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19/09/06 - INSIDE Re-Awakening - Mikey Nicholls vs Shane Haste
Shane Haste Mikey Nicholls

SHANE HASTE v MIKEY
Will this match see a new Star rise in EPW? Or will the ‘International Wrestling Superstar’ send Haste crashing back to Earth?

Although, Mikey’s new moniker may make him appear a little obnoxious, there can be no doubt that the phrase ‘Rising Star’ was no longer applicable. At Re-Awakening 2004, Mikey claimed the EPW championship in a tremendous three way dance over FN Carnage and Davis Storm.

He then spent 2005 establishing himself as the hardest fought champion this company had ever seen. Mikey lost and recaptured the EPW championship from Richter. In 2004 & 2005 he won a rare double by winning both the EPW Wrestler of the Year & Match of the Year two years consecutively. So it is apparent that his Star has well and truly risen.

But 2005 saw the beginning on a new star on the rise in EPW. From the successes of Awsome Inc. Shane Haste has shot up the ladder at a breakneck pace. He surprised many by not only making the Invitational Final in 2005, but by giving Havok the scare of a lifetime before losing in a brave effort.

2006 has been all about keeping momentum going for Shane. And for the most part he has had a sensational year. Many pundits, myself included, would argue that Shane would be a worthy winner of Wrestler of the Year in 2006.

But in order to truly rise to the top in EPW, he must overcome a huge hurdle. And his name is Mikey Nicholls.

Since travelling to the United States, Nicholls has grown, literally and figuratively. His confidence is sky high after travelling to Japan to wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling against two of the world’s finest junior heavyweight wrestlers in Minoru Tanaka & Hiroki Goto. He made a name for himself in and around the Southern Californian wrestling scene. Mikey even scored an upset over Pro Wrestling Guerilla regular, Scott Lost in his travels. And most impressively, he took CMLL lightheavyweight champion, Rocky Romero to the limits in a 2 out of 3 falls match at the New Japan / Inoki dojo.

So what exactly Mikey’s problem with Haste? Nicholls claims that he is merely trying to help Haste develop a killer instinct that will help him succeed in pro wrestling.

But I, THE INSIDER, have another twist on the situation. It’s a little green eyed monster named jealousy.

Mikey is bitter that Shane has shot to stardom here in EPW so quickly. In essence, Shane’s popularity hurt Mikey, who worked so hard for so long to attain the adulation of the fans and EPW officials.

And perhaps more interestingly, it seems to be Shane’s demeanour that upsets Nicholls the most. Shane has achieved everything to this point with a smile on his face. It’s not hard to tell that Shane enjoys being out there in front of the fans and revels in putting a smile on people’s faces. Mikey has always taken wrestling more seriously than most in this country and he may take Haste’s wacky ways as a slap in the face to his hard work and accomplishments.

Deep down it is Shane’s nature & spirit that Mikey wants to crush, not his body. But he may feel that doing one will facilitate the other and make Shane bitter.

No matter what his reasons, as fans of wrestling, we can thank god that this rematch has finally come about. Mikey and Shane brought the best out of each other when they met earlier this year at Evolution and this will be one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in RE-AWAKENING history.

Will Mikey’s assault draw the aggressive streak from within Shane? Or can Haste find a way to survive? We will find the answer on November 4th 2006.

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