This weeks Evo Spotlight focues on one of the most well known and respected independent talents around the southeast. A man who lives & dies by the company he is performing for and is an undeniable crowd favorite each night. The 2011 NWA Future Legends Cup Winner & 2012 Evo Eight tournament winner as well as current #1 contender for the Pro Wrestling Evo Heavyweight championship. From his origins in professional wrestling to his favorite matches & opponents as well as some very candid thoughts on Pro Wrestling Evo and it’s talents. This week the spotlight shines on …..
Zack Salvation
Year in Review:
A familiar name for the last decade in the southeast, Zack Salvation introduced himself to a new crowd at Pro Wrestling Evo’s first Evo Eight tournament in January 2011. Salvation defeated Logan East in the opening round & Joey Silvia in the semifinals before losing to eventual tournament winner Cedric Alexander in a great back and forth match. Salvation felt he deserved a rematch with Alexander at the following event ‘Life as We Know it” however Jake Manning would face the champion at that event and Salvation asked for a rematch with Logan East. Zack had seen something in the young kid at Evo Eight. Salvation again defeated East but already Zack’s sights were set on the Evo Heavyweight title. Salvation was in contention with Joey Silvia and Marcellus King for the next shot at Cedric Alexander at ‘This is Wrestling’ yet it was Marcellus King who got the shot & Salvation teamed up with Caleb Konley. Salvation had volunteered Logan East’ services the previous show to team with Konley in a second match so Konley was “paying back the favor”. The veteran team of TJ & Kirby Mack Team Macktion got the win over Salvation and Konley as Caleb seemed to be in position to save Salvation but made no effort to do so. Salvation at this point was frustrated with the landscape of Pro Wrestling Evo and it all boiled over in the main event for ‘This is Wrestling’ as Marcellus King won the Evo title, Salvation had seen enough. The Queen City Killer hit the ring taking out Circo & calling King a “thug” who bullied his way into the title match so the stage was set for the next event. Salvation finally got his title shot at ‘Best Show In Town’ and it looked as though all of the trials that Salvation had gone through would pay off but Cirko got involved and Salvation was defeated in his quest for the Evo Title on this night. Salvation was next scheduled to face ROH star Kyle O’ Reilly at ‘#FollowThis’ unfortunately this match was not to be so Salvation started the night off in an exchange with Jake Manning. Manning invited Salvation to participate in his “Manscout Merit Challenge” which stated that if Manning was pinned he would leave Pro Wrestling Evo. Salvation accepted and the two had a very good match with Manning nearly losing his Evo career many times, yet in the end it was Marcellus King & the Cirkus coming back to haunt Zack once again & costing him his third consecutive loss. The following show was titled ‘Battlefield Evo’ and Salvation was partnered up with Manning this time to take on The Cirkus in an ‘Everything to lose’ tag team main event. Each man had something to lose in this match, with Salvation putting up his Evo Eight spot, meaning if he was pinned he would not have a chance at getting another shot at King’s Evo title. The big question on this night was could Salvation trust Manning? We would have to wait for that answer as Jake was attacked as he entered the match & Salvation fought most of this match as a handicap match. In the end Manning stuck true to his “Scouts Honor” and made his way back out and Salvation & Manning pinned Cirko to win this big main event. Having secured his spot in the 2nd annual Evo Eight tournament Salvation made his way to Concord, NC in January of 2012 with only once acceptable outcome on his mind. Salvation was tested by three of the best in the southeast at Evo Eight 2012 first defeating Evo newcomer “The” John Skyler in an exciting opening contest. The semifinals saw a rematch with Cedric Alexander from the previous years finals and after another great match between these two it was Salvation who came out on top this time. Once again things came full circle in the finals of Evo Eight 2012 as Salvation again faced Jake Manning under “Manscout Merit Challenge” rules to decide the winner & new #1 contender for the Evo Title. This match was decided to be a No DQ, falls count anywhere battle and that is exactly what it was. The two fought all over the arena using ladders, chairs, the guard rail and anything else in their way. In the end Salvation notched his biggest win in Pro Wrestling Evo to date, retiring The Manscout from Pro Wrestling Evo and setting up a rematch with Evo Champion Marcellus King on March 9, 2012 at ‘EPIC’.
Hometown: Stanley, NC
Wrestling Influences: Shawn Michaels, RVD, Brett Hart, Randy savage, Ricky Steamboat, The Rock, 80′s Ric Flair
Trained By: Vance Furr, fined tuned by Elite Pro Wrestling Training with Ricky steamboat, Les Thatcher, & Tully Blanchard
Favorite Opponent(s):Team Ego (Will Snapp and Abel Adams), Phil Shatter (Gunner), John Skyler, Josh Magnum
Favorite Matches:June 2011 vs John Skyler. APW Title Chester, SC for Action Packed Wrestling March 2009 vs Josh Magnum NWA Charlotte, Little Theater Match in Chester, SC July 2007 Team Ego vs. the Professionals, Chester SC, APW title ladder match vs Phil Shatter May 2008. “First time I ever got out bumped. That day I knew he would make a lot of money in this industry”. & NWA legends fanfest weekend August 2011 vs Brian Danielson. “Tore the house down. The very next week he worked Summerslam”.
Promotions/regions Worked: NC, SC, WV, VA, TN, GA, FL, & AL
Titles Held: “Trophies you can keep and never lose.”–Zack Salvation
2011 NWA Future Legends
Cup 2012 Evo Eight Winner
How did you get started in Wrestling?” My high school did a fundraiser for prom. As the president I pitched a pro wrestling show. All my friends and I acted out variations of our favorite characters and put on the show. Raised like 5 grand. Old timer(Vance Furr) looked me up trained me for like a week (laughs) and started running shows around us, I was 17.”
Thoughts on PWEvo or it’s Talents: Some of the talent is phenomenal here. Guys like Chivas, Caleb, Cedric, Skyler really can go. I like to think I can too, but those guys really make me want to up my game every show. That is also why EVO is on the up… Since I’m being honest I will also be respectful by not mentioning any names. There is “talent” here that can potentially hurt the product. It seems like there is and always will be two demographics of ticket buyers. Sometimes certain talents don’t consider the market in which they perform. Certain talents are more concerned with stirring emotion (the wrong way) shock value, indecency, and vulgarity. We are all victims of the desire to steal the show or make the most impact. Tragically we set aside the overall integrity of the company for our own personal gain”.
2012 Mission Statement: “To do my part. Do it well. Do it without question and remain steadfast. The Lord would not have it any other way.”
Check out all of Zack’s matches from the past year at www.evoondemand.com or order the dvds from www.prowrestlingevo.com also there you can keep up with Zack’s next appearance as he faces Pro Wrestling Evo Champion Marcellus King for the Evo Heavyweight title on March 9, 2012 at ‘EPIC’ Follow Zack as he prepares for this and all his matches on twitter @MrZackSalvation
Jeremy Polk
JustJer17@aol.com
@The1andonlyJer
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