Perth wrestling fans have had the pleasure of witnessing some of
Australia's best wrestlers compete in the Explosive Pro
Wrestling ring over the past three years. I'm certain no-one in
attendance will forget the unbelievable 'taped fist street
fight' at Evolution 2004 between the former EPW Champion, FN
Carnage, and Victoria's hardcore wrestling icon, Lobo.
Guardrails buckled, tables broke and thumbtacks flew. The
concrete didn't move a millimetre as both men's bodies slapped
off the ground to the astonishment of onlookers, both infront of
and behind the curtain. At the same event, Victoria's most hated
wrestler Rave proved to all of us that he is one of the top
young talents in the nation. He even resorted to insulting our
beloved Perth fans, something that never goes over well with a
rowdy local crowd. Speaking of the future of Aussie wrestling,
one cannot look past "your wrestling god" Damian Slater. The
South Australian prodigy went toe-to-toe with one of the
Dynamite Factory's finest products in Shane Haste. In an
unbelievably fast paced matchup, both young men proved that the
future of Australian wrestling looks very bright with these two
at the helm.Although it's
exciting to look at the future of this sport, you can't look
past one of the men who lead the country now - Victoria's Spike
Steele. Securing an invite to 2004's Invitational Tournament,
Spike stood across the ring from arguably the most improved and
devastating wrestler on our roster - Richter. The big man took
it to one of the countries most hated athletes but Steele would
not back down. The two men unloaded their entire arsenal in the
semi-final until Spike locked Richter in a sleeperhold, only to
have the big man throw his weight back and snap Steele's wrist.
Richter scored the pinfall and as history would show, went on to
capture the trophy. However, in the short time our fans had the
chance to witness Spike Steele, he truly left an impression and
one gets the feeling that he has some unfinished business with
our fans, and EPW.
EPW has had the pleasure of
hosting some of the finest wrestlers in the nation. Some
established stars; some stars are still rising - but no
interstate wrestlers hold the reputations of South Australia's
'Jag' Brett James and Mike 'Havok' Mills. For so long in
Australian wrestling circles, they've been known as a team - Jag
and Havok. Not surprisingly, that's how they were introduced to
us in 2003 at EPW's the 'Mark has been Made'. Recruited by the
infamous Slick Rick Sanders to take out Davis Storm, Jag and
Havok were paired in the main event against Storm and the newly
crowned EPW Champion Jimmy Payne. That match has stood the
test of time as one of the greatest matches Australian wrestling
has produced since the year 2000. But in that match, fans
witnessed the utter brutalisation of two of the toughest, and at
that stage, most popular, men in EPW. But what a
difference in the year 2005. Davis Storm is arguably the most
hated man in the federation, aligning himself with Perth Radio's
resident bigmouth Lukey. Jimmy Payne has turned his back on the
Payne Army to join forces with Xeriyous Blade in an evil
alliance which could bring him back top the top of this
federation. Jag proved not just to wrestling fans the nation
over, but to himself, that he is clearly one of the single
greatest talents this country has ever produced after wrestling
Davis Storm in a one-hour Ironman match. Storm may have cheated
his way to tainted victory but Jag scored the moral victory
after almost snatching the match back in the dying seconds.
Until now, fans and wrestlers alike had loathed the Extreme High
Flyer but Jag single-handedly won them over with this tremendous
display. And to top it off, he extended his hand in a dramatic
show of respect to the victor Storm only to be spat on. Jag left
Survival of the Fittest as a true fan-favourite having earnt the
respect and admiration of a jam-packed Cockman pavilion. He will
return at Evolution more prepared than ever for an assault on
the EPW Championship. There has been much change but the one
thing that has not changed is Havok.
As we saw in January of 2003,
Havok was an absolute monster with the strength, agility, power
and technique to destroy any man who dares step in his path . He
has proven that he is
one of the top wrestlers in the nation. Havok obliterated Davis
Storm and Jimmy Payne 2003 and narrowly escaped manslaughter
charges after beating the life out of Justin Sane at Evolution
2004. EPW fans have seen more of Jag than his former partner.
They respect the man and have witnessed the extent of his
ability in the Ironman match. But Havok may be the sleeping
giant. Fans have read internet reports of his brutality. His
Flaming Tables matches in South Australia are legendary and he
has smashed Australia's top talents nation-wide. But Perth fans
have only seen a glimpse of his wrath and considering past
results here in EPW, that is a scary thought for all on the
roster. Even more unpredictable still, is Havok's frame of mind.
We were introduced to him as a hired gun for Slick Rick Sanders,
so we know he'll get the job done for somebody else. What we
haven't seen is a Havok who has a his black heart set on
capturing Explosive Pro Wrestling title gold and that is a very
bleak thought for the current Champion.
Mikey has all the right in the
world to be wary of these two South Australians. But to think
that he is scared would be foolish. The EPW Board of Directors,
acknowledging the pride and esteem that comes with that title
belt, allowed the Champion to choose the two interstate
wrestlers that he wished to face at Evolution 2005.Mikey
could've picked a whole lot easier.
But as we've seen time and time again, Mikey is a fighting
Champion. One who respects this great sport and wants to prove
he is in the best in the land. He wants nothing more than to be
known as the best in the country. And as the single greatest
human being in the history of the world said: "To be the man...
you've gotta beat the man!"
Evolution 2005 will prove to us all who is indeed the man.
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