 Evolve Wrestling is exactly the kind, type, and style, of professional wrestling that I like best. No nonsense competition where guys try and prove that they are the best, and deserve to be heralded as one of, if not the greatest in ring performers working today. Things have gotten a lot more serious as of late since the WWE boldly recruits from the Evolve roster and keeps an eye on every card to see just who may be good enough for that contract everyone is chasing. Recently Evolve has decided to branch out, and start working in markets outside their typical Florida, and New York markets. Evolve 60 is the first to do so, and it will be held in at The MCW Arena,1000 Joppa Farm Rd. Joppa, MD and wow, what a card Evolve is bringing to town! Wrestling Done Right will be front row for all the action. Let’s take a look at the card so you can see why if at all possible, you need to get a ticket and be there live as well!
The Devastation Corporation, from CHIKARA impressed at an Evolve tryout and earned their way onto a card, and they will be put to the test against serious competition in The Bravado Brothers. While Devastation Corporation are no joke, and take you back to the days of The Road Warriors, and The Powers of Pain, The Bravado Brothers are literally world traveled tag team experts that have had, and even won battles against every major team there is, including the mighty Young Bucks. The CHIKARA duo will really have to be better than they’ve ever been just to stand a shot in this match up let alone winning it. Former UFC star Matt Riddle has only lost one match in Evolve, and that was to his stable mate Hot Sauce Tracy Williams. Riddle has captivated the wrestling world with his speed, strikes, and ability to adapt to any situation he’s put in. Long time Evolve roster member The Premier Athlete Anthony Nese has stepped up, and insisted that he will be Riddle’s second loss. Nese, much more traveled and experienced than Riddle could get the job done, especially if Riddle is at all psychologically affected by his loss to Williams. Nese must avoid over confidence and fighting Riddle’s striking game if he’s to pull off the victory. MCW’s own, Lio Rush has gotten a spot on this card and what a challenge he faces as he is taking on the current, and longtime reigning, Full Impact Pro World Champion, Caleb Konley. Rush recently gave ROH World Champion Jay Lethal fits, and looks to continue to take the wrestling world by storm here, but Konley is one of the best out there today, and with WWE watching everything Evolve does, Konley will be more wily than ever. Konley also has Andrea and Val at his side, frequently proving to be major distractions. Rush is the hometown favorite though, and may have enough emotional energy to pull off an upset. This match stands a shot at stealing the show. Catch Point is Evolves resident “stable” or “faction” and it consists of the four guys facing each other in this match for the Evolve tag team championship, as well as Matt Riddle. You don’t see any other company on the planet pitting stable mates against each other, especially in title matches, but this is another reason Evolve is different. Catch Point claims they are all about the greatest competition in the world. Here they will have to step up and prove that as the tag team champions, Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams defend against friends, and faction partners, TJ Perkins(TJP) & Fred Yehi Johnny Gargano, a mainstay in Evolve, and multiple time champion, having recently been signed by WWE’s NXT, comes in to take on one of the greatest European wrestlers in the world today, the Villain, Marty Scurll. Gargano, clearly one of the greatest wrestlers in the world today will have all he can handle with the fast rising, and total package in Scurll. While Marty has no issues calling himself a bad guy, or the “villain,” he doesn’t have to resort to underhanded tactics to win his matches. He’s an excellent technical wrestler that will give Gargano all he can handle. I believe Gargano should win, unless he’s too distracted by his former tag team partner, Drew Galloway, turning on him on the last Evolve show. Speaking of Drew Galloway, he turned on his partner, Johnny Gargano on the last Evolve card after they lost their tag team titles to Catch Point. Galloway was infuriated that WWE is getting all the attention as of late, and guys like Gargano are being scooped up by the company that didn’t see his talent, and let him go. After brutally attacking Gargano, Ethan Page made the save. Page, after being brought into Evolve by Gargano some time ago, then turning on him, has since been trying to make it up to Gargano, and the Evolve fans, and seeks to solidly prove himself redeemed in this match up. Galloway is as mean as a snake, but Page has proven in the past that he can get down and dirty as well. This one is going to be a fight! Finally, in the main event two of the absolute greatest wrestlers today square off in yet another bout in their long standing feud. The one and only knock out artist Chris Hero takes on the guy many are calling “the best in the world,” Europe’s own Zack Sabre Jr. Hero is unbelievably powerful, while also having cat like reflexes, and an elbow that can cripple. Chris is out to prove that no one is better than him, not even Zabre Jr. who has the ability to tie men up and knots like no one I’ve ever seen in my life. These two legitimately hate each other, and want desperately to win this match. Zabre Jr has already been signed to WWE’s Cruiser Weight tournament this summer, while Hero was released from NXT some time back. This does nothing but add fuel to an inferno already blazing between these two, and helps ensure that this match is an absolute must see. Evolve is hot as hell right now, and is getting hotter. As they blaze across the Country, WWE’s Triple H, and Steven Regal, following their trail in order to discover the next big thing, you should be a part of it too! If not live, then in the very least through ippv on www.wwnlive.com I can assure you that Evolve is “Wrestling Done Right!”
