Matt Sydal is a very talented professional wrestler, one that if not for a combination of bad luck with injuries and stupid decisions on his part, would probably be much more famous today than he is. He’s a high flier straight out of the burgeoning days of the X-Division. To many he’s probably still best remembered as Evan Bourne, the exciting, plucky young babyface that caught the hearts of many in his WWE run in the late aughts and early 2010s.
This was still a period that pre-dated WWE’s influx of indy darlings.
Simply put, the WWE audience wasn’t used to seeing guys like Evan Bourne at that point in time. While he’s been surpassed by guys like Ricochet and Will Ospreay in recent years, at around that point Bourne had a real argument for being the best high flier in the world. His speed and aerial grace was hard to match. From his debut in 2008 on, the presentation of Evan Bourne made him particularly appealing to children.
This was well represented in his tag team with Kofi Kingston known as Air Boom. The two held the WWE Tag Titles going into 2012, but abruptly lost them at a house show to Primo & Epico. This was on the heels of Bourne being suspended for violating the wellness policy. This was his second suspension… the first, also being during that same title reign, a couple of months earlier. Before his 60 day suspension was even up, he got in a motorcycle accident that severely injured his foot. He would never reappear on TV before finally being released during the summer of 2014.
Since then, he of course returned to his indy name of Matt Sydal and bounced around ROH, PWG and New Japan before landing at Impact Wrestling for a lengthy stay.
Now, he’s coming to EVOLVE… but doing so with his old Evan Bourne identity.
This is notable because of Evolve’s relation to WWE and NXT in particular. Earlier this year, an EVOLVE event was actually broadcast on the WWE Network.
It should go without saying that Sydal hasn’t used the Evan Bourne name since leaving WWE, and likely wouldn’t be allowed to thanks to it being trademarked. The fact that he’s allowed – or perhaps even mandated – to use the name now is a show of just how deep the connection between the Philly-based indy and WWE has become. Many consider EVOLVE to be something of an unofficial developmental territory for NXT these days.
As for Bourne, well… in spite of being one of those guys who’s been a known name for about as long as the term ‘indy’ has been used, he’s still just 36. And it doesn’t appear that he’s really lost a step, in spite of doing this for nearly two decades.
The move will surely prompt speculation of a possible WWE or NXT return for Evan Bourne, and I have to think everyone involved is aware of that. Whether it’ll lead to anything is anyone’s guess, but there’s nothing preventing him from being signed.
Bourne will be appearing for Evolve on it’s next four shows: November 9th, November 10th, December 6th & December 7th.
In other words, EVOLVE 139-142.
In an official statement, he had this to say about bringing back his old moniker:
“There has never been a more ideal moment for Evan Bourne to return. I’m thankful for this rebirth. I’m thrilled for this opportunity, and I will open everyone’s eyes at EVOLVE. On November 9th and 10th, come see what I’m saying.”
