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COMPLETE EVOLVE 41 REPORT: THATCHER VS. STRONG, PERKINS VS. BUSICK, RICHARDS VS. GARGANO, AND MORE

By Richard Trionfo on 2015-04-17 23:31:03
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of Evolve 41 from the Orpheum in Ybor City, Florida.

The Premiere Athlete Brand makes their way to the ring to start off tonight’s show.

Anthony Nese takes the mic and he says things didn’t really go as planned during the WWN Live Experience in San Jose. It was due to Su Yung. Even though you weren’t there, he knows that she was making phone calls and planting seeds to screw her over. That is okay. Tony says that he is back, Caleb is refocused and Andréa is here to make sure that Su doesn’t screw anything else up. Tony tells Su she has one more chance or she is fired.

Tony says that they are going to brush up some newcomers as they prepare for tomorrow’s Street Fight where they will take care of Rich Swann and end the legacy of Ronin. Nese wants Martin Stone to get out here now.

Match Number One: Special Attraction Match : Martin Stone versus DGUSA Open The United Gate Champion Anthony Nese (with So Cal Val, Andréa and Su Yung)

They circle each other as the bell rings. Stone wants Nese to come out of the corner. The crowd chants for Su and Nese goes to the floor and he yells at Su and tells her not to move from her spot on the floor. The referee starts his count as Nese takes his time getting back into the ring.

Nese gets back into the ring and they lock up. Stone backs Nese into the corner but Nese gets into the ropes and the referee forces Stone to release the hold. They lock up again and Stone with a wrist lock. Nese with a reversal and back heel trip for a near fall. Nese poses before getting back to his feet. They lock up and Stone with a side head lock and take down.

Nese with a head scissors and Stone escapes. Stone with another side head lock take down. Nese gets a near fall with a rollup. Nese gets back to his feet and Stone with a shoulder tackle. Nese tries for a hip toss but Stone blocks it and Stone with a hip toss of his own. Stone with a back elbow and he gets a near fall.

Stone signals for a clothesline but Andréa grabs his leg. Stone goes to the apron and Nese tries to attack Stone from behind but Stone with a shoulder. Stone goes to the floor. Nese goes to the apron and he does a cartwheel to avoid Stone. Stone slaps Nese on the floor. Stone argues with Andréa and Nese with a super kick.

Nese rolls Stone back into the ring and he kicks Stone. Nese with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Nese with a chop and forearm to Stone. Nese with an Irish whip but he runs into boots from Stone. Stone goes to the turnbuckles and Nese pulls Stone off the turnbuckles and gets a near fall.

Nese with a rear chin lock. Stone with punches and chops to Nese and Nese goes down to the mat. Nese blocks a kick but Stone tries for a German suplex and Nese lands on his feet and Nese with a double stomp for a near fall. Andréa chokes Stone in the ropes while the referee deals with Nese. The referee does not notice the ropes shaking in front of him due to the choke. Nese chokes Stone with his shin. Nese stomps on Stone’s chest. Nese chops Stone in the corner and chokes him with his boot and the referee warns him. Nese with a forearm.

Nese follows with a chop but Stone pushes him away. Nese with an uppercut and Irish whip but Stone with boots and a missile drop kick and both men are down. Nese is the first to his feet but Stone with forearms and European uppercuts. Stone with a punch and a Thesz Press and he punches Nese. Stone misses a splash into the corner and Nese misses one as well. Stone with an enzuigiri followed by a splash and short arm clothesline for a near fall.

Nese with a punch but Stone punches back. Nese trips Stone as he comes off the ropes and then Nese with a double jump quebrada for a near fall. Nese tries for a suplex but Stone blocks it. Stone tries for a suplex but Nese blocks it. Nese with kicks to the leg but Stone pushes him down. Nese with a drop kick to the knee followed by a second one. Nese tries for a single leg Crab but Stone kicks him away and he hits a cutter for a near fall.

