Welcome to Volume 1 of “Evo Spotlight” today we focus on the current Pro Wrestling Evo Heavyweight Champion Marcellus “The Mid Atlantic” King. Marcellus King won the title from Cedric Alexander on July 23, 2011 and had several successful title defenses in 2011 always adhering to his motto “By Any Means Necessary”. We will review the 2011 year for Marcellus King, get some background information including what Marcellus was doing before entering Pro Wrestling Evo as well as learning some of his wrestling influences and favorite matches he has competed in. Join us as this week as the spotlight shines on……
Marcellus “The Mid Atlantic” King
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Wrestling Influences: Growing up it was guys like Junk Yard Dog, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, “Stunning” Steve Austin (I was of course a “Stone Cold” fan, but “Stunning” Steve had better matches) Big Van Vader, The 4 Horsemen (the Arn, Tully, Flair, & Windham set), Jake Roberts, and so many more. In the business now, The Kings of Wrestling, Kevin Steen, Davey Richards, William Regal, Steve Corino to name a few.
Favorite Opponent(s): Joey Silvia, Cedric Alexander & Zack Salvation
Favorite Matches: King vs Silvia (PWX, Rise of a Champion V 2009), King vs Austin Creed (PWX, 2009), King vs Alexander (PWEvo, EVO 8 & #FollowThis 2011), King vs Zack Salvation (PWEvo Best Show In Town 2011)
Promotions Worked: XICW (Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling), W.A.R.(Wrestling And Respect) Wrestling, CWF Mid-Atlantic, PWX (Premier Wrestling Xperience), ICW (International Championship Wrestling), AWA, MWF (Milennium Wrestling Federation), Pro Wrestling EVO
Titles Held: XICW – Brass Knuckles Champion; CWF Mid-Atlantic – Television and Tag Team Champion; PWX Heavyweight Champion; Pro Wrestling EVO Heavyweight Champion
Trained By: The Soul Shooters (Drew Johnson & Apollo Starr), Tony Kozina & The Gemini Kid
How did you get started in Wrestling? I got started in wrestling when I met the Soul Shooters at an Indy show. We formed a friendship and they took me under their wing. I started traveling the mid-west with them, working shows that they were on. We formed a six-man (more of a traveling crew) called the “Terror Tribe.” When I relocated to North Carolina, I trained under Tony Kozina at Highspots for several months and then continued training at the “mid-atlantic dojo” with Gemini Kid.
Any thoughts you have on PWEvo or it’s Talents: This is hands down the most talented group of guys I’ve ever been involved with. Each show continues to show our growth and strengths as wrestlers and performers.
2011 Evo Year In Review
Marcellus King was one of the original superstars introduced in Pro Wrestling Evo at their first annual Evo Eight tournament on January 22, 2011. King handily defeated his first round opponent Patrick Wright before losing to eventual tournament winner Cedric Alexander in the semi finals. King was not quite done leaving his impact on Pro Wrestling Evo on this night as he delivered a brutal fisherman buster to Alexander after the match. A great first round showing & tremendously competetive match with Alexander helped Marcellus become one of the biggest talents in Pro Wrestling Evo in 2011. We next saw Marcellus King at the Life as We Know It event as the two men who came up short in the Evo Eight seminfials faced off in a #1 contenders match. King came up short on this night as “The Icon” Joey Silvia brought his human highlight film to King giving him his second straight loss and threatening his reign of terror on Pro Wrestling Evo. The Mid Atlantic King bullied the Pro Wrestling Evo officials to the point of threatening bodily harm in the weeks after that match eventually getting his way. ‘This is Wrestling’ was the next event for Pro Wrestling Evo and despite how he got there it would prove to be a turning point in the career of Marcellus King. King faced the fast rising heavyweight champion Cedric Alexander who was undefeated in Pro Wrestling Evolution to this point. One major difference on this night was King was joined by his obedient, man creature Circo in a faction known as the Cirkus & it was on this night the now infamous “By Any Means Necessary” style was born. Circo was able to distract Cedric & allow Marcellus to capture the Evo title and begin his reign of terror in Pro Wrestling Evolution. If it wasn’t already apparent just how much Marcellus King valued the Pro Wrestling Evo title the next two events spelled it out clearly. King’s first title defense was at ‘Best Show in Town’ against Zack Salvation. Salvation had interjected himself at the last show’s end and a war of words erupted from that point forward. While that war of words was too close to call on this night it was Marcellus King retaining his championship blasting Salvation with that title for the win. At the next event #FollowThis Cedric Alexander came calling for his rematch and this time it was no disqualification there must be a winner. On this night, Alexander had bad intentions on his mind but it was King outsmarting Alexander to again retain the PWEvo gold. Alexander brutalized King, finally hitting a vicious chair shot that seemed to knock the champion unconscious & silenced the crowd. Officials rushed in from the back as Alexander huddled in the corner and just as the match was about to be called off, King rose to his feet. The champion delivered a groin kick & a vicious chair shot of his own, once again leaving Concord, NC as Pro Wrestling Evo Champion. The final event of 2011, Battlefield Evo for Marcellus King was a day of reckoning for The Cirkus as King & Circo took on Zack Salvation & Jake Manning in an ‘Everything to Lose’ Tag team main event. Each man had something to lose in this match but once again the most prestigious prize was up for grabs, That Pro Wrestling Evo Heavyweight title. If King was pinned, whomever pinned him would take his prized possession and enter 2012 as the champion. By any Means Necessary came into full focus on this night as the Cirkus jumped Jake Manning on his way to the ring & destroyed Salvation in what was virtually a handicap match. Manning finally made his way out & evened the odds but at this point Marcellus had seen enough, as all four men squared off in the ring he pushed Circo into both opponents, ducking out himself & grabbing the title. With the champion retreating , Cirko would lose his mask but by Any means necessary, Marcellus King finished 2011 as Pro Wrestling Evo Heavyweight champion.
2012 Mission Statement: To prove that I have the ability to perform, not just on the indy scene; but on a national/international level. To grow as a performer. Take what I have learned and apply it in new territories. I love what I’ve done with the Cirkus so far and seeing where I can take it in 2012. I also love that I’ve gotten to work with great talent like Zack Salvation and Cedric Alexander.
Thank you to Pro Wrestling Evo Heavyweight Champion Marcellus King for participating in this inaugural edition of Evo Spotlight. Follow Marcellus’ next moves with Pro Wrestling Evo including his upcoming title defense against Zack Salvation March 24, 2012 on www.prowrestlingevo.com View all of his matches in 2011 on www.evoondemand.com and keep up with all his appearances on his official facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Marcellus.MidAtlantic.King as well as on twitter @MarcellusKing1