MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR

Matt Riddle is putting together an underrated Intercontinental Title run but it could all be over if he isn’t focused against Buddy Murphy. Murphy is looking for his second title reign in three years but Riddle is flying too high right now. Even Murphy’s Law couldn’t put the champ down and Riddle finished the match with his Twister submission. 

Backstage, Pete Dunne is assaulted by Fantasma and Raul Mendoza of the Black and Gold and tossed off some scaffolding to the hard floor below.

TMDK return for their first match as a team this season after their phenomenal run last year. Nick Miller has been injured all season but you wouldn’t know it watching him in this match. Miller lit it up against the Rascalz who had the clear advantage of the crowd. This was a back and forth affair, one of the most entertaining tag matches of the season so far. In the end, it was the Rascalz who isolated Shane Thorne after several double team combinations; Zachary Wentz defeated him with a big curb stomp.

GAW Classic Group A kicks off with Drew McIntyre and Marcel Barthel renewing hostilities. It was a close match between them earlier this season… this match was not close. McIntyre was in total control for most of the contest and, despite Barthel fighting off the No True Scotsman several times, McIntyre locked in the hold to start off his group with a win.

We announce Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom will join the United States in the Wrestling World Cup next season. The other four teams will be announced next episode of Evolution!

In the main event, Swerve Strickland defends his (stolen) GAW Cruiserweight Championship against Rich Swann. Strickland tried to take Swann out of the running early with an attack before the match but, if we know anything about Swann, that wouldn’t be nearly enough. And it wasn’t as Swann valiantly battled back and got Swerve on the ground in the drop zone for a classic Phoenix Splash. Swerve kicked out so Swann went for a second one… Swerve kicked out again. Swann, now feeling the energy, went back for a third but that was a bridge too far. Swerve moved out of the way and got Swann up for the JML Driver to win. But his celebration of the slightly tainted victory was short-lived as GAW legend Rey Mysterio came out to stare him down. Swerve declared himself the Godfather of Cruiserweights but Rey Mysterio may be the greatest cruiserweight who ever lived.