Stone gets to his feet first but he still favors the injured leg. Nese with a rollup and he hits a one arm buckle bomb. Nese with a running knee in the corner and he gets a near fall. Nese tries to turn Stone over for a single leg crab but Stone holds on to the ropes. Nese with chops and forearms but Stone will not go down. Nese with another chop to the chest but Stone shows Nese he is number one and Stone with punches and European uppercuts. Nese with a matrix and kicks. Nese with a super kick but Stone with a German suplex. Stone with a clothesline that flips Nese but Stone can only get a near fall.

The referee starts his count and both men eventually get to their feet. Stone puts Nese on the top rope but Nese gets to the apron and he kicks Stone. Nese goes up top but he misses the 450 splash when Stone moves. Stone with the cross face and Nese taps but the referee was distracted by Val so he did not see the tapping.

Nese runs into an elbow and then Stone with a sunset flip for a near fall. Nese with the Jig N Tonic but Stone kicks out at two. Nese with a single leg crab and Stone taps out.

Winner: Anthony Nese

After the match, Caleb Konley says that he wants Rey Horus to make his way to the ring for their match.

Match Number Two: Special Attraction Match : Rey Horus versus DGUSA Open The United Gate Champion Caleb Konley (with So Cal Val, Andréa and Su Yung)

Caleb has something to say to Rey before they lock up and he pie faces Rey and punches him. Caleb chops Rey in the corner. Caleb with an Irish whip but Rey floats over and Caleb puts him on the turnbuckles. Rey kicks Caleb away and then he hits an arm drag for a near fall. Caleb with an elbow but Rey with a drop kick and Caleb goes to the floor. Caleb sits down in the front row and drinks some water to rehydrate himself.

Caleb gets back into the ring> Caleb kicks Rey and connects with a forearm to the back. Caleb with a back rake. Caleb with another back rake while in the ropes. Caleb with a side head lock take down. Caleb with a shoulder tackle. Rey gets on Caleb’s shoulder and he hits a rana. Rey with a dive to the floor.

Rey chops Caleb and sends him into the apron before they return to the ring. Rey goes for a springboard move but Caleb pushes him to the floor. Caleb goes to the floor and he chokes Rey. Caleb kicks Rey in the chest. Caleb with a back drop driver onto the apron. Rey gets back into the ring but Caleb kicks him. Caleb with boots to the chest.

Caleb with a European uppercut and he pulls on Rey’s mask. Caleb chops Rey and then he sends Rey into the air and he lands chest first on the mat. Caleb with a clothesline and he gets a near fall. Caleb with a body scissors. Caleb gets a near fall on Rey while he has him in the body scissors.

Caleb with a sliding clothesline and he gets a near fall. Caleb taunts Rey while he continues to control the match. Caleb with shoulders in the corner and he connects with a forearm to the head. Caleb with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner. Rey with a chop and he this a multiple jump arm darg.

Rey with chops and Caleb goes to the floor but Rey with a plancha onto Caleb. Rey grabs a chair and he hits Caleb in the back with it. Rey goes up top and hits a cross body followed by a satellite DDT for a near fall. Rey chops Caleb but Caleb with an Irish whip. Rey with a kick and a sunset flip but Caleb rolls through and hits a spinning back fist followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.

Caleb with a wrist clutch move but Rey rolls through and tries for a sunset flip. Rey with a rana but Caleb rolls through. Rey with a kick to Caleb and Caleb is down. Both men get back to their feet and Rey charges into the corner but Rey puts Caleb on the turnbuckles and hits a round kick. Rey with a chop and he hits a super rana from the turnbuckles but Caleb kicks out at two.

Caleb with a forearm to the head and he hits a splash into the corner. Caleb misses a charge into the corner and Rey goes up top but Caleb with a leaping forearm and The Caleb hits a Super Cradle Shock for the three count.

Winner: Caleb Konley

After the match, Su says that she will be facing Santana for the Shine Championship tomorrow night. So Cal Val interrupts and she says that Santana will face Andréa because Andréa can win a match. She calls Su a loser and Val tells Su she will be fired. Val insults Su while Andréa has Su grabbed by the throat.

