Pro Wrestling Evo presents Battlefield: EVO
Saturday November 19, 2011
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center
Concord, North Carolina
It's been over a month since Pro Wrestling Evo #FollowThis and the fallout from that event will loom large at tonight's Battlefield Evo event. Last month “The ManScout” Jake Manning vowed to battle Zack Salvation with honor & by the scout's code but in the end got some convenient, possibly unwarranted help from EVO Heavyweight champion Marcellus King & his “man creature” Circo to defeat Salvation & keep his career in tact. Tonight it's a different story as Salvation & Manning team up to take on The Cirkus with everything on the line. Should Salvation be pinned, it may be a long while before he gets a shot at the Evo Heavyweight championship as he will forfeit his EVO 8 tournament spot in January, in which the winner gets a title shot. Manning, again puts his career in Pro Wrestling Evo on the line. On the line for The Cirkus is Circo's mask, what kind of ramifications would it have should the “man creature” end up unmasked at the end of the night? And the big prize is on the line as Marcellus “The Mid Atlantic” King puts his Evo Heavyweight Title on the line. Many possibilities & many consequences on the Battlefield at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center on Saturday Night. I spoke with two of the combatants in the main event prior to the show and Trust was the word of the night as Zack Salvation reinforced that a lot more than his evo 8 spot & leaving Concord, NC as the new EVO Heavyweight Champion was on his mind. “There are three rings to a circus, Marcellus King, Circo, what is that third, currently unidentified ring? Could it be my tag team partner this evening, Jake Manning?” we now have our answer after the smoke has cleared on the Pro Wrestling Evo battlefield. Prior to the opening match I caught up with EVO Heavweight champion Marcellus King, as we discussed what was on the line tonight he made it clear that The Cirkus had a clear goal tonight, “Obviously the goal is to leave here with my Heavyweight Title and Circo's mask both in tact, by Any Means Neccesary! I don't just say that because it sounds good, it's the truth” King continued that he also had the trust issues between Manning & Salvation on his mind, “Why not stir the pot a bit? And see what happens”.
Pro Wrestling EVO starts with announcer Chris Shore in the middle of the ring reminding us what is on the line as we “Unleash the dogs of War” tonight. The biggest crowd that Pro Wrestling Evo has seen is pumped up as the first match is about to start.
Corey Hollis vs Chip Day
Very good opener here with the EVO crowd getting invested in both of these guys, Hollis is a very solid worker whom I'd definitely like to see more from. This match started the show in true Pro Wrestling Evolution fashion with lightning quick exchanges, back and forth kicks and the momentum changing hands with both men scoring near falls several times. In the end it was Hollis with a handful of tights getting the win over Day
The Port City Kings made their return to Pro Wrestling Evo next as KC McKnight led his partner Charlie Dreamer to the ring to face the man who proudly exclaims “I Am Wrestling” ZaneXcore. Zane made his presence known last month attacking Big Country after his match at #Follow This. KC McKnight jawed with the referee, the fans at ringside, and even the cameraman during this one ensuring that himself or Charlie Dreamer would have no fans cheering for them on this night. Zane took control of this match early on, overpowering the much smaller Dreamer, in the end the numbers game proved too much as Zane mounted a comeback after having water thrown in his face from McKnight's water bottle, putting himself in a position to get a win in his first official Pro Wrestling Evo match, however it was Zane's past transgressions that would cost him on this night as Big Country came out and jawed at Zane from the ring apron allowing Dreamer to pick up the win in his return to Pro Wrestling Evo.
Pro Wrestling Evo showed their perfect blend of New School Evolutionary Pro Wrestling & Old School Pro Wrasslin' next in a match previously scheduled to have The rough texan from the Double Duece Ranch, Jimmy Jack Funk Jr, face Big Country in a bullrope match. Country had to pull out due to a shoulder injury or is it possible that Big Country has other things on his mind? Namely ZaneXcore. Nevertheless Funk would not be deterred on this night as he promptly issued an open bullrope challenge to any wrestler in the world, that was just as promptly answered by “Mr Elite” Drew Walters. Funk took control of HIS specialty match here but Walters showed that he was not to be taken lightly on this night as the two men engaged in tug o war over the bullrope and more significantly the cowbell that hung in the middle of them. Jimmy Jack is the quintiessential Texas Cowboy, who would be right at home in circa 1980s NWA and showed that he is right at home attached to a bullrope, stifling two attempts by Walters to drag him to all four corners as the crowd counted along with Mr. Elite, it was Jimmy Jack resorting to his skills on the ranch hog tying Walters & dragging him to each corner picking up the win and putting the wrestling world on notice that it's not a great idea to accept a Jimmy Jack Funk Jr Bullrope match.
The second half of the show kicked off with Chris Shore introducing a video package for Evo 8 on January 13, 2012, 8 of the best pro wrestlers in the SouthEast battling it out on one night for a shot at the Pro Wrestling Evo Heavyweight Championship! Check www.prowrestlingevo.com in the coming weeks for more details, participants, and ticket information.
Charlie Dreamer and KC McKnight again made their way to the ring as McKnight would now be in action against one of the newest signees to Pro Wrestling Evo “The Motor City Bad Boy” Robyn Golphin. McKnight is a true pro and this would prove to be a classic Veteran vs Rookie matchup. Golphin refused a handshake offer from McKnight who told the rookie Golphin “C'mon this is the oldest trick in the book” apparently Referee Mitch Blalock didn't hear that as he fell for the phantom handshake from McKnight and unfortunately for Golphin the match really started then. This match was intense, and the hardest hitting match to this point on the show. McKnight brutalized Golphin with vicious chops, explosive suplexes to the point he probably thought he was back on “8 Mile”. Golphin showed the spirit that made Pro Wrestling Evo officials recognize him bouncing back from everything McKnight threw at him including a p
owerbomb that I was pretty sure had killed this young man. I would be proven wrong moments later however as McKnight delivered a sickening Dragon Suplex and pinned Golphin ending what had to be a tough but educational night for the young man from Detroit and a triumphanty victorious return for the the Kings. What more could Robyn Golphin have withstood on this night? The Port City Kings apparently wondered this just as I did as they continued the assault on Golphin after the match delivering one final superkick/dragon suplex combo that nearly broke him in half, then McKnight explained to the crowd that what we had just seen was frustration, frustration that The Port City Kings had not been asked to return to Pro Wrestling Evo in over 8 months, despite contacting all the front office there was apparently no one that wanted to face “The Greatest Tag Team in The SouthEast” McKnight took it a step further issuing a challenge saying he hears Marcellus King and Zack Salvation are the greatest thing going in Pro Wrestling Evo, then why not face the Kings and we'll see about that.
Another triumphant return to Pro Wrestling Evo next, as Joey Silvia made his entrance in a rematch from last years Evo 8 Tournament facing Cedric Alexander. Alexander is on the brink of insanity after his unsuccesful attempt to claim his second Heavyweight title last month but Silvia is hungry to get a win over Alexander after the loss in Evo 8. This one was sure to be a good one, but I don't think anyone in the building knew they were in store for a match of this caliber at Battlefield EVO. The match starts out as fast as any match I've ever seen live, Silivia misses a suicide dive to the outside which resulted in nasty gash over his eye and Alexander quickly capitalizes hitting an amazing dive of his own. “That was Awesome” chant from the crowd & Joey & Cedric have the crowd completely entranced in this match less than five minutes in. This one is worth purchasing the DVD alone and you'll be kicking yourself for missing it live, each man hit countless innovative moves including a Hanging, Spinning Reverse DDT from Silvia, a back suplex into a codebreaker from Cedric. Alexander then hit his coup de grade the Brainbuster and Silvia smartly rolled to the outside to prevent what could have surely been a second straight victory for Cedric over Silvia. Alexander follows Silvia to the outside but Joey takes control and delivers a Buff Blockbuster from the apron to the outside of the ring!!! Both men barely beat the count back into the ring & the crowd is roaring as this match will continue. Cedric with a full nelson into a facebuster but still cant put Silvia away and Alexander has now rolled over the brink and into full insanity as he can't put Joey away. In an instant, it was over as quick as it started with Alexander exploding off the ropes with the quickest crossbody I've ever seen which Joey somehow reversed in midair for the quick 1,2,3 evening the score on Alexander. The crowd was spent but on their feet applauding , both men were spent but no one was more mentally spent than Cedric Alexander as there is no “code of honor” in Pro Wrestling Evo and Alexander declined a post match handshake from Silvia and went on the attack, a sick brainbuster on the apron was delivered with an even sicker look in the eyes of Cedric Alexander.
With countless injuries and feuds born tonight on the Battlefield Evo it was not time for the main event. Everything to Lose Tag Team action between The Cirkus and Zack Salvation and Jake Manning. Marcellus King & Circo made their way down to the ring and quickly devised a plot, Circo waited for “The ManScout” in the entrance way as King posted up just behind the entrance and nailed Manning with a vicious chair shot splitting him wide open and the match was seemingly over for “The MansScout” before it started, this brought out Zack Salvation directly into a 2 on 1 handicap match with the most dangerous faction in Pro Wrestling Evo. Salvation's adrenaline was pumping as he took the fight to King & Circo with everything on the line but the disadvantage caught up with him shortly and The Cirkus took turns tagging into the ring, always keeping the fresher man on Salvation. Zack made several comeback attempts and managed two counts on both members of The Cirkus but it seemed an impossiblilty to get the three count when there was always a fresh man to break up any pin attempt. The crowd began chanting “We want Jake” but the handicap match continued on as Salvation fought with everything he had to secure his Evo 8 spot and get a measure of revenge against Marcellus King & Circo, finally emerging from the back was “The ManScout” who hit the ring apron and yelled at Salvation to make the tag. The Queen City Killer indeed made his way over to his partner and in a moment of truth put his full trust in Manning tagging him into the match and getting his first breather of the evening. Manning hit the ring and now it was his turn to go 1 on 2 against the Cirkus but the adreanaline or the blood didn't stop flowing from Manning as he showed that he wasn't giving his career up without a fight. Finally after catching his wind on the apron Salvation got back in the ring and Manning and Salvation had The world heavyweight champion in a 2 on 1 situation as Circo was down, however it was a hesitation between the newly formed tag partners, Manning & Salvation that may have cost one of them the World title as they couldn't come to a decision who would pin King and Circo reentered the ring and we finally had the face off of all 4 men with everything to lose! King commanded Circo “Let's go get them” but showed that “By Any Means Necessary” was indeed not just a slogan but a way of life as the champion bowed out of the ring and grabbed his EVO World Heavyweight Title as the loyal, obedient “man creature” Circo faced off unwittingly with both Manning & Salvation, Jake hit a piledriver followed by a fireman carry into a cutter from Salvation and Circo made the ultimate sacrifice for Marcellus King losing his mask. Marcellus King reemerged and tried to pull Circo out to no avail and had his World Heavyweight title grabbed by Manning & Salvation as well as Circo scurried away with the champ hiding his face as Salvation & Manning posed with Circo's mask & the EVO heavyweight title to end the show, as Salvation left the ring the fans chanted “Thank You Evo” and Salvation let them know they were the ones who deserved thanks as Salvation shook Manning's hand and told him he was a man of his word.
Quick Results:
Corey Hollis b. Chip Day
Charlie Dreamer b. ZaneXcore
Jimmy Jack Funk Jr b. “Mr Elite” Drew Walters
KC McKnight b. Robyn Golphin
Joey Silvia b. Cedric Alexander
Zack Salvation & Jake Manning b. Marcellus King & Circo
Check out PWPonderings and ProwrestlingEvo.com for more news from the fallout from BattleField Evo, info on the upcoming EVO 8 Tournament on January 13, 2012 and how you can get the DVD for this and other Pro Wrestling Evo Shows!
Sounds like an awesome night of action man. Glad you enjoyed it.