THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ATHLETE AND A WRESTLER

Before the show even kicks off, intrepid journalist Nick Grey catches up with Jon Gotti and Nathan Rotunda, the two men responsible for the heinous attack against Island Nation last week. Grey asked the question that’s been on all our minds: why? Gotti had no answer, simply saying Island Nation was a means to an end and he is in GAW for “business.”

Our first match sees Eddie Hernandez putting out his open contract for a second straight year; at least that was the plan. Before the match could begin, Igris- the man who answered the contract last year- came down to the ring. He said he wanted to take on the match this year as a tribute to his mother and father, both of whom lost their titles at Nitro and are out of action. Hernandez, impressed with what Igris did last year, agreed and Xavier Cross came down to start the match. This was a clash of styles we’ve come to enjoy on Evolution as Igris’s underground stylings clashed with Cross’s nasty brawling. Igris came out with a plan, something we’ve come to expect from him, as he stayed away from the dangerous Kronwalled Hawk Slayer and dropped Cross with a modified Iron Throne for the win. After the match, though, things got interesting. Igris attacked Cross, stomping him out in front of the whole arena. Eddie Hernandez and partner Yun-Son Park sprinted down to the ring to try to save Cross but they were met by former champions Titans who stopped them from getting to the prodigy. Igris, Dagonite and Lieter stood tall with all three men down by the end of their vicious attack.

As if the fans needed even more of a headache tonight, Jackel came down for his first match since winning the Goldberg Beat the Clock Challenge at Nitro 11. He took on Ulysses Sky and it wasn’t much of a contest. Jackel is on another level right now as he hit a standing Sliced Bread and a modified pile driver to win.

Garrett Gibson delivered a passionate message to Derrick Cole assuring him that all the money and fame in the world can’t earn him a championship in the sport of professional wrestling. We’ll see if Cole can make a physical statement himself in the main event.

We go to that match as Cole takes on the Ultimate Cinderella Lee Carr. This was the longest and most competitive match of the night by a wide margin, both men had a lot to prove. Carr even survived a Heisman Kick which has been enough to put away almost all Cole’s opponents. After that, Cole changed his strategy, going straight after Carr’s neck and throat, a pattern of attack the former kickboxer had no answer for. After several excruciating minutes of assault, Cole buried Carr with a Urinage to win and send a message right back to champion Garrett Gibson.