Sui-Sydal Tendency: WWE Apparently Bourne To Become Korklan’s Kevorkian
by Adam Testa
Matt Korklan is a man known by many names and titles, but unfortunately for the young St. Louis native, world champion will likely never be one.

Fans of IWA-Mid South, Wrestling Society X, Ring of Honor and even old Total Nonstop Action Wrestling know Korklan as Matt Sydal, while modern mainstream wrestling fans recognize him as his World Wrestling Entertainment-issued identity Evan Bourne.

To WWE fans, Bourne is a high-flyer presented with the gift of being allowed to use the dangerous yet beautiful shooting star press as a finishing maneuver. He’s the guy with the flashy moves called upon to put on a spectacle before ultimately ending the match flat on his back with a referee executing a three count.

In short, Bourne’s career in WWE has amounted to little more than enhancement talent. In a past issue of WWE Magazine, however, he said he’s as happy as could be, as his dream has always been to perform in WWE, even if he wore a mask and constantly jobbed to the stars.

While Bourne may be satisfied with his current standing in the company, he has potential to do so much more. Despite his small stature and lacking skills on a microphone, the company has many opportunities to push Bourne to the next level.

Like many of his counterparts, Bourne has become a victim of corporately implemented limitations. The 26-year-old star has a set of moves and skills that far exceed what he’s showcased during his tenure on the now defunct WWECW and Monday Night Raw.

He’s completed several tours of Japan, sharing a ring with international superstars including CIMA, Masato Yoshino and Genki Horiguchi. During one tour, he won Dragon Gate’s lightweight title, the Open the Brave Gate Championship, from Yoshino. Bourne, competing under his Matt Sydal moniker at the time, became the first gaijin (non-Japanese star) to earn that honor.

By his mid-20s, Bourne had become an internationally recognized superstar, appeared on national pay-per-view with TNA Wrestling, won multiple championships including the Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Championship while under a WWE development contract and made his way onto WWE programming.

Each one of these accomplishments represented a major milestone for the young wrestler, who had begun his career in the Midwest, becoming the first person under the age of 18 to earn a wrestling license in Missouri, one of the most restricted states in the U.S. for performing.

Now, with all that under his belt, Bourne finds himself in a position where his destiny is in the hands of Vincent Kennedy McMahon, a man with reported visions of idoltry for muscle-bound freaks of nature and not lightweight performers. Unless Bourne can find a way to break the glass ceiling placed above all cruiserweights, the life and death of his career remains in the control of WWE.

TNA wasted Bourne while they had him in 2004 and 2005, not even allowing him to win a match during his entire tenure with the promotion. As of late, WWE has been putting Bourne over in matches, though this string of success can likely be attributed to his upcoming appearance in the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania.

In two weeks, Bourne enters the most famous ladder match of the year against opponents including Christian, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Hardy, Kane, and MVP, amongst others. Competing against these more established stars—as well as other climbing stars like Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre—gives Bourne an opportunity to shine, and hopefully he will be more than a walking spotfest when the match rolls around.

Very few people realistically expect Bourne to be the one to emerge from WrestleMania with a world title shot, but there’s still a chance for him to walk away from the match with less doubters and more momentum.

Bourne has become a star lost in the shuffle on Raw and would benefit greatly from a brand switch. Creating tension between him and McIntyre during Money in the Bank would be a good way to tease a trade to Smackdown during the annual WWE draft, and Bourne would appear to be a legitimate threat for the Intercontinental Championship.

Being on Smackdown would also allow Bourne to compete against the likes of John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk and Tyson Kidd, who he worked with in his days at developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling. With Mysterio expected to take time off following WrestleMania, Bourne could also be the one to step into the “ultimate underdog” role, squaring off against larger superstars like Ezekial Jackson.

Smackdown also offers a solution to Bourne’s biggest weakness: his charisma, or lack thereof. Former ECW Tiffany has proven herself on the microphone and developed a character, and this past Friday night, she showed promise for a successful in-ring career. Aligning Tiffany with Bourne, playing the role of a love interest, manager and mixed-tag tag team partner, would aid both performers.

Tiffany would benefit from being aligned with a very popular star, and Bourne would get the proverbial rub from having a gorgeous and talented woman by his side. Tiffany could work the microphone for him, much as Lizzie Valentine did on the short-lived Wrestling Society X program.

Even with a manager and a voice, Bourne’s chances of obtaining a world title at any point during his WWE career remain almost non-existent. But the young star can put on midcard title-caliber matches and performances, and seeing him with the Intercontinental, United States or even Unified Tag Team title around his waist would be a pleasant reward for his dedication to the craft and ability to appeal to a PG Era audience.

Saying Bourne has limitless potential would be a very unfair statement, as there are obvious boundaries to how far he can go in WWE as long as McMahon and like-minded individuals remain at the helm. But there’s no reason Bourne and his legions of fans should rest on their laurels, watching weekly programming wondering if their favorite superstar can even manage to pick up a win, let alone a meaningful one.

WWE’s usage of Bourne post-WrestleMania will be the true indicator of whether or not the company will inevitably lead to the end of his legacy. The company has an opportunity to push Bourne in an underdog role and breathe new life into the star, but whether or not they’ll take the risk on a star of such small physical stature remains to be scene.

If they push Bourne, it will be a smart move. If they continue to utilize such a talented performer as enhancement talent, it will be a downright shame.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
The opportunity to compete for a World Championship is so significant to the Superstars of WWE that every year eight of the most fearless and talented competitors risk it all for this very goal in a Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

First contested at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, this dangerous, but rewarding contest pits eight Superstars against one another in a battle to climb a ladder and snatch a briefcase hanging precariously above the ring. Inside the case is a contract giving the winner an opportunity to face a World Champion at a time of their choosing throughout a 12-month period.

This unique ability to “cash in” a championship opportunity at any moment has given Money in the Bank winners a serious advantage over their opponents on many occasions. Edge, the first-ever “Mr. Money in the Bank,” cashed in his contract at New Year’s Revolution 2006, defeating WWE Champion John Cena immediately after the 12 Rounds star had just successfully defended his title in an Elimination Chamber Match. At Extreme Rules in 2009, CM Punk elected to face Jeff Hardy moments after The Charismatic Enigma defeated Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship in a grueling Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match.

Every Superstar who has cashed in a Money in the Bank contract has gone on to win a World Championship, including CM Punk, who won the contest at WrestleMania in 2008 and 2009. This amazing percentage for victory has proven that the risks of this perilous match are certainly worth the reward.

With his victory over Carlito on the Feb. 22 edition of Raw, new Raw Superstar Christian became the first man to qualify for this year’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

On the Feb. 26 edition of SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler, Kane and Shelton Benjamin all qualified to join Christian on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

On the Mar. 1 edition of Raw, Jack Swagger and MVP qualified for the bout.

Matt Hardy will return to WrestleMania’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match for the third time, thanks to his qualification on the Mar. 5 edition of SmackDown.

Earning the final coveted spot, Evan Bourne defeated William Regal on the Mar. 8 edition of Raw, rounding out the list of this year’s Money in the Bank participants.

Which of these eight men will retrieve the briefcase and hold the possibly career changing contract in their hands? Tune in to WrestleMania on Sunday, Mar. 28 to see who grabs the coveted briefcase.

- Backstage Evan Bourne is talking to Criss Angel; Bourne has a Money in the Bank qualifier later against William Regal. Skip Sheffield from NXT interrupts, he says he is a big fan of Criss, Skip’s mentor, Regal arrives, he tells Bourne he’ll see him in the ring later. Criss then gets Regal to write down a number on a piece of paper and hold it against his chest so that Criss can’t see it, Criss then correctly guesses the number using body language.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Evan Bourne vs. William Regal w/ Skip Sheffield
- This match will determine who will be the final competitor in this years Money in the Bank match. Christian is on commentary for this match, he is accompanied by Heath Slater. Evan Bourne wins the relatively short match after a Shooting Star Press, he’s headed to WrestleMania!
WINNER: Evan Bourne.

RELATED LINKS:
- Monday Night Raw Digitals » View Here
- Monday Night Raw Captures » View Here

Match Number Two: William Regal versus Evan Bourne

They lock up and Bourne with a front face lock but Regal with an arm bar. Bourne tries to reverse it but Regal holds on and tries for a head scissors take down but Regal sends Bourne to the mat instead and holds on to the arm bar. Bourne uses the ropes to escape and he hits a monkey flip and head scissors take down. Bourne with a drop kick and side head lock. Regal tries to get out o the hold and he hits a forearm on Bourne to get out of the hold. Regal with a back elbow and gutwrench suplex for a near fall. Regal with a reverse chin lock but Bourne with an arm bar. Regal with a forearm and Bourne is down. Regal with European uppercuts and then he puts Bourne back in a reverse chin lock. Regal tries for the Cobra Stretch but Bourne fights it off. Regal maintains the chin lock and Bourne struggles to stay conscious. Bourne gets to his feet and he backs Regal into the turnbuckles but Bourne with a kick to the back. Regal with an Exploder suplex on Bourne and he misses the running knee. Bourne with a leaping knee and he goes up top and hits the Shooting Star Press for the three count.
Winner: Evan Bourne

- WWE Superstars Digitals » here
- WWE Superstars Captures » here

Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. MST: Carlito, Cryme Tyme, Mike Knox, Hornswoggle, Kofi Kingston, Kane, Mark Henry, Kane, MVP, Jack Swagger, Chavo Guerrero, The Great Khali, Goldust, Evan Bourne, Matt Hardy, Gail Kim, Beth Phoenix, Eve and more!

Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne def. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase via Pinfall
-Fast paced match, lots of good spots.
After the match, DiBiase did his finisher on Rhodes, and left him laying.

Kofi Kingston, Yoshi Tatsu & Evan Bourne vs. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
- DiBiase and Tatsu start things off. Michael Cole says Tatsu was an ECW star who then became a free agent that recently signed with RAW. Tatsu gets in some offense on DiBiase and tags in Evan Bourne. DiBiase regains control, suplexes Bourne and tags in Cody Rhodes. Bourne quickly goes to work on Rhodes. Bourne controls the action until Rhodes caught him on the top rope. He slammed him off the top and tries a pin. Bourne kicks out at two and we head to a mid-match commercial. When we return Bourne and DiBiase are both down trying to crawl to their corners. Bourne tags in Kofi Kingston. Kingston is red hot and all over Ted DiBiase. The ref gets distracted and Orton comes in and blasts Kingston. DiBiase makes the tag to Orton and Orton goes to work on Kingston. Legacy both wanted the tag but Orton decides to continue himself with Kofi. Crowd chants “Kofi, Kofi.”

Orton tags Rhodes but then does his DDT across the middle rope to bring him in the ring. DiBiase gets in Orton’s face and asks him what he’s doing. Orton hits DiBiase with the RKO on the floor. Looks like Orton got them before they could get him. Orton walks to the back. Kingston tags in Yoshi Tatsu. Tatsu busts up Rhodes some and tags in Evan Bourne. Bourne hits the Air Bourne on Rhodes and gets the pin.
Winners: Kofi Kingston, Yoshi Tatsu & Evan Bourne.

RELATED LINKS:
- Monday Night Raw Digitals » View Here
- Monday Night Raw Captures » View Here

Okay so you may have seen posts on the shoutboard or my twitter (@S4MMB0) but if not then you will now be aware that the official forum for Evan-Bourne.com/Matt-Sydal.net is now up and it is joined with our soon to be open and brother site, Mike-Sydal.net. I spent alot of last weekend getting the forum up and running and now i guess its worth the update. Guys sign up and get involved with the Evan Bourne network and lets make it a great place to hang out. As an exclusive for you guys i can now tell you that Evan’s brother Mike, WILL be posting on the forum in a blog that we should be getting soon AND you never know someone else may suprise us with a blog or something BUT my mouth will remained sealed for that lol. So sign up, tell your friends and lets make this forum worthwile!

SIGN UP HERE.

]]> http://evan-bourne.com/index.php/2010/02/official-announcment-the-forum/feed/ 0 http://evan-bourne.com/index.php/2010/02/raw-houseshow-candids-142/ http://evan-bourne.com/index.php/2010/02/raw-houseshow-candids-142/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:14:09 +0000 Sam http://evan-bourne.com/?p=1038

Thanks to my good friend, Kim of Rock The Art we now have 8 candids from a recent houseshow she attended on Valentines Day. As usual Kim got some GREAT shots and they are definitely worth the look!

RELATED LINKS:
- Raw Houseshow Candids (Kim) » View Here

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