The EVOLVE/WWN/Floslam plot continues to thicken.
Last week, it was revealed that streaming service FloSlam was suing WWN for providing false business records. Days later, Fightful's David Bixenspan revealed an e-mail that was sent out by WWN booker Gabe Sapolsky which detailed information that he wanted to change on EVOLVE shows to line up more with WWE's on-screen guidelines. The leaked email garnered a public response from William Regal.
Hey everyone,
This is an important email so please read it through.
We are about to enter a transition period. I want to use this weekend to prepare for that. A major part of this will be the in ring work. You are all awesome, obviously, or you wouldn't be booked. However, I want to change some things you do in EVOLVE to make EVOLVE different and also prepare for what's next.
I will explain more in person, but this weekend please concentrate on these things:
-Make every lock up on the show count. I saw Regal last week and he was at BOLA. I was surprised for him to say that he didn't see many good lock ups there. Honestly, he said he barely saw one good lock up. I know this might be surprising, especially since some of you were on the show. This is a major thing. It's about starting your match up with believability. Please let's put on emphasis on lock ups where you fight for position rather than go into a spot.
-Don't look into the floor camera at anytime. This is a Vince/WWE thing. I really don't care if you look into the camera or not, but this is a habit you will have to break as soon as you go to WWE/NXT, so you might as well break it now. I can explain this more in person. It's a huge thing there, so don't discount this.
-Make every kick, strike and chop count. I don't mean go in there and beat each other up. Just don't waste your kicks, strikes, chops and sell it. In addition, consider who your opponent is. If Keith Lee is striking you, sell it bigger than if someone smaller was striking you. Keep the situation and opponent in mind with your selling and how you do kicks, strikes and chops.
-Don't do cool stuff for the sake of cool stuff. Everything should be about winning the match. I'm not saying don't do cool stuff, but don't do it just to do it.
Have it make sense in your match.
-Challenge yourself to break your normal routine of spots. I don't care what match rating you get on Twitter. This is small picture stuff. I want everyone to think big picture and long game. I can explain this better in person.
-I've been traveling with Chris Dickinson a lot lately since we are from the same area now. We have talked about this stuff extensively in the car. I feel he has a good grasp of it and can explain it from a worker's perspective, which I can't. Please get with him on any questions. I've also told Chris to take more of a leadership role and point things out, so please be open to what he has to say. Thank you.
-Some other notes:
-Belltime each night is 8pm. Please be at the venue by 5:30pm.
-Sal is is getting hotel in a little bit. If you are flying in, we'll tell you where to go soon to hang out. Brandon Tolle is arranging all the rides. Please get with him on rides. If you don't hear from us by tonight, let me know.
-Please remember the EVOLVE rules when it comes to:
-No swearing
-Nothing derogatory towards minorities, women, ethnicities or any other groups.
-No piledrivers.neck bumps, apron spots, anything that drops you on your head.
-Nothing hardcore without permission -No unprotected headbutts
-No mic work without permission
-Be super nice to kids
-No guests in your hotel rooms! We are not going to pay for an extra hotel room cause someone is your ride or you are bringing someone along. We arrange three per room. We are not budgeted for more hotel rooms. No one gets added to these rooms. It is for the comfort of everyone in the room.
-I will send out booking info late night. This weekend is going to be mostly about wrestling. We aren't going to go big into storyline stuff or angles during this transition period. I want everyone to really concentrate on their matches, think of the fundamentals and making everything solid and make sense.
-If you need anything call or text me [number redacted]. If you can't reach me and it's an emergency contact Sal at [number redacted].
I look forward to a fun weekend. Thank you, Gabe
Now Voices of Wrestling and Aaron Bentley have expanded on the situation. Sapolsky allegedly held a call to determine who had leaked the e-mail to Fightful and VOW's Everything Evolves podcast.
“I’m pretty much done with this whole indie bullshit,” Sapolsky said on the call. “This almost cost me my NXT job that I’ve worked 23 years for.” Bentley also stated that Sapolsky said that the news of the leaked e-mail "killed something" inside of him. Sapolsky would go on to accidentally tweet the Fightful link to the story while promoting weekend EVOLVE events.
In Bentley's article, he said that Sapolsky accused Everything Evolves of trying to destroy a company they're doing a podcast about, and threatened to fire an EVOLVE talent at random when the source of the leak wasn't revealed. Sapolsky said that emails of the kind are sent out before virtually every event, and it's worth noting that last year on a Fightful Podcast, Matt Riddle discussed the firing of Joey Styles by prefacing saying that Sapolsky did send out an e-mail of guidelines in regards to the show and avoiding the discussion of politics.
When Fightful reached out to Sapolsky, he stated that Sunday's conversation was off the record and that he was misquoted as having a job with NXT. He added later that he's not in a good place.
