Tonight features the first Pay-Per-View (or iPPV in this case) of a huge wrestling weekend. EVOLVE, an independent promotion closely tied to WWE as of late, has two specials this weekend which have the potential to rival the shows of bigger name companies. Tonight, EVOLVE 66 features two WWE Cruiserweight Classic Spotlight matches, Timothy Thatcher defending the EVOLVE Championship against Matt Riddle, and the first-ever independent match for Cody Rhodes.
Cedric Alexander vs. TJ Perkins – WWE Cruiserweight Classic Spotlight Match
Both Cedric Alexander are current participants in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic, and this is one of two matches tonight that feature the tournament participants (three if you count Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Cody Rhodes).
Cedric Alexander has already competed in the first and second rounds of the Cruiserweight Classic with two great matches, especially the “Match of the Year” candidate against Kota Ibushi two weeks ago.
TJ Perkins is a cocky, arrogant cruiserweight but he has every right to be. Perkins showed this in his Cruiserweight Classic Round One match against Da Mack. In Round Two, Perkins will move on to face a potential NXT Tag Team Champion, Johnny Gargano.
Perkins counters Cedric Alexander into a kneebar, and Alexander has no choice but to tap out. Winner (via submission): TJ Perkins
Jigsaw & Peter Kaasa vs. Tracy Williams & Fred Yehi
As a newcomer to EVOLVE, I am not familiar with any of the talent in this match. Peter Kaasa and Jigsaw impress right out of the gate. Jigsaw immediately shows that he has quite the technical prowess, starting off the match with some chain wrestling. Kaasa have a surprising amount of agility for someone who looks like he focuses a ton more on lifting than cardio.
“Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams (what a nickname) matches Jigsaw on the technical front, while Fred Yehi is quite the abstract wrestler, with an offense that seems to focus on the foot.
Jigsaw hits the double stomp on Yehi from the top turnbuckle, then follows it up with a brainbuster for the win. Winners: Jigsaw & Peter Kaasa
After the match, Williams helps Yehi up then immediately slaps him. You would think that this would mean that Williams just turned on his partner. Instead, Yehi slaps him back and shows that they are just insane.
DUSTIN vs. Ethan Page
DUSTIN (formerly/also known as Chuck Taylor) is a current EVOLVE Tag Team Champion along with Drew Galloway (formerly known as Drew McIntyre in WWE). Ethan Page is a bit of a larger competitor, and seems to go for the Kevin Owens vibe of comedic quips mid-match (for example, he yelled, “I’m okay everybody!” after taking a fall on the outside).
DUSTIN blocks Page’s first attempt at a package piledriver, but fails to block the second, and Page hits the piledriver for the victory. Winner: Ethan Page
Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese – WWE Cruiserweight Classic Spotlight Match
Like Cedric Alexander, Tony Nese has already competed in two rounds of the Cruiserweight Classic. In the first round, Nese defeated Anthony Bennett, but it would be in the second round where he would fall short. Nese proved that he is justly called the “Premier Athlete,” but it was not enough to defeat WWE veteran Brian Kendrick. It is nice that this match is taking place, since it is guaranteed not to happen in the Cruiserweight Classic.
Gulak has shown to be a submission focused mat technician, as seen in his Cruiserweight Classic match against Harv Sihra of the Bollywood Boys. In Round Two, Gulak goes on to face fellow mat technician Zack Sabre Jr..
Tony Nese looks to roll up Gulak, but Gulak slides through and catches Nese off guard with a roll-up of his own to get the quick victory. Winner: Drew Gulak
After the match, Drew Gulak grabs the microphone while holding the EVOLVE Championship and talks about how Timothy Thatcher does not respect the title, and baits the champion to the ring. When Thatcher gets to the ring, he is ambushed by Matt Riddle.
Timothy Thatcher (c) vs. Matt Riddle – EVOLVE Championship (No Holds Barred)
Matt Riddle is a former mixed martial artist, competing in UFC and Bellator. Riddle started training for wrestling in 2014, and is already in the position to win the EVOLVE Championship. Before seeing Riddle wrestle, what is noticeable right out the gate is that he does not wear boots. Instead, he decides to wrestle barefoot.
Timothy Thatcher has competed in several independent promotions, from Progress Wrestling to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW).
Thatcher locks in the cross armbreaker, and Riddle tries to escape through the ropes. Instead, Thatcher keeps the hold locked in and Riddle just hangs there and is forced to tap out. Winner, and still EVOLVE Champion: Timothy Thatcher
Thatcher looks to further the assault, but Drew Gulak saves Riddle, and knocks Thatcher out with a spinning back fist. Gulak and Thatcher battle for the EVOLVE Championship tomorrow afternoon in Brooklyn at EVOLVE 67.
Cody Rhodes vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
This match is historic, at the very least for Cody Rhodes. Rhodes started his training in Ohio Valley Wrestling, which used to be the WWE developmental system. He competed up until earlier this year when he requested his release while under the Stardust gimmick. After spending his entire career in WWE, Cody Rhodes competes in his first match in an independent promotion.
The WWE veteran takes on the man known as the “technical wizard,” Zack Sabre Jr.. Sabre has won his first match in the Cruiserweight Classic, and looks to take on Drew Gulak in the second round.
Rhodes manages to match Sabre’s technique note for note, and locks in a unique leg submission called The American Nightmare and puts Sabre away for a win in his first-ever independent match. Winner (via submission): Cody Rhodes