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 What’s better than some of the best names in all of independent professional wrestling facing off in epic one on one battles? What’s cooler than watching future WWE superstars face off right before they step onto the big stage? What’s more fun than getting to meet, interact, and mingle with wrestler’s that you just know are going to one day soon have their own action figures? As a fan of professional wrestling, I can say with authority that nothing is better than that. Today WWE is scooping up everyone on the independent scene. Guys that just a few short months ago were wrestling in your hometown are now WWE Superstars. Guys like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, and Sami Zayn, who once were available to fans like us, are now hard to access, and expensive to watch live, in person.
If you want access to the very best, the top level talent on the indy scene today, before they get snatched up by Triple H, then the best place to do so is at Legacy Wrestling. The owners of Legacy wrestling are hardcore fans, with their eyes on industry. They know who is hot, and they want their shows filled with guys that will soon be known all over the world, as “superstars” on the biggest stage of them all. Before guys like Johnny Gargano, David Starr, and Shynron, get their Wrestlemania moment, Legacy is bringing them to Manheim, Pennsylvania for “Night of Redemption!” In fact, the Legacy Champion, Eddie Smooth, is taking on a man that’s already signed to WWE’s NXT in Johnny Gargano. While NXT has “Johnny Wrestling,” as he’s known as all over the world, in a tag team with Tommoso Ciampa, Gargano has held many titles all over the world. He’s the longest reigning Dragon Gate USA, Open the Freedom gate Champion, and even after losing it, came back to win it a second time! Gargano has held titles in ten different companies, and has been ranked as high as number 51 in the PWI top 500 Wrestlers in the world! Everyone from Central Pennsylvania knows who Eddie Smooth is. Smooth is the star of numerous companies in Pennsylvania, and has appeared on CZW’s Cage of Death to rave reviews. I’ve dubbed him wrestling’s “prodigy” because the man can work a part time wrestling schedule yet still go toe to toe, and even defeat guys like AR Fox, Shane (Kill Shot) Strickland, Carlito, Tony Nese, and PJ Black! Smooth faces his biggest challenge yet in Gargano, and this match alone is worth the ticket price. David Starr, a man that recently wrestled a 104 minute match (yes, a 1 hour and 44 minute match!) and most recently CZW’s runner up in the Best of the Best tournament, steps into the ring with Full Impact Pro World Champion Caleb Konley. Starr, obviously known for his conditioning, recently returned from a European tour that saw him in the ring with New Japan’s new signee, Will Ospreay! Starr has held numerous titles across the globe, and will be looking to prove that he’s the best thing going today. Starr also has a legitimate amateur background, including having wrestled for Central Pennsylvania’s very own Elizabethtown College. Konley, a star, and champion, in his Native North Carolina and as formally mentioned, the current FIP World Champion, has bested some of the biggest names in wrestling, and is on the Evolve roster, the very roster that NXT recruits from. This match is one for the ages. Two young men that are ready to break through, and show the world that they are ready for the big time. That drive will fuel them to try and “steal the show,” and that’s always good for any fan in attendance. Indy sensation, having recently appeared on TNA Wrestling, Shynron, is coming to Legacy amidst the talk of Legacy having the best “high flyers” in all of indy wrestling. With the likes of AR Fox, Shane Strickland, Lio Rush, and the man Shynron is coming in to face, Desmond Xavier, Legacy has developed a strong case for being the place to go for the best arial artists! Xavier is the new kid in town that’s getting all the best bookings due to his amazing attacks from on high, and Shynron wants to take this kid to school, and show him what high flying is all about. This is going to be a straight up aerial assault as these two look to see who can reach the greatest altitude! Get your “this is awesome” chants ready now! Travis “Air” Gordon keeping with the high flying spectacle that is Legacy, touches down from the New England area to face off against the Neon Ninja, Façade! Gordon has earned the “Air” moniker because he flies around as if he has no regard for his own body, but he will need such an attitude facing off against one of the most over guys in all of central Pennsylvania, in Façade. The crowd goes wild when The Ninja and his girl, the beautiful Danni, enter the arena. Will Gordon have what it takes to overcome not only Façade’s skills, but the power he draws from all of his little Ninja’s in the crowd? Penelope Ford has been getting tons of buzz from the CZW Dojo. She’s a young lady that while still fairly new to the scene, is quickly rising up the ranks. This woman practices, trains, and