As we draw ever closer to the massive two-night event Evolution
2005, it's worth taking a look back at some of the events that
have made this year a perennial winner of fans choice for 'Event
of the Year'. Moments that have seen fans wince in pain, scream
in anger, showered in thumb-tacks and covered in goose bumps.
Evolution could also be known as the 'mid-year' Re-Awakening, a
show that has seen invitations sent all over the country to
invite wrestlers to participate in two nights of absolute
mayhem. To truly understand the legacy this show holds...
perhaps we need to have a look at the evolution of 'Evolution'.
 Evolution
2002 was held at the birthplace of EPW, the Wanneroo Civic
Centre - significantly sold out before the doors even opened, a
jam-packed crowd of well over 300 fans came expecting one of
these unforgettable shows that forged the future of so many EPW
wrestlers - the show opened with our devoted fans singing "we
sold out!"... but it wasn't too be the only sell-out on this
show.
The show began with the entire EPW locker room entering the
ringside area in anticipation of the entrance of Mikey. The
current EPW champion had suffered what all thought was a
career-threatening injury just weeks earlier at EPW's Redemption
and was to address the EPW faithful with what the fans, and
locker room, expected a farewell speech. Choking back tears,
before Mikey could get a word out, the piercing squeals of Nine
Inch Nails hit the speakers and the crowd booed in unison at the
arrival of Davis Storm. Storm gave a verbal lashing to the
'Suicidal Juvenile' as he was known at the time, with fans and
wrestlers alike watching on, hoping Mikey would kick the face
off the co-number one contender.
Storm left untouched and went on to defeat Awakening's
Invitational Tournament winner in Jimmy Payne to become
Explosive Pro Wrestling's very first Champion after the debut of
the Rolling Storm from the turnbuckle. But the most shocking
moment occurred after the
match as Mikey chased off the newly crowned champion but turned
around to Mikey-kick the prone Jimmy Payne and turned his back
once again on the fans and
wrestlers who had supported him through this emotional time.
Davis Storm held the coveted title belt until Re-Awakening of
that year, losing it to Jimmy Payne in an
unforgettable 2-out-of-3 falls match and Mikey went on to join
Xeriyous Blade and Azazal in the formation of the Uprising.
Evolution 2002 also saw the in-ring debut of Jamie Jurah, who
had disguised himself as a 6'6" - 300 pound ninja - albeit
poorly. This was to be his first run-in with EPW's devoted fans
and the cry of 'Mixer's Bitch' stuck to the young wrestler like
sugar water to the floor of the same Civic Centre.
Evolution 2003 became the
very first time Explosive Pro Wrestling held a show over two
nights. Friday is highlighted by the introduction of the tag
team title tournament, with belts currently held by the
Genetically Superior Team of BBB and CJL. In a memorable
tournament that saw the very first time Mikey hit the Shooting
Star, the super team of Jimmy Payne and Davis Storm powered onto
to the final to face the Brat Pack's FN Carnage and Jamie Jurah.
In a hard-fought match which left no man unhurt, the Brat Pack
stole a victory and were crowned the very first tag champions of
this federation.
 It
was to be a federation-changing night with many wrestlers from
then on opting to chase tag
team glory together, rather the long and winding road to the EPW
title.
Evolution has always had a strong
tag-team focus, so it's disappointing to see arguably the
greatest tag-team in EPW history, the Serial Thrillers, on the
edge of exploding as we draw nearer to 2005's version of the
show. After weeks of tension leading up to Flame or Fortune,
Brad West and Justin Sane came to blows and had to be separated
by a gaggle of EPW referees and the scheming pair of Davis Storm
and a freshly-hated Lukey.
 A
year later, the Brat Pack were again in the tag-team mix with
Jamie Jurah and FN Carnage teaming up to face the almighty Red
Dragon Psychofett and a returning Devlin Reeves. Footage had
come to light weeks early showing what we all thought was the
Brat Pack doing a number on the leg of the Playboy, breaking
that leg and seeing him cast-ridden for a month. In what could
be the single most deceptive act ever witnessed in the history
of EPW, Devlin Reeves reversed a whip of Psychofett and
clotheslined his own partner on the butt of the jaw. With the
fans reeling, Reeves took off his white ring attire to reveal
the '68' of the Brat Pack and went about destroying his former
friend Psychofett. Fans were shocked as Slick Rick Sanders and
his charges stole the Playboy from his beloved supporters.
Evolution 2004 also saw the return of South Australian champions
Jag and Havok. The latter can best be remembered for absolutely
destroying one half of the Serial Thrillers in Justin Sane while
Jag went to a no-contest with Mikey after the current champion
misdirected a moonsault to the concrete outside. To the dismay
of fans and paramedics
alike,
 it
wasn't the only time the sounded of flesh slapping off the hard
floor could be heard as the Brat Pack's FN Carnage taped his
fists and went one-on-one with Australian wrestling legend Lobo
in a Street Fight that will stand the test of time as one of the
most brutal matches ever witnessed by Perth fans. The
blood-soaked ring was littered with guardrails, ladders, tables
and thumbtacks and as the match concluded with a back suplex
from the turnbuckle through a table covered in tacks - the only
people left standing were the grimacing fans.
2005 is shaping up to be the career-shaping Evolution we all
know. Mikey will defend his coveted EPW title against South
Australia's Master of Mayhem, Havok, Survival of the Fittest
Iron man match loser, Jag and former EPW Champion, Jimmy Payne
in what could be toughest test of his short title reign. It
promises to be one of the most memorable nights on the
Australian wrestling calendar and with many more matches yet to
be announced, and a massive surprise for two of the EPW roster,
fans will have to secure tickets fast because they, much like a
Johnny Wimbledon match, won't last long.
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