Ohio Valley Wrestling

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Acronym OVW
Founded 1997
Style Sports Entertainment
Professional wrestling
Headquarters Louisville, Kentucky
Founder(s) Danny Davis
Owner(s) Danny Davis
Formerly NWA Ohio Valley Championship Wrestling

Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) is an American developmental professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. As of November 2011, the company is the chief developmental territory for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling after serving as an independent promotion since February 7, 2008.[1] From 2000 until 2008, OVW served as one of several World Wrestling Entertainment developmental territories and was its primary developmental territory, and from its founding in 1997 until 2000 the promotion was known as NWA Ohio Valley Championship Wrestling, one of the territories of the National Wrestling Alliance. As of December 2011, over 100 OVW alumni have appeared in WWE.[2] OVW is run by owner Danny Davis.

Contents

[edit] History

Jim Cornette was head booker of OVW for a period before being fired by WWE for slapping a student, Anthony Carelli.[3] He was replaced by Paul Heyman, who booked OVW until being called up to be the booker of the ECW brand. Greg Gagne was supposed to be booker after Heyman, but his knowledge of OVW was limited so the booking was extended to also include Al Snow and Danny Davis. Gagne was later released from the company, leaving booking to Snow and Davis.

On February 7, 2008, WWE announced that it had ended its relationship with OVW as a developmental territory, moving all contracted talent to Florida Championship Wrestling.[4] However, on September 23, 2009, OVW announced via a press release from WWE that Senior EVP John Laurinaitis visited and scouted OVW wrestlers and that WWE will take "a much more active role in recruiting OVW developed talent". OVW and WWE maintained a close relationship as throughout 2008 and 2009 WWE-contracted talent would make occasional appearances on OVW shows and OVW talent has remained a large part of WWE's recruiting classes with eight members of the roster being signed to the WWE since February 2008 and many more being used on WWE programming as extras or enhancement talent. On February 22 and 23, 2010 the WWE in conjunction with OVW held a two-day tryout camp for independent wrestlers. It was the first event of this nature held outside Florida Championship Wrestling since FCW became WWE's sole developmental territory.

On September 8, 2010, in what was dubbed the company's season premiere, Danny Davis, who himself was making his return for the first time in over a year, announced that Jim Cornette was returning to his role as head booker of the company.[5] Cornette, who is also executive producer of Ring of Honor's HD Net show, stated that Ring of Honor (ROH) talent as well as talent from other companies were going to compete in OVW along with the current crop of stars and returning OVW stars in an effort to return the company to its previous reputation as the best independent wrestling company to get recruited from. A similar claim was made by Cornette during the announcement of the ROH HDnet program moving its tapings to the OVW/Davis arena.

On November 7, 2011, it was announced that OVW and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) had reached an agreement for OVW to become TNA's official training and developmental territory.[1]

[edit] Television

Ohio Valley Wrestling TV
Format Sports entertainment
Professional wrestling
Created by Danny Davis
Country of origin  United States
No. of episodes 649 (as of January 26, 2012)[6]
Production
Running time 60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel United States WYCS
United States WKYT
United States WOBZ-LP
Online[6]
Original airing 1997–present

OVW currently airs a 60-minute television program Saturdays in the Louisville area on WKYI at 1:00 p.m, and on WOBZ-LP in London, Kentucky at 9:00 p.m. OVW also has streaming video via their website ovwrestling.com, where new episodes are streamed on Thursdays following the previous Wednesday's television taping. The television shows originate from the Davis Arena in the Buechel neighborhood of Louisville.[2][6]

[edit] Current champions

Championship Current champion(s) Date won Won from
OVW Heavyweight Championship Rudy Switchblade November 2, 2011 Nick Dinsmore
OVW Television Championship Christopher Silvio December 21, 2011 Ted McNaler
OVW Southern Tag Team Championship OMG
(Johnny Spade and Shiloh Jonze)
January 18, 2012 The Mascagni Family
(Jessie Godderz and Marcus Anthony)
OVW Women's Championship Taeler Hendrix November 12, 2011 Lady JoJo

[edit] Defunct championships

Championship Final champion Date won Won from Notes
OVW Light Heavyweight Championship Chris Michaels April 12, 2000 Sean Casey Retired on March 1, 2001.
OVW Hardcore Championship Randy Orton May 5, 2001 Flash Flanagan Retired in 2001.

