EVOLVE 12 iPPV Review

Caleb Konley w/Johnny Fairplay and Amanda v. Adam Page v. Jake Manning

No one really stood out here except for Page as he had more big moves. Page hit a moonsault off the apron onto both guys. Konley jumped off the top and Page countered with a spinning heel kick. Later, he hit a standing shooting star press to Manning. Konley missed a moonsault and ate a dropkick from the top by Page. The finish was Manning hitting a back breaker/neck breaker combo. Nothing spectacular here, just a fast paced opener that ended a little early.

Mike Cruz v. Alex Reynolds

Reynolds does not work a high flying style, at least not in this match. Cruz looked very athletic and has potential to be more in this company but he needs work as he botched a couple things. The crowd was into Cruz a lot and he hit a springboard blockbuster late in the match. They had an exchange of roll-ups until Reynolds bridged during one and won. This was better than the opener and a good contrast to it.

Low-Ki v. Jigsaw

This was a pretty good match. They were even in the beginning but Ki got control and started working on Jigsaw's upper body. Ki was dominant for a while here. Jigsaw hit a dropkick and a crossbody and finally got some offense in. Ki was up top but Jigsaw hit an amazing leaping huricanrana from the mat. This was probably my favorite move of the night as it looked great. Jigsaw missed a superkick and a sunset flip, the latter of which was countered with a double stomp and then Ki hit the Ki Crusher for the win. After the match, Ki said he's tired of seeing guys in EVOLVE trying to be something they're not and he said the wrestlers need to be men in this ring. I'd say this was Low-Ki's best match in EVOLVE.

Finlay v. Jon Davis

Wonderful match and the best of the show easily. It was very slow and deliberate but it worked out well. They tried to feel each other out at first but Finlay got control and was relentless as he focused on Davis' leg. Lots of submissions and Davis was on the bottom for a while. Davis tried to use his long legs to get out of a submission but Finlay noticed this and chucked him outside, where he smashed his leg into the post. He kept on his leg until he tried to pin Davis who countered it into a Fujiwara arm bar. From then on, Davis was in control with several power moves that were in total contrast to the beginning segment of the match. Finlay had him in a sleeper that effective until Davis hit a huge spinebuster. However, Finlay quickly locked in a tombstone and won the match. Afterwards, Finlay put Davis over and wanted the crowd to applaud him. He also said Sami Calihan could be a champion anywhere but he needs to get his head straight which prompted Sami out to tell him to mind his business.

Chuck Taylor/Silas Young w/Swamp Monster and Jake Manning v. Samuray Del Sol/Johnny Gargano

I was busy writing up the last match with the sound off and didn't realize intermission was over so I missed a few minutes of this. They played up the Gargano/Taylor feud and these guys didn't touch until later in the match. Del Sol looked great but was isolated by Young and Taylor. Young looks like a cross between Jake Roberts and Jimmy Del Ray, in terms of appearance. Del Sol's til-a-whirl DDT led to the hot tag to Gargano who did a suicide dive onto Taylor after taking out Young. That was the first time they touched during the match. He hit a springboard DDT onto Young and joined Del Sol in some double offense, which the crowd ate up. Gargano hit La Mistica into the Gargano Escape but couldn't make Taylor tap. Young was outside and Del Sol hit a huge somersault plancha. However, Taylor hit the Awful Waffle piledriver inside the ring on Gargano for the win. Who the hell picks some of these horrible move names? Now, Taylor gets to pick the stips for his upcoming match with Gargano and all he wants is a shot at the Open The Freedom Gate Title. This was a decent match but it's very hard to take Taylor seriously with guys like the Swamp Monster around. He always looks like a skinny, goofball geek. Gargano needs more fire too. As I've said before, he carries himself well but comes across as a little dull in his matches. I had a tough time believing the hatred between Taylor and Gargano, similar to EVOLVE 11.