Match Number Three:: Biff Busick versus TJ Perkins

They try to jockey for the proper position as they lock up and Perkins with a side head lock takedown but Busick with a head scissors and Perkins escapes. Perkins goes for the leg but Busick with a waist lock. Biff with a waist lock take down but Perkins with a hammer lock. Biff rolls through to try to get back to his feet but Perkins keeps Biff on the mat. Biff gets to his feet and he reverses the hold.

Busick with a take down and Perkins with an arm drag but Biff holds on and applies a hammer lock. Perkins rolls through and gets back to his feet. Perkins cannot get out of the wrist lock. Perkins with a reversal and a drop kick to get out of the hold. Biff with a single leg take down and he starts to work on the lower extremities to wear down Perkins and limit his aerial work. Biff with a knee bar. Perkins with a head scissors on Biff.

Perkins holds on to the head scissors while Biff tries to get free and he succeeds, but Perkins avoids an elbow drop. Perkins with an Octopus into a crucifix rollup for a near fall. Biff gets to the apron to try to slow down Perkins’ momentum. Biff with a side head lock. Perkins with a fireman’s carry into an arm bar. Biff with a side head lock. Perkins goes into the ropes and Biff charges but Perkins moves and Biff goes to the floor. Biff pulls Perkins off the apron and then he gets a near fall when they return to the ring.

Biff with a front face lock. Biff with a cravate. Perkins with a slam but Biff holds on to the cravate. Biff adds more pressure to the neck but Perkins with a slam to get free. Biff with a near fall and he goes to a front face lock. Biff goes back to the cravate. Biff and Perkins alternate snap mares while holding on to face locks. Perkins with a reverse DDT but Perkins misses a charge into the corner and Biff with an elbow for a near fall.

Biff returns his focus to the neck and then he stretches Perkins with a surfboard. Biff puts his knee in Perkins’ back and continues to add pressure. Perkins with a mule kick to get out of the hold. Biff runs into a boot from Perkins and Biff with a side head lock. Biff is sent into the air and he lands on Perkins’ boots and both men are down.

Perkins with a European uppercut followed by a reverse atomic drop and a jumping back heel kick. Biff with an Irish whip but Perkins floats over and he hits a neck breaker. Perkins with a springboard cross body and then he applies a cross arm breaker on Biff. Biff gets to the ropes and Perkins has to release the hold.

Perkins brings Biff back into the ring and Biff goes for a sleeper but Perkins blocks it. Perkins with a Tiger face buster with his feet and he gets a near fall. Perkins runs into a boot but he avoids Biff coming off the ropes. Perkins with a super kick and he comes off the turnbuckles but Biff with a European uppercut to Perkins followed by a running blockbuster for a near fall. Biff goes for a half nelson suplex but Perkins with a rollup. Perkins tries for the cross arm breaker but Biff blocks it. Perkins with the cross arm breaker and he kicks Biff in the head and the referee calls for the bell.

Winner: TJ Perkins

After the match, Biff tells the referee he did not tap out.

Match Number Four: Special Challenge Match: Rich Swann versus Ethan Page

Swann attacks Page before the bell rings and he hits a drop kick. Page goes to the floor and Swann tries for a baseball slide but Page blocks it and Page with an elbow. Page with a butterfly back breaker on the floor. Page throws Swann into the apron. Page with a kick to Swann’s ribs and he rolls Swann back into the ring and gets a near fall. Page with a knee to the back. Page with a waist lock but Swann with elbows. Page with a backdrop driver to Swann. Page dances to mock Swann and then he kicks Swann in the back.

Page with shoulders in the corner. Page with a hard Irish whip to Swann. Page returns to the waist lock to work on the ribs. Swann with elbows to try to get out of the hold, but that only makes Page lock in the waist lock deeper. Swann goes for a handspring cutter but Page blocks it and he hits a suplex.

Swann spits at Page but Page runs his boot laces across Swann’s face. Page picks up Swann and knees him in the back as he walks around the ring. Page with a fallaway slam to Swann. Page kicks Swann to the floor and the referee checks on him. Swann gets back to the apron but Page stops him again. Page punches Swann on the floor and then they head to the stage.

