Pro Wrestling Evo kicks off the new year with their annual tournament to crown a new # 1 contender for the EVO Heavyweight title, currently held by Marcellus King. To say some of the finest talent in the SouthEast has been assembled for the upcoming Evo Eight Tournament would be a major understatement. This is a preview of the entire EVO 8 field, including some background on each participant and their thoughts on this upcoming tournament. As always please check www.prowrestlingevo.com and @ProWrestlingEvo on Twitter for updates from now right up to belltime for the show.
“The Queen City Killer” Zack Salvation
Zack Salvation is arguably the most popular name on the Carolina indy scene having worked for APW in Spartanburg, SC Action Packed Wrestling in Chester, SC CWA in Columbia & Orangeburg, SC as well as NWA Charlotte in his 7 years as a pro. Trained by Vance Furr, Salvation fine tuned his skills in Elite Pro Wrestling with some notable names, including Original Four Horsemen Tully Blanchard, Announcer & Promoter Les Thatcher, & Former world champion Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. Salvation was on the precipice of becoming Pro Wrestling Evo World Heavyweight Champion in the last 6 months of 2011 and looks to make that goal a reality in 2012, but Salvation also has larger goals on his mind. “I want to help build this promotion into a top contender, not use it as a lily pad to jump to others”. When asked about his chances of becoming the winner Of Evo Eight, again Salvation told me he had to drive to that and much more, “Winning puts me one step closer to being a top guy who can be a face for the company to grow”. Will 2012 be a year of Salvation?
Kirby Mack
Kirby Mack or “Krazy K” is a name familiar to most wrestling fans no matter what part of the country they are in. Mack has reached the top of the industry having worked in WWE, TNA, ROH, as well as countless independent promotions including OMEGA, MCW, CZW and FIP. Trained by Matt & Jeff The Hardy Brothers, “The King Of Old School” Steve Corino & CW Anderson, Kirby was bred for success from an early age. Mack brings a ton of experience(11 years) & attitude to the Evo Eight tournament. ” The Evo 8 tournament disgusts me, it’s full of selfish, sinful athletes who no moral grounds or any idea just how despicable they are” Mack told me when I asked for his opinion on the coming year’s tournament. Don’t get him wrong, there is a level of professional respect for the men he’ll be battling in January but Mack is never at a loss for words. “This is sadly the best professional wrestling has to offer and we are doomed, someone has to be the martyr and it looks like I’m the only one with the gall to pull the trigger.” For more, check out www.prowrestlingevo.com to see the powerful messages Mack sent to his competitors.
Caleb Konley
The Current PWI International Ultra J Champion looks to step up his game even further in 2012 telling me “In 2011 my goal was to prove I’m not only one of the best junior heavyweights, not just one of the best wrestlers in America but on the planet and Evo Eight will start off the new year reinforcing that statement”. Conley who has already achieved so much and caught the eye of fans and promoters alike in 6 years in the business is always game for a battle. Whether it is in the junior division or stepping it up into the heavyweight division as he will at Evo Eight Conley leaves it al in the ring. Trained by Rob Adonis, Murder 1, and George South, he brings plenty of experience to the table. Already having worked for DGUSA, ROH, Zero1, PWG, EVOLVE, and several NWA promotions inlcuding Anarchy & Rampage. Is Caleb up to the task of both defending his PWI International Ultra J Title & gunning for the Pro Wrestling Evo Heavyweight title in 2012?
Cedric Alexander
Perhaps the most well known name in this years Evo Eight tournament is another graduate of George South training school Cedric Alexander. Alexander who amazingly is one of the least experienced competitors in the tournament having just debuted in 2009, has recently signed with ROH alongside Caprice Coleman as part of the C&C Wrestling Factory. This dynamic young athlete had his crowning glory in 2011 winning the Inaugural Evo Eight tournament and becoming the first Evo Heavyweight champ. Fast forward to the current time, after losses to Marcellus King(who took the title from Alexander) and Joey Silvia at Battlefield Evo, Cedric Alexander is on the brink of insanity & one has to believe part of what is driving that is a desire to once again be called the best in Pro Wrestling Evo.” I am the returning Evo eight champion and I will go into this tournament and do what I do best, Kick faces in! to sum it up EVERYONE DIES!” Does Alexander have what it takes to win this tournament for a second year in a row?? If you’re a betting man you may want to put some money down on Cedric Alexander.
“The Manscout” Jake Manning
“The Manscout” is another Pro Wresting Evo talent who had his share of battles with current EVO Champion Marcellus King in 2011. Perhaps the most well rounded competitor in this years tournament, Manning brings a style that may bring him victory in this years Evo Eight tournament in which he will face many competitors who employ high risk offense as part of their repetoire. One thing Manning isn’t risking is giving away too much information to his opponents or to me even, when asked about his background & thoughts on the tournament Manning told me “There is only one thing you need to know about my background, I’m the baddest MF’er of all time.” Manning certainly understands the stakes of the tournament as he spent most of 2011 competing in “Manscout Merit Challenges” in which he put his career in Pro Wrestling Evo on the line against numerous opponents. Will Jake Manning be up to the Evo Eight Challenge and get a World Heavyweight title shot in 2012?
