to the head as the insults continue. Hero with chops but Ricochet chops back. Hero with a boot to the head but Ricochet with a kick to the arm followed by European uppercuts and forearms. Hero with forearms and chops. Hero misses the roaring elbow and Ricochet with an enzuigiri.

Ricochet with a series of kicks and a flying clothesline and flying uppercut followed by a springboard clothesline for a near fall. Ricochet tries for a dead lift belly-to-back suplex. Hero tries for a cravate suplex and Ricochet with a near fall. Hero with a cravate suplex for a near fall. Hero misses a forearm in the corner. Ricochet goes up top and Hero pushes Ricochet off the turnbuckles into the pole in the building and Ricochet slides to the floor.

Ricochet gets back into the ring at nineteen. Hero with a basement drop kick for a near fall. They go to the floor. Hero chops Ricochet and then he sends Ricochet into the wall, but Ricochet goes to the stage. Ricochet leaps from the stage to the apron and then he hits a flip dive onto Hero. Ricochet takes a drink from a fan.

Ricochet with a clothesline into the corner. Hero with the roaring elbow to the back of the head and he gets a near fall. Ricochet with a back slide but Hero with a La Magistral for a near fall. Hero with a series of kicks and a roaring elbow to the back of the head for another near fall.

Hero waits for Ricochet to get up and he misses a boot and forearm. Ricochet with an enzuigiri followed by a suplex and he rolls through into a dead lift package suplex. Ricochet goes up top and hits a springboard 450 but only gets a near fall. Ricochet goes up top and hits a shooting star press and gets a near fall. Ricochet goes up top again and hits a 630 splash for the three count.

Winner Ricochet

Ricochet takes the mic and he tells everyone to give it up for Chris Hero. Ricochet says that Johnny Gargano has been ducking him for too long. He cannot duck him forever. He wants his title shot and he wants it in New Orleans.

Chris says that he feels like someone who took a Bonzai Drop from Yokozuna. He says that he has been wrestling for more than 15 years. Anybody that is anybody in wrestling, he has either been on a show or in the ring with a lot of great wrestlers. He has been in the ring with Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, and Christopher Daniels. The man he wrestled tonight is the best athlete he ever faced.

He has been in the ring with Johnny Gargano. If Ricochet wrestles like he wrestled tonight against Gargano, he will beat him. He tells Ricochet to be patient and that he will be the champion some day.

Chris says that he has watched shows in this building and this is the first time he wrestled here. When he sees guys like Uhaa Nation, The Young Bucks, Rich Swann, AR Fox, he sees Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk. They are where they were five or ten years ago. This is not the future, this is now.

Trent Baretta comes to the ring. He says that Chris forgot to mention his name. If you are going to mention people, you might as well mention the guy who kills it every night. Trent says that he will be facing Ricochet tomorrow and he would like for Chris to mention his name the next time.

Match Number Four: Johnny Gargano, Lance Bravado, and Harlem Bravado versus Rich Swann, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson

Swann and Gargano start things off and Gargano decides to tag in Harlem because him and Swann are friends. Swann says that the Super Kick Party is in the house. They lock up and Harlem with a clean break. They lock up again and Harlem with a take down and front face lock but Swann with a hammer lock and he gets a near fall. Harlem with a near fall and he retreats into the ropes.

Harlem wants a test of strength but Swann with a chop and Harlem goes to the mat. Swann with a side head lock. Swann with a drop kick and Gargano hits Swann from behind and all six men are in the ring and then they all go to the floor. Nick gets sent into the ring post by Harlem. Swann and Gargano fight by the stage and Swann slams Gargano’s head into the stage but Gargano sends Swann into the stage and dedicates the beat down to a fan.

Gargano chokes Swann with a cord and he says that he is doing this for the children. Swann chops Gargano. Matt hits Harlem with a chair while Gargano sends Swann into the stage again. The Bucks and Swann with a triple dive to the floor and connect with the Bravados and Gargano.

The Bucks and Harlem are in the ring. Harlem with a forearm to Matt and an Exploder to Nick onto Matt. Harlem with a forearm to Matt and he chokes him with his head band. The Bravados with a double back elbow and a double elbow drop to Matt. Lance with a reverse chin lock but Matt with elbows. Lance pulls Matt down by the hair. Gargano tags back in and he uses his boots to rake the eyes. Gargano with a snap mare and drop kick to the back of the head.