faces off against men twice her size, and it’s showing in her performances. So who else better to test Ms. Ford than non-other than world renowned Candace LArae! Candace has competed against some of the greatest women, and men, throughout the world. She has even held the infamous Pro Wrestling Gorilla tag team titles with Joey Ryan. Not only that, they defeat the Young Bucks to capture those titles! This match is going to be arguably the greatest female wrestler in the world today, facing off against one of the top up and coming females in the world today. Wow, how can you not want to see that? Laszlo Arpad legitimately traveled across the world to make his mark in American Professional Wrestling, and he has done so in Central Pennsylvania, even competing at CZW’s Cage of Death! Arpad shows extra intensity at Legacy, and wants to prove that anyone wrestling there has to go through him. He’s not liked the idea of local favorite, and pretty boy, T.J. Mathis making his mark in the company. Laszlo has been tormenting Mathis for months, and wants to ensure that he takes the kid out, and ruins his dreams. The Hungarian seems to believe destroying Mathis will further cement his reputation as a legitimate monster. Mathis, having upset Arpad on the last Legacy show is out to prove that wasn’t just a fluke. Arpad has also been having issues with CZW owner DJ Hyde, and has a match with him this summer, will that be a distraction to Arpad? Is Mathis the real deal? Is he going to become the star of Legacy one day soon? This match will answer those questions. Dave Crist, known best for all of his tag team success with his brother all across the Country, has announced that he’s coming to Night of Redemption, but no one knows why. Is it a coincidence that he’s arriving on the very same night that the Legacy tag team champions, The Bloodbound Warriors (Red Scorpion and Greywolfe) are to be awarded their tag title belts? It makes me wonder. Fast rising Tony Deppen is returning to Legacy due to extreme fan demand, but who will he face off with? Deppen is an angry young man, out to show the world that he deserves as much respect as anyone. He’s always willing to fight anyone that will step up. Could it be that no one has yet been brave enough to do so? What about Joe Keys? He attacked Lio Rush on the last Legacy show, but since winning Ring of Honor’s Top Prospect tournament, Rush hasn’t announced his return to Legacy yet. If Rush isn’t there, what will Keys do? How will he react? Keys has promised to be there… Legacy Wrestling is where Legitimate resides! The owners and promoters are experienced, and knowledgeable about the business. They seek to bring in only the best wrestlers in the world. They want Central Pennsylvania to be a hub for top notch independent professional wrestling. They model their format after the infamous Pro Wrestling Guerilla, a staple of the industry. They seek to bring in new, fresh, but dedicated wrestlers that can build a solid future for the company as they face off against, and share a locker room with, the greatest wrestlers not yet signed by WWE. They want to give you, the fans, an opportunity of a life time every time you attend one of their events. I proudly consider myself a “wrestling snob,” and coinsurer of greatness inside the squared circle, and I can assure anyone reading this that Legacy Wrestling meets my intricate demands of what good professional wrestling should be. Legacy wrestling is a model of “Wrestling Done Right!”  Evolve wrestling was named by none other than Daniel Bryan. When owner and promoter Gabe Sapolsky first started the company he wanted a name that was different, a name that reflected that his company was better, and legitimate. Bryan helped him with that when he suggested the name “Evolve,” and boy what a great choice that was. In Evolve wins and losses matter, the rankings matter. The goal in Evolve is to be the best wrestler on the roster. When I say wrestler, I mean wrestler too. You won’t find “Sports Entertainers” in Evolve. It’s dark, gritty, and it’s where the men of professional wrestling go to show the WWE they are worth signing. Sure, NXT may spruce them up a little, tweak their gimmick, give them shinier gear, and fancier entrance themes, but William Regal, and even Triple H himself often attend Evolve shows because they know that’s where the hardest workers come from. Men like Johnny Gargano, a guy that has been killing it on the indy’s for years now, and finally signed a deal with NXT. Matt Riddle, a former star in the UFC that’s undefeated in Evolve. Chris Hero, one of the greatest wrestlers on Earth today. He’s crazy powerful, agile, quick, and can legit knock an opponent out. Drew Galloway, the current TNA World champion who held the Evolve title for a year and literally defended it all over the world, Tracy Williams, one of the hottest up and comers in wrestling today, and finally the man in the world of indy wrestling today that everyone is buzzing about, the man that many say has stepped in as the best in the world, since Daniel Bryan’s retirement, Zack Sabre Jr!
