Word Life! Wrestling Around The World: Nu-Wrestling Evolution

Word Life will continue its world tour of wrestling promotions. The last stop was the French promotion, "Queens of Chaos," a promotion where divas were women who took wrestling to great heights.

So what's today's stop?

Nu-Wrestling Evolution is a wrestling promotion in Italy. It's been a growing company since its inception in 2005.

The company was never thought to expand the way it did in Italy, but it had thanks to Kishi, the man who helped operate Nu-Wrestling Evolution (NWE). Who's Kishi? In the world of WWE and many fans alike, he's known as Rikishi.

The Too Cool, dancing, rubbing his butt in your face Rikishi.

Rikishi would be the one who helped mold NWE into an Independent promotion. Rikishi was involved in some angles when the company first started out. He worked with Scott Steiner, who left to work for TNA.

Steiner did do a lot in his stint in NWE though. He made it to the finals of a tournament to crown the first-ever NWE Heavyweight champion.

Unfortunately, Steiner would be defeated by Black Pearl, who went on the become the first NWE Heavyweight champion.

NWE was doing so well in Italy they produced their own weekly series named NWE Destiny. The name sounds like a PPV to me, but it's a good choice nonetheless.

Rikishi wrote himself out of wrestling with a storyline concussion so he could run the company behind the scenes.

It didn't take long for NWE madness to spread. It became popular in Spain and Switzerland, where they also started producing shows.

It also spread to the United Kingdom and pretty much exploded in England, Barcelona, and Spain where some of the most exciting bouts in the company took place. They've made the best of their roster.

One of my favorite characters is Spartan 3000 B.C, a gimmick that was inspired by the movie 300. Spartan 3000 has also wrestled under the name M-Dogg 20 in Ring of Honor.

He isn't the only familiar face on the roster of NWE, as there is also John Heidenreich. Anyone remember is WWE stint? Heidenreich has found a new home in NWE and is doing just fine in the independents.

Full Blooded Italian (F.B.I.) member Vito is also a part of NWE. Others include one half of fomer WWE tag team the Hearthrobs, Romeo Roselli. Ultimo Dragon also wrestles for NWE and has had some pretty good matches.

The list of familiar faces continues with Chris Mordetzky. Who is he? He was a wrestler for WWE until he abused the wellness drug policy and blew all three strikes. He was a nifty guy with a hell of a full nelson. The man was Chris Masters.

Masters has done well in NWE. Masters has also captured gold as he is a one-time NWE Heavyweight champion.

Juventud Guerrera also wrestles for NWE. He can be remembered as one of the members of the Mexicools along with Super Crazy when he worked for the WWE.

David William Heath aka Gangrel is another wrestler who can be found in NWE.

Rob Van Dam has even wrestled for NWE. Mr. One of Kind showed exactly why he's earned that moniker when he trained along side the Ultimate Warrior...yes the Ultimate Warrior, who was planning to end his decade long hiatus from the ring and compete.

Ultimate Warrior was portrayed as the returning hero who returned to capture the NWE Heavyweight championship.

Who was the dominant champion in 2008?

It was Orlando Jordan.

WHAT?!

Yes former JBL cabinet member. U.S. champion, and WWE star. The highly anticipated bout took place in Barcelona, Spain, on June 25, 2008. Rob Van Dam had been still training alongside Warrior for the match.

Jordan put up a fight, but it would be the Ultimate Warrior who would triumph in his first match in a decade. Warrior became the new NWE Heavyweight champion, but forfeited it days later and his return would come to a halt.

The entrances can be viewed here.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Orlando Jordan (NWE Heavyweight championship)

More titles are on the way for lightweights since NWE has quite the number of them. The Gravity 0 (Zero) lightweight title is on the way. NWE continues to be popular in Italy and Europe and has done a lot in just four years.

Low Ki vs. Ultimo Dragon

Test & Taiyo Kea vs. FBI (Some of the last matches Test had)

Charlie Haas vs. Ekmo vs. Black Pearl

Black Dragon vs. Ultimo Dragon (Mask vs. Mask Part 2)

RVD, Heindenreich, Black Pearl and Rikishi in action

Until next time, Word Life!