Gargano with a crucifix for a near fall. Matt with a boot to Johnny. Matt with a spear to Johnny and Swann with a springboard drop kick to Lance and Johnny. Swann with a rana to Gargano. Matt with a baseball slide to the Bravados. Swann with a plancha onto the Bravados. Nick with a springboard swanton onto everyone.

Gargano chokes Swann and then he tells Swann that he loves him and then he drop kicks him and hits a uranage and gets a near fall. Gargano with boots to the head. Gargano kicks Swann in the corner. Harlem with a suplex for a near fall. Harlem with a boot to the head. Harlem with double sledges to the back. Lance tags in and he slams Swann a few times for a near fall. Lance knocks the Jacksons off the apron and Harlem tags in and connects with an elbow.

Swann chops Gargano but Gargano with a rolling kick for a near fall. Harlem with a splash to the back. Lance tags in and they hit a double flap jack on Swann and Lance gets a near fall. Harlem tags in and they try for a double suplex but Swann blocks it. Swann hits a handspring double cutter. Nick tags in and he hits a drop kick that knocks Lance and Gargano off the apron.

Nick with clotheslines to the Bravados across the corner for about 30 to 45 seconds. Nick with a clothesline and bulldog combination on the Bucks. . Nick with a shoulder to Harlem followed by a slingshot X Factor for a near fall.

Nick with an enzuigiri to knock Lance off the apron. Matt with an Asai DDT to Harlmen for a near fall. Swann with a chop and Gargano with a shoulder to Swann followed by a slingshot DDT for a near fall. Swann with chops to Lance and Garagano. Lance with a German suplex and Harlem with a slingshot Stunner. Gargano with a lawn dart for a near fall.

The Bravados send the Jacksons to the floor as all three men work over Swann. Lance with an Irish whip and Gargano is sent to the apron along with Harlem. The Jacksons with super kicks to Harlem and Gargano.Swann with a standing rana followed by an elbow drop and splash from the top turnbuckle but the Jacksons. Swann with a standing 450 splash but the cover is broken up.

Gargano with a super kick followed by one from Nick. Lance with a lariat and Swann with an enzuigiri. Swann and Gargano fight on the apron and Gargano rakes the eyes. Swann with a slap and then they Jacksons with a double super kick to Gargano. They hit a triple super kick on Harlem. Swann with a flip piledriver to Lance and then the Jacksons hit More Bang for Your Buck on Harlem for the three count.

Winners: Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson, and Rich Swann

After the match, Matt gets on the mic and he says that from the Tokyo Dome to Evolve, they are the best tag team on the planet. He says that it was a fluke when the Bravados beat them for the title. Matt says the titles are coming back.

Gargano attacks Swann and then the Bravados pull out the Jacksons.

Roderick Strong makes his way to the ring to make the save for his tag team partner. Strong holds Gargano’s title belt and Gargano returns to the ring to get it back but Strong chops him.

Uhaa Nation comes to the ring and Roderick says that on February 23rd, he wants a title shot at the DGUSA show. He says that while he likes Uhaa, he hopes that Johnny wins because he wants to kick the s*** out of Gargano.

AR tells Davey Richards to brings his ass out and step into his ring.

Match Number Five: EVOLVE Title Match: AR Fox versus Davey Richards

Fox and Richards stare each other down from across the ring while the crowd is split. They lock up and they exchange forearms. Richards with kicks and a back elbow. Fox goes to the floor and Richards follows and he kicks Fox in the chest. He puts Fox in a chair and kicks him. Fox blocks a kick and he kicks Richards in the hamstring. Richards Irish whips Fox into the apron.

Richards with kicks to Fox as they fight outside the ring. They return to the ring and Richards kicks Fox. Richards with a back heel kick and a kick to the chest. Fox with an Irish whip but Richards floats over. Fox with a drop kick. Fox with a forearm and then he climbs the turnbuckles to punch Richards. Fox with a slam and a split legged moonsault for a near fall. Fox uses the ropes for an arm drag but Richards blocks it and Fox turns it into a bulldog. Richards goes to the floor and Fox with a springboard inward moonsault onto Richards.