I know many of you that read my posts here at WDR are big fans of NXT, and if you’re one of them, you simply must start following Evolve. If you want to see the next up and coming stars of NXT, Evolve is where they are. If you’re anywhere close to Joppa Maryland, Evolve is holding a show on Friday, May 6th at the Maryland Championship Wrestling venue. Go here to get tickets. Already announced is Chris Hero vs Zack Sabre Jr, and I promise you, that match alone is worth the price of admission. If you go, I’ll be in the front row. Come say hello as you join me for Wrestling Done Right!  Wrestling Done Right will be bringing our preview show, "Indy Wrestling Saturday" to The Monster Factory LLC on Saturday, April 16th! We will preview the card for you LIVE right here on Facebook, 45 minutes before the show begins, and what a show it is!
Cody Vance to face Nick Comoroto Bob Evans to face the Wildman Kongo! A Fatal 4 Way to determine who will face the winner of Punisher Martinez & the Monster Abyss! Those four participants are Matthew Riddle, Shaheem Ali, Kyle The Beast Winant, and Mikey Webb! Paid in Full defend their tag team titles against The Down Boyz! Deonna Purrazzo puts her title on the line against new comer, Britt Baker! In the main event, Punisher Martinez looks to become the three time Heavyweight Champion of #TheMFPW as he faces the Monster Abyss!  I fell in love with Lucha Underground on episode one, season one. Many are still shocked by that because of how different Lucha Underground is compared to the pure, realistic, style that I hold aloft as being the only wrestling that’s “done right.” I’ll admit, Lucha Underground does not fit with my usual tastes, but the wrestling is so fun, fast paced, and exciting. The gimmicks, while colorful and full of fantasy, are still done well. At least for the most part, and that is where I want to start critiquing a company that I really enjoy, and will continue to enjoy. I mean how can a wrestling fan not enjoy a Fenix vs Mil Muertes match? How can a wrestling fan not enjoy Pentagon Jr.? While I admit that I while completely divorce Lucha Underground from all other wrestling companies, and see it as its own little “universe,” I still very much enjoy it still. The question is though, how can an old school purist like myself enjoy a wrestler that claims to be risen from death, accompanied to the ring by a woman that seems to have magical abilities? How can I enjoy a wrestler that seems to claim that he is a legitimate time traveling alien? Honestly, it’s a struggle, but I’ve been told that is the Lucha tradition and if I like the wrestling, to just get past it. I’ve done that for the most part, as it seems to me more of the gimmicks are based in reality. Killshot for example, Cage and Texano for another. For every eye rolling gimmick there seems to be two or three solid ones. So what’s my critique?