Page sets for a cradle piledriver and he hits it. Page gets into the ring and he tells the referee to count. Swann gets back to his feet at twelve but he falls down as he gets off the stage. Swann crawls to the ring and he gets back in nineteen. Page punches Swann and the referee warns him. Page yells at the referee. Page taunts Swann but Swann with a chop. Page chops back. They go to punches and forearms. Swann with a swinging neck breaker but he still feels the damage from the piledriver on the stage.

Swann with a back kick to the head but he runs into a boot. Swann with an enzuigiri and a jumping rana to take Page off the turnbuckles and Swann gets a near fall. Swann goes up top but Page with a forearm to stop him. Page and Swann jockey for position on the turnbuckles and they exchange punches. Swann with a head butt to knock Page off but Page with a running super kick that staggers Swann. Swann pushes Page away and he catches him. Page tries to lawn dart Swann but Swann escapes and he hits a super kick. Swann misses a 450 splash from the turnbuckles and then Page hits London Bridge for a near fall. Page and Swann go to the apron and Page sets for a piledriver on the apron but Swann blocks it. Swann with forearms and an enzuigiri. Page with a knee and he back drops Swann into the ring and Swann avoids a springboard cutter by landing on his feet. Swann with a super kick. Page with a super kick. Swann with a round kick followed by a lawn dart and a springboard cutter for a near fall.

Page tries for a uranage but Swann with elbows. Page with a forearm. Swann with a kick and then he hits the handspring cutter but Page kicks out. Swann with a kick to the head and then he goes to the turnbuckles. Swann goes for the frog splash but he lands on Page’s knees. Page with a uranage for the three count.

Winner: Ethan Page

After the match, Page walks across Swann’s back before leaving the ring and going to the back.

Match Number Five: Bonus Main Event: Johnny Gargano versus Davey Richards

They lock up and go to a stalemate. They lock up again and Richards with a hammer lock but Gargano with a side head lock. Richards with a head scissors but Gargano escapes. They lock up again and Richards works on the wrist. Gargano rolls through and takes Richards down and he floats over to keep Richards down. Gargano with a front face lock. Richards with a single leg take down into a trailer hitch and Gargano gets to the ropes. Davey releases the hold and he helps Gargano back to his feet.

They lock up again and Gargano with a side head lock. Gargano with a shoulder tackle but Richards stays on his feet. Gargano tries again and Richards stays on his feet. Gargano tries for the Gargano Escape when Davey drops down. Davey gets to the floor and he shows some frustration.

Richards returns to the ring and he offers his hand to Gargano but it was a trap and he hits Gargano with a forearm and then he sends Gargano into the turnbuckles. Richards with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Richards goes for an O’Connor Roll and he turns it into a rocking chair submission but Gargano counters into one of his own.

Gargano with a rollup for a near fall. Richards with a front face lock and wrist lock. Davey takes Gargano to the mat and he wraps him up into a modified cloverleaf and then he pulls back to add more pressure to the back. Richards rolls Gargano over and gets a near fall. Richards with a head butt to Gargano followed by a side head lock and take down.

Richards with a drop kick and Gargano rolls to the apron and the floor. Richards goes to the apron and he misses the kick to the head. Gargano with an enzuigiri and he goes to the apron. Richards charges at Gargano but Gargano with a spear from the apron. Gargano tries to work on getting feeling back into his knee as he punches Richards around the ring. Gargano with a snap mare and he hits a drop kick to the back of the head. Gargano with a near fall.

Richards and Gargano go back and forth with forearms. Gargano with the advantage. Gargano with an elbow but Richards with an STO. Richards with a head butt and Gargano falls to the mat. Richards with a snap suplex and he gets a near fall. Gargano with forearms to Richards but Richards with a knee to the midsection. Richards pulls down the knee pad and he teases ending the Gargano bloodline but he drops a knee to Gargano’s knee. Richards kicks Gargano in the back of the knee.