El Generico v. Ricochet

This was probably the third best match on the show. At first, I wasn't feeling it but it got better towards the end. Early, Ricochet hit a headscissors followed by a slingshot rana following by a big dropkick. That rana looked especially good. Low-Ki was on commentary and sounded absolutely abysmal. Generico kept missing his big boot and Ricochet would counter them. Ricochet hit a reverse rana that got a two-count. This was the beginning of these guys kicking out of a ton of big moves. Generico hit a Michinoku Driver and his Blue Thunder Bomb. Ricochet hit a big flip from the top that everyone thought was the finish. Both guys were jockeying around the the corner but Ricochet won out and hit his 630 splash and won. Generico kept eyeing Ki during the match. Afterwards, Ricochet challenged Ki who accepted with a handshake. Ki then told Generico that if he doesn't change, he'll turn into a disgrace.

Sami Callihan v. AR Fox-Evolution's End Match

The rules were that inside the ring normal rules apply but outside anything goes. This match was a huge example of shit psychology with guys just doing moves. Callihan had the advantage outside early and suplexed Fox onto a chair. Then, he pulled out barbed wire and wrapped it around Fox's mouth and pulled back on it. This was early in the match here guys. They brawled a lot outside in this match and pulled out a ladder, chairs, and a table. Shortly after his beating outside, Fox was back in the ring doing athletic stuff with no selling of anything. Sami hit a superplex off the ladder and the ropes into the ring. Fox was hitting big stuff after that like a springboard ace crusher and a top-rope swanton. Callihan gained control and reversed a top-rope move of Fox into a top-rope German Suplex. This still wasn't the finish. Fox got control back and hit a somersault plancha over the ladder onto a table and Callihan outside. This still wasn't the finish. Fox then hit a springboard 450 inside the ring for the finish finally. Avoid this match.

This show was easily the best EVOLVE show I've seen with a couple really good matches and a couple entertaining, decent matches. That main event did suck though and I have no idea why they keep pushing Callihan so much. The commentary and the feed was really good, except for a small interruption during the Finlay/Davis match. The attendance must have been really low as the place looked empty. That Finlay/Davis match is worth tracking down and the Generico/Ricochet and Ki/Jigsaw matches were good. Although, I do get the feeling that EVOLVE needs good veterans to make the regulars look really good. I would recommend EVOLVE 13 though after watching this show.

This is the only show I'm getting this weekend as I've got dinner tomorrow with the parents and my wife. I'll be back in a couple days with a 1979 MSG WWWF show and the next Primetime 88 show, all with pics.

Check out DGUSA/EVOLVE for more EVOLVE/DGUSA

Steve Viglio

@stevesgraps

SUPER CHALLENGE: WWF Primetime 1-4-1988

I'm trying something different and going through my enormous backlog of DVDs. I figured I'd attempt to make it all the way through WWF Primtetime 1988. We'll see how long this lasts, with me watching, writing, and screen capping each episode. Let's start with January 4, 1988 and Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan v. Sika

Before the match, Heenan said Duggan was so dumb, when he was in Atlantic City, he spent his entire family fortune playing a parking meter. They're in MSG for this one and Duggan is pretty over and Sika made him look good here. Duggan actually started by wrestling Sika with some arm bars and all Sika did the entire match was illegal stuff like eye rakes, back rakes, etc. Whenever Sika deviated from that plan, Duggan would regain control. Duggan's striking was more dangerous as Sika sold a few of his shots like being hit with a cannon ball. Duggan even hit a sunset flip in this one. Duggan won with his three-point stance clothesline except he leaped for this one. As a kid, I don't remember him leaping for the clothesline and this look nice. Pretty average match with nothing really notable to be seen.

Gorilla went over how 1988 will be a good year in the WWF and then started talking about Ted Dibiase's attempts to buy the WWF Title.

Hillbilly Jim v. Dino Bravo

Boy, was this a dull match. Frenchy Martin had just become Dino's manager. Bravo was on top building towards Hillbilly's comeback and that ended up being boring as shit. Jim did hit a monkey flip here but that wasn't enough to save this match. Frenchy got on the apron to distract Hillbilly and Bravo came up from behind, hit a flying knee to the back, and pinned him. Finally, this one was over.