First of all, this season has been less appealing to me because of Matanza. We waited an entire season to see this creature, Dario Cueto’s brother, who had been locked in a cage until just the right moment. It was an interesting storyline, but what I feared might happen with it, has. Matanza has come in and done what no one ever has, dominate. One of the most appealing things of Lucha Underground was the idea that anyone could win, and anyone could lose. The roster was so solid, that no one was going to walk in and win all the time. There would be no John Cena’s, no Goldbergs, in Lucha Underground. It was such an even playing field, that even the women could win championships, they didn’t need a “women’s division!” Now we’ve got one guy, that doesn’t even look all that imposing, wiping the floor with everyone. This guy isn’t just winning, he’s destroying everyone with ease. I trust the writers and producers of the show that we’re being taken somewhere special, but when I see Matanza advertised, I have no interest in the match because I know what it’s going to be. What would I do differently? Well, I wouldn’t have put the title on this guy. Have him come in and destroy people, but have him do so with no care of winning or losing. He’s come just to hurt people and get his brother back in charge on the temple. Have him be a weapon Dario uses against anyone that doesn’t do his bidding. He would still work matches, but he would do so only to hand out pain, and suffering. I’d have him get disqualified often, because he didn’t care about rules and such. You could still have your roster afraid of him, and they could still have to work together to overcome him, but he wouldn’t have to be the champion, destroying everyone in his path as if they were nothing. Another issue I’m having is the idea that Joey Ryan and Ricky Reyes are undercover police officers. I can get past silly gimmicks like aliens, and Zombies, but asking me to accept that these guys are undercover cops is just too much. It doesn’t help that the vignettes are terrible either. Lucha Underground normally gets anything involving video production right, often times even much better than the mighty WWE, but with this story, they don’t….at all. The acting in them is terrible, and they aren’t the slightest bit believable. How could they be better? Well, how about if you took Reyes and Ryan, and had them be confidential informants to the feds? This would be much more believable. Ryan and Reyes could remain the professional wrestlers that they are, without asking longtime fans to believe they are actually working as police officers. This would also eliminate the need for them to “act” well in these vignettes. They could simply be themselves. You could easily explain the story too. Joey and Ricky were refused entry into the temple, and later discovered that Dario is some kind of sleazy criminal, and used that against him by going to the police and getting an in, into the temple. That also leaves you with the possibility of turning either Ryan, or Reyes, by having them lie to the police to protect their new boss. There’s many ways you could do that, without having to turn Ricky, and Joey, into actual police officers, which is just silly, and unbelievable. Now that I’ve written about my issues with Lucha Underground, allow me to once again say that I’m still a big fan. I’ve purchased a lot of merchandise, and I bought the “Sling” application just so I can make sure I never miss an episode. The in ring talent is second to none, and I hope they get many more seasons, and if they do, I’ll be there for all of them. The wrestling is so awesome, so much fun, so entertaining, that I will continue to dismiss gimmicks, or angles I don’t like. It takes a lot for me to ignore aspects of a company that I don’t care for while still proclaiming them “Wrestling Done Right!”  Every time I watch Ring of Honor, or attend a live event, I know I am going to see the best wrestling anywhere. I know the crowd is going to be alive, the wrestlers are going to give their all, and I am going to get my money’s worth, and then some. I’m never letdown by anything ROH does. I never walk away feeling less than satisfied. ROH’s roster can stand up to any other company’s roster, and I even prefer the darker, seedier, presentation to WWE’s super bright, and colorful one. They are without a doubt “Wrestling Done Right.” But…yes, there’s a but. As much as I enjoy the in ring product, there’s something missing, something that keeps ROH from being even better, something that keeps them from being elite. Sure, working with New Japan Pro Wrestling is incredible, and their War of the World’s show in Philadelphia last year was my all-time favorite event that I’ve ever attended live, but…yes, there’s still that but.
ROH needs storylines, they need more angles, more reasons for the match-ups, more feelings behind their amazing athletes and why they do what they do, why they act how they act, why they are who they are. Far too often ROH has matches just for the sake of having matches. Yes, two of my favorite “indy” companies do that all the time, but ROH isn’t an “indy” company. They are a World traveling, nationally broadcasted, syndicated weekly television wrestling company. Ring of Honor needs to start having more dramatic flair. One can sit and watch five star match, after five star match, week after week, month after month, year after year, and appreciate all of them, but it would be even better, more exciting, more fulfilling, if there were stories to follow in regard to why these matches are happening. This is one area where NXT, and Lucha Underground, do a better job than ROH does. ROH has the same level of talent as NXT, and L.U., but they simply don’t invest the time in developing angles and storylines. While Lucha Underground can get pretty far “out there” with their storylines (Joey Ryan as an undercover cop, really?) it’s still better than no storylines. Look to WWE’s NXT for better storylines, and character development. Look at what they did for Baron Corbin. Making him the indy killer was great. Look at how they built Bayley from an afterthought hanger on, to the champion, and one of the best women wrestlers out