10 Live Observations From EVOLVE 61
WWE vs. TNA in EVOLVE?!
EVOLVE Wrestling wrapped up its first double-shot of shows since WrestleMania weekend with EVOLVE 61 in Queens, NY. The show promised to be a great offering from a league that's gained a ton of momentum over the past year, and it delivered on all counts.
The most heavily-hyped contests on the show were Fred Yehi versus TJP and Drew Gulak versus Tracy Williams, two qualifying matches for the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. With EVOLVE serving as a sort of feeder territory for WWE in recent months, odds are that the winners of the bouts will fare well in this summer's tournament.
That wasn't it, though - top British stars Marty Scurll and Zack Sabre, Jr., who both made a huge splash at the WrestleMania weekend shows, took on each other in a bout with huge implications for the company's title rankings. It also promised to be a classic between two of the U.K.'s best workers.
Finally, the show had a truly unique main event - Drew Galloway, TNA Heavyweight Champion, would take on Johnny Gargano, who's been wrestling in NXT for months and recently signed a contract with WWE. It was a WWE versus TNA showdown, with an ending that took things to the next level.
The show was a winner, and everyone who was there knew it. Here are 10 live observations from EVOLVE 61.
10. Lio Rush Is Working Both Sides Of The Divide
Over the past several months, Lio Rush has broken out as one of the fastest-rising talents in independent wrestling. The 21-year-old only started competing in 2014, but his skill has quickly made him a name on the U.S. indy scene.
Rush debuted for Ring of Honor in December of 2015, and this past March, he won the company's prestigious newcomer-oriented Top Prospect Tournament. As previous winners include Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, and Hanson, odds are that big things are ahead for Rush in ROH.
Oddly, though, Rush also works for EVOLVE. The two independent promotions are competitors (EVOLVE booker and co-founder Gabe Sapolsky used to work for Ring of Honor, and EVOLVE is affiliated with WWE while ROH works with New Japan), and typically use separate talent. Nevertheless, Rush has been competing for EVOLVE as well - the high-flyer competed in EVOLVE 61's opening contest, falling short against former UFC star Matt Riddle.
Today's wrestling landscape is an increasingly weird place (more on that later), and Lio Rush's work for EVOLVE and ROH proves that rules are broken constantly. Plus, it benefits both leagues and their fans.