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[2017-02-25-EVOLVE 79] Timothy Thatcher vs Zack Sabre Jr


ShittyLittleBoots

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One of those matches where everything from the entrances to the finish seem to go perfect. The introductions, the crowd (seriously the loudest I've EVER heard EVOLVE crowd be) & the masterful in ring work of two of the best in the world in Thatcher & ZSJ. Absolutely loved how Thatcher finally fully embraced the dark side w/ his cocky antics & amazing facial expressions. A perfect performance by the man. The mat work, the sense of urgency, the drama, the strikes - everything about this just worked. Hats off to both guys. ****3/4

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Zach Sabre Jr. vs Timothy Thatcher Evolve 2/25/17 4 1/2*



Super hot crowd. ZSJ with some nasty lfters. ZSJ after the arm. Thatcher shows he isn't going to lie down. The grappling here is intense, and it really matches the strikes. Both guys are really bringing it. This is really hate filled and feels really personal. ZSJ switches gears and is after the knee and ankle. This is just a classic case of wrestling. Thatcher's heel performance here is top notch. Love him playing to the crowd. These guys so have the crowd here. That finish was nasty, and the crowd erupts.

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  • 1 month later...

On a mechanical level, a lot of this is pretty so so. The early strikes are weak (notice especially Thatcher's fumbling when he's cut off in the opening spot, unsure if he should block ZSJ's blows or return fire) and a lot of the bumps throughout are sloppy (Thatcher's German, a litany of floppy ZSJ half-bumps). But that sort of adds to the allure, I guess. A super hot crowd (for indie standards), bloodthirsty for Thatcher's head, will on their cute little babyface as he overcomes the big bad trashy guy they don't like and preaches a message of acceptance at the end. There's lots of hate here, not because these two necessarily hate each other all that match, but because they're both desperate for the spot at the top of the mountain. They're both proud men, selfish men, angry men under all those layers of cool indifference. They swing wildly and aren't as precise as they would be otherwise, but again, that's sort of the point. This match wasn't about a perfect technical exhibition or the spirit of competition; it was about clawing your way to victory. The drama at the end, as mentioned, is pretty delightful stuff. A child, up on the stage, literally dances for joy in a very nice moment.

 

It's not my favorite match of the year, but it's one that I found worthy to write about and it's one I'm sure I'll be revisiting in the coming years. Great stuff.

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  • 7 months later...

Ehh. I don't know. I should have liked this more. I don't think I'm down on either guy, but this just doesn't click for me or switch to the level I'd expect from a match that's kind of hyped as a top-end 2017 match.

 

The good was a lot of the actual wrestling. Awesome counters, reversals, creative submissions, and a really hot crowd. Indy matches rarely have a crowd this genuinely hot for a match and not just spots or wanting to get their chants in. Here they are 100% behind ZSJ and when he wins they absolutely go nuts and celebrate with him. It's great. And the finish is brutal - I can't think of many who could take that octopus hold.

 

But the Evolve trappings, announcing, and ref kind of hurt it for me. And I don't know if they should. The ref is nowhere near as bad as lots of indy refs, he is in position, isn't yelling "twooooooo" after every nearfall, isn't fake-dramatizing the submissions - but he messes up a few counts slightly near the end, and the announcing is similar in that it is fine but the end of the match and post-match calls just don't work for me. Especially Thatcher going to hand the title over and the fake-dramatic call, just be quiet for that. Maybe others like it more than I do.

 

I like ZSJ vs Hero more. I think I'd like this more in a few years if they have more good matches against each other in other environments. On this watch, it's not at the level of LA Park vs Rush in March, or the Okada vs Omega matches, for me. This is such a negative review for a match I actually liked!

 

***1/2

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  • GSR changed the title to [2017-02-25-EVOLVE 79] Timothy Thatcher vs Zack Sabre Jr

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