there today. The story they told with Samoa Joe, with the arrival of Kevin Owen’s, etc. I don’t want to make this about NXT though, I just wanted to throw some examples out there. ROH does indeed do angles and storylines. They just don’t get enough focus or time. ROH’s angles often feel rushed as well. They also frequently do things that are far too obvious. I mean who didn’t see the reuniting of the Moter City Machine Gun’s coming from a mile away? Who didn’t figure Adam Cole wasn’t seriously reuniting with Kyle O’Reilly? Other angles don’t seem to get a fair shot. Bob Evans taking Tim Hughes under his wing was good, and they use those two, but why can’t they get a shocking win here or there, or why can’t Bob start smacking Tim around to get him “serious” about his future? It would be different, and if there is one thing ROH could benefit from is something being different. Then there’s Cheeseburger…where do I even begin with Cheeseburger? He’s everyone’s favorite underdog, but how can we ever take someone that size, with that name, seriously? I’d do something crazy like have Burger turn on a partner one night, while facing Bob and Tim, and join up with them. Use a guy like Bob for what he’d be best at! Taking two young guys and turning them into no good dirty heels. Two guys that look to stand no shot in a place like ROH, become moderately successful mid-card heels under the tutelage of Bob Evans. Then of course you have them turn on Bob one day for a massive pop! What about using the fact that Jay Lethal joined Los Ingobernables de Japón during a New Japan show, and have him interject himself in NJPW stars matches when they are on a ROH card? I’d love to see Martini come out to the ring with a mask on! It would shake things up for sure. Why doesn’t Adam Cole cheat a hell of a lot more? Isn’t a no good rotten heel? Yes he’s a world class wrestler, but he is also the kind of guy that would do anything to get to the top right? So have him do that, all the time! reDRagon are a serious, ass kicking team, and they excel in singles work too, so how about having them be like The Shield of ROH. The guys there that make Ring of Honor really stand for HONOR. Why not have them challenge anyone that steps foot onto their turf and wants to act in anyway that brings dishonor to it? I am glad to see ROH using Prince Nana better. I like his recruitment of several ROH roster members, and I hope that angle really plays out well, and tells a great story. Nana, a great mouth piece, and manager, should easily be able to help these men get over more, but they need to get into match ups that matter, they need to challenge competitors that makes sense for them to challenge. The Young Bucks do an amazing job in Mount Rushmore in PWG and in The Elite/Bullet Club in NJPW, so why can’t they be in a cool faction in ROH? Heel or face (in ROH I believe it would have to be face) so why not team with a guy like Matt Sydel and his frequent partner ACH? Moose is being built at a decent pace, but Stokley needs more interview time with the big man standing behind him. They need to start laying down serious challenges. Moose should be being built up as a title challenger, and Lethal should show confidence, but some kind of awkward fear as well. I mean what normal man could look at Moose and not feel a little fear? A little concern? I could go on forever, but this article is already too long. I love Ring of Honor, I respect, and appreciate them and their efforts. I’ve been following them since day one! I would just love to see them take the time to invest in serious and well thought out storylines. I’d like to see them do things that made you think, rather than just watch the in ring performance. One last idea…how about having Dalton Castle go off on why he came to ROH. He clearly is like no one else there. What made him want to work for a company that is full of realistic brawler looking guys all out to just prove they are the best? Why not have him go off on the mic about why ROH needs more color, why it needs more of a party atmosphere, why it needs a PARTY PEACOCK! Instead Castle just showed up one day. I was in the audience for his big debut in Baltimore, and while many of the fans instantly loved him, I was just sitting in my seat wondering what in the hell this guy was all about. He’s a story in and of himself! Imagine if Goldust would have just shown up in the WWF out of the blue. No promos, no video vignettes, he just was introduced by the ring announcer one day on WWF Superstars or something. What a waste that would have been right? Getting the stories right is also Wrestling Done Right!  Wrestling Done Right presents "Indy Wrestling Saturday" makes its return when we preview Legacy Wrestling presents "Night Of Redemption"!
Chuck Ransford and myself will bring you a rundown of the card, interviews with wrestlers, and our famous predictions, one hour before show time! And, for the first time ever, the show will be broadcast LIVE on Periscope, and Facebook! Get ready for all the action when we go live from 6:00 to 6:45pm, above the ring, at Spooky Nook Sports! We will be doing this for every Legacy Wrestling show, and very possibly a few other places as well, so stay tuned for further announcements about the return of "Indy Wrestling Saturday!" We started the trend of broadcasting from live events, and we are stepping it up by going live, just like you see the WWE Network do for all their big shows. We will see you at Spooky Nook Sports on April 30th! Remember...Wrestling Done Right isn't on Monday Nights! BUILD! That and the best wrestlers on the planet leads to one of the greatest wrestling shows of all time. I’ve seen a ton of wrestling cards in my life, from all over the world, but the greatest ones are those that BUILD. The shows that have matches that have been built up over time. Shows that give us the reason two men, or women, are facing off. Yes, there are a select few indy companies that can simply throw together matches, and it works, but if you’re on weekly TV you absolutely have to build your shows through time. You have to give us the reason for match ups. NXT does that better than anyone, and they did it better than ever for Takeover Dallas.