[edit] Roster

[edit] Male wrestlers

Ring name Real name Notes
Adam Revolver Jared Pridgin
Anarquia Barela, MattMatt Barela Also competes in TNA[7]
Benjamin Bray Ben Mitchell
Brandon Espinosa Brandon Espinosa
Christopher Silvio Unknown OVW Television Champion
Dylan Bostic Dylan Bostic
Elvis Pridemoore Elvis Moore
Jack Black Jack McCubbins
James Thomas Tom Wabs
Jamin Olivencia Olivencia, JaminJamin Olivencia
Jason Wayne Jason Light Wayne
Jessie Godderz Godderz, JessieJessie Godderz [8][9]
Jimbo Onno Jimbo Onno
Joe Coleman Joe Coleman
Johnny Spade Josh Adamson OVW Southern Tag Team Champion
Lennox Norris Comanorris Lane
Marcus Anthony Marcus Anthony Sign contract with WWE
Mike Mondo Brendli, MichaelMichael Brendli
Mohamad Ali Vaez Ali Vaez
Paredyse James Long
Randy Terrez Randy Gutierrez
Raphael Constantine Clint Garner
Raul LaMotta Aaron LaMotta
Randy Royal Randy Royal
Rob Terry Terry, RobRob Terry Also competes in TNA as "Robbie T"[10][11]
Rocco Bellagio Rocco Bellagio
Rudy Switchblade Eric Matlock OVW Heavyweight Champion
Sean Casey Sean Casey
Shiloh Jonze Shiloh Jonze OVW Southern Tag Team Champion
Ted McNaler Nick Beckham
Tony Gunn Unknown

[edit] Female wrestlers

Ring name Real name Notes
C.J. Lane Sarah Hess
Epiphany Frost, DevorahDevorah Frost
Hannah Blossom Knott, LucyLucy Knott
Holly Blossom Knott, KellyKelly Knott
Lady JoJo Bynum, JosetteJosette Bynum
Taeler Hendrix Conrad, TaelerTaeler Conrad OVW Women's Champion
Taryn Shay Tiffany Souder

[edit] Other on-air personnel

Name Role
Brittany DeVore Backstage Interviewer & Ring Announcer
Chris Bolin Manager of Bolin Services 2.0 (James Thomas, Rocco Bellagio, Joe Coleman, & Jack Black)
Chris Sharpe Referee
Christian Mascagni Manager of the Mascagni Family (Rudy Switchblade, Marcus Anthony, Jessie Godderz, Mohammad Ali Vaez, & Rob Terry)
Dean Hill Commentator
Gilbert Corsey Commentator
Joe Wheeler Referee
Jordan Barker Referee
Kenny Bolin Commentator
Mo Green Manager of Christopher Silvio
Ron Hed Ring Announcer
Trailer Park Trash Director of Operations

[edit] Training Staff

Name Title
Al Snow Psychology/Advanced Methodology
Nick Dinsmore Beginners Class
Rip Rogers Head Trainer/Advanced Class

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Caldwell, James (2011-11-07). "TNA News: TNA announces official training program with WWE's former developmental territory". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_54935.shtml. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
  2. ^ a b Marshall, Anne (December 7, 2011). "Learning the ropes". Louisville Eccentric Observer. http://leoweekly.com/news/learning-ropes. Retrieved December 12, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Santino Marella's profile". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/santino-marella.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.  "Anthony Carelli was the student that Jim Cornette slapped"
  4. ^ "WWE to cease affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling". World Wrestling Entertainment. February 7, 2008. 
  5. ^ Caldwell, James (2010-09-09). "ROH/OVW News: Jim Cornette announced as new OVW matchmaker; "working relationship" announced between ROH & OVW". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/ROH_News_29/article_43652.shtml. Retrieved 2010-09-09. 
  6. ^ a b c "Streaming Television Episodes". Ohio Valley Wrestling. http://ovwrestling.com/tv. Retrieved September 30, 2011. 
  7. ^ "Anarquia's TNA profile". TNA Wrestling. http://www.tnawrestling.com/roster/Wrestler-Roster/item/2562-Anarquia. Retrieved 2011-04-07. 
  8. ^ Caldwell, James (2011-07-28). "TNA News: TMZ report - TNA signs former reality TV star to developmental contract". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_51733.shtml. Retrieved 2011-07-28. 
  9. ^ "TNA News: TNA Talent send to OVW". PWI Online. 2011-12-03. http://www.tnasylum.com/2011/12/new-tna-signing-headed-to-ovw.html. Retrieved 2011-12-03. 
  10. ^ "TNA signs a new wrestler". Wrestleview.com. http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1234252873.php. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
  11. ^ "Rob Terry's TNA profile". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. http://www.tnawrestling.com/roster/Wrestler-Roster/item/1568-big-rob. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 

[edit] External links

Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages