Major EVW Updates: Devon Larratt Match Cancellation, Shaw Classic Details, and Key Rule Changes

Devon Larratt vs. Vitali Laletin Match Officially Cancelled (for now)

It is "almost official" that the highly anticipated match between Devon Larratt and Vitali Laletin has been cancelled. An official statement was issued by East vs. West on their YouTube page, with further clarification from Robert Baxter of EVW Sports. The primary reason for the cancellation is the impossibility of organizing the event in Baku by the original August 2nd date due to the short timeframe. Adding to this, Vitali Laletin "will not even seek the visa" required to travel to the United States. Therefore, "we can say that the Devon match is officially cancelled".

While the match is currently off, EVW is actively looking to reprogram the azerbaijan event in Baku, initially scheduled for August 2nd. It is possible that when this rescheduled event takes place, it "will also be the moment where Devon against Vitali will take place".

EVW Shaw Classic Confirmed for August 15th with Announced Super Matches

The EVW Shaw Classic is currently the "only confirmed EVW event to date," and it is scheduled to take place on August 15th. Brian Shaw has already announced several exciting matches for this event:

• Eddie Hall vs. Robert Oberst (a "strongman versus strongman match")
• Brandon Allen vs. Brian Shaw
• Gabriella Vasconcelos vs. Jocelyne Brisson
• Cire Brown (Brian Shaw's training partner) vs. Derek Smith
• Big Loz Laurence vs. Martins Licis

More matches are expected to be announced soon, as "if they want to sell pay-per-views, they must do so".

Devon Larratt's Future Match Prospects

Despite the recent cancellation, Devon Larratt is "very likely to compete left-handed, possibly against Alex Kurdecha". There is also a chance for a "good right-handed match against Gasparini, Levan Saginashvili, or Artyom Morozov". The source suggests that if "we know Devon, he might be willing to fight with both arms on the same night".

New Rule Change Implemented: Referee's Grip for All Rounds

Since the arrival of new ownership at EVW, the "only new match rule implemented" is the modification of the referee's grip for all rounds. This means that "all remaining rounds will start under the referee's grip". This change is considered an "excellent rule" as it eliminates "so much time wasted" on athletes attempting to get their own grip, often resulting in a referee's grip anyway. It is even suggested that the referee should proactively "ask the athletes in the first round if they wish to go into a referee's grip," as players sometimes won't ask if the referee doesn't offer.

It is important to clarify that Devon Larratt is "not modifying any rules" for East vs. West matches; any other deviations from WAF rules were adopted before the new owners came in. EVW Sports states they "appreciate and value the contributions of all our athletes and our supporters" and "will continue to work to maintain a positive and professional environment for all athletes and their supporters".

Discussions and Fan Poll Regarding Engin Terzi's Potential Return

Discussions have taken place between Robert Baxter and Engin Terzi about "potentially re-hiring Engin for certain responsibilities within the organization". A poll was conducted to gauge fan opinion on Engin Terzi's return to the East vs. West division. As of the video's recording, with approximately 1,000 votes, the "majority of people are voting against Engin Terzi's return".