They say old habits die hard.

These two first locked horns in EPW’s first year in existence. Then rookie, Freeman, found himself sticking up for Anda Nothica who was being bullied by Azazal after a match. That confrontation led to a match at Collision Course in July 2002, which was one of the matches of that year. Freeman won a tremendous match but over the course of EPW’s feud with Uprising, Brock would take a back seat as Azazal’s rage was redirected at others in EPW.

A lot happened between July 2002 and the beginning of this year. Azazal won and lost the chairmanship of EPW, had a brutal year long feud with Mikey and then won the first ever EPW steel cage match at Re-Awakening last year.

Freeman became a hated maniacal madman, was the leader of the short lived Freemanism sect and then became a fan favourite crazy, dancing, rolling luchadore.

These two changed men did battle at our first event for 2006, Settling the Score. By this stage noone expected Freeman to be competitive. Los Freemanos was a lot of fun but he was rarely successful where as Azazal had been one of the top wrestlers in EPW for over four years.

Freemanos put up an unexpected fight before Azazal won in convincing fashion. But after the match, Azazal made a mistake that has haunted him ever since. He ripped Freemanos’ mask off and left him in a beaten heap. He taunted Freemanos for being a loser and asked where the proud warrior who went toe to toe with him in 2002 had gone.

At the following event, while wrestling Shane Haste, the Fallen Angel would get his answer. Just as Azazal seemed to have the match under control, Freemanos appeared and helped Haste to a victory. Azazal was livid and wanted to tear Freemanos apart but was instead confronted by the mad man who had been missing in action for over two years.

As he removed his mask, the crowd erupted as they realised that the ‘American Nightmare’ has returned to Explosive Pro Wrestling. And life has not been the same for Azazal since.

One of his main strengths has always been the fact that Azazal was able to intimidate his opponents and play mind games with them. But now the shoe is on the other foot. Freeman has been able to keep Azazal on the back foot for the entirety of their feud thus far.

These two will lock horns once again at Hell or Highwater but it will be the first time that Azazal has gone one on one with the American Nightmare. Can the Fallen Angel find a way to combat the rejuvenated Freeman or will this be a Nightmare that he never wakes up from?