Next up is our first Semi Final, only being a semi final due to the events of night one and the mysterious attacks and disappearances. Both competitors got a good reception here tonight and to be honest I think this is going to be a tough match to call!
We start as Jones has the arm of Evangelista for a few seconds before it’s reversed. Takedown and a side headlock on Evangelista. Jones out and a faceoff. Arm drags by Evangelista and back to their feet. Shoulder tackle by Evangelista but Jones gets a body slam. Spinning body slam now and gets a 2 count. Rear chinlock on Evangelista and they’re up to their feet. Evangelista tosses Jones to the outside. They exchange positions and Evangelista goes back in the ring where Jones is and slaps him. They trade shots and Evangelista throws Jones out again.
Double axe handle to the outside. Reversed Irish Whip and Jones hops up on the apron and hits a jumping clothesline to Evangelista. Evangelista back in. Misses a running baseball slide. Summersault Plancha by Jones to the outside! Rolls Evangelista back in but only gets a one count. Great action in the early stages here, these two both showing how much they want to progress.
We get an exchange of strikes and Jones gets a backslide for two. Evangelista hits a neck breaker. Three pin attempts yield her two counts every time. It’s too soon to try and put AJ away here.
Spinning back palm strike and a DDT bring another near fall. She hooks the leg and gets two again. Chinlock by Evangelista but Jones gets out. Jones sent outside though and Evangelista hits the baseball slide this time. Back inside the ring and Jones fights out of a Backdrop suplex. He connects with some stiff kicks to the legs of Evangelista but eventually she blocks, grabbing a leg and taking him down with a dragon screw.
As Leanne goes to pick him up he brings her down with a Nip up Hurricanrana! Suddenly the tide turns and Jones follows up with the Xtreme Combo of hiptoss, jumping fist drop, nip up and stiff kick to Evangelista’s back. He spots an opportunity to go for the leglock armbar but Evangelista is too close to the ropes and the referee forces the break.
One legged dropkick from Jones and he drives Evangelista into the middle turnbuckle. Hammerlock as she backs out before Jones spins her round into a clothesline. Two count.
Back up and Evangelista gets a Fisherman suplex. Goes for a DDT but Jones reverses into a Northern Lights suplex. Evangelista goes for what appears to be an inverted Koji Clutch! Jones counters into a crossface but Evangelista reaches the rope! Great to and fro action here, the crowd loving it and there’s a split in who they want to see win this one!
Evangelista gets some strikes and tries for her backbreaker finisher! Jones escapes and gets an AJ-guri! He leaps up to the top and looks for the Spiral Tap! But Evangelista rolls out of the way! Another set of stiff kicks from Jones and then he tries the Time to Burn, but Leanne wriggles off his shoulders and takes him down with the Filipina Legsweep! She goes up top and flies off with a moonsault, but Jones’ knees are up!
Jones moves quickly to lock in the AJ Lock! Evangelista is clear away from the ropes and a chance to break the hold. Evangelista fights the pain and then somehow reverses the hold into a Crossface! AJ now in pain and cannot reach the ropes. He squirms and wriggles, trying to get free. He starts to loosen the hold and before long he’s reversed it into an ankle lock! Evangelista moves quickly to spin herself onto her back, kicking Jones with her free foot. The kick’s enough for Jones to release the hold and Evangelista spots an opportunity for her own nip up ‘rana!
The crowd are loving this, reversal after reversal. I honestly have no clue what to expect next!
After what seemed like forever both Jones & Evangelista are back to their feet. Jones bounces off the ropes and nails a massive clothesline. Pin attempt. Two only! Evangelista gets up, grabs Jones. Elbow jab, headbutt, inverted facelock and some clubbing blows to the chest. But Jones spins out of it and gets his opponent in a hammerlock, spinning her round ready for a clothesline but Leanne ducks, picks Jones up and nails the backbreaker, following up with the single knee headbreaker. She makes a cover, making sure to hook the leg… and gets the three!