Evan Bourne (original) (raw)

If you are his opponent, don't let his boyish smile and peace signs catch you off guard because, the next thing you know, Evan Bourne will be executing a Shooting Star Press off a ladder down onto your ribs!

"Air Bourne," as he called the move, was perhaps the most breathtaking aerial assault in WWE, but it was far from the only trick in the high-flyer's arsenal. Bourne proved time and time again that he was willing to throw caution to the wind, especially when opponents least expected it. When you look like a happy-go-lucky sprout in a land of snarling giants, extreme measures need to be taken.

Leave it to the hardcore faithful, then, to be the first to embrace Bourne in his WWE debut. The electric youngster dazzled WWE's relaunched ECW crowds in 2008 and 2009 and proved he wasn't afraid of taking on much bigger combatants like Mike Knox. It didn't take Bourne long to win over the WWE Universe, either, as he took home a Slammy Award for "Best Finishing Maneuver" in his rookie year.

Raw viewers who watched Bourne team up with Rey Mysterio in 2008 were no doubt drawing some comparisons. That's because Mysterio, another acrobat who is more dangerous than his size indicates, had long been one of the blossoming Superstar's idols.

Over the years, Bourne continued to play the role of David in bouts against Goliaths with matches against Sheamus and Jack Swagger, whom he defeated at WWE Capitol Punishment in 2011. But the contests that truly showcased Bourne's action-packed style were Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, one of which took place at WrestleMania.

Teaming up with fellow high-flying Superstar, Kofi Kingston, wound up being his most spectacular move in WWE. The dynamic duo known named Air Boom by the WWE Universe won the WWE Tag Team Titles on the Aug. 22, 2011 edition of Raw and launched Bourne to championship heights.

WWE and Bourne parted ways in June 2014.