EPW @ The Aberdeen Hotel
Sunday March 11
2pm
The card is stacked and my predictions are in! As always, I think I’ve got most of these nailed down. Although, I do have to admit Ward vs McGavin and the Progress Dream Match Battle Royal are both tough to accurately predict.
Don’t forget to let me know if you think I’m on the money!
– Damian Wilson
Chief Editor, epwperth.com
Hayden Zenith vs Kiel Steria vs Jay Taylor vs David Nero
Why Hayden Zenith will win: As a late inclusion for Pitt, Zenith may have the upper hand on everyone else simply because they are not prepared to face him.
Why Kiel Steria will win: His offence is as explosive as it is destructive.
Why Jay Taylor will win: He is cunning and can be a slippery little sucker to nail down.
Why David Nero will win: He needs a win over some top-level talent to really climb the rankings. This is his perfect opportunity to do so.
Odds: Zenith – $1.90, Steria – $1.80, Taylor – $1.90, Nero – $2.40
Prediction: Pitt being a late withdrawal really opens up the match. I think Kiel Steria will steal the win.
Steria to pin Nero in 12 minutes.
6 MAN TAG TEAM WARFARE
The Headhunters (Dan Steel, Jarrod Slate & Twitch) Vs Ricky South & The Nacho Friends (El Taco Nacho & Del Cano)
Why The Headhunters will win: They have pure destructive aggression and seem primed for big things in 2018.
Why Ricky South & The Nacho Friends will win: The Nacho Friends have the crowd behind them and Ricky South is a great unknown in EPW.
Odds: Headhunters – $1.70, Nacho/South – $2.20
Prediction: There are a lot of good wraps about Ricky South so I think the odds on the Nacho Friends are extremely friendly. However, I’m going to have to go with The Headhunters. Slate is set to explode now he’s free of trying to be some sort of nice guy, and Steel is an absolute weapon. There is a big question mark over Twitch regarding how he’s recovered from injury so this one really could be anything.
Steel to pin El Taco Nacho in 10 minutes
TRIPLE THREAT CHALLENGE
Tyler Jacobs vs Johnny Wimbledon vs Jordan Bishop
Why Jacobs will win: He has the book.
Why Wimbledon will win: Pure toughness
Why Bishop will win: He needs a big win to start turning heads again.
Odds: Jacobs – $1.65, Wimbledon – $2.10, Bishop – $3.70
Prediction: An interesting trio here, none of which have a lot going on at the moment. Jacobs has recently left The Headhunters and appears to have a bit more direction and purpose than the other two, so I’m going to go with him.
Jacobs to pin Bishop in 6 minutes.
LUCKY LOSERS REMATCH
Gavin McGavin vs Julian Ward
Why McGavin will win: Because he’s crafty as hell and better than anybody would care to admit.
Why Ward will win: He has the size and strength advantage. More than that, he has the intangibles – heart, a will to win and the love of the crowd in his favour.
Odds: McGavin – $1.85, Ward – $1.85
Prediction: I really really REALLY want Ward to win this. McGavin is a pain in the rear end and I could do with a bit of a break from hearing him spouting off every 15 minutes. However, as irritating as McGavin is, his talent can’t be denied.
McGavin to scratch a way to win in 12 minutes.
THE TAYLOR KING SHOW with special guest, the A.S.S. Carrot
Prediction: …I’m really not sure how to find a PG way to predict what Taylor King is going to do with an A.S.S Carrot. I’ll let you all use your imagination here.
PROGRESS DREAM MATCH BATTLE ROYAL
Why Marcius Pitt will win: He’s the biggest and best guy in this match.
Why Davis Storm will win: He’s starting to nudge 40-years-old and his career is at a crossroads. He needs this win.
Why Kiel Steria will win: He’s strong as an ox and has the athleticism to burn.
Why Johnny Wimbledon will win: He’s as tough as nails and will be overlooked by others in this match.
Why Tyler Jacobs will win: He has the experience advantage over all competitors in the match (other than Davis Storm). He also has that stupid book.
Why Cal Cousins will win: Because he has nothing to lose here.
Why Dan Steel will win: Maybe the best brawler in the match so the rumble will suit him. A definite dark horse to win this.
Why Hayden Zenith will win: He has a massive chance to put Gen Zero on the world map.
Why Gavin McGavin will win: Want to shake the “up & comer” tag? Here’s his chance.
Why Taylor King will win: He Is surprisingly strong and would see this as a huge opportunity to leap up the card.
Odds: Pitt – $1.55, Storm – $2.90, McGavin/Steel – $4.75, Zenith/Jacobs/Steria – $6.50, King – $7.00, Wimbledon – $9.00, Cousins – $15.00
Prediction: Despite the quality of the men in this match, I still feel like this is Pitt’s to lose. He has a lot on the line, and it’s safe to assume the Battle Royal structure would suit his powerhouse style to a tee. Davis Storm is the sentimental favourite of mine but I also wouldn’t rule out one of the many young and hungry up-comers in the match. McGavin or Steel would step over their own mothers to get a gig at PROGRESS x EPW so it wouldn’t be a total shock to see someone like them pull off an upset. All in all, I honestly have no idea. But as always, when in doubt, bet on the best.
Pitt, McGavin, Steel & Storm to be the final 4 with Pitt to win.
EPW COASTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
“The Big Rig” Scotty Ryan © vs “The World Beater” Damian Slater
FOR A FULL BREAK DOWN CLICK HERE
Why Slater will win: He’s a far superior wrestler to Ryan in almost every way.
Why Ryan will win: I say ALMOST every way because Scotty Ryan has more heart than Slater could hope to have in a lifetime. Also, although the odds are stacked heavily against him, he simply cannot afford to lose this match.
Odds: Slater $1.35, Ryan $4.50
Prediction: I see no way for Scotty Ryan to walk away from this with his beloved EPW Coastal Championship belt still around his waist. Slater is too great a challenge, and too soon, for Ryan. His experience, skill and craftiness will be too much. Scotty Ryan will no doubt put on the performance of his life, but Slater will win.
Slater to pin Scotty Ryan in 15 minutes and become the new EPW Coastal Champion.