American Alpha was built over a long stretch of time. They weren’t shoved on us, they weren’t propelled into the top spot, even after we all realized how great they were, they still had to earn the spot through weeks of NXT TV. Dawson and Wilder were built even slower, losing most of their matches, going through gimmick adjustments, until finally they were utilized in a way that clicked. When these two teams finally came together it was a great big deal. Then those four men put on a match that was worthy of that build. American Alpha became the new champs, props to them. I like both teams, and if NXT is smart, they will be in a long feud that will see them trade the titles back and forth numerous times. I’m not a big fan of Baron Corbin, but they’ve got a genius gimmick on him. “The indy killer” is money, and it opens up countless matchups for the big guy. After realizing that the NXT crowd wasn’t into the WWE recruit, that didn’t spend a day outside the WWE, instead of continuing to force him as a baby face, they used the fans resentment and made him the guy there to take out their indy darlings. Austin Aries has deserved a top spot for years, and it’s great to see him finally get it. I felt the match should have showcased a lot more of what Aries is capable of, but at least he won, at least he escaped Corbin’s dreaded finisher. I enjoyed the match over all, but it was the most disappointing match on the card, but it wasn’t Aries’s fault. I’ve not seen a wrestler built the way Bayley has been built in decades. This girl came onto the scene like a joke, like a fan that could bump. She was a tag along, an afterthought. Little by little though she began to step up, and step out. Little by little fans began to realize this little silly girl that hugs everyone could really wrestle. She is now the wrestler that has had one of, if not the best matches I’ve seen from NXT. Bayley vs Sasha was epic in every way. Asuka was billed as one of the greatest of all time, and she’s come in and proven that to be true. She has a mystique around here like the WWE has never built around a foreign competitor. While this match wasn’t on the level of Bayley/Sasha it was very good. It showed Bayley as being all heart, taking on the dangerous Asuka and matching her step for step, until she got caught in the Asuka lock, and even then, she fought it like no one ever has before. Who challenges the new champion now? The only contender I see is Emma, and she’s lost to Asuka already. Who will NXT “build” next, for the mighty new champion? The greatest match, on an amazing card honestly had the least build, but it still had some. Sami Zayn has been on a mission to prove he deserves another NXT title shot since returning from being injured by Kevin Owens. Suffering a huge set back from Samoa Joe (after weeks of building that match up) he refuses to be shaken, he insists that he will get back to the top, and become the only man to hold the NXT title two times. Regal appears on the ramp and informs Sami that he can do that by facing NXT’s newest signee, Shinsuke Nakamura! NXT then built Nakamura up the same way they did Asuka, and it lead to tons of hype, and excitement for the match. The match was beyond great, awesome isn’t a fair word either because so many matches have been described with that word. This match was an instant classic, one that will forever be remembered, and cherished by all true wrestling fans. Sami leaves NXT for the main roster having lost, and failed at his attempt to be the first man to become a two time NXT champion, but if WWE is smart they can use that in his Wrestlemania match. They can say that is what drives him. They can say his NXT failure, and Steen being the reason he lost the NXT title in the first place, is what makes him so desperately desire the IC title. Here’s hoping that is the story they tell on Sunday. Samoa Joe has been built as a “monster” since day one in NXT. When they finally turned him heel that idea was pushed even more. No one has used Samoa Joe that well since his early ROH days. Fin Balor has been pushed as one of the greatest wrestlers the world has to offer since his arrival. As such, these two have been slowly, but surely, headed towards a collision for months. After the inexplicable chainsaw entrance of Balor’s, the match was incredible. Joe getting busted open immediately lead to a feeling or “realness.” The doctors, and cut men, stepping in every so often didn’t bother me either, they made it feel more real to me. I believe most people felt this was Joe’s night, so it was a shock when Fin retained. What now? Where does Joe go from here? Surely Fin is being called up to the main roster very soon, some even believe as early as Sunday’s Wrestlemania, and if not, then the next night on Monday’s RAW. Will he bring the NXT title with him? Or will he remain in NXT as the name behind that brand? Whatever happens, we know that NXT will do it right, we know they will keep building their stories like only they can. Wrestling that is built right is wrestling that is DONE right! |
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