I couldnt get behind that Ricochet Perkins match as much. It may be my pre-disposal of the little things Ricochet brings in the ring. Hes incredibly athletic and has gotten more and more smooth in the ring but his lack of selling and grips on psychology bug me. I thought Perkins was terrific in the match though and he got me into the match more than I expected.

I thought the story of TJP going after the leg was fantastic. Ricochet making a comeback only for TJP to get the leg again and getting Ric to tap out was fantastic. I agree Ric could have sold the leg better on his comeback. He did sell it great on defense.

I did like Hero-Sabre, but I didn't get into it as much as others seem to have. It didn't feel competitive enough to me to truly be a MOTYC. At least I thought that until I realized that Hero was actually very giving, but he didn't really treat Sabre like someone at his level, just because he spent so much time jaw jacking with fans while working the match. I think in a way that was the whole point -- that Hero was overconfident and Sabre was an underdog -- but I usually like more parity in a MOTYC. I don't know. Evolve is brand new to me, so I might see it differently after watching more stuff. As of now, I'd go about ***3/4.

I also thought the size difference really helped play into the narrative of Hero winning the battle of strikes.

The way theyve booked Hero in Evolve he seems like the ultimate gate keeper to the elite level and hes been one step ahead of ZSJ. Im sure it will come to ahead in the future with ZSJ beating him.

I love Perkins as Stan Lane 2016.

 

I don't like Sabre as much as others-- my favorite singles match of his is the Dick Togo match from 2011 from Germany, since that's a contrast battle. I like the emphasis on contrast with him. Really not a guy that I like as an ace, though, either.

 

I'm calling for a Punisher Martinez vs. Sabre match is what I might be saying.

ZSJ showed a lot more depth and fire over the weekend but he's still need a big bloody brawl on a big stage

I know Pete didn't like Riddles post-match selling, but I'd have Riddle v Willians at at least the same level as the 6-man, and maybe just a hair below Sabre v Hero. I've seen four Riddke matches live this year, and match-to-match he's the best live wrestler I've seen. I think he'd have 3 matches in my top 10 of the year so far.

I want to make sure it doesn't come across that I'm down on Riddle because I'm not. Live the dude has huge charisma. He lives the gimmick. I loved watching him at the merch table cheer his stable on and boo their opponents. I thought he had 2 matches at 3 3/4* and thought his Sabre Jr. match was 4*. I want to see it back on tape to talk about it more.

4/4/16 WWE AJ Styles/Chris Jericho/Kevin Owens/Cesaro 4 1/4*

 

I have a feeling I liked this match more than anyone. I thought the crowd was super hot for this. Not having any idea who was going to win helped. So many great moments and interactions here. Styles and Cesaro had insane chemistry with one another. Actually everyone clicked here. So many great nearfalls. So many great spots. Loved seeing the Styles Clash respected. Just a hot match.

I can't wait to see 59. I understand your point and even thought the same thing live. That says his gimmick is a lot different than Yehi's, so I don't think it's a completely fair one-to-one comparison.

 

Maybe it's live bias, but I'd probably have both Riddle v Williams matches at 4 1/2 stars.

I continue to echo your sentiments, shoe. I felt like Zayn and Nakamura was hands down the match of the weekend yet I do agree that the Ospreay and Sabre Jr match was right up there.

I can't criticize anyone who prefers Zayn v. Nakamura, especially given the utter uniqueness of that match, situation, and moment. That said I wasn't there live, and I didn't even watch it live and I think a bit of it was lost for me for that reason. The surreal factor was as strong for me watching Ibushi live in that six-man, than watching Nak v. Zayn, though again I get that that is likely due to circumstances (I was front row for one, and not the other).

 

I want to see the big WrestleCon and Evolve 59 matches before I declare what my match of the weekend is, but at this exact moment if you put a gun to my head I'd take Hero v. Sabre Jr. by a thin margin over Zayn/Nak, the Evolve 6-man tag main event, and Riddle v. Williams.

 

The most slept on matches of the weekend were Roddy v. Moose, and Rush v. Lethal from Supercard of Honor Night One, but that is ROH's fault for not streaming their shows or having their VODs up in a timely fashion.

 

Oh and shoe, you aren't alone on that Raw main event. Loved it live. My favorite WWE main roster match of the weekend by a pretty wide margin.

On Hero/Sabre jr live I thought it was better than Nak/Zayn by a hair. Watching it back on tape it didn't.

Evolve 59 I thought rocked. I had the Galloway tag, Riddle/Sabre jr, and Ricochet/Ospreay all at 4* or more. I liked Thatcher/Scurll and Hero/Yehi to boot .

Just finished the six-man. Had they limited pin and submission attempts to the legal men down the final stretch, that could have been a work of art. The match built so well, and I liked how the escalation in balls-out action was established as the only place they could go if either team had any plans of winning. I don't put this on the match, but I didn't like that there was no camera following them out into the crowd, although they at least picked up the key spot. A super match, and I say that as someone who normally hates synchronized spots.

Ibushi and Ospreay angrily walking through the crowd and knocking over chairs casually to get back into the ring and go one-on-one was one of the better moments all weekend.

It's matches like the trios from Mercury Rising that make me wish I could see a trio match as something special but I can't I really really enjoyed it but it feels like escapism rather than substantive art to me and I openly admit that is 100% a failing on my part.

 

 

That's a monster rating for Zayn vs Nakamura.

I think part of it is context. I'm more familiar with both guys than you. So I picked up on some of the nuances that you might have missed. Also again because of familiarity some of the nuances hit me.

I had only seen brief clips of Nakamura before Friday and never a full match, and I almost wet myself I was so excited with the Takeover match. The unique atmosphere mixed with an unusual for WWE style match and Nakamura's awesome charisma, worked at super crazy pace, make it easily one of the best matches I've seen in years, even counting old school stuff

4/2/16 Evolve Zach Sabre Jr. vs Matt Riddle 4 1/2*

 

This was boss. It had a British flair crossed with some Battlearts and some UWFI. Riddle came out of this weekend as a can't miss superstar. Sabre Jr. came out of it as the best worker or 2 in the world. All of Riddle's Suplex variations were sick. So many great submission reversals. Loved how Riddle's suplexes jarred Sabre jr.'s neck, and Riddle goes over with a neck crank. This match even played into the Hero/Sabre Jr. match.

4/2/16 Evolve Ricochet vs Will Ospreay 4 3/4*

 

I didn't give this enough credit live. We got some real cool reversals and mirror spots early. So many hot moves. Though what made the match special was Ricochet. He did a great job of going after Ospreay's neck . That is what seperates it from just any other spotfest. Even the finish played into the neck work. At times the match got a little cute, but it worked for the crowd.

3/11/16 WXW Zach Sabre Jr. vs Big Daddy Walter 4 1/4*

 

This was pretty interesting. They work a Zach Sabre match, but Big Daddy is able to use his size and strength to force Zach to either stop or to go to places he doesn't want to go. Eventually Walter misses a big splash from the top in a big mistake. A really smart worked bout.

Am I the only one who thought ZSJ vs Ospreay blew away Ricochet vs Ospeary?

No

Am I the only one who thought ZSJ vs Ospreay blew away Ricochet vs Ospeary?

blew away is strong but I do think ZSJ was better

I actually liked the middle of Ricochet-Ospreay, when Ricochet was being a dick and roughing him up a bit, more than the finishing stretch, which felt like straight cotton candy. Good athletic showcase overall, but I also preferred ZSJ-Ospreay.

Their were so many great matches last weekend that appealed to so many people. 6 people could pick 6 different matches as the best of the weekend.