We have a WWF Update on the angle where Heenan and the Islanders kidnapped Matilda. 

Above is an example of the crack reporting of Craig DeGeorge, covering a kidnapping of a bulldog.  His family must be proud!  

This whole segment was so bogus and funny. Heenan said that they didn't know where Matilda was at. He said that when they got her to the back and put her down, she was frothing at the mouth and they started running away from her and that's the last they saw of her. Heenan played it cool while the Bulldogs cut a promo pleading with him to return Matilda. Then, President Jack Tunney issued a statement saying that if Matilda was not returned further actions would be taken against Heenan and the Islanders. Gorilla went on to specify those actions as fines, which had to really spook Heenan and the Islanders!

The Rougeaus v. The Conquistadores

Now, this was a much better match than the last two. The Rougeaus were pretty over in MSG and they looked great in this match, giving a ton of fast offense out. In the beginning, it was all Rougeaus and they were working like a heel tag team, isolating one of the Conquistadores. They were hitting big, quick moves like dropkicks and outsmarting their opponents. 

The best spot of the match was when one of the Conquistadores went for a crossbody onto Jacques but missed and ended flying over the top-rope onto his partner on the floor. The crowd popped big for that one and there's a pic above from the spot. The Conquistadores finally gained the advantage and started isolating Jacques but he ended up making the tag to Raymond, who came and cleaned house. He was hot here and looked great with fiery shots and spinning kicks. The Rougeaus won after doing there double team top-rope cannon ball move. That's the one where one of them goes to the top and the other grabs his hand and guides him along into a somersault. The Quebecers used that move as their finisher too. Great, fun match here. Heenan had a funny line afterwards, calling them the Ragu Brothers.

Sensational Sherri v. Velvet Mcintyre-WWF Women's Title Match

This was a surprisingly good match and loads better than any of the Divas matches of the last decade. Sherri gave a lot to Velvet and Velvet was very quick and got the crowd into everything. 

Velvet locked in a bodyscissors and used her power to hoist Sherri up and drop her down. I've never seen something like before. 

Sherri got out of the move by turning around and then grabbing Velvet's hair, picking her up, and slamming her down, a little reminiscent of the Silva/Rampage powerbomb from PRIDE. Sherri got control for a little bit, botched a corner move, and re-did it. Velvet started a comeback and hit a nasty boot to Sherri's sternum like she was a power wrestler. She hit a giant swing but then missed a springboard crossbody. She then tried for a second one and went for a pin but Sherri rolled through and got the win. Great match, about as good as the tag match from this episode. Sherri sold a lot and worked from the bottom and made Velvet look like a million bucks.

“Mean” Gene was plugging the upcoming Royal Rumble and brought out “Outlaw” Ron Bass and Miss Betsy, his whip and he cut a promo on the Rumble.

S.D. Jones v. “Iron” Mike Sharpe

Nothing match here, even though "Iron" Mike is always entertaining and Jones never seemed to capitalize any time he had the advantage. 

Sharpe got locked in the ropes and Jones just stood around and wasted time. Mike missed a clothesline and immediately clobbered Jones with a second attempt and pinned him.

Bam Bam Bigelow v. King Kong Bundy

Here's the main event and Bammer was hot as this was during his little push he had from 1987. Jesse Ventura bet that there would be no hair pulling in this match. Bundy hit a nasty clothesline and knocked Bammer outside and kept him there for a while. Once he got back in, Bundy tried for a big splash but Bam Bam rolled away and hit his own splash for the win. 

Very short nothing match here but it was better than the Jones/Sharpe match at least.

Finally, Bobby Heenan did a Bruno Sammartino impression and Gorilla started cracking up.

Pretty hit and miss here with this episode but it did have the great tag match and the women's match, the latter of which I wasn't expecting much from. On to week 2 probably next week after I cover the ROH and CZW shows this weekend, thanks for reading!