Gargano kicks Richards in the head to get him to release the knee bar but Richards with an elbow to the knee. Richards prepares for the figure four but he decides not to do it and he flips off the crowd. Richards Irish whips Gargano and he collapses to the mat. Gargano refuses to give up. Richards puts Gargano’s leg in the ropes and he kicks the knee. Richards with a drop kick to the knee.

Richards puts Gargano’s leg in the ropes and he kicks it. Richards runs into an elbow from Gargano twice. Richards with a kick and forearm to Gargano. Gargano counters the handspring move from Richards with a jumping neck breaker and both men are down. Gargano floats over Richards in the corner and he kicks Richards. Gargano is sent to the apron and Gargano with a shoulder and a slingshot DDT for a near fall.

Gargano with chops in the corner and then he puts Richards on the turnbuckles. Gargano sets for the lawn dart but Richards gets to his feet. Gargano with a knee but Richards with a kick for a near fall. Richards puts Gargano in position as he goes up top for the double stomp. Richards misses but lands on his feet. Richards avoids a kick from Gargano and Richards applies a Stretch Muffler, but Gargano escapes and applies the GargaNo Escape but Richards gets his foot on the rope.

Gargano with forearms while Richards fires back with kicks. Gargano works on the shoulder while Davey connects with kicks. Gargano with super kicks but Richards does not go down. Gargano with the lawn dart followed by a running kick and he gets a near fall. Johnny applies the GargaNo Escape. Davey with a rollup into the Stretch Muffler. Richards and Gargano go back and forth with near falls. Gargano with a super kick but Richards with the Alarm Clock and a Yakuza Kick and Saito Suplex. Davey goes up top and hits the double stomp but Gargano kicks out at two.

Richards with Creeping Death for the three count.

Winner: Davey Richards

After the match, Rob Naylor asks Johnny about his chances tomorrow in the tag title match with his loss and Rich Swann’s injury. Johnny says that things will be personal. He tells the Premiere Athlete Brand to expect a war. Johnny is asked about Ethan Page. Johnny says he has nothing to say about Ethan Page.

Match Number Six: Two out of Three Falls The Winner Will Get An EVOLVE Title Shot In The Future: Roderick Strong versus Timothy Thatcher

Fall Number One

Before they lock up, Roderick responds to a fan’s comment about his gear and almost goes after him. Strong goes into the ropes before Thatcher can lock up and he goes to the floor. Strong teases getting back into the ring but he stays on the floor. They lock up and Thatcher backs Strong into the ropes. Strong goes for the legs but Thatcher rides Strong before he can get back to his feet. Strong with a wrist lock but Thatcher with a reversal into a waist lock. Strong tries to get away from Thatcher, but Thatcher stays on top of him.

Strong gets to the floor and he takes his time getting back into the ring. Strong gets back into the ring and He connects with knees and forearms. Strong with a front face lock but Thatcher stays on top. Strong with a side head lock. Thatcher tries for the cross arm breaker but Strong gets to the ropes. Strong goes to the apron and then he sits on a fan’s lap before getting back into the ring.

Strong gets back into the ring and he tries to kick Thatcher but Thatcher blocks it and he sends Strong to the mat and he stomps on the thigh. Thatcher with a wrist lock and he puts the hand on the mat and Thatcher stomps on it. Thatcher holds on to the wrist lock and he turns it into a key lock as he continues to work on the arm. Thatcher with a knee to the back and he tries for the cross arm breaker.

Strong tries for the Strong Hold but Thatcher blocks it. Strong with a series of knees to Thatcher and he backs Timothy into the corner. Thatcher with European uppercuts but Strong with a kick and Thatcher goes down. Strong with a knee to the back and then he kicks Thatcher in the midsection. Strong kicks Thatcher in the head and then he pushes him down to the mat.

Strong with chops but Thatcher with European uppercuts and Thatcher with the advantage. Thatcher with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Thatcher with a key lock on Strong. Strong gets his foot under the ropes and Thatcher has to release the hold. Strong and Thatcher exchange forearms. Strong with a kick to the knees and he gets back into the ring. Strong gets a near fall.

