ReAwakening 16 Preview
This is gearing up to be a HUGE match in every way. We have two very different competitors telling two vastly different stories. The Don has always been a real ‘backbone’ guy in EPW. He rarely puts a foot wrong, never has a bad match, and has never dropped the ball. Yet previously, years of working tirelessly in the upper card of EPW had always resulted in one thing – The Don watching other guys get given the opportunities that he so desperately craved.
Now, it’s 2017, and something has changed deep within Morleone. He’s flicked a switch and is no longer willing to stand idly by while others claim the main event spotlight. Throughout the year, he has grown from strength to strength from one show to the next. 2017 is his year. THIS is the opportunity he has been waiting for. THIS is his time!
However…
Davis Storm is no ones stepping stone. He is a 6 time EPW Champion and this will be his SEVENTH ReAwakening main event. Storm is regarded as the Godfather of Perth Wrestling, and is possibly the soundest ring technician and savvy competitor EPW has ever seen. He is respected, admired and feared for very good reason, and will not lay down for anybody.
Nevertheless, all hope is not lost for The Don. Working to his advantage, is that this is not a normal match. This is a No Holds Barred Street Fight. How far can technical ability take a competitor when his hungry opponent is wielding a lead pipe? The Don is tough, battle hardened and maybe the only man in EPW who could claim to want to be the EPW Champion more than Davis Storm himself. Previously, we’ve seen The Don leave ringside in an ambulance. Don’t be surprised if it happens again. Hospitalisation may be the only way to keep him down, and we all know Storm is more than willing (and definitely capable) of delivering.
SUMMARY
This is going to be special.
The EPW Coastal Championship has been at the heart of the Match of the Night on virtually every EPW show in 2017. McGavin and Ryan have both made EPW fans and officials alike stop and take notice, by hitting home run after home run, in a feud which culminated in ‘The Big Rig’ Scotty Ryan claiming his first single’s Championship in EPW.
When he defeated Gavin McGavin in the steel cage, many hailed the clash as the Match of the Year in 2017.
The Fatal 4 Way structure of the upcoming battle virtually guarantees that this will be every bit as exciting as it will be unpredictable.
SUMMARY
Genuine show stealer potential.
The Invitational Tournament is the longest-running and most-respected tournament in all of Australian Wrestling. Its victors read like a who’s who of Australian wrestling, almost all having gone on to claim the EPW Championship at some stage in their careers. Vice has already been there and done that. The former EPW Champion would view this as being just another jewel in an already glittery crown. But, for Julian Ward, this match is everything.
A win would see Ward smash through the glass ceiling of EPW and force his way into Championship consideration. However, a loss will no doubt leave him buried in the undercard for as long as it takes him to recover. Simply putting in another strong showing won’t be enough here; Ward NEEDS to win. Vice is a prototype beast and his attitude suggests he knows it. Don’t expect him to make life easy for the young up and comer.
SUMMARY
No other match on the card has more implications on 2018 than this one.
Forget about the year-long feud. Forget about the betrayal of Alex Kingston by Marcius Pitt. Forget about Pitt, Slater, Amber and Vice and their newly formed stable ‘The Untouchables’ being one of the most potentially dominant groups in the history of Australian Wrestling. Forget about this being the first ever meaningful uniting of fan favourites Alex Kingston and Logan Grey.
This match can be summed up very simply using nothing but numbers. These 4 men combine to boast 3 EPW Tag Team Championships, 4 Invitational Tournament victories, 5 Wrestler of the Year awards, 11 Match of the Year awards, and 8 EPW Championships! And this is all with Damian Slater being full-time with EPW for only 11 months, and Logan Grey in only his 3rd year of wrestling!
SUMMARY
Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y. ‘Nuff said.
Who doesn’t love a rumble?! I can’t even pretend to know how this one might pan out, but I can probably throw a few adjectives around. Fun, crazy, electric, messy, exciting, and just plain unpredictable.
SUMMARY
It’s a 10-team rumble. Your guess is as good as mine.
This match may be in the undercard with seemingly very little on the line, but don’t be fooled – in years to come, this could be considered a dream match-up. Both of these guys are in a very similar position to guys like The Don, pre-2017. Don’t be surprised to see both competitors gracing the main event scene in the not too distant future. Both are extremely fluid movers, exhibit amazing intensity, rarely have a poor match, and have generally been in ripping form. These characteristics should make the encounter a genuine highlight, which would be an amazing achievement considering the quality of the card above them!
SUMMARY
A definite dark horse for match of the night