Steve Viglio

@stevesgraps on Twitter

All photos are not property of me but of the WWE, please don't distribute them

WWWF Championship Wrestling 5-3-1977 Review

I've been looking at things to watch and write about now and I couldn't figure out what to look at.  I'm not really happy with current WWE and I don't really want to sit through 2-4 hours of cable shows each week of that.  So, I thought I'd start watching more WWE Classics and also go through some of my dvd backlog too in the near future.  I'm starting with Championship Wrestling from 1977, right after "Superstar" Billy Graham won the WWWF Championship from Bruno Sammartino in Baltimore, MD on April 30.  A younger, less miserable Vince McMahon started the show in a fantastic bright yellow sports jacket as he ran down the upcoming matches and went into highlights from the Bruno/Superstar title change.  A small clip was shown from the beginning of the match and Vince promised they would show more each week from the match.  That would something if they did this today and each week they kept reminding you how the current champ won the belt and kept putting it over.

Bob Backlund v. Jan Nelson-Nelson really made Backlund look good the entire match.  Everything Nelson did, Bob managed to have an answer for and he even hit a fantastic monkey flip on Jan.  Backlund used his strength to toss Nelson over his head out of a full nelson and then he hit his Atomic Drop for the win.  I love Bob Backlund so even though this wasn't a great match or anything, it was still fun to see him out there, especially with that monkey flip.  Also, I lost it for the atomic drop but I'm a mark for his old finisher too.  I think he did that at the 2000 Rumble in MSG and it was great.

Professor Toru Tanaka w/Fred Blassie v. Johnny Rivera-Johnny's on the left in the pic above and he got some offense in during this match despite losing.  Tanaka was a wide dude and powerful too but Rivera wasn't afraid of him one bit.  Tanaka got in some choking and hid it from the ref's viewpoint.  Rivera had a couple hope spots and he kept fighting the entire match until Tanaka hit a cobra clutch slam for the win.  This was way more competitive than the Backlund match and more fun too because of it.

Frank Monroe v. Billy Whitewolf-For those that don't know, Billy Whitewolf went on to become Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie in the AWA and General Adnan in the WWF, managing Sgt. Slaughter.  He was also half of the WWWF Tag Team Champions with "Chief" Jay Strongbow, at the time.  Monroe was a tall, ugly, hairy individual with terrible strikes but modern wrestling needs more jobbers like this guy as he just looks like a tough guy.  Monroe tried to keep the match slow but Whitewolf sped things up.  Billy's finisher was him jumping down on Monroe's sternum as Monroe was down and Billy had his legs.  Very short here and not much to it.

Don Serrano v. George Steele w/Lou Albano-It's amazing how long Steele was doing the animal gimmick when you think about it.  He was doing it during this match but he didn't rip apart any turnbuckle pads.  The ref was Dick Woehrle, by the way.  This match was even shorter than the last match as Steele put Serrano in a hammerlock and hoisted him up in the air.

Mike Rivera v. "Superstar" Billy Graham w/The Grand Wizard-Non-Title Match-Superstar was a gigantic man and this match was a complete mis-match actually.  Grahama was way taller and way wider than Rivera and I knew Rivera was going to get hurt in this one.  The Grand Wizard had to oil up Superstar before the match started.  This was dominated by Superstar as he chucked Rivera outside two times and Rivera bounced around for him each time.  The finish was crazy as Superstar used Rivera's momentum as he was running and he hoisted him up for a German Suplex and nearly decapitated him. 

Larry Zbyszko/Tony Garea v. Stan Stasiak/Baron Von Raschke-This was the best match of the show with Garea and Zbyszko on the bottom with a couple hot tags and the crowd loved them.  Later in the match, Larry was down and getting double teamed so Garea came in and evened the odds.  Baron and Stasiak both got hooked into the ropes and Larry and Garea did leaping simultaneous strikes to them both but the ref called for the bell and it was a draw.  Baron and Stan tried to attack them afterwards but Garea and Larry turned the tables and the place went crazy.

I hope you enjoyed my review and shoot me some comments. 
@stevesgraps