Strong with a boot to the back of the neck and then he stomps on the chest. Strong with a kick to the head and he gets a near fall. Thatcher with a knee but Strong with a drop kick for a near fall. Strong with a rear chin lock. Thatcher with elbows to try to get out of the hold but Strong runs Thatcher into the corner and Strong with a chop. Strong sets for the running knee but Thatcher with a European uppercut and he hits a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Strong with a rollup for the three count.

Winner Fall Number One: Roderick Strong (Strong 1 Fall, Thatcher 0 Falls)

Fall Number Two

They battle on the floor around the ring and towards the bar. Thatcher slams Strong’s arm into one of the side bars. Thatcher with a European uppercut but Strong sends Thatcher into the ring post after Thatcher stops the referee’s count. Strong chops Thatcher against the post in the building, but he misses when he tries again. Thatcher slams Strong’s arm into the apron and then Thatcher stomps on the arm and he gets a near fall.

Thatcher with some digital manipulation to the hand but Strong with a kick to the head. Strong kicks Thatcher away and he connects with a forearm. Strong puts Thatcher on the turnbuckles and he connects with a shoulder to the midsection. Strong with a punch and he puts Thatcher on top. Strong with a punch. Thatcher with a forearm to knock Strong to the mat. Thatcher kicks Strong in the corner.

Thatcher with a knee to the chest. Thatcher with a European uppercut as they go around the ring. Strong with a jumping knee strike followed by a kick to the head. Strong punches Thatcher in the head and then he connects with forearms to the head. Strong punches Thatcher in the ribs and head. Thatcher gets on top of Strong and he connects with punches and forearms. He tries for the cross arm breaker but Strong with a kick to the head.

Strong sets for the Gibson Driver but Thatcher blocks it. Thatcher with the cross arm breaker one more time and Strong taps out.

Winner Fall Number Two: Timothy Thatcher (Strong 1 Fall, Thatcher 1 Fall)

Fall Number Three

Strong with a shoulder and he goes up top but Thatcher with a European uppercut. Thatcher tries for London Bridge but Strong stops it. They go to the apron where they exchange forearms. Strong with a back drop driver onto the apron. Strong rolls Thatcher back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Strong puts Thatcher in the corner and he chops Timothy.

Thatcher with forearms but Strong with forearms of his own. They go back and forth. Thatcher sends Strong to the mat and then Thatcher collapses to the mat himself. Strong with a boot and enzuigiri in the corner and he puts Thatcher on the turnbuckles but Thatcher kicks Strong away. Strong with a forearm and he tries for a superplex but Thatcher with forearms to sends Strong to the mat. Strong with an enzuigiri to stop Thatcher. Strong with the superplex and both men are down. Strong can only get a near fall. Strong chops Thatcher in the corner but Thatcher with European uppercuts. Strong with a jumping knee and he gets a near fall. Strong tries to suplex Thatcher but Thatcher stops Strong and hits a series of knees. Strong is put on the turnbuckles and Thatcher hits London Bridge for a near fall. Strong kicks Thatcher away but Thatcher with a European uppercut. Strong with a sick kick and back breaker for the three count.

Winner: Roderick Strong

After the match, Strong takes the mic and he says he will make this short and sweet. Drew Galloway, May 31st, I am coming to embarrass you and I am coming to take the Evolve title.

Thatcher gets on the mic and he says that he is man enough to say that you were the better man tonight. Whoever wins between you and Mr. Galloway, I will work my way up.

Biff Busick comes out and he says that he got screwed by the referee and he never tapped out.

Roderick says the people who are getting screwed are the people who are not celebrating his win. He calls Biff “Baby” Busick. On May 31st, he will be the champion and you will have to live with the fact that he is a winner and you are losers. Strong teases going after Busick and Thatcher but he backs off and leaves the ring.

Thatcher and Busick face off and then Biff leaves the ring.

Thank you for following PWInsider.com’s coverage of Evolve 41. I will have coverage of Evolve 42 and FIP from Orlando.

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