Flying Into the Ring: WWE’s Evan Bourne
Written by Express contributor Meg Zamula
EVAN BOURNE IS one of the newest members of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” roster, and one of the most exciting. At 5 feet, 9 inches, he is diminutive compared with many of the dominant Raw superstars, but his high-flying aerial style enables him to compete with behemoths like current WWE champion Randy Orton and the 7-foot-tall Big Show. His version of the shooting star press, appropriately renamed the Air Bourne, deservedly won the WWE’s “Slammy Award” for best finishing move of 2008.

Bourne competed in the WWE’s ECW division for a year before being traded to Raw at the end of June. His wrestling career, however, began long before his ECW stint. After competing on his high school’s wrestling team, Bourne, whose real name is Matthew Korklan, began his professional career while still a teenager. He hit the independent circuit for several years, then did stints with the TNA and Ring of Honor promotions before spending two years wrestling in Japan. In 2007, Bourne signed a WWE developmental deal; a year later he was promoted to ECW, and now he’s a featured star on the WWE’s flagship show.

Bourne acknowledges current SmackDown champion CM Punk as being particularly influential on his career. Both men grew up in the Midwest, and Punk followed a similar path through the independent promotions, developmental territories and ECW Whether Bourne can go on to win the top titles in the company, as Punk has managed to do since ascending from ECW, remains to be seen.

Bourne is every bit as much of a wrestling fan as a performer. He cites Rey Mysterio, Edge (despite his unpleasant wrestling persona) and Christian as amongst his current favorites to watch — and he gets as close to the action as he can. “I don’t watch the show on the monitors backstage,” he said. “I watch from behind the curtain.” Bourne has different preferences when it comes time to carpool, however, noting, “I prefer to travel with the divas.”

Bourne had a single answer when asked which Raw superstars he would enjoy competing against or teaming up with: current U.S. champion Kofi Kingston. While Bourne defeated Kingston in a recent match, the pair has also worked together against the bullying Big Show, leaving open the possibility of additional teamwork.

If their friendship turns into a partnership, Bourne predicted the potential for greatness: “I think we could dominate the tag division.”

Bourne had recently returned from a series of international WWE shows, and he seemed to relish the experience. He specifically cited the Filipino fans as being an ideal combination of enthusiastic and polite. When asked what he considered less than courteous fan behavior, he mentioned that he is regularly asked to take his shirt off in public places. Bourne tries to be accommodating, but he has his limits, saying, “I’m happy to take pictures or sign autographs, but don’t ask me to strip.”