“The Icon” Joey Silvia
Joey Silvia made an impression at last year’s Evo Eight Tournament taking Zack Salvation to the limit in a fantastic technical match. The Icon then made his triumphant return at November’s Battlefield Evo defeating former EVO Champion Cedric Alexander in an outstanding match. Silvia has worked for numerous promotions in his 11 years as a pro and told me “I own the mid-atlantic, which is why I’m the Icon”. Silvia certainly impressed many fans and more importantly Pro Wrestling Evo Owner Patrick Wright in 2011 earning a second straight entry into the Evo Eight Tournament. With an experience edge over most of his opponents will Silvia be able to advance all the way to #1 Contender status & win the 2012 Evo Eight? Silvia realizes this goal while not unattainable is a sizable one. “This company has the best talent and the best fans” Silvia told me, Will “The Icon” find himself at the top of all this tremendous talent in 2012? The Evo Eight tournament will answer that question, at least for the first part of the new year.
Arik Royal
Arik Royal made a statement back in September of 2011 being the first man to announce he wanted entry into the 2012 Evo Eight tournament. With just three years as a pro, Royal has mainly worked the Carolinas including CWF Mid-Atlantic, PWX, TCW and Pure Pro Wrestling. A lot of comparisons are made between Samoa Joe, Willie Mack, & Arik Royal as he is a big man who moves around the ring with lightning speed & delivers powerful strikes to his opponents. Royal’s plans for 2012 are clear “I want to leave a lasting impression on all the Evo fans, promoters, the boys in the locker room, as well as the entire wrestling world.” Royal has already begun to accomplish this goal & in 2012 look for more of the same impact to be made. “I’ve never been as passionate about anything as I am Professional Wrestling and on January 13, 2012 I will leave no doubt that Arik Royal is a force to be reckoned with in all of Pro Wrestling”. Passion and Drive are two things you definitely want to have as you chase a World Championship and Arik Royal is not lacking in either of those areas, will Royal accomplish his goal of putting the the wrestling world on notice at Evo Eight?
John Skyler
It seems there is always a new kid on the block and although John Skyler has been pro for 3 & 1/2 years. Trained by Bob Keller this will be Skyler’s first match with Pro Wrestling Evo. Skyler has competed for NWA Anarchy, NWA Rampage, Old School Championship Wrestling, & has competed at the prestigious Cauliflower Alley Club. January of 2012 looks to be the biggest challenge of Skyler’s career and he’s more than aware of this. “It’s the greatest collection of talent on the independents, a who’s who and what better way for THE John Skyler to make a splash in Pro Wrestling Evo than to win this tournament”. Skyler certainly sounds confident that despite the high level of talent in the tournament he can come out a winner. When asked more specifically about the guys he may face Skyler, again did not shy away from predictions, “I guarantee victory, whether it be defeating the golden boy of EVO Zack Salvation, Jake Manning, Kirby Mack, Cedric Alexander or anyone else who should step in my way I will not be denied in my quest to become the best in Pro Wrestling Evo”. Without stepping into the ring Skyler is already making his presence known in Pro Wrestling Evo.
Marcellus King has already made it known to the competitors that he will be watching this one closely in addition to calling the action from the announce table. So the current champ will see exactly what kind of a challenge and what form of challenger the new year brings him for a title he’s held for 6 months. Could it be a new foe in Arik Royal, PWI Ultra J Champion Caleb Konley, the newcomer John Skyler or Kirby Mack? Perhaps an old rivalry renewed with the likes of Zack Salvation, Cedric Alexander, or The Manscout who has yet to get a 1 on 1 match with the champ. One thing is certain “By Any Means Necessary” is always the theme of King’s title defenses no matter who is trying to take that title.I was privileged to speak with the Evo champ in detail about what he expects from the tournament. “I’ve faced 7 of the 8 participants in this tournament & know their are some good matchups coming at Evo Eight, I’d particuarly like to see a rematch from Best Show in Town between Caleb Konley & Jake Manning. King even went as far to exclusively tell me who he believes will battle it out in the finals. “Kirby Mack taking on The ManScout Jake Manning in the finals, I realy like what I’m seeing of the New Kirby Mack & I think Jake Manning is so determined he will be their in the end” so there you have it, the champ’s predictions. A profile of eight of the best wrestlers in the southeast. Be there on January 13 to see who takes that important step toward either making a name for themselves or reintroducing themselves to the wrestling world in 2012.
Thank you to Pro Wrestling Evo owner/promoter Patrick Wright and Evo Personnel including Brandy King, as well as all of the EVO Talent for making time to speak with me for this column.