Fox with a forearm. Richards tries for an Exploder on the floor but Fox blocks it. Fox comes off the turnbuckles and Richards catches him and he hits an Exploder. Richards misses the running kick on the apron. Fox misses the moonsault off the ring post and Richards hits the running kick to the head.

Richards with a trailer hitch and he drops back to add more pressure. Fox makes it to the ropes. Richards pulls Fox into the center of the ring and he drives the knee into the mat. Fox with forearms but Richards with a back heel kick. Richards with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. Richards pulls Fox off the turnbuckles and kicks him in the chest.

Richards with a reverse chin lock. Fox with paydirt off the turnbuckles. Fox goes to the apron and Richards with a knee bar in the ropes and the referee warns Richards. Fox with a springboard drop kick. Fox with an enzuigiri and a Codebreaker from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Fox with a stunner for a near fall. Fox goes up top and tries for a swanton but Richards gets his knees up.

Richards with a running kick to the chest. Fox sits up. Richards with another kick to the chest and Fox sits up. Fox blocks a third kick and grabs the leg. They exchange forearms and Fox with the advantage. Richards with a round kick and German suplex for a near fall. Richards puts Fox on the turnbuckles and he punches Richards. Fox knocks Richards off the turnbuckles with forearms. Fox goes up top and lands on his feet on a 450. Fox blocks Alarm Clock. Fox with a Matrix and he tries for a round kick but Richards with an ankle lock.

Richards with a forearm in the corner followed by a clothesline. Fox with a spinning suplex and both men are down. Richards and Fox exchange forearms and then Richards with slaps and punches. Fox with a chops and then he uses the ropes and tries for a bulldog but Richards counters and hits a tombstone piledriver for a near fall.

Richards with a slam and he tries to climb the turnbuckles but he holds his back. Richards struggles to get up top and he misses the double stomp. Fox with a drop toe hold and splash to the back. Richards with a running boot to Fox and then he goes up top and hits the double stomp with Fox hanging over the apron. Richards with another double stomp from the top but Fox kicks out.

Richards with the ankle lock and Fox with a rollup for a near fall. Richards tries for a dead lift superplex. Richards with a German superplex but Fox lands on his feet. Fox with a kick and clothesline. Fox hits a 450 splash but Richards kicks out at two. Fox puts Richards on the turnbuckles for Lo Mein Pain and he hits it and gets the three count.

Winner: AR Fox

After the match, Fox offers his hand to Richards. Richards takes the mic and he grabs the Evolve title belt. Davey says that he helped start this company. They have gone their separate ways. He saw great athletes fight for what they believed in. He heard one guy out here who many say is a hero and he mentioned Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, and Samoa Joe. Davey says that he is better than anyone he mentioned and everyone can kiss his ass.

Evolve 25 Thoughts:

The Baretta/Nese match was a great opener and the rest of the roster has a high bar for the rest of the night. There were a lot of good exchanges during the match. With some of the high impact moves, I was expecting a rollup finish. That did nothing to affect the quality of the match.

Baretta had a good promo after the match and he did a good job of putting over Tony Nese.

The Fray was good, but I do not think it was as good as the one in Orlando. All five men were good in their role. I was hoping for more between Uhaa Nation and Jon Davis but it was a good touch to have everyone else go after Davis. I think Uhaa versus Gargano will be a good match, but I was hoping for Taylor to win because of the history between them.

The Ricochet/Hero match was a tale of two matches. The first half was mat based with a lot of work on the body parts with neither man able to gain an advantage. Then things picked up and there were a lot of high impact sequences. With all of the moves from the turnbuckles, I was expecting Hero to counter something and get the victory, but I thought it was good to have Ricochet get the win.

The promos after the match by Hero, Ricochet, and Trent were all good.

I like the fact that Ricochet made the challenge for the shows in New Orleans.

I thought the six man tag match was good, but there were some times when there was too much going on. There was a lot of good action in the match and I am sure that I missed some stuff in the match. Gargano’s gimmick is so great and he took time to hug a young fan of his before the match.

I thought the main event delivered. The return of Davey Richards to Evolve and the WWN family was a success. Fox and Richards held nothing back in the match. The double stomp over the apron looked crazy from my position.

With Davey’s history with WWN, I thought the promo at the end was good. It sets up the possibility of his return to face someone that the company wants to send a message to Davey.

I will have a post game show on Sunday after Evolve 26.

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!